THE SPOT

Tag: ocean

  • Barcelona – Sitges

    Barcelona – Sitges

    When I first planned my trip, I had my eyes set on Girona. But with limited funds, I had to look for alternatives—and I’m glad I did. One of the most beautiful discoveries was Sitges, a small coastal town about 40 km from Barcelona, known for its welcoming village vibe and serene seaside views.

    I didn’t have a set plan or a checklist of things to see. There are museums and a beautiful 18th-century sanctuary—at least it looked beautiful from the photos. Honestly, I went because I stumbled across the name somewhere. I didn’t even know it was such a popular destination, especially for those staying in Barcelona.

    I bought a one-way ticket from Cerdanyola del Vallès to Sitges. The whole trip cost me just 8 euros—something that feels almost utopian in today’s world of post-pandemic inflation and geopolitical turmoil. But at that moment, I felt nothing but pure joy, the kind of happiness that makes you feel lightheaded and carefree.

    The train was slightly delayed, but as someone used to Germany’s famously late trains, it didn’t bother me. When it arrived, I hopped on. The carriage was mostly empty, giving me space to relax, unwind, and take in the journey. And what a journey it was—rolling past cliffs, lush nature, and the endless deep blue sea. Just the train ride alone was worth it.

    Once I arrived in Sitges, I just walked. I wandered through the little alleyways, illuminated by soft spring sunlight. It was quiet—calmer than Barcelona’s constant buzz—and I enjoyed the peaceful solitude without feeling lonely.

    After a bit of exploring, I stopped at a restaurant and ordered cannelloni. I didn’t love it, but it filled me up. Sometimes, that’s enough.

    I ended my visit by walking down to the beach. The early spring sun was gentle but warm. Families strolled with their children, kids laughed and shouted, couples held hands. I stood there, listening to the ocean’s familiar rhythm, feeling the cool spritz of sea spray on my skin. In that moment, I felt content.

    I walked from one end of the beach to the other, soaking in every bit of it. My first little adventure was simple, spontaneous—and absolutely worth it.

    Beach in Sitges

    Ocean in Sitges
    View from the Stones at Sitges
    Sunshine in Sitges
  • Barcelona – The Mecca for Solo Travelers

    Barcelona – The Mecca for Solo Travelers

    While Greece has my heart when it comes to courage and boldness, Barcelona has my heart when it comes to solo travel.

    It was the first real adventure I embarked on after I started studying. Just the search for a decent Airbnb turned out to be an uphill battle. After canceling two reservations, I finally booked a room in a shared apartment. My host was a Nigerian woman, and her space seemed good enough for everything I planned to do.

    Since I didn’t have much money, I booked a roundtrip ticket with Flixbus. From Heidelberg to Barcelona—just two days on the road. I was happy, excited, a bit insecure—but determined to go.

    I looked up all the major sights: Park Güell, La Sagrada Familia… I was excited, but also anxious. After all, I was about to spend two full days on a bus just to get to Spain and back. I did my research and found that the T-10 ticket would be the best option for my seven-day stay—ten rides for around 10€, each valid for 75 minutes. That would cover about five days of travel to and from the city.

    So, I packed my bags and, on April 2nd, 2019, boarded my Flixbus headed to Barcelona. We rode through Switzerland and France, passing cities like Perpignan, Montpellier, and Geneva (side note: Geneva is one of the most beautiful cities in Switzerland—pity I couldn’t stay!).

    On the morning of April 3rd, I arrived at Barcelona’s bus station. Tired but excited. My first little adventure, all by myself. A mix of pure thrill and a bit of dread—worried about getting lost… or kidnapped (though, honestly, who would want to kidnap me? 😅).

    My accommodations were in Cerdanyola del Vallès, about 17 km outside of Barcelona. After getting lost multiple times, I finally made it. My host, Linda—a kind Nigerian woman—welcomed me and gave me a quick tour of her two-bedroom apartment before heading off to work.

    And then there I was: in a quiet apartment, in sweaty clothes, absolutely exhausted. I couldn’t help it—I jumped straight into bed. I know, I should have taken a shower first… but I barely made it in! So I slept. And slept. And slept.

    Eventually, I woke up—hungry and eager to see the city. I checked Google Maps and found a supermarket about 10 minutes away. Of course, with my questionable sense of direction, it took me longer than that. I walked back and forth (and back again), but finally found it. I pretended my few Spanish phrases made me a native and somehow managed to buy what I needed and make it back.

    (Oh, and yes—I did shower before I went to the supermarket. 😉)

    Since I had already bought my tickets, I decided it was time to finally see Barcelona. I hopped on the next train and headed to the iconic Sagrada Familia—the Roman Catholic basilica designed by Antoni Gaudí and one of the city’s most famous landmarks.

