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My first trip as a single mother turned out to be so much more then just a summer break trip with my daughters, Nevaeh and Jaliyah. I choose a rather calmer city on the well known sea strip Costa Brava of Spain. However, Pineda de Mar is of course known for it's beach and the warm weather, it's also known for its authenticity of calm and typical Spanish little streets and squares. Never had I known that I would be tested in so many ways. As a single mother, but also as a person. We lost our luggage when we arrived at the airport, I had to carry al the suitcases we brought, because my girls were too young to do it themselves, and we stayed at the hotel pool for the entire stay because the sea was too rough for my kids to swim in. But little did I know that the ambiance of the hotel and the city we stayed in would help me form to be the woman I am today. The friendly and helpful locals made sure I got help offered when needed, and the people we met on our trip teached me that I was already strong for being there alone with Nevaeh and Jaliyah. I never saw what they saw in me as a person, but also as a mother to my girls. And strangely I enjoyed the rest of our trip even more. I learned that an ending can be beautiful, by watching a sunset when we took a sight seeing train, that showed us many "must see piazza's" or "must try restaurants" where you could try the local dishes. I learned that buying souvenirs from local shops not only helps support them in an unimaginable way, but also makes them happy and grateful in so many ways. The perks of visiting a smaller town is that the locals you buy your breakfast, lunch or snacks will recognize you after a few days. That colored my stay even more. The walks down the beach boulevard, the quiet moments sitting on the beach with our feet in the water, the local restaurants that wanted us to taste the best of their culture and the street entertainers that wanted us te see where they came from can inspire you in so many ways. Pineda de Mar has changed my life. I think it's a must-go-to place in Spain and should be on your bucketlist as well. I hope to find more joy treasures in more secrets the world has in store for me.