Spanish Horizons

Just north of Oviedo, there is a quaint town where just off the beaten path of the dusty Spanish streets is a hidden gem worth the trip.  I have marveled at the great Sagrada Familia in the diverse city of Barcelona. I have walked with the peacocks in the Alcazar of Seville. I have even seen the incredible Guggenheim museum in Bilbao, but nothing compares to the beautiful alcove beach in the seaside town of Pupu.

After a long car ride out from the city, my family and I had finally arrived in Pupu. I didn’t expect much of this little town.  Just from first glance it was a bit underwhelming.  Surf shops and small food markets lined the streets while locals bustled around in a laid back manner. The road was hardly substantial enough to be called that, but it served its purpose of getting us to my cousin’s beach house.  The house was nice, but outdated in style. It was the day of my birthday and I was dying to be wowed by something.  As daylight was slipping away, I had accepted that I would not see anything that day that would stand out to me. That’s when my cousin invited me to walk down the boardwalk with him.  Just behind the lush hillside was the most amazing beach I have ever seen. The sun hung low in the sky kissing the water with its deep orange-pink hues. On either side there loomed rocky cliff sides which framed the beach like a picture perfect scene.  The water went out beyond the cliffs and seemed to go on forever. The ocean was calm and beckoned us to swim in its dazzling waters.  I would have to wait to go into those waters until the next day, but it was a most exciting endeavor I could look forward to.

The next day I woke up full of energy and ready to spend the day at the beach. This next day I got to see a whole other side to the beach.  That day the beach was teeming with life and bursting with color everywhere. From the shimmering aquamarine of the water to the reds that seemed to pop off the umbrellas dotting the sand, the beach had a welcoming and vibrant aura. The sand, bathed in the sun, was warm on my feet and contrasted the cool water which drew me in. The water refreshed and invigorated me with its pure and pristine nature. Below the surface, schools of fish danced around my feet and led me further out. Past the cliffs that were like a gateway was the open ocean. From here, a whole other portion of the cliff side was revealed.  In the curve of the mountain, there was a little beach where I could walk upon the sand into a small cove.  I could see the whole history of this beach, the different layers of rock revealed areas where the water had eroded the cliff.  Sea creatures of all kinds made the cove and the cliff their home and showed that this ocean was full of life. After swimming back from this little paradise, my family and I finished the day in the best way. A traditional seafood paella awaited us on a deck that overlooked the beach.  Enjoying my meal, I was able to have the most amazing view and look forward to another day at the perfect beach.