    I just walked around, soaking it all in. My heart full, my head buzzing.

    That was Day One in Barcelona.

    Here’s a picture to make it even more memorable.

    La Sagrada Familia
    La Sagrada Famila – other side 🙂

  • Chania – Balos Lagoon and Gramvousa island: Blue Water, Blue Skies and Blue Bridges

    Today was supposed to be my day.

    My colleague had raved about the Balos Lagoon and the island of Gramvousa — a must-see off the coast of the Gramvousa Peninsula. Gramvousa is home to a stunning 16th-century Venetian fortress, while Balos Lagoon is what I imagine heaven looks like: vivid blue water, endless skies, and the kind of heat that makes you feel deliciously alive.

    Naturally, I was sold. I booked the trip online via Blue Daily Cruises. But—here’s a tip—double-check everything. I paid with my credit card (yep, that’s the only option I had), but never received the ticket PDF. Thankfully, it wasn’t a huge hassle. Those €30-something were absolutely worth it. But more on that in a bit.

    To get to the ferry at Kissamos Port, I also booked a bus ticket from Chania via KTEL. Again… money withdrawn, but no ticket emailed to me. Strike two. I got up early, full of excitement, and started walking to the bus station—only to be sent on a wild goose chase by Google Maps. By the time I got there, the bus was pulling out, practically waving me goodbye.

    I stood in line, sweaty and defeated, and bought a new ticket at the counter. Then I bought another one online just to be sure. Eventually, I was on the next bus, huffing and puffing but at least moving forward.

    Onward to Gramvousa

    After an hour’s ride, we arrived at Kissamos Port. From there, it was a quick walk to the ferry. I grabbed a seat in the middle—couldn’t really take great photos, but that didn’t matter.

    About 30 minutes later, we docked at Gramvousa Island. The view? Breathtaking. But here’s the thing: for the first time in my life, I wished I was stranded there alone. A whole ferry-load of people swarmed the place, and it was a little overwhelming for my introverted self.

    Some of them hiked up to the Venetian fortress. I wandered off in the other direction, chasing a little peace and quiet.

    Gramvousa – alone time
    Gramvousa with people

    As you can see it there were many people.

    Eventually, I joined the crowd in the water. But like the beach in Chania, this one was stoney. And I mean, stoney AF. I fell on my knee twice. Fully embarrassed. Laughed it off. What else could I do?

    The Magic of Balos Lagoon

    After two hours on Gramvousa, we set sail to Balos Lagoon. And wow. The water was bluer than Aaron Pierre’s eyes — and if you know, you know. It was pure, visual serenity.

    I walked, I sat, I floated. Around me: people laughing, splashing, living. And there I was, alone in my beautiful solitude, loving every minute of it.

    Balos Lagoon

    Excuse this pic, but the quality is bad because I snapped the pic in my water resistant phone case.

    On the way back, I grabbed a spot in the sun and just soaked it all in. The sea, the heat, the wind — sometimes a little too much, but in Crete, even too much is just right.

    Ending the Day Right

    Back in Chania, I wrapped up the day with dinner at a restaurant near the harbor — my favorite spot. There’s nothing like good food after a day like this: messy, chaotic, beautiful.

    I this is the penultimate day that I can tell you about. Then we will move on to my trio to the Elafonissi Beach before ending the Chania series.

  • Chania – A Birthday Glow & A Sunset Flow

    Day 3 in Chania was as beautiful as my birthday on the 16th.

    First thing I did when I woke up? Straight to the beach. No breakfast, no second thoughts. Crete is full of beautiful places, and today’s choice was Kladissos Beach — about 30 minutes on foot from the Venetian Harbor.

    Recommendation number one: don’t walk in the hot sun. Apparently, 10 a.m. in August in Crete is hot enough to turn my usually sun-loving self into a sweating, disheveled mess. Not cute. Not even a little. But I powered through, because vibes.

    Honestly, the walk was worth it. The beach was basically empty. Just one other person there. I spread out on my towel, let my body bake a bit, then eventually went into the water.

    And here comes recommendation number two: if you go to a stony beach, make sure your feet aren’t sensitive little drama queens. Mine are. I stumbled and fell multiple times trying to get out of the water. Graceful? No. Entertaining? Probably. Also, heads up — once other people started showing up, there were a few surprise boobs and butts around. So yeah. Be mentally prepared.

    Anyway. Cinematic moment time — look at this view:

    Kladissos Beach

    Who wouldn’t enjoy the pointy stones here?

    I slept again, because? What the hell else would I do?

    After a few hours, I made my way back to Chania, wandered around looking for a supermarket, got some bread and salami, made myself a sad little sandwich, and watched Modern Family.

