Cordoba, October 22, 2007 I`m lying in a hammock while writing this. Not incredibly convenient, but certainly a luxury position compared to the hard ground I was sitting on before. Antoine and I have made it to Cordoba. We are in Andalucia, the south of Spain. We`re experiencing wonderful weather circumstances. Last week, while camping out in the country, mornings and evenings were pretty cold. However, during the day we had to be careful to avoid sunburn.
Camping free is great in this area. Although some evenings it seems impossible to find a spot that is not fenced in or too visible from the road, we always end up at a perfect place. Most of the times I cook dinner while enjoying sunsets, having a beautiful view of olive trees and rolling hills. Another time, we were allowed in someone's yard. Antonio did not live there and it was a little poorly kept, but after almost 80k of biking serious hills, at seven thirty at night anything looks fine.
Last week was a week of first things. First pass to climb, first serious biking day (which means in kilometers and landscape), first hole in our tent and first fall with my bike. Nothing serious. However, I am very blue. Yesterday we met Dutch people for the first time. It was a very interesting connection and we talked all night long. This morning over breakfast we continued the conversation, and if time wasn`t somewhat an issue in life, we would probably still be talking. In Ciudad Real we were interviewed by a newspaper for the first time. We haven`t seen it in the newspaper, because we couldn`t find one on the road. This week I read and finished my first book and I gave it away. Usually I send books home when I`m done, but that seems a little ridiculous for this trip. It`s a challenge to find a book in Spain in a language that I can read, but tomorrow we`ll give it a shot. For my birthday I must be able to find a book in Cordoba, haha.
Enough about first things. Aside from being bothered by three flies, life looks great from this hammock. Slowly we are moving into the rythm of camping, biking and enjoing. With only a couple practical things still on our minds (the move of our furniture to the U.S., the work that we still need to do on the website and for the project in Nepal and some small gaps in our equipment that we have to deal with, busy life is little by little replaced by calmness and energy. We are taking it as it comes, some days with many kilometers and other with only a few. We approach this trip as a journey, not a holiday. People around us have to work and we feel inspired to travel and learn. In Ciudad Real, after having spent the night at the `Bombeiros` (fire station) we ran into a demonstration from the agricultural sector around Ciudad Real. They made a lot of noise although they weren`t with so many. They were walking sheep through the streets (poor animals with the whisteling) while asking for more money.
Money is an interesting question in Spain. Some days we get by with very little. Camping for free, and paying maybe two euro`s for a full bag of fruits and vegetables. The tiny villages that we bike through, seem to have no stores at all. However, when you ask, an old Spanish man shows you which door to knock on. An old lady opens the door and after you`ve crossed hall, livingroom and kitchen, you get to the garage where she sells white loafs of real Spanish bread. The same happens when you need a market of some sorts. No particular sign points out that there is a store. Why would they point it out - everyone knows where it is. These stores always have their door open. Colorful straps block flies from coming in. The stores are relatiively cheap, altough there is not much choise. Definitely enough to get by. When we get to a supermarket like Carrefour or Leclerc, choise looks almost inhumane. Especially to Antoine, since I never manage to get through a supermarket like that all too quickly. But I`m getting better at that.. I guess it`s like some sort of addiction, liking supermarkets.
Hi guys,
Your style of travelling & writing I find inspiring. Excellent material to comfort me when I see much main stream news (oil 100$ a barrel and that sort of stuff).
I wish you to stay fresh, experience everything afresh. Except keeping your bike with the rubber side down.
Hasta la something,
Emil
Hey,
This is the firs time I visit your website. (very professional this time)
I looked ALL photos and read the complete story. Suddenly I realised I was still sitting in front of my computer instead joining your trip;.very inspiring.
I wish you a very splendid journey and hope to see much more of your wonderful trip.
Kind regards,
Uwe and family