Valentine’s Day is already behind us. The roses have faded, and the chocolate boxes are long empty. International Women’s Day has also just passed, and those days are another reminder of the importance of celebrating women and love in our lives. But some celebrations are much more than a single date on the calendar, and this story is one of them. This year, we chose something different. Instead of celebrating love between couples, we celebrated the women who shaped us. The ones who raised us, supported us, laughed with us and stood beside us through every chapter of life. And most importantly, they continue to do all of this!
Two sisters.
Two daughters.
A future daughter-in-law.
A 70th birthday celebration.
And a 60-year friendship worth crossing countries for.
What began as a birthday surprise slowly unfolded into something much deeper. It was not simply a girls trip to Alicante… it became a journey across generations. From the stories of youth shared by our mothers, to our own quiet conversations about dreams, careers and the future. Around one table, over coffee and warm churros, sat decades of experience, friendship and deep love.
There is something profoundly special about women travelling together without everyday duties and roles to perform. No deadlines. No responsibilities. No expectations to meet. Just presence. Just a connection. Just smiles, sea and sun. And wine, of course.
Long story short, or how the idea of the trip became reality
The story is simple. My aunt’s best friend, who has been living in Alicante for more than 10 years, decided to surprise her by returning to Bulgaria, especially for her 70th anniversary. And in return we, her daughter, me (her niece), her sister (my mother) and her future daughter-in-law, decided to organise a short women’s trip to Alicante as a birthday gift, kindly invited by her best friend, of course.
And this is how our beautiful journey began.
The organisation: both simple and funny
Coordinating five women flying in from three different countries?.. Let’s just say the planning was almost as memorable as the trip itself. But when I think of it now, there is something magical in organising a women-only trip, especially two sisters and their daughters, and my aunt’s daughter-in-law (it was their first time spending so much time together and the perfect opportunity to truly get to know one another).
It was a surprise for my aunt’s birthday, and since we were all invited to stay at her friend’s home in Alicante, all we really had to buy were our plane tickets. My mother, my aunt and I flew from Sofia, Bulgaria, while my cousin flew from Germany, and her brother’s future wife flew from the UK. They arrived one day before us, and our group from Bulgaria joined them on Friday, the 13th. A simple coincidence and a promising sign for a wonderful time coming.
First Impressions of Alicante
A day before our flights, we were told by our kind host in Alicante that the weather had been colder in recent days. And by “colder”, she meant between 18-20°C. This was perfect news for us, coming from 5-6°C in Bulgaria and -5°C in Germany and the UK. The moment we woke up the first morning there, feeling the sun through the windows of her house, we felt lucky to be there. A quick breakfast kindly prepared by our host included typical Spanish appetisers, like chorizo and my dream churros (fried dough pastry, usually coated in cinnamon sugar and served with dipping sauces like chocolate or dulce de leche). She prepared the food herself and bought churros from the nearby shop, serving both the homemade and the bought ones for comparison. And the homemade was, of course, more delicious. First thing on my Spanish checklist was done – trying churros!
We headed for a walk by the sea and the port. It was wonderful – sunny, warm (despite the strong wind, the temperatures were around 18°C). We enjoyed the weather and our moments together, taking a lot of photos to capture the beautiful moments of our adventure.
The beach was packed, but it was too early in the year for sunbathing, what with the strong wind and sand flying everywhere. The seaport – Puerto de Alicante – offered benches where one could sit and enjoy the yachts and spectacular vistas.
After exploring the port, we went into the city centre for a short shopping tour, of course, not without a delicious afternoon tea. We stopped for a coffee just outside Mercado Central, soaking in the authentic rhythm of local life.
The atmosphere throughout the entire city was festive, with flowers, pink and red balloons, hearts and delicious indulgences, such as a cup of strawberries with various chocolate or cream toppings. Yes, we couldn’t miss but take a huge one to indulge ourselves for St.Valentine’s Day!
Unfortunately, due to strong winds during our stay, we couldn’t visit the emblematic Santa Barbara Castle (known as the Castillo), an impressive fortification at the top of the city, which offers a stunning panoramic view.
Surely, it will be at the top of our wish list for our next visit to Alicante.
Guadalest: the medieval pearl in the heart of Costa Blanca
After a delicious breakfast on Sunday morning, we headed to a small village, about an hour’s drive from Alicante.
“It’s a hidden pearl, very often neglected by tourists” My aunt’s friend told us.
Of course, this immediately sparked our curiosity, since we all love exploring the places locals recommend that are not so crowded with tourists. Guadalest turned out to be a gem indeed! Imagine a tiny mountain village with impressive views over a turquoise lake below (the Lake of Guadalest). This is definitely among the most memorable villages on the Costa Blanca. The medieval architecture, the rocky slopes and the stairs, widening towards the top, while revealing breathtaking panoramic views and fascinating heritage are unforgettable. We spent around two hours on the top, where, in fact, is the village’s centre. Cosy narrow streets, small souvenir shops and cafes lured us.
Benidorm
Later that day, we went for a short evening stroll across Benidorm’s coastline. It was a nice evening walk by the seaside, but honestly, this wasn’t my type of city. Noisy and crowded centre and coastline, even before the tourist season had begun. Not to compare, but Alicante definitely captured my heart and the crowds there were … somehow … more pleasant.
Murcia: a city with a rich cultural and historical heritage
We had no plans for the last day of our trip. But later that day, one spontaneous decision proved to be the right choice for spending a beautiful day. I opened the map searching for a city near Alicante, within an hour drive. And this turned out to be Murcia! I knew nothing about the city but the famous cathedral, and this was enough reason to go there. Located 80 km southwest of Alicante (one-hour drive). Murcia is the capital of the Region of Murcia.
We spent a couple of hours there, walking on foot from the Central Railway station (where we parked the car) to the city centre. After a short walk by the Floridablanca Garden, one of the most beautiful public gardens in the city of Murcia, we crossed the Bridge of the Hazards, also called the Bridge of Dangers – an 18th-century bridge known to be the oldest bridge and a symbol of the city. Right after the bridge, our first impressive stop was Plaza de las Flores or the Square of Flowers, in the city centre, which, thankfully, wasn’t very crowded, and we took some beautiful photos.
We moved towards the Cardenal Belluga Square, where the beautiful view of the cathedral was revealed. The Cathedral of Santa Maria, originating back in the 14th century, is regarded as the main historic monument of the city and one of the best examples of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles, combined in one stunning architectural building.
How can you say Goodbye to this amazing sunset?
The third day of our girls trip ended where it started – in Alicante, but this time we enjoyed the amazing sunset above the port. Words are not enough to describe the scenery. The calm waters of Costa Blanca reflected the golden sunset, making our last impressions of this beautiful Spanish city unforgettable.
A celebration of family and friendship
I’m sure for my aunt turning 70 was not about counting years, but about celebrating a life richly lived, family relations and friendships that have endured time and distance.
And perhaps that is the most powerful form of love.
For us, the daughters, this wasn’t just a simple weekend abroad. It was watching two sisters and a lifelong best friend walk side by side along the Alicante promenade, still laughing like girls as they chased the golden sunset. It was seeing our mothers not only as “mum” or “aunt,” but as women with their own histories, passions and unforgettable stories. It was welcoming a future daughter-in-law into our strong circle of women.
And somewhere between the sea breeze, shared laughter and intimate conversations, we realised that the greatest journeys are not about the places we visit, but about the people we share them with!
