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The Journey In Chapters

Spain-France-Switzerland Winter 2024

Follow our route from Spain’s olive groves to the snowy Jura mountains — one stop at a time.
Each place left a mark. But the full stories? Those live inside our book, Where The Olive
Trees Meet The Snow

Zoom in to explore each destination in more detail

- The Road South -
From the Atlantic coast to Andalusia’s soul, this leg traces the first steps of escape, belonging, and sunlit discovery.

Click on any destination or its description to open the gallery to reveal photos which are not included in the ebook. Then click on an image to view it in full screen and use the viewer toolbar to scroll and explore as needed.

A view of Malady Basque Beach in December

An elongated view of Malady Beach

Bow Boe waiting for her cafe treat

A walk-way through from the beach to the promenade

A depiction of the history of Bicentennial Square

Parking up in a quiet enclave close to the main city

Monument to the Battle of Vitoria in Plaza de la Virgen Blanca

The main square December 2024

The Ornate Architecture of the Cathedral of Santa Maria

Exploring the sights of Santa Basillica Cathedral

A view of the Cathedral bell tower

Salamanca lights up Christmas with Bow Boe

A view of the medieval Caceres skyline from the Torre de Bujaco

Church of San Francisco in the plaza San Jorge

A street view of Concatredal de Santa Maria

Plaza de Espana in the evening light

Palacio de San Temo and Christmas lights in Seville

A replica of the Nao Victoria walking along the Guadalquivir River

Nirvana our alternative Christmas and New Year 2024

The heart of Nirvana - the long table by the bar

Bow Boe meets our drone

The Hermitage dedicated to the Virgin of El Rocio

Sunset over the marshes of El Rocio

Walking the sandy streets of Spain's cowboy town

The cathedral of Jerez

The column of the Virgin in the Plaza de la Asuncion

Inside Tabanco el Pasaje an atmospheric place to see local Flamenco

Biarritz – Where the sea met the need to escape

Donostia – Pintxos, poetry, and salt in the air

Vitoria-Gasteiz – Quiet green spaces, waiting for something

Salamanca – Golden light, and thoughts that wouldn’t leave

Cáceres – Timeless walls, and a silence that echoed

Seville – A December that felt like coming home

Nirvana –A place that felt like home

El Rocío –Sand roads and spirit horses

Jerez de la Frontera – Flamenco feet, sherry breath, stories under stars

- Around The Southern Tip -

The monument to the Constitution of 1812

Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Cadiz

The Genovés Park in Cádiz, an iconic romantic-style Botanical Garden from the 19th century

The bar at the side of Los Canos de Meca beach

A silhouette of Trafalgar Lighthouse against the sunset sky

The walkway to Los Canos de Meca beach

Kite surfers at Tarifa beach

A view of Tangiers from Tarifa beach

The long row of free travelling spirits lined up at the beach

Parked up in the backdrop of La Concha mountain

The Ermita del Santo Cristo dates back to the 15th century

Strolling through the streets of Marbella

Street art in Málaga’s bohemian quarter—where beats and brushstrokes collide.

A burst of life inside La Taberna de Álvaro. Very mice Tapas

The grand face of Málaga Cathedral—where history rises from the citrus-lined square

Where wind and water converge, these shores carry whispers of shipwrecks, wild skies, and stories carved in sand.

Cádiz – Wind-whipped wonder and ancient beauty

Los Caños de Meca – Where the lighthouse whispered of shipwrecks

Tarifa – Kites in the sky, stories in the sand

Marbella – Palm-shaded mornings and restless evenings

Málaga – The city we nearly missed, and never forgot

- In Land For An Interlude -

A magnificant view of the ravine from Ronda bridge

A mural of Paca Aguilera, a well-known flamenco dancer

The old bridge in Ronda

The church of Saints Justo and Pastor

The statue of Francisco Goya, a famous Spanish painter

The Royal Chapel of Granada built in a Gothic style

Two cities. Two moods. A pause between coasts to breathe deep, gaze high, and feel history echo off stone.

