From France to Spain: The Heat, the Drive, and the Campsite Adventure

After bidding adieu to France with its undecided weather, we crossed the border into Spain. The temperature climbed with every kilometer as if the sun was tailing us, cranking up the thermostat just for fun.

Driving through Spain is a bit like participating in a never-ending desert rally. The landscape is gorgeous, don’t get me wrong, but after hours of staring at it through a haze of heat waves, even the most enthusiastic road tripper starts to dream of a frozen margarita and some shade.

We have no air conditioning in the van, so with the windows down and our sanity hanging by a thread, we decided to pull over at a campsite. Sure, it looked a little rough around the edges—think “rustic charm” with a side of “just don’t look too closely”—but it had a pool, beach access, entertainment, and, perhaps most importantly, it had loud Spanish people.

Our first stop was the pool which looked like a shimmering oasis, as we cannonballed in with the enthusiasm of overheated tourists who’d just driven through an oven, the water was cool, and the atmosphere was lively.

Now, let’s talk about the rest of the site which in parts looks like its survived a couple of hurricanes and the showers could have easily have doubled as a film set for a 70s carry on film, but with the beach just a short stroll away we can’t complain because its a reasonable price for this time of year.

As night fell, the campsite’s entertainment kicked into gear. The lineup included everything from flamenco dancing to impromptu karaoke sessions that were heavy on enthusiasm and light on pitch accuracy. But who needs perfect pitch when you’re having this much fun?

Then, of course, there were the Spanish campers. They have an admirable, albeit loud, zest for life. Conversations happened at a volume that could wake the dead, but their laughter and warmth is contagious. We quickly learned that in Spain, everything is a group activity, from eating to arguing to laughing, and the more the merrier.

So, our journey from France to Spain might have been a hot and wearying drive, but the campsite turned out to be a quirky little haven. Sure, it was a bit ropey around the edges, but with a pool, a beach, entertainment, and the vibrant company of loud Spanish people, it was the perfect place to cool off and soak in the local flavor. As they say in Spain, “Viva la vida” live life to the fullest, and we certainly have so far.