A Day of Gratitude Between Mountains and Sea

Daily Miles: 30.71 | Total Miles: 12,771.87

I woke up after a good, though short, night of sleep and felt ready for the day. After a hot coffee, I began carrying all my belongings down what felt like a thousand stairs. Once everything was organized in the buggy, I walked back up one last time to double-check and to say goodbye to Igor and Tiha. I received so many goodbye kisses that I left feeling completely wrapped in warmth and kindness.

Igor and his friend Milan helped me carry the buggy up a few steps so I could reach the steep road leading back to the main route. And steep it was—an instant workout for the first minutes of the day. It reminded me of Chile, and my thoughts drifted to Valparaiso and Ruth. Beautiful memories.

The climb quickly warmed my body, though the air was still cool. The sky looked dry and promising, and the forecast for the next few days is phenomenal. A perfect start. The views stretched endlessly—so much beauty that it almost felt impossible to process it all. Hours of coastline, mountains, light, and movement. I ran with a huge smile, feeling a comfortable excitement and deep satisfaction in every step.

After about two hours, I stopped at a supermarket to grab a small bite. The young man at the counter was thrilled by my journey, and I think I was glowing from the joy of the day. Soon I could take off my jacket and fully enjoy the scenery—high, snowcapped mountains rising steeply to my right, dramatic cliffs, and to my left the magical coastal views opening again and again.

Around mile 20, I stopped briefly for a few essentials when a cyclist approached—Doris from Germany, about twenty years older than me and still exploring the world with adventurous energy. So inspiring. Doris, I truly enjoyed our short exchange.

A few miles later, I knew I would meet Enric from Spain, a world walker. What I did not know was how breathtaking the stretch leading to that meeting would be. The landscape became almost surreal. I felt like I was running in a natural trance—a nature high, a running high, an absolute contentment high. In moments like these, I wish everyone in the world could experience this feeling of becoming one with the surroundings.

I know some people would not want to live this way—but I also know many would love to and simply cannot. That thought ran with me as well. I felt deep gratitude and also a quiet awareness of how much timing and circumstance shape our lives. Meeting the right people at the right moments can change everything. Lives can take entirely different directions by missing just one turn. I never take that for granted.

I also found myself reflecting on opportunity—how unequal it often is. “Dream Big Too,” for me, also means imagining a more just world. Perfect equality is impossible, but direction matters. Intention matters.

The mountains, the ocean, the sun, the clouds, and the endless blue sky created a day full of awe.

In Mimice, I met Enric Luzan Pi. He recorded a short video for his YouTube channel, and afterward we sat on a bench and talked for a while. He is on day 83 of his world walk and believes his journey will take around three years. He was there with a friend. I truly enjoyed our exchange—two journeys briefly crossing paths.

Right around the corner was a supermarket, so I bought groceries and prepared for the final stretch. Just before leaving, a cat appeared as if to say hello and wish me well for the last stretch.

The final miles were occasionally windy, and the road climbed again toward the end. But with the sun lowering over the ocean, the views turned golden and spectacular once more.

Just before my end destination, I stopped again at another supermarket to get more water. There I met Pujan, the cashier, originally from Nepal, who greeted me with a friendly “Dobro dan.” I love how mixed and connected this world is—so many stories crossing paths.

I passed the place I had booked because the road first climbed higher into the hillside. As I pushed the buggy upward, I saw a man walking from the house. I greeted him with a joyful sound to announce my happy arrival. Ante, the owner, speaks German, which always makes me smile—it feels funny switching back to High German after so long. We both enjoyed our short conversation, and he was clearly impressed by the journey. “Bravo, bravo, Andrea,” he said.

Later, I cooked pasta with beans for dinner. Now it’s time for a shower and to prepare for tomorrow—another day, another stretch of this beautiful road.

Thanks for checking in. Andrea