Christmas on the road from Australasia to Europe to South America

We have spent a few Christmases on the road, just the two of us in our little home on wheels in several different countries and this year we are doing just the same. It can be a little sad when we see our friends and families gathering together for Christmas parties and celebrations leading up to and on Christmas day. I must admit we do at times get that twinge of envy and FOMO seeing photos on social media of the people we love spending quality time together and wish we could be there too. The feeling of wishing we were there is often felt throughout the year but hits especially hard at Christmas time. It can be a bittersweet feeling as we enjoy our own merry little Christmas and also feel happy to see loved ones together making memories and looking joyful. That said, we do enjoy being on the road and love our travelling life, yes it can be sad to be away for a long time but in this modern world of video calling, you’re never really all that far way at all. So I wanted to take a look at Christmases over the years since travelling and capture our festivities around the world.

Christmas on the road in a camper van can be a strange thing but a joyful one none the less. In previous years we have spent Christmas in New Zealand, Spain, Greece and Italy and now this year in Uruguay.

2019 New Zealand

In 2019 we were in New Zealand and it was our first time travelling and our first Christmas just the two of us. Imagining we were going to have a hot Christmas we found a lovely quiet spot by the beach ready for a Christmas day swim. It did however come as a shock to us to find it wasn’t at all hot in mid December and decided to forfeit the swimming for another drink instead. At least we had the view of the beach to gaze upon as we opened cards and gifts that we were fortunate enough to have had sent to us. We were able to call home and talk to our families on Christmas Day, sharing in our joy and high spirits even though we were a world apart.

When we travelled in New Zealand we didn’t have a very large vehicle, we had Gladys (a converted seven seater car) so as you can imagine space was tight, as a result we chose to eat and cook outside whenever possible. So not a hot Christmas, a fairly mild one, sitting in a car park by the beach in camping chairs wearing jumpers as the cool sea breeze whipped by. We did however stick to tradition for breakfast and had our usual Christmas breakfast of smoked salmon with hollandaise sauce and asparagus. This has been a favourite every year and it felt nice to have that little bit of home with us when we were so far away.

For our dinner we had planned a charcuterie board, this is also a favourite of ours on any special occasion and as we relied solely on a gas stove to cook it was certainly the best option. Our evening took an unexpected turn however when we met our dutch camper van neighbours who hadn’t planned anything special at all. Wanting to share our joy and goodies with them we were invited into their (much larger) van. They provided pasta with Pesto to start then we shared our charcuterie and spent the evening drinking and playing board games. We never saw them again and to this day we cannot remember their names but it will always be a cherished memory.

Christmas on the road in a campervan New Zealand

2020 Covid in Spain

The year was 2020, Covid had come and lockdowns had reared their ugly heads, everyone was down and everyone was stuck but Christmas was here so we all rallied and took joy in what we could. Will and I were very fortunate, our families were healthy, safe and untouched by the sorrow the year had brought.

At this point we were in Spain, between vehicles and staying in Wills’ parent’s beautiful villa in southern Spain, we were lucky and we knew it. This year Christmas wasn’t spent in a van but with Will’s mum and dad, family seemed all the more important with all that was going on in the world. Having more of a traditional Christmas, though this year it was a hot one as we drank wine and dined with Mijas Mountains watching down on us. Will being an excellent cook (something he got from his dad) volunteered himself to prepare our Christmas feast, only to find his dad left the turkey in the freezer 50km down the coast! Luckily, we had a backup gammon instead! All was well, we laughed about it then and we laugh about it now.

2021 Home in the UK

Fast forward a year to 2021 and the world is opening up again, the aftermath of Covid is still present but life is slowly returning to some sort of normality. Family is still at the forefront of our minds so this year we spend Christmas in the UK with my family. With my mum, sister, niece and nephew, it was magical to spend Christmas with young children, seeing their excitement and delight, the sight was infectious for everyone.

2022 Greece

Back on our travels once again, the following year we spent Christmas in Greece, in a little fishing village on the south coast. Through TrustedHousesitters we were pet sitting three beautiful cats for a lovely British couple who had gone home for the holidays. Just a few minutes walk from the beach, their pretty home was in true Greek style with large windows and shutters and came with orange, lemon, lime and grapefruit trees in the garden with fruit ready for picking.

Having been on the road for some time by that point it felt good to take advantage of being in a house again, with unlimited running water, flushing toilets, hot showers and and so much room, it was a real Christmas treat.

