The reality of Van Life that no one shows you - Zaragoza city S5 Ep12

This week we explore Zaragoza city and things don't go as planned. We left Spain and headed into France where it all went wrong.
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BACKGROUND STORY
We are steps2adventure, better known as Jordan & Annalise. We created the steps2adventure brand to inspire people to explore what the outdoors has to offer. Back in 2019 we always knew we wanted to travel, we were planning backpacking trips, train journeys.. you name it. Thankfully we came across the van life KZbinrs! As soon as we saw this way of life we knew this was it, this is how we want to live and travel. So, we bought a van… Not just any van, she’s a 2007 LWB Mercedes sprinter van, an absolute beast!! We have spent over 2 years converting her in-between work and some little adventures across the UK.
Come along with us for some epic adventures across the UK & Europe and everyday life in-between
#travelcouple #vanlifeuk #europevanlife #vanlifespain #nudebeach #thermalbath #hotspring #zaragoza #valencia

[@simonpe3trie102]

If It doesn’t feel right move on Glad you guys are safe .

[@colinclark7467]

i am from scotland love ur blog

[@Steps2adventure]

Thanks mate 😊

[@matthewvaughan6327]

Sounds like you two had a bit more adventure than you were expecting. Glad you and Lill are alright.

[@Steps2adventure]

Thanks for watching 🥰

[@renevdbruggen]

Thanks lads❤. Your bad experience confirmed that times have changed and that it’s safer to stay at a campsite wherever you are. Keep posting guys love your vids ❤

[@Steps2adventure]

We only had one bad experience in 3 months and over 4 thousand miles don't let it put you off its super safe just get the odd bad experience here and there could happen anywhere in the world unfortunately campsites these days are just way to expensive 😂

[@ralphclarke5030]

Sorry to hear about your bad experiences, we have lived and worked in France for nearly 20 years and have travelled extensively around the EU during the last 5 years in our campervan and have never had a problem. Our rule is simple, we never 'wild camp' at weekends in or near a large town/city and always find a secure aire/campsite if one is available, if not we move on. Please do not dismiss France based on this unfortunate experience, sadly it could have happened anywhere, signs of the times I'm afraid. All the best from The Flying Baguette.....

[@Steps2adventure]

To be honest we never really enjoyed France even staying on campsites when we came in the car. It just feels like England to us 😂 I suppose everyone has there favourite & least favourite places 🥰 thanks for watching x

[@lovinglife2340]

I’ve found the Spain/France border area to be a bit iffy with loads of swindlers and chancers hanging around. Both sides of the border. Never had a problem staying overnight anywhere in France.

[@Steps2adventure]

Yeah we might have just had bad luck but we’ve been twice now and both times we’ve not enjoyed it 🫣 still want to explore the south & Pyrenees though

[@hagridthehymer]

Thats our Hagrid the Hymer you walked past on the way to the tram 👍

[@Steps2adventure]

No way ahaha that's a great name we love Harry Potter

[@RB-lt8kt]

I can recommend Agon Countainville. which is a nice area. You can see Jersey off the coast. Beach has dog friendly beach and nice town.

[@debbietideswell3645]

Loved following your adventures ahead of doing it ourselves later this year, scary end to your journey but a heads up to others, thankyou 🙏 so glad youre all ok safe trip back home 🥰

[@Steps2adventure]

Thanks so much for watching xx

[@michaelpilling9659]

Hello You Three - greetings from Poland That was a scary ending. I hope neither of you were too upset or hurt in any way. Superb video. Great humour.

[@Steps2adventure]

Heyy! Thanks for watching, we’re all good hope your well 🥰

[@wanderingsofalanandcaz]

We’ve not done much down the west but Andorra was nice and the middle of France was spot on along with the alps…. No problems in either 👍

[@Steps2adventure]

We definitely want to do the south and the Pyrenees! The west just kinda felt like England to be honest. We didn’t get excited about anywhere which was a shame! But each to their own🥰 xx

[@sunnywild142]

Annalises hicups got me 😂

[@Steps2adventure]

Hahaha he was proper kicking off at me 😂😂

[@bettyourcampervan]

Another ace video guys! #vanlife has its ups n downs 😁

[@Steps2adventure]

Sure does mate but that's the sipce of life we love a mixed bag 😂😂

[@bettyourcampervan]

@@Steps2adventure cant beat it 🤣🤣

[@andreas_trnka_photography]

We spend many nights in Donostia. Never had a problem and never heard about problems. Also there is a very nice camping up on the hill.

