I had been on the go for what felt like forever when we finally touched down in Gran Canaria. The flight was smooth enough, but then came the part where I managed to leave my sunglasses on the plane seat. By the time I realised and dashed back, the cleaning crew had already swept through, so I had to grin and bear the bright sunshine with squinty eyes all the way to the hire car.

We wound our way up through the quiet streets of San Bartolome de Tirajana, past whitewashed houses and the odd sleepy cafe, until we spotted the apartment block. It sat on a gentle slope with a view straight out to the distant sea, and the moment we stepped inside the relief was instant. Cool tiled floors, a simple but spotless kitchen, and a balcony just big enough for two chairs and a small table made the long trip fade away.

After dropping our bags we wandered down the road for a quick bite. A little local bar served us coffee so strong it nearly woke the dead, and the owner chuckled when I asked for milk in my second cup. Back at the apartment we sat on the balcony as the light softened, watching the rooftops glow and listening to the distant chatter of neighbours. Everything felt easy and unhurried, the kind of place where you forget you are meant to be rushing anywhere.

Later we took a short stroll around the neighbourhood. Palm trees lined the pavements and the air carried the faint scent of grilled sardines from somewhere nearby. I found myself thinking how strange it was that a pair of forgotten sunglasses could set the tone for the whole trip, yet here we were, perfectly content without them. The apartment felt like a calm base rather than a showpiece, and that suited us just fine.