Just after midnight I was still standing there with a few left over grapes from last year in my hands, quickly shoving three more in after the official gong, and kissing Jannis in the midst of it all: balloons flying from the ceiling, popping on the floor, people kissing, shoving, running to the pool. Kids screaming, screaming, screaming (can’t differentiate between children sounds). Then we to were down by the pool for the fireworks, the night air cool against my skin, bright flashes reflected in the water, everything loud for a moment and then, almost immediately, completely quiet again.

We ended up at the Belingo Bar, ordering cocoa, tea, and a virgin mojito, which visibly delighted the barista, like she was happy there was finally someone not drinking 500€ in champagne cause it’s new years and well – all inclusive. Na ma’am thx we’ll take the hot choc xx. We walked past the snack bar with the body language of people who are definitely not hungry, only to discover that a croquette and a brownie could still fit onto a plate (less in our stomach however). Back in the room, la que se avecina followed us first onto the balcony and then into bed, with the surroundings sounds slowly getting quieter.

Sleep happened in fragments. I felt a bit weak, floated in and out. At some point morning arrived and packing began, slower than usual, with more pauses, and coughs. Breakfast helped ground things. We made sandwiches (in german it’s brote schmieren and it’s not the same as making sandwiches. It’s slapping an unusual amount of spread (usually butter) on an even thicker cut slice of good ol’ grey-ish looking bread and calling it lunch). I once again circled back to the and ate the onos, letting routine do some of the emotional labor before travel mode kicked in and I won’t get to eat the delicouisness that are oats in yogurt for who knows how long.

The flight was delayed, then not delayed, then suddenly it was time to move. The bus from the hotel to the airport arrived perfectly on time, which felt like a small gift, and everything flowed smoothly from there. I already missed all inclusive which was unavoidable, who wouldn’t. After check in and security we waited outside in the sun, the sea stretching out to the right, the mountains holding steady on the left, booked the train to Cádiz, and sat there just looking, not rushing.

Then I got yelled at for accidently stepping foot in the lounge for people in wheelchairs. My bad. Please don’t yell, I might cry.

Then came the upgrade: row four, extra legroom, group one. Headphones in, la que se avecina episodes downloaded, the quiet satisfaction of being prepared. The flight eventually took off with a slight delay and, just like that, we were flying over Cádiz, which still felt special. Can’t believe how pwetty Cádiz is! Can’t believe I couldn’t just jump out the plane instead of having to keep my seatbelt fastened until Sevilla.

We picked up our luggage, took the EA to Santa Justa and immediately experienced confusion so we asked a man who (telling by his uniform) “worked there”. Us: Is the train to Cádiz delayed? Him: Yes.

McDonald’s then. When we almost ordered we checked again. Us (to ourselves): Is the train to Cádiz delayed? Us: No.

So we just got a quick cof in a cold café to keep warm-ish and got the train, on time, watched la que se avecina and Antonio ever so correctly stated “qué bueno soy y qué culito tengo”.

From the train station we got a taxi (oops, I did it again, can’t stop, won’t stop. We are spoiled now.)

Back home and we were hungry. What to do when you come back from having at least a buffet for every meal if not a 5-course gala dinner. You get a 4€ dürüm.

I asked for less sauce and watched, in slow motion, as the hand reached straight for the sauce bottle, my quiet panic rising just enough for a loud no no no and jump towards the poor man thinking this’d be the end.

Jannis entertained himself by doing Antonio impressions in increasingly absurd imagined scenarios, which somehow entertained me just as much. Don’t tell him. He’s not reading these, just uploading so I can say whatever lalalalalal

Home, we devoured that dürüm, watched more La que se avecina and eventually we ended up in bed, the show still playing, and “finally” slept in a tiny bed with springs poking out of it and an ever so slight breeze coming through the crack under the window. Love it here though.