I spent my birthday on one of the Cíes Islands, Monteagudo.  The islands – three in total –  lie off the coast of Galicia in northwest Spain.  They’re celebrated for the beauty of their beaches and it’s not difficult to see why.  The main beach on Monteagudo has fine, white sand and stretches in a picturesque arc from the harbor.  Only the waters of the Atlantic, freezing cold even on a hot August day, spoil the idyll.

I usually get bored quickly on beaches, but I enjoyed my birthday on the Cíes Islands:  hanging out with the family, reading, and having tapas in a simple café overlooking the gorgeous beach.  An improvised birthday cake – a slice of tarta de Santiago – was the delicious finishing touch.