But I'm getting ahead of myself. Yesterday, Elisa and I packed bags of food and extra layers. Then we drove about an hour to a village where we met her friends. Elisa and Eva have known each other since they were small children in Teruel. While years have put them in different spots in life, they still get together every once and a while in order to maintain their friendship. Beautiful. So despite the looming clouds in the sky and the ferocious winds whipping at our skin, we all took off for a hike.
Eva's boyfriend grew up in this village and therefore knows all the good hiking spots. However, this was a tricky day for hiking. Normally, as Eva explained to me, this area struggles with droughts. Yet now, for some reason, they were experiencing strange amounts of water everywhere. Flooding was almost a concern. So the trails that were normally easy hiking now needed to be carefully maneuvered between mud and flowing rivers of water. It wasn't difficult but required a little more attention then the normal trails. We went on two small hikes. The first was to a waterfall. For some reason, the only thought I had when I saw the waterfall was "You can tell it's a waterfall because of the way it is!" (I know only some of you will get that joke...) I scampered down the rocky edge to get a closer look. Rocky cliffs loomed over head and pine trees filled in the bottom of the mountainside. Quite the scene.
We began the second hike. Eva and her boyfriend named plants and birds as we walked. This walking was a bit easier because we were going up the hillside instead of down into the water. It made it easier to avoid the flooding areas. Tiny flowers struggled to bloom. You could imagine how green and beautiful the area must be in the summer. We arrived shortly to the goal of the hike: The Arch Rock. Amazing. Truly a unique spot. This rock looked like someone had grabbed the center out of a big rock and just said "Yep, that looks better." It was practically a perfectly symmetrical rock with the middle gapping open to a circle shape. You could tell it's a crazy cool rock because of the way it is!
On the way back down I left the group for a bit to go look at these cool rocks at the top of the hillside. Garmin, Elisa's dog, and I wandered up to the top of the mountain. It made for quite the view. The valley lay below us. Sounds of the rushing river, birds chirping, the wind blowing firmly through the trees below floated to our perch high above. Behind me a rocky cliff shot up into the sky. A cave was cut into the rocky edge that Garmin was very excited about exploring. I sat for a while just listening and observing. Finally Garmin let me know he was ready to go back down. So we raced back down to meet up with the group, who were all enjoying a water break at a fountain near the car.
The other struggle with the hiking areas was if you went to high up, you'll get stuck in snow. We thought we'd give it a try. But we were no exception. The bald tires on the van quickly got stuck. Elisa laughed saying to me, "I bet you never thought you would be pushing a car out of snow in Spain." Nope, can't say I saw that one coming. But no big deal, eh? Pushing a car out of snow in Spain is just the same as everywhere else. Ah, the comforts of home.
We headed back down the mountain. Also, let me take a second to clarify. This is not mountains like Pyrenees mountains or such. Mountain here is a generous term. Okay, moving on.
On our way back down we passed an area where bulls are raised. I'm talking about THE BULLS. As in the bulls for all fights, street runnings, ect. This is them! Eva noticed three men standing there. Apparently, Eva and her boyfriend knew them. So we decided to stop. Elisa translated for me and said, "Apparently, these three guys are characters. I'm sure you having grown up in McCarthy it won't be a problem. Just wanted to let you know."
Now, some of you will understand what she meant. I can honestly say it is rare in my life now when people are so out there that they surprise me. Well it happened. I was a bit taken back at first. After a couple minutes of adjusting, however, I realized how funny this whole scene was. I couldn't help but laughing pretty much continuously. Covered in mud head to toe. They were spitting in between talking with the thickest accent I've ever heard. It made it impossible for me to understand a single word. Elisa said she barely understood. They all spoke quickly and obviously in very crass language. They offered us a beer, which Elisa and I shared one. I don't know what that was, but it was terrible. It makes PBR (or anything on that level) seem like high class beer. All these things... You could tell they are, as they described to me "Spanish Cowboys" because of the way they were!
When we arrived two of the men were watching off in the distance the other man. He was bringing in a calf who was born yesterday and had run away. Well he just picked up this little tiny bull, swung him over his shoulders, and brought him back in. He put the calf back in the pen. The calf angrily head butted the man. Which, honestly, was just adorable.
We decided to have lunch there. The building there was, I believe, an old shed for birthing cattle. It was very dark with small windows. The walls were thick stone slabs. The ceiling was made of what appeared to be left over plywood in assorted random colors. Two card tables were pushed together with a dirty table cloth throw over them both. Empty beer cans covered the table... and the floor... and outside... and everywhere, if we are being honest. Trash got thrown onto the ground in one corner. The food that Eva and Elisa had brought was arranged on the table for us all to enjoy. Eva, Elisa, and I began breaking off pieces of bread with our hands. I couldn't help but laugh when I was handed a knife from one of the men. This was the same knife he had wiped on his jeans... the same jeans he had hauled a calf in from the muddy trails and such. I will never claim to be a germaphobic person. I know people even consider me concerningly unconcerned with hygienics sometimes. I'm a fan of the whole "build up your immune system thing." Let kids play in the dirt. Ect. But there is a line somewhere. Here it was. I passed on the knife. They throughly enjoyed that I couldn't understand a word of what was going on. I gave up on understanding anything at this point. Their laughter echoed in the tiny dark room with every question shot in my direction. I laughed along because, frankly, the whole event was ridiculous.
After a while, the four of us loaded back into the car. The three cowboys offered for me to go say hi to the bulls in their pens. They swore the bulls weren't dangerous in the countryside. Not going to lie, really wanted to. But between Elisa and Eva's serious warnings, the knee deep mud, and the concerning joking mannerism of the three men, I never did go in. But I got some fun pictures!
The rest of the afternoon the four of us explored small surrounding villages. Eva would explain architectural phenomenas in front of us. I would smile and say, "Oh wow!" But, honestly, I was crazy tired and architecture isn't exactly the most exciting thing for me. I am glad people appreciate it because I understand its important in the world. But I just can't bring myself to care. Especially when I had reached zombie stage of tiredness. I've no idea WHY I was so tired. But I was. So we explored these tiny villages for a while.
Elisa and I headed home as the sunset covered the sky in beauty. We stopped at her parent's house to exchange cars. I said goodbye to them. They offered me a place to stay whenever I was in Spain. Her dad said he needed to give me a bottle of wine to take home with me for my parents. I laughed and said, thank you but I can't. Not only am I not going home anytime soon, but the moment I step foot in America I am not allowed to be hauling around wine. It would be a bit of a problem for so many reasons. I told him I would pass along the lovely sentiment. (Mom, Dad, this is me passing that along!) Have I mentioned I already can't wait to come back to Spain to spend more time with these folks? Well, I can't! They are all so great. I'm so honored they took me in with such open arms.
This morning, I packed. Elisa and I will spend tonight and tomorrow at Arturo's mom's house. Then I'm off to Madrid to catch a plane to China! So this is my last day in Arturo and Elisa's house. How time flies... So crazy. A big "to be continued" stamp on this. But for now, I'm off to enjoy the sun. You can tell it's a sunny day because of the way it is!
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