Shoestrings, Siestas, and Spain
Every year my vacation is a bit of a complicated subject. I’m single, so there’s always the question of WHO will I travel with this year? Who has the time off? A similar budget? At least some of the same interests? And most importantly the patience to tolerate me for a week or two? In the past few years, I’d developed a friendship with the ideal travel buddy, and we had some epic vacation adventures. But this year, for various reasons (mainly Covid) I ended up without a travel companion. And for certain reasons (mainly Covid) I really, really needed a vacation anyway.
So I decided to do what I needed to do, and take a vacation anyway, even if that meant being alone. But that also meant covering all the costs on my own. Have you ever heard the term “shoestring budget?” There’s no real definite answer to where that idiom comes from, although it’s certainly clear that shoestrings are cheap, thin, and relatively weak. They always seem to break at inconvenient times. As I did the math on my vacation plans, the word “shoestring” came to mind. So, no hotels for me. I’ve had good success with airbnbs around the world, and by putting in a few filters, I discovered that the cheapest place to travel in August would be central Andalucia, since everyone would head to the beaches or the much-cooler mountains. In fact, the airbnbs in central Spain were a true bargain, including amenities such as air conditioning (not prevalent in Spain) and pools! So I began to search for the best bargains I could find and then created my itinerary from there. My actual AIRBNB locations/reviews are here.
If you followed my journey posted on social media, you probably enjoyed the photos I shared. (All these photos in the collage are mine from various moments of the trip). But you never saw a photo of my food. That’s because the second way I saved money was by cooking all my own meals in the apartments I rented. With the exception of coffee with some toast (under $3 in Spain), I never ate out once. Now, I know for some people, that is a terrible way to vacation! Part of travel itself is discovering the local cuisine and trying the new foods that each area has to offer. But my reasoning was this: I live in this country, so I’ve either HAD the food or will have the chance again; I’d rather put my money into cool experiences (like sailing in Marbella); and lastly, did I mention the budget constraints? Instead, I planned my meals ahead and packed the ingredients/prep things I’d need, and then just bought some fresh meat or eggs at small grocery stores along the way.
Not only was that a huge money saver, but it gave me the siesta to go back to the apartment and rest. In Spain, especially in the summer heat in Andalucia, the siesta is a necessary way to survive. Each morning I woke up refreshed, went out to hike or tour or wander for several hours; by around 3 pm, I was ready to head back to the apartment to fix my lunch and then lie around on the couch for a while, letting my tired legs rest, but also having time to read leadership books, write in my journal, upload the hundreds of photos I took every day, and basically just chill in the quiet apartment. In two of my airbnbs, I had a pool to use in the afternoon, too! So for those who worried that I was exhausting myself, I assure you I had plenty of time to rest, too!
By early evening, I’d be sufficiently refreshed to do what the Spaniards do: go back out and walk around town. I found parks and trails, often with scenic spots to watch the sunset or the Spanish people as they meandered along with me. I got more exercise, great photos, and a few more chances to interact in Spanish.
Most of my “adventures” of this vacation were free. I’m a firm believer in wandering along, taking photos of free stuff: the sunsets, the gardens, doorways and arches, the outsides of weird or beautiful buildings, and with little or no curiosity about what’s inside. I did choose to pay to see a few “musts” on my list, but I also spent most of my time hiking El Torcal in Antequera, or swimming in the lakes of Ruidera, or climbing up and down Ronda’s famous El Tajo gorge. Even in Córdoba, I spent my time simply strolling through the maze of medieval streets, having the time of my life! One of the most expensive things I did (at $30) was hike the Caminito del Rey and that price was for a group with a guide. I’ll post about that in a separate post, but suffice it to say, I wouldn’t pay that again. But since I’d never done it before, it was $30 put toward not feeling like I was headed alone to my death on a dangerous stretch of path overhanging a monstrous gorge. So…money well spent, haha.
So, all in all, even with a shoestring budget, this vacation gave me incredible moments, memories I’ll treasure, and most importantly, a longing to go back to Andalucia and experience even more.