Before leaving Barcelona, we made time to enjoy some of its wonderful sights. We visited the magnificent Sagrada Família, with its extraordinary architecture and endless details; spent time near the Mediterranean Sea; and wandered through the narrow streets of the Gothic Quarter, where centuries of history seem to live around every corner. Barcelona was beautiful, and I was glad we got to experience it. But after four days in the city, we were ready for a change of pace.
We caught the train and headed south to Rota, a coastal town in Andalusia, near the Naval Air Station. After weeks of walking, changing accommodations, and following the road wherever it led, we were ready to settle in for a while. We rented an apartment just a few minutes from the beach, and almost immediately, life began to slow down.
Our days became long and leisurely, and our evenings even longer. No trail to follow, no miles to cover, and no need to be up early the next morning. We could enjoy the beach, wander around, have a relaxed afternoon, and do whatever we felt like.
Most evenings, we walked into town to meet our friends at around seven. Dinner and conversation stretched on, and before we knew it, it was close to midnight. There was no hurry to leave. It seemed perfectly natural to spend the evening visiting, eating, and enjoying one another’s company.
One of the things I loved most was what we saw on our walks home. Even at that late hour, the streets were still alive with families making their way home. And not just parents with young children, but often three generations together—grandparents, parents, and children. They were out enjoying the evening, sharing time, and moving at their own comfortable pace.
I found that so charming. Seeing entire families together late at night made me feel connected to the place. It wasn’t a special event or a tourist attraction. It was simply everyday life in southern Spain. People seemed to understand that the evening was meant to be enjoyed, and that time together was worth lingering over.
I also loved that we got to have lunch at the Spanish officers’ club. It was one of those meals that stays in your memory, not because it was extravagant, but because it was such a wonderful value and such a pleasure. Our bill came to just $16, and that included three courses and four glasses of wine! It seemed almost unbelievable by the standards we were used to. We certainly weren’t complaining.
Rota is the place we return to fly home Space A. We know it and, at this point, don’t feel the need to explore and do something each day. Our stay here gave us something we hadn’t realized how much we needed: time to rest. After all the walking, the changing scenery, the daily decisions, and the wonderful people we had met along the way, we could finally stop moving for a little while. We could enjoy long lunches, long evenings, good friends, and the simple pleasure of having nowhere in particular to be.
Looking back, I think those days in Rota were an important part of the journey. We had spent so much time discovering new places that we needed a little time to let it all settle. And nowhere was there a better place to do that than beside the sea, in a town where the evenings seemed to belong to families, friends, and the simple joy of being together.
You are loved…
