Being in the military has many advantages, but my favorite is the free worldwide travel. Most of the places are not that fun and quite sandy, but there is that rare jewel every now and then. The mother of all jewels is Rota, Spain.

Rota, Spain, is a small resort town located right on the Atlantic coast. This is the location of many European vacationers and  a true “day-off” mindset. The local shops, restaurants and watering holes have no real hours of operation. Admittedly, this was difficult to get used to my first time. I wanted a souvenir and went to a shop in the early morning, and it was not open yet. Then I tried again at lunchtime, and everywhere was closed down for the time being. Finally, I found what I was seeking around three in the afternoon.

The town’s mindset is relaxed and very family oriented. The shops are closed during the heat of the day, so that the merchants can rest and enjoy the beautiful weather. It is very common to see whole families dining or enjoying a drink at an outdoor café until two in the morning. That explains the late opening of the stores each day.

Once we wrap our American, “go-go-go” minds around this concept, it is quite relaxing. At that moment it feels like a true vacation. Now it’s time to get some food and build up the energy for all-night dancing at the marina. You are in for the ultimate feast, paella at San Jose’s. This is a rice dish that is slow-cooked (45 minutes to be exact) using saffron and a medley of seafood. A dish like this is definitely worth the wait but to sweeten the deal, get a pitcher or two of sangria.

Having a meal like that requires some time to settle. May I suggest a place to rest your head? El Duque de Najera is a very luxurious hotel for an extremely fair price. The building screams comfort and quality with its marble floors, columns and precious artwork throughout. If you get tired of looking at all that decor, just step outside. El Duque de Najera is located right on the beach. You can listen to the waves crash from your room as you take your midday nap.

As the night approaches, the crowds linger to the marina clubs. These clubs happen to be conveniently located next to your hotel. The paella will give you energy to burn the midnight oils, and the sangria will have you socially lubricated to show your moves on the floor. Once you are ready to simmer down just stroll over to El Duque de Najera, recharge your batteries and start again tomorrow.