    Then I passed out. Because… what else is there to do, really?

    Woke up later with a bit more energy — today was boat ride day! A sunset one. Fancy. I got ready fast, threw on a dress, and headed to the Harbor. Put the address into Google Maps, and of course, it sent me to the completely wrong side. Love that for me. By the time I figured it out and speed-walked all the way back, I barely made it.

    Side note: stop using Google Maps for walking in Chania. I swear I get more lost with it than without it.

    The boat ride itself was honestly beautiful. Warm air, soft wind, sunset glow, and even a little bit of history. The captain told us about how sailors used to quarantine on a nearby island before they were allowed into the Venetian Harbor. Kinda eerie, kinda cool.

    Took too many photos. Felt like a movie.

    Sunset on the boat ride
    Boat ride
    Chania’s Venetian Harbor at night

    When we got back, I went to get dinner and finally — Moussaka. The most Greek meal ever. And it was a full-blown experience. Layers of flavor, spices, vegetables, comfort, happiness — all baked together. I actually might’ve ascended for a second.

    What luck!

    The drink made for sinners – on a diet- Strawberry Daiquiri

    Then came the final mission of the night: Strawberry Daiquiri. I searched. I found. It was half the price of yesterday’s and tasted like redemption.

    That’s it. Short and sweet. Very well-fed.
    See you soon.

  • Chania – My first solo flight

    You probably don’t know me, which is why you wouldn’t know how I feel about flying. Let me tell you—flying scares the bejesus out of me. I hate it. I hate the lack of control, the noise, the shaking… everything.

    But, during my “year of new adventures,” I decided it was time to grow a pair. So, I booked a flight to Greece. Not just anywhere in Greece—Chania.

    Chania is located on the Greek island of Crete and has always been a tourist favorite. And it’s not just because of the locals’ friendliness (though that’s a bonus). Its location in the south of Crete makes it perfect for sun-lovers, beach fans, and even hikers. With a picture-perfect backdrop of both mountains and beaches, Crete has everything—cities, nature, history, vibes. That’s why it’s one of Greece’s most visited spots every year.

    So, there I was, in the middle of a lecture, browsing hotel options (because of course). That’s when I stumbled across Shalom Luxury Rooms Kondilaki—a cozy little hotel right in the center of Chania. For port-lovers, the Old Venetian Harbor is just five minutes away on foot. The rooms are clean, have a cute little fridge in the corner, and everything in town is within easy reach.

    Room: booked. But swim there? Nope. So a few weeks later, again in the middle of another lecture (clearly my productivity was at its peak), I looked up flights. The cheapest one was over 600€—because, surprise, I had waited until summer. Gulp. Paid with PayPal 30-day like most of my shopping adventures at the time. YOLO, right?

    Fast forward—I made it. I thanked God I didn’t die in that death machine they call a plane. I couldn’t believe it—I had actually done it. I was proud. Terrified still, but proud.

    Now back to Chania.

    A cab driver—kindly arranged by the hotel—picked me up. She was sweet and tried to make small talk, but the only things on my mind were food and a nap. We got close to the hotel, but the last stretch I had to walk. No biggie—it was only about five minutes.

    Unfortunately, my room wasn’t ready yet. So, in a fog of travel anxiety and hunger, I plopped myself down at the first restaurant I saw. In hindsight, that place looked like it hadn’t been cleaned since 1987, and I probably risked some kind of fryer-related illness… but at that moment, I did not care.

    After eating, I wandered to the old port like a zombie from The Walking Dead and sat there until I finally got the call—my room was ready.

    I rushed over, threw off my clothes, and dove into bed. Of course, just then the lovely cleaning lady knocked on my door while I was half-covered. I scrambled to throw something on… only to find out she came bearing wine. A truly nice gesture.

    At last—Chania. What a view, right?

    After a much-needed nap and a few episodes of Modern Family on Netflix, it was finally time for dinner. I headed into the music and hustle of the Old Town and chose the first inviting spot I saw. No idea what it was called, but the food? Incredible.

    I love seafood, so that’s what I got—plus a huge salad. Honestly, if I had jumped into the ocean afterward, I could’ve acted as one of the ship anchors with how full I felt.

    But man, dinner with a view? That’s something else. It felt magical. Angelic, even.

    I just sat there doing my little happy dance, feeling full—but somehow light. Like my soul had loosened up a bit. There was this overwhelming sense of pride that made me feel like I could flood the whole island with it.

    Dinner with a view is just something magical, angelic almost.

    I just enjoyed the food, did my little happy dance and felt light (well, full physically) but my soul was light. There was this overwhelming sense of pride that made me feel like I could flood the whole island with it.

    I will continue writing about my time in Greece in part 2.