We find ourselves in an officially designated natural disaster area, and what a whirlwind it has been! Thankfully, we're safe, though a little worse for wear, and the damage around us has been surprisingly minimal.
Tuesday:
It all started with an email from my son’s school, urging me to pick him up at 3:00 PM. A code red had been issued by the local town hall due to an approaching storm. I rushed to grab him, battling the light rain that began to tease at the edges of the chaos to come.
Upon our return home, things seemed deceptively calm, with the rain only beginning to intensify. By 4:00 PM, those gentle droplets had transformed into a heavy downpour, causing our Starlink internet to flicker and falter.
Then came 5:00 PM, and the storm really hit its stride. My wife was still on her way home when we faced an unexpected challenge: our usual route had become an impassable river, a testament to the sheer volume of rain. To add to the madness, we experienced a power outage, though the water supply miraculously held out.
Taking matters into our own hands, my son and I braved the elements in our other car, desperately searching for a way home. But every road was blocked by rushing water. My wife, unable to make it, decided to stay at work, spending the night in a hotel with colleagues who were just as stranded as she was.
Wednesday:
The morning came with a heavy heart after a restless night of worry for my wife. When we discovered that the water supply had also been cut off, the situation seemed dire. Our home felt eerily quiet without heating, entertainment, or the ability to charge our phones.
After a few hours of cleaning up what we could, my son and I decided to venture out again. We sought an open road for our much-needed retreat. Thanks to kind locals and a hardworking cleaning crew, we finally found a cleared path that led to the village.
Later that evening, after much anticipation and a little ingenuity, I picked my wife up from the meeting point we had arranged. The emotional reunion was a relief, and we all collapsed into bed, exhausted but grateful.
Thursday:
Our mission this day was clear: hunt for drinkable water. Still unaware of when the water would be back on, we made it a priority. I tried to get some work done, which proved to be a challenge without reliable internet or power. Using my car's 220v outlet, I charged my laptop and essential devices. The rest of the day was relatively uneventful, just living in the limbo of our new normal.
Friday:
A breakthrough! I managed to get our internet back up and running through the car, turning what felt like an unproductive week into something more manageable. The day unfolded with a sense of normalcy, though we were still reeling from the extensive damage reported in surrounding villages. With our newfound connection, I reached out to let everyone know we were safe.
As night fell, we were treated to a surprise: the power had been restored! The warm glow of our lights brought an overwhelming sense of relief, and life began to return to its familiar rhythm.
Now, we find ourselves catching up on the news, stunned by the scale of the devastation around us. We're keeping those affected in our thoughts, and my wife has even volunteered to help with cleanup efforts in the hardest-hit areas.
Our BnB is currently closed until things improve and roads become accessible again, as the A-7 is mostly shut down and routes to Valencia are blocked.
We’re grateful to report that we’re safe, and we sincerely hope everyone else is doing alright too! Eagerly, we look forward to reconnecting with all of you soon!
Hasta luego, mis amigos!