[@Steps2adventure]

Ah nice! Yeah I suppose you can get trouble anywhere but we wouldn’t don’t go back to the places in France we’ve already been

[@antoinettesmithince4724]

Keep safe you lovelies.....great vloggs. On your way back...if you can have a peep at Honfleur marina...or the citadelle de Montreuil... both good park ups 😎👍

[@Steps2adventure]

Thanks so much for watching & the park ups 🥰

[@colingoodwin5996]

Great content. Is always good to see other peoples travels. I think you've just been a bit unlucky with France though. Have been down to Spain a couple of times in my van staying in France on route and not had any problem. Would say try not to let things put you off doing France in the future. The Dordogne is a nice area, might be worth a try. Have a great time though where ever you go, stay safe and enjoy life to the full. ❤

[@Steps2adventure]

Thanks for watching!! We would love to do the south & the French side of the Pyrenees 👏🏼📍xx

[@jeffreygroombridge6892]

Your very brave, you two, I've watched your last 3 video's and they great, your van has been fantastically converted, wish i was that knowledgeable, i have a coach built swift kon tiki 560 sport, which has all the luxuries you could want, i would like to think my wife and our little sparky, (jackapoo dog ) would be brave enough to travell abroad, but it does look like it can be a little risky sometimes, love the more remote quiet spots more than the overcrowded place's, your drone footage as well Jordan is fantastic, we're in essex by the way, hopefully we'll travel abroad one day, but quiet happy watching your video's at the moment, keep the good work up,

[@Steps2adventure]

Thanks so much really appreciate the support don't let it put you off we have had much worse go on in the UK it's super safe abroad just abit of bad luck at the end of the trip one thing that can make you feel safe is there's police absolutely everywhere makes you feel like nothing could happen get yourselfs in the sun spain is super cheap and everyone is friendly 😂 most places in France are lovely however a little expensive

[@jeffreygroombridge6892]

Thanks for your advice and knowledge, you seem such a nice couple, bet that little four legged friend goes every where with you, like ours does with us, ❤​@Steps2adventure

[@tanyabassett8287]

I can't believe you had that in Hondarribia. We were there for 4 days over the new year and there were motorhomes parked overnight looking over the gorgeous beach. I think you were very very unlucky it's a small town, like a mini San Sebastien and we've never seen any trouble there. We live 2 and a half hours away on the Arcachon Basin so are often there. I understand that when the stars aren't aligned things can go wrong, we've been loads of times for long weekends to Paris and have had a great time, the last time was a nightmare, we were attacked by a crackhead, pickpocketed the next day ( luckily an empty wallet ) saw 2 guys beat the living daylights out of each other at 10 in the morning, our stars were definitely not aligned that time ). Anyways don't let it put you off, France is generally a fantastic place, I wouldn't have lived here for 35 years if it wasn't 😊

[@Steps2adventure]

I agree 100% just in the wrong place at the wrong time really ahah could happen anywhere in the world that's why you should always keep an eye out happens much more in the UK that it does abroad we had an amazing time the first time in France just not the best experience the second time aha however it doesn't put us off we will soon be back out 😂🙌

[@adamchilds1035]

Hi from kingsteignton south west of England

[@Steps2adventure]

Hey! Thanks for watching

[@markmyhill6080]

Can you post a link to the park up where you had the trouble with the people in balaclavas please. Dont let it put you off though - we were robbed of our bikes off a bike rack ages ago in the early AM. 5 people in hoods and masks, 2 holding doors shut so we couldnt get out others cutting locks and chains with angle grinder. alarms blaring, loads of other vans about too. Scary but its rare and can happen anywhere. Keep up the vlogs 👍

[@Steps2adventure]

Sure does mate could happen anywhere we saw lads in the UK doing the exact same thing won't put us off anything just think people should know that it can happen but one bad experience in 4 thousand mile can't go wrong with that ahaha I think the parkup was called Asques, Place du Mascaret

[@scottscoobyrichardson9519]

Been campervaning for a few years and never had a problem in france ,just don't park over night on motorway Aires

[@Steps2adventure]

We don’t park on motorway Aires either 😊

[@user-ml8gs9xd7f]

We carry our dog in Spain in a old large handbag that way we can go anywhere without being bothered by anyone 😎

[@Steps2adventure]

There so handy really most places that don't allow dogs seem to let them in if there in a bag 😂

[@clivecopland5952]

Sorry to hear about the lads in balaclavas, thats bloody scary. What p4n location did this happen at ?

[@Steps2adventure]

I’ll have to try and find it, I didn’t save it. It wasn’t far from Bordeaux! Thanks for watching x

[@thenoworriesnomad]

Its a Police car with lights on, I dont get your panic.LOL

[@Steps2adventure]

It was the fact we parked up and it was a dead end so whatever was going on was right next to us..

