6th grade fieldtrip day: hiking through El Chorro

In America, when we go on field trips, we go to museums. In Spain when we go on field trips, we go to mountain ranges... something I have never really experienced growing up in the lovely Prairie State of Illinois. Southern Spain is filled with mountain ranges and rural views that are gorgeous! I also learned so much about the Spanish culture and the way people are raised on our bus ride, because I got to talk with one of the teachers on a more personal level. The view was amazing, and the bus pulled up to this National Park, Desfiladero de Gaitanes. We filed out of the bus and began our four hour hike. In that time, my camera added 374 pictures to it's memory card, and I narrowed it down to my favorite 70. Talk about decisions- and people think Obama's got it hard. It's a hard nut life.

The blues and greens in the water were unreal, and just how high the mountains were were also impossible to capture. This was the group that went on the trip- well not all of us. This is what happens when we try to get a photo of 5 people.

We also came across "El Caminito del Rey," a bridge that has been deemed one of the most dangerous hikes in the world. Seriously, Google it. It was built in 1901-05 for workers of a nearby hydroelectric plant to use for transportation, but as time went on, it wore out, yet still remained in use for hikers and climbers. After several fatal accidents (which I can only presume people falling to their deaths below), the Spanish government closed the bridge for restoration and is set to re-open in 2015 with new safety precautions. This mountain is 5K up, and the hike is a 2 miles long hike that is deemed one of the most dangerous in the world.

We stopped with the kids to have them play tic tac toe in the sand. Haha, they loved it! There was a whole tournament! We also stopped to have snacks at a couple spots, and look at what kind of chip flavors they have. Only in Spain! Ham and Cheese, and Pork flavored!

...And here are more pictures. Just embrace all of the scenery. It is breath taking.

We arrived at our last stop and this was our view.

Oh, Spanish kids. So much to say. First of all, there is no such thing as hurry, or a rush to them. I think I decided it is because they do not have to change classes, they don’t ever learn how to hurry somewhere or what it means to be on time, because the teachers change rooms, not the kids.  Trying to get those kids to stay together as a group and walk fast down to the bus was honestly one of the most frustrating things I have encountered. I would tell them “let’s go,” or “hurry up,” or come on or whatever and they would look at me and continue to walk. Now, in America, that is a sign of disrespect. Here, it is just the way people are. They don’t hurry. Ever.  The other thing that blew my mind was that we would leave the kids. I asked the other teachers about it, and they said it is the only way to keep the kids moving. We would go up ahead with the majority of the group, and we had to let the other kids think we left them. It’s a miracle nothing went wrong, because in America that is a law suit waiting to happen. However, it is true, it is the only reason those kids kept moving. This is especially true because in Spain the kids are given so much more freedom than anywhere else. When I think about it, they are out until 4 in the morning with the friends, not a parent in sight, alone in their classrooms every day for about 10-15 minutes EVERY hour, and they are just kind of used to being without adult supervision. Again, all lawsuits waiting to happen in the US. That was my culture shock.

Monday, my friend from high school came to Seville for a couple days! It was great to see a familiar face we picked up just as if we had recently graduated in 2009. He is living in Barcelona right now and was on his way to Madrid. Luckily, Seville impressed him (I’m pretty sure at least) and it was great to share my city with someone from the US! I let him use my map and tour book and I felt like a travel agent that just wasn’t with him all day.

I am getting ready to head to Morocco this weekend and looking forward to it so very much!