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So even though I say when you travel, try not to think of your adventures like a cliché from a movie; there is one line that pops into my head when someone asks me to do something ……"Do what scares you."Oddly enough it is from a movie called Americano which is about three American college graduates who venture to Pamplona for the Running of the Bulls in July.They run, get robbed, two break up and one finds love.All of these situations can happen anywhere, so when the first big holiday came around, San Juan Festival, we did just that; Party!!!!!To celebrate the arrival of summer the Spanish people do what they do best and have a festival. San Juan usually takes place between the 20th of June and the 24th to coincide with the shortest night of the year where the light of day outweighs the darkness of the night.Some of us went to Barcelona to the tourist part of the region (think get robbed), others coupled off with other camp mates to go to another beach for the festival (think romance), I chose to do what "scares" me and got in a car with a lone Spaniard to go a village where his family had a home, thirty miles or so from the south of France called Coasta Brava, for the weekend.About ninety minutes later we arrived to an amazing home where to one side are the mountains and to the other is the sea.I hate to say it but it really did look like something out of a movie.
Spaniards don't do time shares.Everything stays in the family and is passed down.We ended up at a beach party that started with tapas and fireworks.We ate like Spaniards while being serenaded by a drunken man dressed from head to toe in all white.I am not sure if he was a Santeria or if he just really liked white.We left the bar to head farther down the beach to find the big party.I am pretty sure I watched a Spanish version of Drop Kick Murphy's.We started a fire, danced and drank copious amounts of alcohol while munching on snacks we had packed solely for the purpose to keep us standing somewhat upright.I woke up on the beach as the sun was coming up and the fire ambers were glowing dim.
We collected ourselves as well as some newly made friends and headed back to the house where we had a breakfast of fried eggs, bacon and fish.We laughed about our night and filled in the gaps of time some people lost.After breakfast we cleaned up and headed to another beach.This one was more amazing than the first.White soft sand and deep blue water which blended with the cloudless blue sky for as far as the eye could see.I was told to leave my belongings with the girls and follow the adventurers.I didn't know going to the beach required climbing rocks in flip-flops.We took a short hike then climbed down some rocks to find an amazing cove.I looked up and was amazed by how beautiful it was.I was then told I would have to climb up the other side of the rocks, not to leave but rather to jump.To some people this is not a big deal, however seeing as how I cannot swim; it kind of is a big deal.I made my way up the rocks, took what I hoped was not my last breath and jumped into the water!!!!!
After some fun in the sun we packed up the group yet again and headed back to the house for a rather large meal and some more drinks.Planning is the key to any thing that has to do with feeding large groups of people.Before we went out the night before we got all the meat, drinks and everything we needed.Everything was seasoned, separated and just waiting for us to start the fire when we got home.Dry wood goes up rather fast; keep that in mind the next time you toss anything burning from a car or window as it is really dry here.The meal was a mix of Spanish, French, Caribbean and American but it all worked very well together and there was nothing left when we got done.We played some games and relaxed some more as the sun went down and then hopped in the showers to change and head back out to the beach for another music festival.This time it was mostly a cover band but still a good time nonetheless.We had the chance to ride some of the rides that were on the shore and eat some more before we called it a night because all the sun and fun had finally caught up with us.
We woke up, in beds this time, had breakfast and said our goodbyes to each other and then went to check out a castle I had seen the first night while on the beach.I find it so amazing how you can do so much and spend so little money, but in the states we feel we have to pay to do just about everything we do for fun or people will not want to do it.
We made our way back home and now it is time to relax before this blog turns from adventure to work as the children start to show up on Monday morning.I am looking forward to it but I would not mind another day on the coast laying in a hammock listening to beautiful Spanish music and have wonderful conversations with people from all over the world…….
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