Sun, Sand & Sequins

I almost cheered and hugged her on the spot. We were staying! Well – for now at least…

Three (#ulink_1419a0e8-bebb-53b1-82d8-51f06e50e4a6)

Once Dad had got the soap out of his hair in mine and Em’s shower, we all got ready for the beach. “What am I going to wear for swimming?” I asked Mum as we left our keys with a very relieved Mr Santos and headed down the dusty street towards the sea. I’d taken off my hoodie, my overskirt and my white T-shirt, and with my yellow vest and pink cropped trousers I almost felt like I was in a new outfit.

“We’ll buy you something to swim in, love,” Mum said, sounding mellow as the lovely sun warmed her shoulders. “This place looks like it might have some nice shops.”

It did. Out on the seafront, rows of little boutiques faced the beach with the most adorable – and expensive – beach outfits you ever saw. For visitors with a little less cash, there were kaftans and bikinis, sunhats and flip-flops all lined along the front, where colourful gypsy ladies had set up market stalls while their husbands tipped black hats over their eyes and snoozed away in the sun. I picked out a brown and white striped swimsuit and a brown straw hat, which I clamped straight on to my head.

Maybe losing my luggage wasn’t such a bad thing after all, I mused happily as we headed down on to the sand. Kicking off my trainers, I tied the laces together and slung them around my neck, loving the feeling of the boiling hot sand between my toes.