The best part though was our three furry friends keeping us company. Arthur, Aida and Polly, each had their own endearing personality and welcomed us into their home. Often we would get woken in the night when Arthur – your typical chunky ginger kitty- wanted to snuggle so close that he would plonk himself on your head, we never complained about being woken though as we thought it was the sweetest thing. Little Aida – a slinky petite ginger kitty – loved to be held as you were cooking to oversee and ensure any titbits were hers for the taking. Polly was a stunning and mysterious tortoiseshell kitty who slept on the bed every night and enjoyed snuggles and tummy rubs but during the day was distant and aloof. Will and I even bought them all little treats to open on Christmas Day and sent videos to their mummy and daddy (we are soft touches!).

For our own Christmas Day, breaking from our traditional breakfast we had pancakes with bacon and maple syrup sat in the warmth of the Greek morning sun. Afterwards Will decided a dip in the sea was just the thing he needed. Though it was a warm day, the sea was very cold so when I say a dip, I mean a dip! He carefully tiptoed into the water, looking over his shoulder full of regret and seeking encouragement before throwing himself under and lingering a few seconds to then quickly retreat to the safety of the warm sand.

For our Christmas lunch, we set up a table in the sun on the balcony over looking the orange trees and feasted on a somewhat traditional roast pork, with homemade Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes and cabbage. Using the oranges from the garden we even made homemade chocolate orange shortbread for desert. Dotted throughout the course of the day, we of course spent time speaking with friends and family on various video calls, catching up and spreading the Christmas cheer.

2023 Italy

Last Christmas we had spent several days racing down the length of Italy to be on the south coast for Christmas Day. As it was out of high season we found ourselves a large beach that we had mostly to ourselves, with just the odd person here and there having a stroll on the waterfront. Hiding the van under the shade of the trees – as this is before we had our solar panels – we were able to enjoy the view and still be protected from the sun.

Getting dressed up as we always do, yet again we connected with family and friends through the day sharing in the festivities from Italy to the UK. Every year on Christmas morning we enjoy a breakfast Bucks Fizz but this year as an ode to our hosting country I felt that Bellini were far more appropriate. Going back to our traditions, this year we paired our Bellinis with smoked salmon, asparagus and hollandaise sauce. After making sand angels Will of course needed a dip in the sea. Again I do mean a dip. Once again he found himself treading carefully through the shoreline and wading deeper and deeper. Yet again he looks back for support with a face pained by the cold of the sea before plunging into the water. Resurfacing with a gasp and hastily retreating to an open towel awaiting to embrace him. Sitting on the beach, the Italian sun warming him up, we had the best pumpkin ravioli I have ever had, swimming in rich tomato sauce. I still think about that ravioli!

Continuing our festivities we drank wine, played games, listened to music, bathed in the sun and spoke with loved ones. A day spent relaxing and chasing the sun as it set behind us, the trees that once gave us the comfort of shade now hid the last of the sunshine and brought with them a chill to the air. As the sun had fallen it taken the warmth with it so we retreated to the van to enjoy our dinner. Roast pork with roast potatoes and the all the rest, all cooked on the bbq by Will, my very own master chef!

2024 Uruguay

Last but certainly not least we are in Uruguay for Christmas 2024! A tropical Christmas surrounded by palm trees and parakeets with temperatures of 27 degrees Celcius. We had hoped to be near the sea again for Christmas but sadly found the coast too windy to be able to enjoy a few days resting there. So we decided instead to come further in land and settled ourselves by the picturesque Cebollati River. It was a beautiful spot that offered us everything we needed, sunshine, peace, beauty and somewhere to swim.

On this small stretch of river was a free campsite of sorts, there were toilet facilities provided, places to bbq and free electric hook up for those who needed it. Even though it was a popular spot for locals to enjoy it didn’t feel over crowded or cramped, there was plenty of space for us all to enjoy. With the heat of the sun hitting early and heating the van fast it’s difficult to sleep late, so we were up fairly early, feeling a little jaded from the night before having started our Christmas celebrations on Christmas Eve.

This year we were unable to source the ingredients for our usual Christmas breakfast so we had a second favourite, pancakes! Which we of course paired with a morning Bucks Fizz. Later that day our neighbouring campers invited us over for tortas fritas, a traditional fried bread had either as a snack or part of a meal. They were kind as they beckoned us over to join them, though I speak little Spanish, Will being fluent helped bridge the gap, with his translating and their patience I was not left out. We departed their company to speak with family whilst our dinner cooked on the bbq, we saw little snippets into their Christmas celebrations, some sad news from relatives but mostly tales of happy times. Passing the time chatting together before our roast beef was done along with the homemade dauphinoise potatoes and green beans. Delicious! We ended our evening with a Christmas movie and drink in hand.