In brief
Hey! My name is Sina Luxor. I’m half egyptian, half danish and here’s my story.
When I was 15 I dreamed of living in a van. I wanted to travel around and park by the ocean. After years of working whilst studying and saving up, that dream came true.
In april 2019 I bought my first van, even before I had a drivers license! It was a beige Mitsubishi 1985 campervan. I thought it looked like a rad safari wagon. It may have been a little rusty and didn’t go faster than 80km/h, but that didn’t bother me. We’re in it for the ride.
I hustled as hard as I could. I was a waitress, a babysitter, a model, a surf instructor, an actor and an artist. I even tattooed people in my van.
Winter in Denmark can be extremely cold and depressing, not to mention the brainfreeze and numbness after each surf session. But the great thing is you almost always have it to yourself, plus the winter swells bring bigger and better waves. When December came it was time to start the journey with my boyfriend, Sylvester. We were on the hunt for good waves, warm weather and tropical surroundings.
Start of the surfing trip
Day 1: Dec 16th, 6am. We left from Kolding, Denmark, got a speeding ticket in Germany and ended up on a farm in the Netherlands. We had some fun hanging out in Amsterdam for the day, and then decided the ocean was calling.
From there we passed through Belgium and ended up in a forest in northern France where we spent our first Christmas in the van. We decorated the inside and even had a small Christmas tree decked with shell ornaments and little gifts underneath it. We didn’t have a heater and it was freezing most nights when the temperature inside the van got down to 5 degrees. We headed further down the coastline in hope of finding some warmth.
The French coast
What we did find were fun waves and empty lineups.
Our daily routine was simple: we would wake up, put on a cold surf wetsuit Wetsuit and surf all day long. If there were no waves, we would go in search of skateparks and ramps and explore new places.
Then, we arrived in the south of Landes, where we were greeted by big and beautiful waves. Unfortunately, I broke my longboard very quickly on a big beach break in Hossegor. It was impossible to live without my longboard, so I bought a new 9'2 shape in France, and I ended up being happier with it as it suited me better.
I will never forget the dances and cross-steps on my new longboard at the "A Frame" spot in Soustons; that day, I was alone in the water. When I arrived at the spot, there was so much fog that we couldn't see the waves from the beach. But as the day went on, the fog lifted, and a beautiful, shining sun emerged. That day will be forever etched in my memory.
Departure for Spain and Portugal.
After a month and a half of enjoying the beautiful coast of Landes and the Basque Country, we headed to Madrid so that I could tattoo my friend Adrian and show him my lovely van. However, we quickly started missing the ocean, so the next morning, we set off towards Portugal – a country that had always been a dream for me since my early years. First stop: Figueira da Foz.
We thoroughly enjoyed the spots in Figueira da Foz for a while, and then we noticed a massive swell heading towards Nazaré, which we thought would be thrilling to watch. Luckily, we witnessed one of the best sessions of the year in Nazaré, where surfers confronted waves ranging from 12 to 14 meters, attempting to tame them! It was truly a unique spectacle that leaves a lasting impression on you forever.
After that escapade in Nazaré, we hit the road to head to Peniche. We stayed there for two months, surfing all the spots between Peniche and Ferrel – it was a true daily adventure. But then, just as we were living the life I had always dreamed of, Covid-19 emerged.
Surfing was quickly banned, and the police told all vans/campers to return to their countries. At that moment, we were already considering going back to Denmark, thinking our dream life had come to an end. However, we were fortunate to meet a Danish family who allowed us to park on their farm (Pachamama) in Alcacer do Sal, where we were surrounded by animals and happy souls. They didn't charge us for the stay; instead, we helped them build a mosaic wall, do some gardening, and paint a van in return.
Then we ended up in Peniche. We stayed for 2 months, surfing all the spots and going on adventures. Due to Covid-19 surfing was banned, and the police were telling all van livers to go back to their countries. Luckily we met a danish family who let us park at their farm (Pachamama), in Alcacer do Sal, where we were surrounded by animals and happy souls. They didn’t charge us for the stay and instead we helped make a mosaïc wall, did a bit of gardening and painted a van.
In Sagres, we found beaches with over 100 surfers in the water and beaches with no surfers at all. How? A simple hike, a random descent, or even venturing off the beaten path with our van, navigating through completely destroyed sandy roads. The surroundings of Sagres are truly magnificent; locals even call this place "the end of the world." There, it feels like life slows down, and this location provided us with an immense sense of peace and freedom.
When we made it to Sagres we found beaches with 100 people in the water and beaches with 0 people in the water. How? A sketchy hike and randomly heading down sand destroyed roads. Barranco has some beautiful caves and cliffs too where we climbed and hiked to find a blue lagoon too.
Where are we now?
Eventually we drove back to Peniche since it seemed to be the only place we could park our van without getting fined after a new law came out about van living, we’re still here now!
Eventually we drove back to Peniche since it seemed to be the only place we could park our van without getting fined after a new law came out about van living, we’re still here now! We are really happy, there are good waves, good weather and good people, so why not stay?
:)
To be continued...
