Adventure is Out There!: It's The Climb

I would never EVER usually quote Miley Cyrus but these past two days I went on two different hikes were I could relate to the song. Both beautiful in their own way and experience unlike any other. Both were challenging and when we got to the top it made the experience worth more. But it wasn't something being a camper for 6 years at Camp Stevens hadn't prepare me for!

First, we went on an excursion to Albayzin which is on the mountains at the top of the city. I had no clue what direction we were headed but I could see the Islamic influence on the city. As we walked on the cobblestone ground through the city and I saw cool stores and food places I have to explore later on while I am here. Also, we saw las cuevas which are caves built into the side of the mountain. Mainly hippies come and go and live there and sometimes they host parties in them as well. We refilled our water bottles from a pipe in the back of the church. Since Granada is located at the bottom of the Sierra Nevada mountains the water from the faucet is fresh and drinkable. When we finally got to the top we could see all of Granada and it was gorgeous! We see the Alhambra which is the main landmark in Granada. It is a moorish castle at the top of the hill and the city is built around it. We tried to go walk around the Alhambra but it was close. We also saw the last remaining part of the wall that was originally build around the city of Granada but as the city expanded the walls were integrated into the city. Our journey came to an end after the 3 hour hike but I took plenty of mental pictures and pictures on my camera to remember the sight.

The Alhambra and the city of Granada

The last remaining wall of the gate Granada used to be in.

The Alhambra in the background.

The next day we went on a all day excursion to Cabo de Gata (google it) in Almeria, Andalucia, Spain. It's a national park 2 hours away from Granada on the coast of South Spain next to the Mediterranean sea. We left at 7:45 in the morning and it was a almost an 8 hour hike and we stopped at two different beaches. They suggested you bring 2 liters of water so I brought a huge water bottle and a small one. To get to the beaches you had to walk over the mountains. The set up of the park was mountain, beach, mountain, beach, mountain, beach. (I forgot to mention these were nudest beaches). So during the climb we complained, sweated, huffed and puffed, practically rocked climbed the mountain without a harness, walked through the water, on the rocky road, and through sand to get to the beaches. The only way to get to the beach was by hiking the mountain. Although I complained the whole climb when we got to the beach my mouth dropped. The water was so blue and clear. It was even clearer then the beaches in the national park I went to in Costa Rica. I couldn't wait to get in. The water was cold but not as cold as the pacific. It was such a hot day that the cold water felt great. The water was so clear! I cannot express this enough. I can see my whole body when the water was up to my neck. After swimming, we began another hour hike to the next beach. This beach was a little more isolated because the only way to get there is if you hike 3 mountains. This beach was nicer, the water was very clear, and not many people were there. Since it was a nudist beach a group of us decided to take our tops off. Since I have God given floatation devices I had no trouble floating. (No one saw us). Then we jumped off rocks into the water.

After the second beach, we began our 1-2 hour hike to the nearest town were we would be eating dinner. Once again, we climbed up and down hills, walked through sand and water, and when I finally saw the nearest town I asked myself would I ever do this all day 9 hour hike again in my life? I debated the pros and cons of the trip. Even though this was the hardest hike I had in my life, my legs were killing me, and I was out of water, I was fortunate to be able to do such a hike and would probably do it again. When we arrived at the town I was hungry, dehydrated, and pissed off to learn that dinner would take place on the other side of the city. So we had to walk through the city and eat dinner. We did not return home to 12:40 at night. Some of peers still wanted to go out since it was Saturday and our first weekend in the city and usually I would go but I choose to stay in. I guess I am either getting old or I am maturing to know that I will spend four months here and this will not be the only time I can go out at night. I think I am getting old..