Excursions & a Sense of Home

Sometimes it feels like I’ve been here for a whole year. Other times it feels like it’s somehow still my first day. What helps bring me back to reality (that I have been here for just a couple weeks) is getting out of the city. Equating coming “home” with coming back to Granada helps unite the two in my mind. Soon enough, perhaps Granada will actually mean home in my brain. That is a cool thought. I wonder if that’s part of the logic behind IES Abroad's excursions, or if they just want to show us cool places around Spain. Either way, getting the chance to see cities and landscapes I’ve never seen or heard of before has been epic. And we’ve only had two so far!

Cabo de Gata

Starting off with a bang, we went on a couple hikes around Cabo de Gata, a coastal locality a couple hours away from Granada. The best water I have ever swam in, the most beautiful seaside cliffs and rocks and adorable beach towns made this trip absolutely incredible. We parked in a town and had some time to explore before embarking on a hike to a semi-isolated beach. The joy on everyone’s faces as we jumped in the waves was truly heartwarming. We sat in the sand and had our picnic lunches before hiking again to an even more isolated beach. People played games, laid in the sand and swam around. There were even snorkels for us to use!

On the hike back to the town where the bus would pick us up, a friend and I began talking to our guide. He had so many cool stories to share, like the time he swam right next to a shark (though he assured us there were none in Spain’s waters). We ended the day at a restaurant where we all got plates of paella. A day fit for a king. 

Ronda & Setenil 

Our most recent endeavor was to explore two towns with immensely beautiful history. We began in Ronda, and got the chance to go on walking tours around the city. There were bridges and churches and buildings galore, with plenty of cute cafés and mosaics to make the people at home super jealous. Then in Setenil, there was such cool architecture that utilized the characteristic boulders of the city, seemingly having built itself around the beautiful rocks. 

This day had more historical learning moments, preparing me for my family phone call that night. I had plenty of fun facts to share about the Arab baths of the 1300s, ancient bridges and how the phrase “tengo ganas” can be used in a multitude of situations. 

Next weekend, I have a field trip for my Management and Sustainability of Mediterranean Ecosystems class! Granada is already starting to feel cozy, but it’s still exciting. The perfect balance. I can feel the time passing too fast, and I’m sure it’s only going to speed up more. But there is so much to look forward to. Tengo ganas.

¡Hasta pronto! 

Lily