Dear readers! First, take a moment to look at this beautiful picture to the right. This is what awaited us at the end of our two hour hike on Saturday night (3/7/15) to get to the shelter (Refugi Muleta) that my group and I stayed at for a night. This past weekend I hiked from the town of Soller up to where this photo was taken and then on Sunday (3/8/15) from the shelter to the town of Deía. Hiking is huge here in Spain! It's so peaceful to just be surrounded by nature for a couple of hours. It really gives you time to think and clear your mind. On Saturday we left around mid afternoon to go by bus to Puerta de Soller. From Puerta de Soller, we began our two hour hike up to the shelter. It was super rocky and very hilly, but the weather was perfect so there was absolutely no way I could complain. We definitely got our work outs in for both days with hiking. Once we reached Refugi Muleta, we walked around the grounds a bit. There was this cute little lighthouse there. It reminded me of all of the lighthouses in North Carolina. However, we couldn't climb up the lighthouse which was a bummer. Next came securing our beds. The room where we slept had bunk beds for around thirty people. I had stayed in a hostel before when I did my three week exchange in Germany, but never had I stayed in a room like this. It was definitely different to say the least. The one bad thing about sleeping there that night was that there was someone that snored for pretty much the entire night. I'm talking about like super loud snoring. (The only thing I can compare it to is my dad's snoring in which you can hear it from all the way down the hall at our house…sorry Dad!) So I woke up multiple times throughout the night. So with beds secured and made, we then continued our night with dinners brought from home. After we finished dinner, some of the group headed upstairs to get ready for bed, while others played card games downstairs in the main area, or continued to enjoy the night outside until 10 PM. (This was the time when the doors were locked.) I went to bed pretty early in order to be well rested for the hike that was ahead of us for the next day. | We were provided with breakfast and a picnic lunch to bring along on our hike. This hike was three hours. Along the way we saw goats, sheep, gorgeous views, Cala de Deía (a beach that was nestled away), and many trees. Haha. (Erin you would have seriously loved both of these hikes. It was like the Grand Canyon but ten times better.) Again it was pretty rocky so a couple of times I was afraid that I was going to lose my footing, but luckily I made it through both hikes in one piece, although a tad sore on Monday. Other things that have happened, since I last blogged…oh, I officially made my first haircut appointment here in Palma. There was no way I was going to grow out my pixie cut so it could morph into a mullet…no thank you. I also am beginning to think about scheduling my classes for next semester at Purdue. My scheduling time is during Semana Santa when I will be in Dublin. So fingers crossed I will be able to secure some good wifi to schedule. After looking at the classes that I need to graduate and making a mock schedule for next semester, I realized that I will technically only need nine more classes to graduate! How crazy is that!? It's unbelievable to me that in two years I will be out in the real world with an honest to god job. This study abroad experience is really helping me to become more independent. Even though I miss home now and then, I know that I have family and friends back home that are supporting me and in some cases living vicariously through me with all of my pictures and posts. Again, I really can't believe how fast time is flying by. In a little more than three weeks, I will get to see my wonderful family! I'm very excited and can't wait to show them around Palma even if it is only for a day and a half. I find that every day I learn new things about this new home of mine and I am relishing every second of it. So from my side of the world and until next time, Hasta luego! |
2 Comments
Debra Raver
3/12/2015 07:00:55 am
Jordan, you will be in such tremendous shape when your internship is completed. What a series of adventures you are experiencing! I am enjoying your posts with the little personal asides. That photo looks like an impossibly difficult puzzle!
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Mark Raver
3/14/2015 03:26:38 am
Love reading your blog Jordan !
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AuthorMy name is Jordan and I'm a sophomore studying Hospitality and Tourism Management at Purdue University. For five and a half months, I'll be studying, interning, and experiencing what it is like to live on the Balearic Island of Mallorca located off of mainland Spain. Archives
April 2015
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