A Week in my Life: Friday - Finding the Real Spain
Friday, November 12, 2010 at 9:26AM | 8 Comments 
This is part of a series! Want to read the previous posts? Check these out...
Sunday - My "Monday" in the Office
Monday - The Reason Sunday doesn't bother me
Tuesday - I get Paid to Ride Horses on the Beach!
Wednesday - Everyone Deserves a Day Off
Thursday - A Day All to Myself
It’s beach day #2 and an incredibly busy day. I ride Polly today, our big pregnant Welsh Cob who doesn’t work much, but who has to get out at least once a week. Jose calls her Elefante (I don’t think I need to translate that) but I love riding her. Riding her for a day on the beach is like sitting in a La-Z-Boy all day watching National Geographic.
Jose and I are on our own today and it looks like rain, so I pile on the rain gear and we head out. For the first 2 hours, everything is perfect. We have some incredible canters and walks through the two tidal lakes that have accumulated near the beach and I get some video to help you visualize what it’s like to ride through them.
Once we hit the beach, the tide is in and the waves are rough with the impending storm, so we get a couple good canters on the way out before taking a quick break and turning around to head back to Las Dunas. The views at this point were incredible. The storm was coming in from the South and the lighthouse hadn’t been overtaken by the rain yet. We were in front of the storm and we watched the rain come in knowing that we were about to get soaked. We had plenty of time to ensure that we were completely covered, mounted our horses, got back on the beach and braced ourselves as the heavens opened up. It was so strong at first that Jose and I just put our heads down and galloped as fast as we could, bad footing or not, it was torrential. We finally got back to Las Dunas and dried out, and it spitted on us the whole way home after lunch, but we were soaked, and we didn’t care; it was exhilarating.
It continued to rain all afternoon and naps were in order. It was almost cold enough to put radiators on, but I chose to just open the windows, and put on every comforter I could find. I slept so hard and barely woke in time for us to go to our usual Friday night extravaganza over at Los Majales del Sol.
'Antonio y Conchi' by DTravelsRoundThe party at Los Majales is one of my favorite activities. I’m never scheduled to work for the night, but I can’t seem to get enough of it, so I’ve gone every single week. The night starts out with a big chicken paella dinner made by Antonio. It’s not my favorite dinner, per say (so glad right now Antonio can’t read English… Fran, if you’ve Google translated this, DON’T TELL HIM!) But it’s VERY Spanish and the guests love it. But it’s what happens after dinner that keeps me coming back night after night.
'Ramon' by DTravelsRoundRamon, who is one of Antonio’s cousins, also doubles as a professional flamenco singer, a rather famous one actually. Every week, Ramon comes to the bar with his entourage in tow and puts on a show. It usually starts with just him singing a couple of songs, usually other family and friends will show up and pitch in. Conchi, Antonio’s sister, almost always dances and sometimes shows up in full flamenco dress.
We spend hours sometimes dancing, singing, telling stories (most of which I understand little of) and drinking. By the time it’s time to go, we’ve usually gathered a healthy crowd of locals on horseback, usually some forest guards, and more family than I believe (Antonio has 46 or something cousins on his Mom’s side of the family only and an equal amount on the other – big families here).
There’s not a way I can really describe it other than just showing videos. It’s one of my favorite experiences, one that’s truly Spanish, and my favorite thing to take my friends/family to when they come to visit.
Something for you to look forward to, I guess :)
Reader Comments (8)
That is not dinner, that's a production!!!
And a busy week it was!! =0)
Fun post - thanks.
{{hugs}}
@Kyle @Freely Living Life - Thanks guys so much. I can't believe it's been almost 2 months since I was living this life, I think it's more fun for me to relive all of this than it is for you to read it :) But that's ok!
Ahhh the horseback riding sounds amazing. I took riding lessons when I was young and had a horse all through high school. Whenever I travel, I try to get a ride in!
@Faye - it's amazing to me how many people/places offer riding. As I've looked into it more and spent some time on the In The Saddle website, I'm learning of all kinds of new horseback riding opportunities. But what amazes me even more is how many of them are geared towards people who actually know how to ride. So much fun!
Hi Abbey,
Saw this link on FB. Had no idea that you were traveling the world and getting paid to ride horses (as your first riding teacher, I do think I should get a commission or recognition or something:). I am so jealous. I love your website and have learned a bunch already. I am planning on visiting Paris and environs in early June with some travel buddies. Have you been there?
Life is too short and I am proud of you for following your dreams. You need to do the safari in Kenya on horseback that I did a few years ago. It is beyond amazing. So good to catch up on all your fabulous activities. And who know you were so funny!
Linda
Hey there!
Just came across your blog and thought I'd drop you a comment to let you know how much I enjoyed this post (especially the Rooster call - laughed out loud!) I'm going to be living in Spain as of January and so excited to do so - hopefully I can find some locals who won't mind my mangled spanglish and will teach me a few things too. Where in Spain did you do the horse riding by the way - it looks stunning!
Cheers,
- Grace
@Miss Linda - Linda! I can't believe you found me. I have so many words to say to you right now that I'm positive they won't fit in this little comment box, so I'll have to send you an e-mail (now that I have your e-mail address - sneaky little computers). But thank you SO much for your wonderful post, of COURSE you get props as my first riding instructor and if I ever start to make a actual money from it, you and Carol will HANDS DOWN be the first people to get any sort of commission :) Miss you tons, hope to catch up while I'm back in Tulsa!
@Grace - Thanks so much for the comment! That rooster call from Antonio was one of my favorite moments of each week. It never gets old. Sometimes we'd have other animals as it's basically the Spanish version of "Old McDonald" and the men LOVED to get up and do turkeys, chickens, donkeys, anything. Pretty freaking funny, if you ask me. And trust me, the Spanish are SO nice and accommodating, but learning Spanish is not going to be easy. I thought I spoke beginner to Intermediate Spanish before I left for Spain and I now only tell people I speak beginner after being there for 6 months and improving 500% because now I know how much I really didn't know before. Good luck and I'll e-mail me if you have any questions before you leave! I live down in San Ambrosio.