[@wanderingwilcoxs]

Hi guys do you have a link to your dog trolly please ❤

[@Steps2adventure]

Hey! We bought it in one of the pet stores in Alicante but you can get them on Amazon 🥰

[@wanderingwilcoxs]

@@Steps2adventure yea we have seen them on Amazon but really Liked yours but thanks for getting back to us appreciate it.

[@booms7258]

Hiya, I didn’t see the other bad experience you had in France, what was it? We’ve been travelling around with no problems for years but not since the pandemic…now worried things have changed. We have been planning a trip but you’ve now put me off…is it really that bad out there?? Best wishes to you two.

[@Steps2adventure]

Hey! We’ve just not enjoyed it both times we’ve gone out to be honest. You can get trouble anywhere just been unlucky I think. However we didn’t see anywhere in France that we thought ‘wow’ but that’s just us 🥰🥰x

[@advan7084057]

Hi Guys, I have been following your last few Vlogs on your trip through Spain and France. From your bad experiences with guys banging on your van doors at night, it seems that there are some dodgy places to park up night. I am a British guy living in Durban South Africa, and our country is also full of crime, we don't venture out at night in fear of being assaulted and robbed or killed, but I'm afraid that in Europe these days with all the asylum seekers or non Europeans moving in, it has brought a huge safety risk to you all in Europe as well. Anyway, I loved your Vlogs and hope you are back in the UK safe and sound now.

[@Steps2adventure]

Tbh it was super safe just the odd risky moment however we have had more issues like that in the UK than in the 3 countries combined mostly our fault really as when we was abroad we parked in some dodgy areas not knowing it was dodgy 🤣

[@dudeleboski2692]

Was this in winter? Recently?

[@Steps2adventure]

It sure was ahaha

[@lc7294]

St.Helens?

[@Steps2adventure]

Yes

[@shaunmccaw2911]

I do the same with my back door in the house get round the corner and go back and check 🤪doesn't seen to matter were you go in the world there's fannys everywhere thankfully never came to anything you need some ppe Jordan baseball bat 👍🏻🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@Steps2adventure]

Hahaha love it 😂 yeah definitely need something in the van just incase 🏏 thanks for watching x

[@dudeleboski2692]

Why did you not call the Police? Balaclavas? Thats well out of order…..

[@Steps2adventure]

Sooner better driving off they looked like young lads just messing about easier to move spots than causing an issue ahah

[@LeeLee-gy7gp]

They do show you because youre about a decadr late to the game and tonnes of KZbinrs have done the same video

[@Steps2adventure]

Cool

[@davidgreenwood5442]

Probably because in northern Spain much of it is basque. One time my wife and I went for a coffee not far from Santander and the bar was plastered with pro IRA posters etc. must admit we got the distinct impression we weren't popular in that place. You just need to be aware that politics can be a fuckin assole anywhere you go.

[@dudeleboski2692]

IRA or ETA? “Most of Northern Spain” isn’t Basque Country Neither. From the Basque going West; its Cantabria,Austrias, Galicia respectively…..

[@davidgreenwood5442]

@@dudeleboski2692 I'm merely pointing out that could have been an option I don't profess to care either way about ETA or IRA mentality. My many trips on my motorcycle to Spain have been brilliant without any issues at all.

[@davidmatthews3093]

Saying that you are not going to visit a whole country because of one or two isolated incidents is bizarre. Your loss.

[@Steps2adventure]

We’ve been to France twice now and hated it both times. Still up for trying the south & the Pyrenees though 👍🏼

[@Rickandhisvan]

Wow nightmare ! Locking the van thing……….done that 😂 those guys in balaclavas, always why it’s important to have access to the front. Glad you’re safe.

[@denisescally7090]

@@Steps2adventure You drove through in your van, it’s hardly a proper visit? If you think France is an unsafe country you shouldn’t be travelling at all. Too naive and too inexperienced.

[@Steps2adventure]

@@denisescally7090 it’s our opinion? Not everywhere is going to be our favourite place.

[@davidmatthews3093]

@@Steps2adventureWow. You really do have a problem.

[@Dackdrillsvanlife]

You guys just show the bad things why don't you just give up if your not enjoying it drama titles real van life people hate this as in all warps of life things go wrong you just have to deal with it

[@Steps2adventure]

We show the good and bad? Clearly not seen our videos😂😂 ‘real vanlife’ what’s that? People that don’t do social media

[@Dackdrillsvanlife]

Break downs and shitting in a bucket is clearly going to happen if you live in a van get over it show the good sides or I'm out

[@Steps2adventure]

Oh no what we gonna do with one less subscriber 😂

[@Dackdrillsvanlife]

Not the point is it just saying you cast alot of shad on something you ment to like to do, moan about your van breaking down no wonder it's old asf get a compost toilet to if your sick of your bucket your the sort of people hoow would buy a dog then moan about having to pick it's poo up and make a vidioe about it 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