Villanueva del Arzobispo – 19 april

We drove a bit further north and are now in the town of Villanueva del Arzobispo and for the first time on a special camper place. It seems that you are not allowed to develop camping activities there but everyone just does the same thing so this is a bit of nonsense. Furthermore, it is just a moderate place in the middle of the village but we didn‘t feel like driving after 300 km.

Tomorrow we just go another 350 km north and then stay for a day or so so that we can walk and / or cycle.

Driving here we were amazed by the huge olive tree plantations because we drove 300 km through them. The trees were everywhere, regularly interrupted by farms or beautiful white towns. We‘re definitely going to try to score some olive oil here!

After a few months of traveling around with the camper in Europe, we started dividing our fellow travellers into groups because nothing is more fun than judging others, right? The difference with Africa is enormous because there camping (with tent, caravan or camper) is really an adventure in nature. Well, on excellent campsites with spacious pitches, but adventure is paramount and that is, from what we have seen so far, different in Europe.

For example, you have the luxury camperowner who moves in a large or very large integral camper equipped with all conveniences such as air conditioning, satellite, solar panels and so on. These buses are so large that they are parked at the campsite after which they are toured on the E-bike, E–scooter or scooter. The owner is usually 65–70 years or older and one travels through Europe with like–minded travelers with the aim of seeing as many well–known places as possible with enormous haste because who knows when it is no longer possible. Often these are Germans or Swiss.

Then you have the camperowner who like to stay in the South in winter. He drives in a somewhat older camper, usually with an alcove with the older bikes on the back. Looking for cheap places and then quickly to a nice bar or restaurant because there is not much money. The destination is irrelevant as long as the sun is shining and prices are low. It seems like they are here against their will and maybe a little to keep up appearances…. The Dutch and British lead this group.

Then you have the young people with children who drive all kinds of (usually rental) campers and are clearly looking for the best way to have a holiday with their offspring. They find out at the campsite that they need transport to the beach, the shops, the amusement parks and so on. Here you can see many nationalities.

A minority is the group of campers with whom we feel reated, namely the travelers. For us, the camper is a way to travel through Europe and taste the atmosphere of other cultures and in other countries. Occasionally we visit beautiful but busy places like yesterday in Ronda but much more often we are in lonely places with a few walking or cycling paths nearby. We both like the visit to a local supermarket while I have murderous tendencies in the Netherlands when I go shopping with Lisa. We almost never know where the next campsite is; I determine that (yes, my task) quite simply based on how far I want to drive and which direction we want to go. Lisa’s requirements largely correspond to mine so usually this goes well.

Tonight we eat here somewhere in a local restaurant and tomorrow we go north in search of a nice walking spot.