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Published: March 8th 2009
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Start of the hike
This was on the back side of the mountain and to me felt kinda like New Zealand Sabado 7 marzo 2000- Today was the day of my big hike that was organized threw the University’s dept. of international education. I had to get up pretty early for a Saturday to make it to the meeting point by 8am, but I did it. (the hike I did last month, I woke up late and had to take a taxi to the meeting point, whoops). This time we took a smaller bus, so there were less people, which was nice. From my program, there were only 3 others so I got to meet other international students that are also studying at the Uni. It was about a 2 hour drive from Alicante to the start of our hike, even though the mountains were just past Benidorm, only 45 km away because the last 10 km was a winding, one lane road. At this one corner it took 15 minutes to maneuver the bus around it, but the driver finally did it. Once we started the hike, we climbed up the mountain for about an hour before going through a cave. In the emails that I received about the hike, I knew that we would be going thru a cave, but
Cave
This the end of the cave looking back into the cave. Yes I fit thru there I wasn’t expecting this. I could stand at the start and the end, but in the middle had to crawl to get thru. I started on my hands and knees, but once I hit mud I did the crab crawl (use your hands and feet and your stomach is up and your back is near the ground) to keep my pants from getting dirty. However, once I made it thru, there was an incredible view because we had popped out on the other side of the mountain, which faced the sea. Also, this opening had vines hanging down, making it that much better. We took a short break before walking further. The whole time we had views of the sea and other mountain towns while the mountain bushes were in bloom. As we started to round the mountain, we took a break at a spring that was under a 15th century fort. Here we ate lunch followed by a 45 minute nap, where I got a few rays because it was in the mid-70’s. After rounding the mountain, a herd of goats meandered across our path. It was the craziest thing, I heard a bell in the distance and at
Cave
The end of the cave looking our towards the sea. first only saw a few goats, but then realized that there were about a hundred goats crossing our path a few hundred feet ahead of us. As we got closer, they just kept eating and I even saw a few kids (I don’t understand how those little guys could walk up and down a mountain all day). We didn’t get back to Alicante until 6:30, so it was a long day, but completely unforgettable. I took a lot of pictures, but they don’t give the hike justice at all, because this hike had the best views that I’ve ever seen. You just had to be there to appreciate the mountain path, the sun, the sea, the flowering bushes, the spring water, the goats and the people.
Domingo 8 marzo 2009- I got up early (10:30, so maybe not that early) and did the homework that I needed to the computer to do before going to the beach for a few hours to finish the rest of my readings. This was the second time that I actually did homework that I brought to the beach and I think that I am going to continue to do so because it is
Cave
Johan (CIEE classmate) and me in front of the cave. a lot more enjoyable to do it there than in my room for obvious reasons. Around the beach there are starting to be more tourists, which is a little fun because they stand out against all the locals and the ones that speak English, I can finally eavesdrop on, lol. I did make it back for lunch, which was amazing. I had a huge plate of seafood paella, bread, an apple, creampuffs and a coke (mi Madre only gives me and my brothers pop on the weekends, so it is kind of a special treat, other than I have my own stash in my closet). This size of a meal only hours after breakfast made me tired so I took a 30 min siesta before going to my first bull fight. I didn’t know what to really expect, but I knew that the bull was going to die, but because it is such a traditional Spanish activity, I felt that I had to go once. This bull fight had 6 bulls, so I had to watch 6 bulls get killed, but the first was the hardest because it was the most gruesome and it was my first time watching it
Random
One of the few trees on the mountain. It made for an awesome, random photo oppurtunity. Two CIEE classmates. being done. The whole event is quite interesting because of the history behind it and all the rituals and skills, but I won’t be going to another one because it isn’t that enjoyable to watch the bulls die. However, I do feel that before you are against it or for it, you need to attend a fight. Also, you need to stay longer than the first bull because the first few are the hardest to watch, but then sadly you get accustomed to it and can start to observe more of the event than just focusing on the bull.
--If anybody that is reading this wants me to include more of something or less of something else, or any other ideas to make it better, just send me a message.
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Joanie
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Cave hike
Hey Quinn, Your pictures are great. Thanks for sharing your adventures with us! Did you have to go back through the cave to get back home? Was it claustrophobic? --Joanie