Asturias: The Green Spain

April 30- May 2

Our last group weekend trip was to the northern part of Spain, Asturias. This part of Spain is the only area which the Moors were not able to conquer because the landscape made it very difficult to navigate and cross. Maria explained that this trip was different from the others in that there are no really touristy things to go, it's more of a chance to enjoy the appreciate the scenery- and she was right. Saturday morning, we went took two buses up a mountain called Picos de Europa. While we were driving we ran into a heard of cows that we had to weave around and the driver actually tapped one. We finally made it up to the top and basically felt like I was in The Sound of Music (that's the best way I can describe the scenery). We climbed up some more stairs to the top of the mountain and and took some beautiful pictures. At one point, I tried to walk past a cow/bull, I don't know what it was, but it literally stared me down and looked as if it were going to charge- there goes that idea.

Next, we visited a cave called Covadonga, which had the tiniest chapel carved into it. Legend has it, the the Virgin Mary appeared to the Christians in this cave to tell them to fight back against the Moors that were trying to invade. Also, I drank from a fountain whose water is suppose to bring a long and happy marriage. Bring on the love. We also checked out a Cathedral that was rebuilt in the 19th century. After, we went to lunch, which was absolutely delicious and I was in my glory. First, I had this huge salad and then some grilled vegetables and I also split a paella with Chelsea. Being that it was our last group lunch, my table decided that we need to drink 10 bottles of wine. I has a little too much and was a little too happy afterward and somehow found myself thrown into the ocean. It was freezing, but see, I can be fun! when we got back to the hotel, everyone had the same idea of a little hottub, suana, steam room action.

The next day we went kayaking- what an adventure. Everyone looked so hot in their wet suits! Maya and I were in a kayak together and were the first to go. The instructor pushed us down this slide thing and since I was in the front I got soaked! The water was crazy cold! We were in the lead for a while, hanging out singing some "Just Around the Riverbend" and trying to maintain our competitive lead. We got stuck a few times, but we making sweet time. Then, Chelsea and Ashley passed us and we couldn't catch up. It started to drizzle a little and then it gets a little heavier. Maya and I reached the first stopping point where we should have stopped to have the cute little lunch they packed for us, but we didn't see Chelsea and Ashley's boat so we figured they skipped the stop to try to reach the end faster and get out of the rain. Okay, so down it's downpouring and our boat is taking on a lot of water, plus it's freezing and no one is in sight. We keep persevering, but I'm getting tired and we're soaked. We reached what we thought was the last check point, but there was no one waiting to take us back so we kept going. Then in hindsight, we saw a car so we turned around and battled the current, walked around the electric fence after Maya got shocked and made it to the car. By this time, I can't feel my toes and just want to leave, but the guy says we have to wait to see if anyone else shows up. In about 15 minutes, 4 other boats came and the guy told them that the end of the course was another 1/2 hour. Since they kept going, I felt like Maya and I should finish too so against my better judgment, we hopped back in the boat. Of course it started raining again. Maya and I were two of three girls that made it to the end only to find out afterward that everyone stopped at the first stop and peaced out. I was so extreme braving the outdoors!