Submitted by Layla Covington on the 2016 fall semester study abroad program in Granada, Spain…
I spent a week hiking the Pyrenees Mountains in Northern Spain. I am not a hiker nor have I hiked before. My extent of hiking is walking to class or somewhere on Main Street to grab a bite to eat, so taking on this task was definitely a surprise to my friends and family, and of course myself. When we arrived in Torla-Ordesa, Spain, I could not believe my eyes. It was a small town with a couple of restaurants, four hotels, a tiny supermarket, a store to buy hiking gear and a bar. When I got out of the taxi, I saw all the streets and buildings were made out of cobblestone, people bundled up and I took in the smell of fresh air, mountain air. This town felt like something out of a movie, were the people were willing to lend you a hand if you got lost or buy you coffee, just because. Our hostel reminded me of a log cabin to share with 15 of your closest friends, every one was there for one reason – to hike the Pyrenees.
The hiking itself wasn’t that bad! We hiked on the trails of a national park so of course everything was well marked. Every so often you would catch up to another hiker so you knew that you were going in the right direction. Everyone seemed so happy to be spending their time outdoors. Although it was a bit chilly and of course strenuous, the simple pleasure of walking along picturesque mountains and seeing the beauty the world has to offer was more than enough.
That week in the mountains and the rest of northern Spain was absolutely incredible. It was nice to be outside of the city and appreciate the nature around me. Being surrounded by the beauty and stillness around you is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. While I would definitely recommend to do some hiking before taking on the Pyrenees, it was definitely a stunning place to start!