Backpacking through Europe in 1994

Day 88 • December 3, 1994
Rota, Spain - Day 5

The beer from the day before made good on its promise. I spent a decent chunk of the morning in the bathroom, paying the price for all that free Cruzcampo. But once my body settled down, the day opened up into something gentle.

It was warm — easily in the seventies — with a bright sun and a sky so blue it almost didn’t look real. I took Jeff’s bike and rode down toward the water, then spent the afternoon sitting in the sand with my headphones on. I didn’t go in the ocean because of the tattoo, still raw on my chest, but I didn’t really need to. Just being there, listening to music, letting the sun bake into my skin while the waves rolled in and out, was enough. After weeks of moving constantly, it felt strange in the best way to simply sit still and do nothing.

Later, Jeff and I went to an arcade and played video games like a couple of teenagers again. It was stupid and fun and exactly what we used to do back home. We didn’t talk about anything heavy. We just shot aliens, raced cars, and laughed when one of us choked on a game we used to be good at. That night we watched a few movies at the apartment, the kind of mindless stuff that didn’t require much from either of us.

It wasn’t an exciting day by any measure. But after the chaos of the trip and the blackout drinking from the night before, the quiet felt like a relief. I wasn’t trying to get anywhere. I wasn’t worried about the next train or where I’d sleep. For one more day, I was just here — on a beach in southern Spain with my best friend — and that was more than enough.

My Photographs from today in Rota, Spain

Beach Selfie

A selfie on the beach. I didn’t have a tripod, so I put the camera on my towel in the sand, set the ten-second timer, and ran into position. The sun, the waves, and that feeling of having nowhere else to be — it was perfect.

Facing the Atlantic

I turned and faced the Atlantic, marveling at the explorers like Christopher Columbus who had the courage to get on a boat and sail out to the horizon. At the far side of the ocean was America, and I would be going back home there in two weeks. The sun was bright, the waves kept rolling in, and for a moment everything felt connected.

Final Photo on the Beach

I was so proud of myself in this moment. So much had changed in my mind and my heart about myself and my home. I felt confident and ready to return. I set the self-timer one last time, ran back into position, the clouds cooperated, the sun didn’t overexpose me, and I watched the waves roll in.

DAY 88 / 12-3-94
Rota, Spain

They were right. Cruzcampo does give you the shits. I spent a good part of today in the bathroom. However, I did manage to go for a bike ride and hang out on the beach.

It was a beautiful day. At least 70, bright sun, blue sky. I walked through the surf & would’ve gone swimming if I didn’t have my tattoo. As it was, I just sat in the sand, listened to a CD, soaked up the sun & relaxed. It was AWESOME.

For dinner we went to this place that was supposed to have the world’s best chili dogs. They sucked. Oh well.

Then Jeff & I relived some old times by going to an arcade & playing video games. Jeff had rented some movies, so we watched those when we got home. “Surviving the Game”, “Wilder Napalm”, & “Breaking the Rules”.

Another nice, relaxing day!