Diary Entry: A Coruña, Spain – Day 2

Sunshine & Surprise Mornings

I woke up expecting the wind, the rain, the inevitable soaking of my shoes on the walk to the boat. Mentally, I was already bracing for it. But when I pulled back the curtains? Sunshine.

Pure, golden light poured into my room, bouncing off the white buildings outside, making the whole city shimmer. I actually laughed out loud. It felt like the universe had handed me a fresh start—one that hadn’t already been decided for me.

A charming cobblestone street between my hotel and the marina.

Cappuccino Perfection & A Slow, Wandering Walk

The plan was to find a café along the way, but as luck would have it, the perfect cappuccino was waiting for me right next door. One sip, and I knew I’d be back—probably every morning. Smooth, rich, just the right amount of foam. The kind of coffee that makes you stop mid-sentence just to savor it.

From there, I started walking toward the marina. It should have been a quick twenty-minute stroll. Instead, it took me over an hour.

A Coruña has a way of pulling you into its details—the curve of the streets, the sound of seagulls overhead, the salty sea air blending with the scent of warm bread and fresh espresso. I kept stopping, caught up in the little things. And then, I followed my nose straight into a tiny, unassuming bakery.

The Baguette

I ordered a simple baguette with jamón and cheese. What I got was a masterpiece.

The bread, still warm, was crisp and golden on the outside, impossibly soft on the inside. The cheese melted into it, the jamón adding the perfect touch of saltiness. I had assumed I’d miss German bread while in Spain, but after that first bite? Not a chance.

At €3.50, I might just be a regular. Though, fair warning—this is not a place for vegetarians.

Arriving at SV Tavaha & Meeting the Real Captains

STORM

When I finally made it to the marina, SV Tavaha was waiting for me, glistening in the sun. But the first to greet me? Not the captain, but Storm—the friendliest little boat cat I’ve ever met.

She trotted right up, all confidence and curiosity, as if she had been expecting me. We sat together in the cockpit, soaking in the afternoon light, as she gave me the official “new human” inspection.

MIRABELLE

Mirabelle, on the other hand, was nowhere to be seen. A mystery cat. That is, until the sound of food hit her bowl. Then, suddenly, I had two very good friends.

Settling In—The Best Kind of First Day

I had imagined my first day aboard would be about unpacking, getting cozy, settling in. What I hadn’t expected was a full-on deep clean.

Tavaha had been through some rough weather, and inside, things were… let’s just say, well-lived-in. Gear scattered, cat hair in the corners, a little chaos from days of being rocked in the harbor. And honestly? I didn’t mind one bit.

So, I pulled on my work clothes, grabbed my gloves, and got to scrubbing. I threw open the hatches, let the salty air and sunshine rush in, vacuumed, scrubbed, shook out the linens. By sunset, Tavaha was back to herself—clean, fresh, peaceful.

And just like that, she felt like home.

A Cozy Night Aboard

After a long, beautiful day of wandering, eating, cleaning, and settling in, I curled up on the couch with Big Bang Theory playing in the background and two warm, purring cats beside me.

Three and a half weeks aboard SV Tavaha. A new adventure, a new rhythm, a new home. And already, I knew—I was exactly where I was meant to be.