In a moment of downtime and insomnia early this week, I watched a Netflix travel movie. In the movie, one of the main characters describes the difference between a tourist and a traveller. A Tourist, he says, wants to escape life…a Traveller wants to experience it!

We’ve had a week full of wonderful experiences in Denia.

Driving a manual car in Spain is an experience and is not for the faint of heart! The driving adventure continued. We ventured to a market early one morning and had to navigate through downtown and very narrow, crowded streets. At one point, we were sitting at an intersection waiting for pedestrians to cross. I wondered who kept honking their horn at me and was thinking that they were very rude…there were pedestrians trying to cross the street in front of us! Then, to my horror and embarrassment, I realized I was honking my own horn as my arm was resting on the steering wheel! Those poor startled pedestrians are likely still talking about the crazy drivers in Denia!!

Over the course of the week, we have driven in likely 40 traffic circles…sometimes the same one over and over! Though the journey, we ve come up with our own traffic circle language- Kevin could often be heard saying go straight around the circle, whatever that means!

Paul drove on the craziest day…down the coast to Altea and to Calpe. Both were so beautiful but, the drive was insane-hilly and twisty with lots of hairpin turns and sheer dropoffs. Poor Paul had a lot of help from us back seat drivers! Kevin navigated. We made it back safely. Both did a great job! We only did the same traffic circle a few times!

We drove down the coast the opposite way another day and found a great beach bar. Kevin drank a pitcher of sangria and was pretty giggly and “comfortably numb” (his words, not mine). It was quite entertaining! Later that night, poor Julie couldn’t figure out why her side was so sore and realized it was from laughing at him.

Everyone speaks Spanish here. They have been good sports when I’ve tried and subsequently butchered their language. We ve had a few laughs over the language barrier. At one point Julie asked for a Pina Colada to which the waiter quickly responded… Coca Cola, si, si!! No fancy cocktail for her that day.

The natural beauty around us was breath taking at times- Calpe rock standing hundreds of feet out of the sea, the thousands of rocks on the beach at Altea, the caves on the shoreline at Javea, the sunset from a catamaran. The pictures do not do these places justice.

We spent an afternoon touring the Denia castle. Part of the castle dates back over a thousand years! Walking these pathways and being in rooms that were inhabited that long ago, with so much history, is mindblowing. The old town of Denia, surrounding the castle, is equally captivating- the stories these dwellings could tell, if they could talk!

There are sidewalk cafes and restaurants everywhere. We’ ve had great food and drink! It seems the washer may have shrunken some of our clothes. Everything is fitting just a bit snugger!

As a traveller, I have experienced so much this week: friendship, both old and new; great coffee and food; our feet in the Mediterranean sea; collecting shells and watching for jelly fish; shopping; too many laughs to recount them all; sunset cruises; new traditions like having a shooter to toast the end of dinner and a great day.

Denia, we have enjoyed your company! Paul and Julie made their way to Portugal today so we had to say goodbye. Safe travels my friends- thanks for all the laughs!

Kevin and I headed to Barcelona on the next part of our journey. Stay tuned!