This morning we wake up at around 7:00 am. It's still pitch dark outside. But above all it's cold, very, very cold. - It's 1°. How was that? How do you hibernate in Spain, where it's nice and warm? - For the sake of form, we'd like to point out that it's supposed to warm up to 18° today, albeit only briefly.

Nevertheless, the topics of outdoor showers, flip-flops and shorts are slowly becoming borderline. 

The first thing on the agenda for us today is the announced washing day. So we drive to Jerez de la Frontera. What I don't realize at this point is that I'm going to get lost twice today. - Coincidence? Or will we get what's due?

n both cases, we come across places that make our hearts beat faster. In Jerez de la Frontera, it is an old monastery that suddenly appears to the left of the road. We decide to stop immediately. Behind a gate, we can park Hector under an orange tree. I immediately realize that this is where I want to launch the drone. While I take a few shots from the air, Torgit explores the area. A few minutes later, we meet up again in the square. I leave her the drone, cell phone and so on. - Now I want to visit the church.  

For many years, I personally struggled with the church. I had the feeling that the ground staff, who represent the church to the outside world, not only didn't appeal to me, but actually put me off. 

Whether someone believes in God or not is something everyone has to decide for themselves. I have always had a conversation with God. From time to time I have also visited churches, but I have mostly stayed away from church services. God may be everywhere, but I personally missed him in one or two places of worship.

Today in this place, however, I had the feeling that he was particularly present. - No, I didn't have an apparition. - Perhaps it was simply because it was bitterly cold outside and the church radiated a special warmth. - Either way, I left this place of worship with a special feeling of happiness.

Speaking of happiness. - Maybe it was the little things that made us particularly happy today? - Maybe coincidences? As we head south after a successful wash, we not only see flocks of flamingos on the side of the highway, but also the Spanish bull again. I immediately drive off to see if I can take a photo up close. Unfortunately, this is not possible. A few kilometers further on, we see the bull again, as well as Tio Pepe, in comparable size. - Sherry and Osbourne Reklame hand in hand. Here, too, there is no chance of getting closer to the signs, as they are on the edge of a quarry. Not only is there a "no passing" sign, but also an explosive one, plus German shepherds. I always knew German shepherds could withstand explosions. We'd rather not risk it. And now for the second time: We are not only rewarded with a traffic circle with several Toros on it, but also with an old ruined building 2 km further on ...

The first floor of the former factory building has been partially preserved. There are still apartments here, as well as a small soccer pitch. - The rest of the building, i.e. the roof, suspended ceilings and so on, is completely missing. Only the outer walls have been preserved as a skeleton. There is one stork's nest after another on the former battlements. The sight of the storks and the rattling of their beaks is phenomenal. Unfortunately, emotions cannot be captured in pictures. In fact, today's pictures do neither the monastery nor the storks justice. - However, we were at least able to use the drone at the monastery*, but we didn't want to disturb the storks. So we enjoy the chattering for a moment and head off to our destination for today. 

We want to go to Conil de la Frontera and stay at the La Rosaleda campsite. - When we arrive, we are a little skeptical at first. The campsite is besieged by German hibernators. After days of solitude and tranquillity, a German culture shock? - But we are so warmly welcomed that it quickly becomes clear that we are staying here for the time being.

We start by cleaning the house. We vacuum and mop, wash all the pots, dishes and cutlery. Even the feathers we've collected over the last few days are washed. Then we take a shower. We take a footbath. Our feet are oiled and thorns are removed. The beds are made up again... That's happiness too. - After days in the wasteland, it's time for a shower, fresh laundry and fresh bed linen. Everything is clean and smells pleasantly fresh. Including Torgit, especially fresh today.

Or should I say even fresher than usual?

Insight of the day: You can't just get to your destination by taking the direct route. And don't forget, Spain also has storks, not just Portugal.

* When I analyze the videos from the morning, I come to another realization. The lens didn't stand a chance against the rising sun. The shots didn't turn out well. Unfortunately, that's pretty frustrating. - Unfortunately, there is no second chance here. 

Later, I do a bit of web browsing. I come across a comparison of different minivans. Exactly the category we were looking at. What I find particularly exciting is that the vehicles shown here are exactly the ones we were looking at. In the end, there were only two vehicles left in the running. SpaceCamper and TerraCamper. - These are also the vehicles that made it to the final round. What I found particularly exciting was that both manufacturers spoke very positively, not to say friendly, about each other. There was no badmouthing of the "competition", as is usual in many industries. A very respectful approach. As a salesperson in particular, I noticed this in a very positive way, as I have always attached great importance to the fact that "my" salespeople have never badmouthed their competitors. 

We looked at many manufacturers at the trade fair in Düsseldorf in 2018, and in the end it wasn't easy for us to choose between Terracamper and Spacecamper. Terracamper is too clinically sterile for me. I find Spacecamper more homely. In terms of quality, both vehicles are top, and they have to be for the price. Terracamper was too expensive for me in the end, although the vehicle is certainly worth the money. However, I always like to pay for cars in cash, and that was the end of the line. Note from Marc: I wasn't even aware that Torgit was paying for the car. Very cool, now I'm doubly pleased. 

 

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