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Living in a van – a Christmas to remember

December 26, 2014 by Mike 20 Comments

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Have we been doing Christmas wrong all these years?…

vanlife-christmas-athens-600px-2014

My family came to Athens. We spent Christmas day on the beach. It was the best yet!

Here’s what I don’t need for a good Christmas:

  1. Christmas crackers
  2. Television
  3. Loads of food, chocolate, meat and alcohol
  4. Presents, loads and loads endless presents
  5. To rush and stress
  6. The queen’s speech

The one hour Christmas preparation:

We walked through the markets of Athens and bought fish, vegetables, charcoal, wine and some glasses – a total cost of 30 euros.

IMG_1394-Edit15453

9 steps to a Vandog family Christmas…

1. Make a fire

christmas-on-the-beach-athens

2. Prepare the food

preparing-fish-for-fire

3. Cook the food

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4. Have a drink

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5. Drop the food in the fire

drop-food-in-fire

5. Enjoy

christmas-on-the-beach

6. Try another family for a bit

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7. Enjoy sunset

christmas-on-the-beach-family-in-athens

Merry Christmas everyone!

My Christmas conclusion

A normal Christmas is way overrated. What do you think? Can you remember last Christmas? What about 2 years back? I can’t!

I’ve really enjoyed not being exposed to all the Christmas TV, annoying advertising, rushing around and presents no one wants. It has made my Christmas the best yet.

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Filed Under: Living and travelling in a van Tagged With: greece, travel

Books to help you…

Make a van into your home…Live the life (new!)…
From Van to Home bookLive in a Van and Travel book
Get From Van to Home hereGet How to Live and Travel in a Van here

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Comments

  1. moonraker 2 says

    December 27, 2014 at 5:09 pm

    I am glad you enjoyed a more simple Christmas and hope you have many more. I have always enjoyed Christmas: spending time finding gifts the recipient will like, making the cake and often the gifts, arranging get togethers with family and friends, going to carol concerts and church on Christmas Day and finally the yummy free range turkey that will last for a week in many guises. Happy New year wherever you are you don’t have to go away to take control.

    Reply
    • Mike @vandogtraveller.com says

      January 3, 2015 at 11:10 am

      Sounds really good! Yeah Christmas is a nice time. I think I just have a problem with being told what I should do. It’s my problem. I must admit, stuffing is pretty nice. Happy new year to you! and thanks for reading the blog 🙂

      Reply
  2. chris says

    December 28, 2014 at 7:21 pm

    What a way to spend Christmas!, good company no hassle : ). What will you do when your mot runs out?

    Reply
    • Mike @vandogtraveller.com says

      January 3, 2015 at 10:45 am

      Hey chris, I’m not sure about the MOT thing. I mean, it is not actually a requirement outside of UK. But when when I do go back to the UK I’d have to go straight to the MOT centre after getting off the ferry. Will just see

      Reply
  3. Peter says

    December 31, 2014 at 7:36 pm

    Looks really really nice man! It`s amazing to see how a close family relationship and off grid traveling around europe can be combined. Did not think this is possible. Love grows by giving. The love we give away is the only love we keep.

    Reply
  4. btuorg says

    January 2, 2015 at 1:36 am

    Merry Christmas and happy New Year to you and your family. Any plan to go beyond Europe borders? Asia maybe. Look like you’re having so much fun over the last few month.

    Reply
    • Mike @vandogtraveller.com says

      January 3, 2015 at 10:43 am

      Thanks. Happy new year to you too! Yeah beyond Europe is in the back of my mind, but it would be a bit in the future and would require a bit of planning. The great thing about Europe is that I can freely roam with no planning. Still a lot to explore first in Europe anyway.
      Thanks for reading the blog

      Reply
  5. Kara says

    January 2, 2015 at 9:04 pm

    I really think your dream turned into reality is quite groovy! Cheers for a Happy New Year 🙂 Enjoy those starry nights….

