La Vida del Trotamundos: Roadtrippin' around Spain

2 months have gone and passed
since Summer left us...
Life has got a new meaning after summer
and yet I think back on those days
and miss the sunny, beachy and carefree holidays ;)

We spent the month of August
roadtrippin' around Spain
driving from our home in Madrid, the centre of Spain
all down South to Salobrena, the coast of Granada.
While in the south,
we drove along the coast to Malaga , southern tip of Spain
then we tripped back to Madrid
before driving way North to Pontevedra, Galicia.
My first encounter in Northern Spain - I loved it!
Final stop - back down South to Almeria ;)

Ahh the best summer I've had!

Salobrena, Granada
Alberto's beach apartment
along the overcrowded , pebble-filled Southern coast
I enjoyed our time there,
having some relaxing time by the pool
in his home and with friends he grew up with...

Javier, Alberto no.2, and David
his childhood beach-apt frens.. funny peeps

cooling down in the pool under the sweltering heat!

MALAGA
We drove 1.5hrs further south to Malaga
the famous city Ive heard so much abt
its beaches, lovely people and history...
we even met my Jap friend, Mariko
who moved there a few months back to live..

we chilled by the beach, saw the Roman theatre,
went shoppin in the centre
and visited its famous cathedral..
All in one day! hah

PONTEVEDRA, GALICIA
Finally, our highlight of the roadtrip!
I'd looked forward to this leg of the trip
it was my first time in Northern Spain
heard all the shit abt their bad weather, green landscape...
I had to see it for myself!
even had to prepare myself for some rain
in the heart of HOTHOTHOT SUMMER!

Driving along the bridge across to Pontevedra

DINNER immediately!
Couldnt wait to try the famous Pulpo a la Gallego
(Octopus originally from Galicia)
succulent, thick and savoury!

HIT THE BEACH!
Beautiful tranquil beaches, with turqoise waters, and smooth sand
nothing like the overcrowded beaches in the South!
we even chilled on a Nudist beach
hah! that was fun....

charming lighthouse along the coast

Diggin into some yummy mussels
that's what the Northerners are famous for - seafood!

my first time trying the Navajas!
heavenly taste... at an extravagant price too!

LAS ISLAS CIES (Cies Islands)
Voted as World's no.1 most beautiful beach by a Brit paper..
we had to check it out
Just 20mins by boat away from Pontevedra,
we had to drag ourselves up at 7am to join the friggin' line!

ah unspoilt sandy beaches
turqoise clear waters

it was a tiny island
that was part of a National Conservation Park
Im glad we didnt try camping there
like our initial plan
there was nothing else besides this beautiful beach
but it was all worth it
just us and nature ;)

SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA
aww.. always wanted to visit this much-talked-about city
supposedly the capital of Catholicism,
the epitomy of Catholic worship.
This is the final stop of the ancient Catholic religious pilgrimage
Camino de Santiago.
I've heard many people still attempting
this physical-challenging trek..
even though it has converted from a pilgrimage walk
to, more recently, a tourist trekking path,
it is still very widely known around the world.
There we were,
to witness the famous city and heritage.
(althou we drove there haha!)

we took advantage of a rainy day
(no bummin ard on the beach)
to explore this historically-rich ancient city...
but, due to the fuckin rain,
we couldnt see much!

CABO DE GATA, ALMERIA
Driving back down South
to Almeria, known for its desert landscape
a backdrop to many Hollywood cowboy movies..
We met up with Alberto's sis Julia & Victor
& had an incredible time
soakin up the sun, eating n boozing ;)

A view from the top of the hill
damn, we had to climb up those rocky steep slopes
in my flimsy flip-flops...
But we got to a paradise
an extremely isolated Nudist beach!!!