Ronda – A gorge that divided time and feeling

Granada – Moorish dreams and mountain breath

- Along The Eastern Coast -

Overlooking the bay of Almeria

Sunset silhouettes the palms along Almería’s golden shoreline

Parked up in a horseshoe of vans opposite the beach

Dusk starts to fall over the pebbled beach

Looking out to Spain's largest volcanic rock formation

Palm-lined promenade leading to the beach in Las Negras

Gentle surf at twilight along Mojácar’s coastline

Sunrise casting soft light over the rugged mountains behind Mojácar

Kitesurfers in action on the waves of Playa Las Rumina

Quiet sunset reflections on the calm sea in Mil Palmeras

Golden evening light walking along the beach

Motorhomes lined up near the beach, capturing the vanlife spirit of Mil Palmeras

The old town of Dénia glows beneath a pink-tinged sky at sunset

Anchored at the marina in Dénia, with the early evening sky reflecting in the still water

The richly decorated baroque entrance of Valencia Cathedral, a masterpiece of stone carving and devotion

Close-up of Valencia’s iconic bullring, La Plaza de Toros

The majestic Torres de Serranos, one of Valencia’s ancient city gates, glowing in the late afternoon sun

Palm trees and early sunlight on Oropesa’s calm beachfront

Bow Boe greets the evening sun on the beach at Oropesa

Boats moored in the marina at Club Náutico Oropesa del Mar

Montjuic National Palace constructed between 1926 and 1929

A view through the Venetian Towers standing approximately 50 metres tall

Casa Batllo one of the most emblematic buildings of Catlan modernism

From desert cliffs to bustling boulevards, this winding coastline brought contrast, calm, and unexpected colour.

Almeria – Desert light, wide space, time to reset

Las Negras – Bohemian shores and volcanic stillness

Mojácar – Whitewashed walls and nights by the sea

Mil Palmeras – A quiet pause between journeys

Denia – Where the winds changed, and we did too

Valencia – A city of contrast, rhythm, and oranges

Orposea del Mar – A quiet bay and Bow Boe’s first swim

Barcelona – A final Spanish burst of colour and awe

- A Tapestry Of History -

Walking into the medieval old fortress

A view of Basilica of Saints Nazarius and Celsus, the Carcassonne Cathedral

Life within the walls—shops, shutters, and stories of the old citadel

Saint Nicolass Catholic Church, the patron saint of children, sailors and students

Pont Neuf, new bridge, which has stood for over 300 years

The Basilica of Saint-Sernin honours the first bishop of the city

The old bridge with the catherdral as a backdrop

Dating back to the 13th century, the cathedral of Saint Nazaire

A view of the cathedral at night from the vineyeard where we stayed"

The Opera national de Montpellier located in the Place de La Comedie

Statue of Louis XIV located on the Place d'Armes in front of the Palace of Versailles

The church of Saint Anne de Montpellier

World War 1 memorial known as the Monument aux Morts

Nimes cathedral also known as Eglise Sainte-Perpetue et Saint-Felicite

The Maison Carree, an ancient Roman temple

Pont du Gard aqueduct stands at 160 feet tall and is the highest Roman bridge still standing

The aqueduct was built in 1745 supervised by D. Henri Pitot

The aqueduct crosses the Gardon river

The Palace of the Pope is one of the largest medieval Gothic builings in Europe

Avignon showing it was recognised as being the Land of Culture for 2025

The Pont Saint-Benezet originally had 22 arches and spanned the Rhone River

Church Saint-Nizier named to honour the bishop of Lyon after a cult developed around his tomb

Lyon city hall located on the Place des Terraux

The Eglise Saint-Bonaventure is only medieval building not demolished after the creation of the rue Imperiale

From medieval mist to Roman stone, this journey weaves a path through time, beauty, and the character of Southern France.

Carcassonne – Towers in the mist and medieval wonder

Toulouse – Pink brick, riverside calm, and slow delight

Béziers – A vineyard stop, nine locks and one lingering thought

Montpellier – Energy, contrast, and the call of the future

Nîmes – Where the Romans whispered and time paused

Pont du Gard – Arches across time and stone

Avignon – Bridges, popes, and poetic echoes

Lyon – A final feast of architecture and memories

- Into The Alps -

The boat Geneve docked and ready to depart across Lake Geneva

The United Nations office with the flags of the member states surrounding the building

Located in the Parc des Bastions popular with locals and tourists

Crystal clear waters in the small harbour of Pully

A panoramic view of the lake and the Alps

Parked up in the Pully harbour - stunning view over the lake

A view of the municipality of Bulllet

Snow covered fields with evergreen trees. A place of tranquility

An evening arrival in Bullet

A view from the ridge overlooking chalets with the Alps as a backdrop

Parked up in a simple remote car-park waiting for the mountains to reveal themselves

Above the clouds with the Alps in the distance

The final climb—where clouds fell away and the mountains opened their arms to stillness, snow, and reflection.

Geneva – A return after forty years

Pully – A quieter shore with stories beneath

Bullet – Upward into snow and stillness

Les Rasses – Where the mountains finally revealed themselves

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Warmly, Steve & Bow Boe

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