It’s been five days since I arrived at my friend’s place. The three of us share a cosy little two-storey house in the quiet seaside town of Benicàssim. In all this time, I’ve only ventured into town twice.
The weekend was a blur of catching up on sleep, long seaside walks with my friend, and listening to her endless stories about everything I’ve missed over the past three years. She talked and talked, as if trying to squeeze every lost moment into our time together.
Then Monday came, and so did the rain. Heavy, relentless. My friend has been obsessively checking the news, updating us on which villages have already flooded. Last night, the weather alert shifted from yellow to red. She’s on edge, constantly pacing, but strangely, I feel the opposite. After everything I’ve been through — including two real floods on the west of Ukraine and the exhausting aftermath — I think I’m ready for whatever comes next.
For the past three days, my life has been simple: work, eat, sleep. Repeat. That’s it.😁 But even in this monotony, there’s something I want to share—some photos I’ve taken over the past few days. This place is soooo charming!
Here’s my first morning in Spain. We’re sipping coffee on the covered terrace. Clouds are gathering on the horizon.
And here it is—the sea! The sun is warm, but the wind is bitterly cold. The locals are bundled up in winter coats, hoods, hats, and scarves. It’s obvious to anyone that we’re from colder lands.
The town stretches along the coastline, boasting beautiful sandy beaches. The waves here are a paradise for windsurfers.
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Let's see if I can fly... Not really.
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The town centre is small, with side streets branching off the main road, lined with bars. It’s quiet today—it’s Sunday, after all. In Spain, restaurants and cafés close for siesta and don’t reopen until 8 or 9 in the evening. Grocery shops are shut on Sundays too. Ukrainians should keep this in mind—back home, shops and restaurants are open seven days a week, and lunch breaks are practically unheard of.
I hope that tomorrow my workload eases up and the rain lets up a little. I’d love to take a walk along the sea and explore more of the town. For now, though, my walks are limited to sitting on the terrace—at least until I get too cold.
And my world consists of my friend, her daughter, and Teddy the cat.
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Oh, and yes—the Christmas tree is still up. It makes the evenings feel so cosy, especially with the fireplace lit. Cosy… and a little nostalgic for home.
That’s the story so far. Until next time!
One more post. Another small victory over myself.