    Reply
  6. Oldtimer says

    January 2, 2015 at 10:22 pm

    WAY TO GO VANDOG!! Im a lot older than you (almost 60) but i ‘ve often thought about doing the same thing..just selling everything, get out of debt and travel the world.

    Reply
    • Oldtimer says

      January 2, 2015 at 10:37 pm

      Why dont you set up a PayPal page for donations? Heck, I would contribute a few bucks.

      Reply
      • Mike @vandogtraveller.com says

        January 3, 2015 at 10:40 am

        Hey Oldtimer! met loads of 60+ vanners on the road. It’s a nice (and distracting) thought to think about isn’t it? And about the donations thing, a few people have said this now. It’s a difficult one. I have thought about it. I mean, I quit my job, remember? and then to ask for money from people who do have jobs is maybe not the best thing to do. BUT if you do want to give me money, I should let you. Maybe I’ll set a page up where a portion goes to charity with a list of donators. What do you think? My PayPal email is mikehudson106@gmail.com.
        Thanks for reading the blog! and if you ever want help with van stuff just give me an email

        Reply
        • Ed Cliffe says

          April 15, 2015 at 5:45 pm

          The awesome blog is definitely providing a service! I’m planning on following in your footsteps withinin the next couple of years, and all the advice and inspiration will be very valuable! A donation would be the least i could do 🙂

          Reply
    • queenofknow says

      March 1, 2015 at 5:11 pm

      From one Oldtimer to another……when are we going to stop thinking about it and DO IT?!!

      Reply
  7. Testerty says

    January 13, 2015 at 3:29 am

    Is it legal to make a campfire on a public beach?

    Reply
  8. Wendy Marvin says

    January 13, 2015 at 12:48 pm

    Just had one of my best Christmas’ ever. I left my job and life in the states and moved to Paris in August. Christmas Eve I hopped on a train and headed to Amsterdam. Slept on a boat on a canal with 10 strangers. Woke up Christmas morning and shared breakfast with these “strangers” and then headed to spend the morning at the zoo. One of my best Christmas’ ever!!! I love what you are doing.

    Reply
  9. Scott Walker says

    January 26, 2015 at 3:35 pm

    Your very lucky indeed, I’m sure there are bad bits along the journey but I’ve no doubt the good out way the bad ten fold and the freedom must be liberating! Keep up the good work 🙂

    Reply
  10. zaza & rikki says

    January 31, 2015 at 7:06 pm

    We’ve also ditched our jobs and will be setting off in 10 weeks on a year long trip in a converted citroen relay – just sorting out the leaks at the moment. Our plan is to follow the sun! Our kids are joining us for Christmas and it would be fantastic to have one as good as yours!

    Reply
    • Mike @vandogtraveller.com says

      February 2, 2015 at 8:08 am

      Nice! Where will you be for Christmas? if it’s Athens, I know good beach haha. Good luck

      Reply
  11. bob hextreme says

    March 4, 2015 at 8:15 am

    didn’t mean to sound negative on my last 2 posts.. dream of getting away, as property taxes have increased $600 in last 3 years, and knowing at age 53 that i will probably have to work until age 85/or until i die, and not having skills to convert a van (i.e. will require a ton of money to make it so), am exploring options. my da is 99, my mum is 80 and recovering from a broken hip, so i am interested in spending more time with them, between my 2 jobs. i will probably have to sell my house as is (lucky to get $40,000 for it – purchased it for $99,000), and will need that to live to age 62 to get military pension. don’t think financially that i’ll make it to age 60, so i’m always thinking of alternatives, including the ultimate one.

    Reply
  12. SpainDriving says

    December 14, 2016 at 1:43 pm

    Wow! That’s really unusual Christmas! Did you have a feeling that it’s real Christmas and not just a usual summer picnic? My Christmas mood appears only with snow falling and Christmas tree smelling 🙂 But anyway, I think everyone should try this experience to feel the difference and to have something unusual to remember.

    Reply

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