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Thursday;; Day 31! I have been in Europe for exactly 1 month today!!! I already feel like I have accomplished so much and experienced so many life-changing and exciting events. I could literally go home right now satisfied with the memories I have made! But, I guess it's only just the beginning!
Today we are heading to Sotogrande for a week where Eva's sister lives. They are currently in Germany which means the house is free! Woop! It feels a little weird going without Jaime but he will be having the time of his life at the camp he's on. We pack all our things into two cars with us girls in one and the two boys in the other!
It's about 2 and half hours to Sotogrande and on the way we see many historic buildings and cathedrals from afar as we go through a few cities. Apart from that, much of the trip is desert; mountains and cactus and sand. Such a contrast to England. Most of the way we sing along to all the pop songs playing on the 'Europe' channel on the radio. It seems that they are a little behind here with new songs as Miley Cyrus 'wrecking balls' plays!; ergh!!! We even get a Craig David 'I'm walking away' at one point but I'm a fan of him so that was okay! It was nice to just sit back and enjoy the ride and we even passed a very attractive man driving beside us. We overtook each other probably 3 times and on trying to point him out to Eva, smiling and giggling, he saw and gave the cutest smile back at me. It's obvious I've not been around anyone my age for a while haha. I think my heart melted!
Once we arrive into Sotogrande, the girls are extremely excited and we head straight for the beach where we will have lunch. Eva has mentioned about the sardines you get here but the only sardines I've ever had are tiny and in a tin with tomato sauce haha ew. But as we approach the cafe/restaurant, on the edge of the sand, Eva points out a boat in front of the cafe that has been built up into a huge barbecue with two spears sticking up with sardines piled on top of each other on each spear. They are caught fresh daily and then taken out to the boat as you order them. And there a decent size too! So cool!
We wait for Kiki and Alvero to arrive before ordering the sardines. I watch the man go out the back and bring fresh sardines out and to then take them over to the spears to cook! How awesome is that! You can't get much better really!!...Once they are ready, you apparently just pick them up, one at a time and eat through the delicate crispy skin and into the meat; avoiding the bones and head haha. They were seriously delicious and we had 4 plates full of them!
Once finished, we head to the house where we will be staying. Everywhere you look there are villas, apartments, resorts and beautiful homes; you can definitely tell it's a wealthy area. Apparently the owner of the clothing line Zara lives here too! As we pull up into the gates, I see that we have entered a private resort-style neighbourhood with white apartment-style houses everywhere like in Greece or something. Apparently these are all homes but the layout is not what you would imagine for someone who permanently lives here! It's honestly more like a holiday resort. There are 3 pools, a gym and a spa that the residents all get to use...I think I'll stay! We pull up to the apartment and unload our things ready to head inside. You can tell the weather is definitely cooler down here and I'm grateful as it's reaching close to 50degrees Celcius back in Seville! The house is lovely and full of never-ending rooms. I like that we are the ground level as well as it means we get a garden out the back with a pergola area and seating. Patricia and Alejandra excitedly show me my room and all it's little features before we quickly get changed to head to the beach! - only a 10 minute cycle there!
Sotogrande is full of all different little beaches and one main port. We head down into the underground carport and into the garage where Eva's sisters family bikes and all their gadgets are. Probably 7 or so bikes to choose from haha! We load up and head on with a bike each to the road. The weather is still hot and quite muggy even though it's 8pm so once we get to the beach, I do not hesitate to strip down and run straight for the water. This beach has quite dark sand that is corse, and small rocks surrounding the sea edge everywhere. The kids and I decide to make a mini fortress with the sand but it takes no more than 2 minutes before this turns into a sand fight! Before we know it we are all covered head-to-toe in brown mud and sand and are running frantically around trying to avoid the next hit! It is honestly the best feeling just letting go, not caring and being a kid again. It makes you so happy and you forget anything and everything that ever troubled you. I think I'll always just be a big kid. Rolling in the sand in barely nothing, my hair full of mud, no makeup, and no worries...just lots and lots of laughing and playing and being silly!..
In the water, we decide to sit down in the rocks and as each wave comes crashing in, it knocks us back and pushes us up onto the shore! I end up having a million rocks and bits of sand in my knickers and in my bikini top; just what you want really! But it's worth it; the water is perfection!
Back on the sand, I am showing Patricia how to knit as I thought it would be a good creative project for her. Eva bought some wool and the needles for us the other day. Patricia loves it and learns quickly. She's a little bit of a perfectionist like myself but gets excited as we finish each row. My mum has always done knitting for clothes for the poor children in Romania and Africa etc but I only know a basic stitch. I will use our trusty friend google or YouTube if need be for future projects lol.
After a few hours at the beach, we ride back home; still light at 10pm but just starting to go dusk. We are sticky and hot so decide we will go for a swim when we get back but we soon discover that the pools close at 9pm...Alvero and I have a different idea, however! We decide to sneak to one of the pools, trying our hardest to hide our giggling and then walk around to the wall that surrounds the pool. We climb up and jump over, looking everywhere to make sure there's no one around to catch us! I feel like a naughty school kid again and can't help myself but to giggle and be silly! We slowly creep up to the water and slide in. It's so nice! Luckily it's dark now to help our disguise! We hear a few voices and freak out and try practice holding our breath under the water incase someone did come to look. We both struggle at actually staying down though as we float back up after 5 seconds or so lol. Lucky no security guards are around or we would be in trouble! We enjoy the luxury of having the pool to ourself before we figure we'd best get out of here!
We run back to the house and Eva and Kiki think we are funny and don't seem to mind!! We have dinner all together and relax on the couch for a while before heading to bed...
I am already in love with this place and wish we were spending longer than a week here. It's paradise. Everyone is so friendly but it's also so peaceful and private. The weather is perfect and you have the option of pool 1, 2 or 3 as well as the beaches!!!! I think I will request to nanny Eva's sisters family haha so I get to stay! Extremely grateful and happy, realising that yes, I am actually in Spain! Yolo! (you only live once!)
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