We arrived at Canet de Berenguer after a straightforward train ride from Valencia, and the first thing that struck me was how quickly the sea air took over from the city smells. My partner had the map open on her phone and I was meant to be following the directions, but I somehow led us down the wrong side street and we ended up wheeling our cases past a row of closed shops instead of straight to the front door. We laughed it off once we finally spotted the right turn, though the little detour had already left us a bit warm and dusty.

The apartment itself sat just a short stroll from the beach, and as soon as we dropped our bags we were itching to get outside. The afternoon sun felt strong even in late spring, so we decided a coastal walk would be the perfect way to stretch our legs and cool down. We followed the path that runs beside the sand, watching the waves roll in and chatting about nothing in particular. It was quiet enough that we could hear the gulls above us, and the breeze kept things comfortable despite the heat.

We had planned to push further along the shore the next morning, but the weather had other ideas. By the time we woke the sky had turned that heavy grey that usually means a quick shower is on the way, so we swapped our longer hike for a shorter loop that stayed closer to the apartments. The rain never really arrived, yet the change in plans gave us a gentler pace and more time to notice small details like the fishing boats pulled up on the sand and the scent of orange blossom drifting from nearby gardens.

Later that day the clouds cleared and we headed out again, this time with a picnic we had picked up from the local shop. Walking along the path we passed families doing the same, and it struck me how easy it was to fall into the rhythm of the place. I caught myself thinking about how often I rush through holidays without really slowing down, and this short stretch of coast had already nudged me into doing exactly that.

By the evening the temperature had dropped just enough for a light jacket, and we wandered back along the same route we had taken earlier. The mishap on arrival already felt like part of the story rather than a mistake, and the changed plans had turned out to be the highlight. It was a simple start to the trip, but one that left us looking forward to whatever the next day might bring.