Today felt like one long lesson in movement, literal and internal.
I started the morning in Benalmádena, giving BlaBlaCar a try for the first time.
My original driver ghosted me, no reply, no acceptance, nothing.
I felt annoyed, but I redirected the energy and walked to the beach instead.
The coastline wasn’t as stunning as Torremolinos, but it gifted me a moment of softness: a Rusta Spanish Water Dog trotting by, curls bouncing, completely unbothered by the world.
That alone shifted my energy.
Eventually, I found a new driver leaving from Torremolinos, so I headed back.
In typical travel fashion, plans kept rearranging themselves.
My driver for December 11 cancelled the moment he heard I had luggage, but another man accepted. He also said yes in dropping me off at my apartment. That is such a relief.
He hasn’t asked how big my bags are. I suppose I’ll just… surprise him.
Sometimes that’s the only strategy left.
Seville, you Grand Beauty
Nothing prepared me for Plaza de España.
Majestic.
Grandiose.
Cinematic.
Spain didn’t just build a square. They created a monument you feel as much as you see.
It was overwhelming in the best possible way.
I was supposed to join a walking tour, but I got distracted by curiousity, trying a Lime Bike for the first time. I see a lot of people biking, scootering. I can’t help myself.
I assumed it would be as simple as Montreal’s Bixi.
It wasn’t.
Limited parking zones, 0.34 euros by the minute, and needing help just to figure out the brake..
To add to the misery, my phone died midway. I had to pause and charge somewhere.
I managed to rack up 8.84 euros and several minutes of pure comedy.
Fortunately, the app refunded the chaos. I ended up only paying for the 30 min plan.
Even with the mishaps, I got a taste of Seville’s character:
colonial, medieval, deeply Spanish, unexpectedly sophisticated.
A city I know I’ll return to ~ with more time and better navigation.
Lessons Between Cities
The ride back to Málaga drained me.
I even left my notebook somewhere, classic me.
But I realised something:
Days with an agenda feel almost the same as days at home.
I still don’t get everything done.
So I might as well spend the day outside, absorbing something real, instead of fighting myself indoors.
Soon, I’ll be leaving Málaga.
Heading farther. Less sun.
Granada, Madrid ~ maybe next time, will have to reschedule.
But before anything else, I need to stabilise. November was purely settling to a new country, submission of documents, going to offices, packing and unpacking.
The next chapter feels close, but it needs structure beneath it.
Closing thoughts
Today was tiring, funny, beautiful, frustrating, and clarifying all at once.
A reminder that even imperfect days can be meaningful, sometimes more meaningful than the ones that go “right.”
Here’s to the next detour.
