Location: Ordesa Valley, Spain
He held onto her protectively squeezing her hand gently. "It's just a bat" he said soothingly. He shone the light into the corner of the abandoned attic and onto the petrified little creature flying around sporadically.
The room was glowing - was she radiating, or was it merely the full moon outside the broken glass?
The room was glowing - was she radiating, or was it merely the full moon outside the broken glass?
It was dark outside, the chill clutched at your bones and birds could be heard chirping sleepily. The sun began to rise in the distance behind the tall mountains. Stiffly I walked outside onto the balcony, I was wrapped in a blanket clutching onto my cup of cold green-tea savouring whatever caffeine was contained inside. Breakfast was shared in silence, broken by the occasional word or responsive grunt - it was early, too early.
After a short bus ride along some winding roads, we arrived with our heavy backpacks at the base of Pradera de Ordesa. It was magnificent, enormous cannons stood at either side and the sky had become slightly brighter from the ever approaching sun. He told me we had to walk up Senda Cazadores, a 560 metre incline over the space of an hour and a half. I had grinned in response to the challenge - but then I have no concept of distance. I had no idea what I had gotten myself into.
After 10 minutes I had shed a layer of clothing, I was gasping for air like a fish that had been freshly plucked from the river and my legs were screaming at me in alarm. Superman on the other hand trundled ahead completely untroubled by lack of oxygen or ailing muscles, patiently he waited for me to follow. I could barely make out the sentence "stop-need-water!". Surely an alien would burst out of my lungs splitting my body in half, covering the surrounding trees in my blood and innards - but it never happened.
After a thousand oxygen and water stops, we eventually made it to the top. In all it's simplicity, the view was utterly breathtaking. It was worth every word of abuse my legs and lungs shrieked at me that day - Alas! The hike wasn't over yet.
The next few kilometres was easier. We followed a dirt trial passing an assortment of coloured wild flowers, butterflies, rocky peaks and glimpses of the wild exubriance below. The sun was high in the sky dancing on our skin, transforming us into walking sprinkler systems.
Four hours passed as did the litres of liquid that was consumed. I was in trouble, nature called and there was not one place to go. The trek was filled with people and we were standing on the edge of a cliff - my only solution was to climb off the mountain path and into the shadows of the thick bushes above. For 10 minutes I climbed up the rocks, falling into piles of leaves and covering myself in scratches. Finally, I had arrived to the security of my bush - but it only hid my ankles. Curious hikers walked past curiously staring up at me. Sighing, I progressed up the mountain in search for a moments privacy while cursing Superman and his ability to relieve himself easily (and wherever he pleased). Eventually I found a nice spiky bush, and just as my shorts were hugging my feet I noticed a giant cricket staring at me, gradually crawling closer. It was a mexican stand off. I stared at him, and he stared at me. It was a battle of how quickly I could finish clutching onto my toilet paper, or how quickly I would be attacked by a giant bug. I have no doubt Superman heard me cursing nature, squealing and making a ruckus while making my 'graceful' escape. I was covered in scratches, bruises and foliage - I had promised myself i would not go to the bathroom again. You shouldn't make promises you can't keep.
We walked silenced by the magnificent view, until finally we found a perfect rock in which to perch ourselves and share a picnic. In the far distance we could see snow scattered mountains covered in yellow flowers, and a waterfall flowing from the rugged hills creating a cool stream. My aching feet were soon forgotten as Superman showed us the lunch he had prepared. Sheep's cheese, paté and although this can be misconstrued; a fail-proof method to my heart is with a good sausage - Saucisse au roquefort (Sausage with blue cheese). My tastebuds were in heaven. Although I was sore and covered in scratches I was in absolute bliss. This sausage was officially my new favourite food!
After our satisfying meal, we continued to walk until we approached the waterfall, Cola de Caballo. We cooled our hot feet in the streams and breathed in the fresh air and amazing scenery. After 10 hours of total hiking we trundled back to the bus sharing humorous stories ignoring our tired feet.
I don't remember the bus ride back, I had already fallen into a deep slumber.
After a short bus ride along some winding roads, we arrived with our heavy backpacks at the base of Pradera de Ordesa. It was magnificent, enormous cannons stood at either side and the sky had become slightly brighter from the ever approaching sun. He told me we had to walk up Senda Cazadores, a 560 metre incline over the space of an hour and a half. I had grinned in response to the challenge - but then I have no concept of distance. I had no idea what I had gotten myself into.
After 10 minutes I had shed a layer of clothing, I was gasping for air like a fish that had been freshly plucked from the river and my legs were screaming at me in alarm. Superman on the other hand trundled ahead completely untroubled by lack of oxygen or ailing muscles, patiently he waited for me to follow. I could barely make out the sentence "stop-need-water!". Surely an alien would burst out of my lungs splitting my body in half, covering the surrounding trees in my blood and innards - but it never happened.
After a thousand oxygen and water stops, we eventually made it to the top. In all it's simplicity, the view was utterly breathtaking. It was worth every word of abuse my legs and lungs shrieked at me that day - Alas! The hike wasn't over yet.
The next few kilometres was easier. We followed a dirt trial passing an assortment of coloured wild flowers, butterflies, rocky peaks and glimpses of the wild exubriance below. The sun was high in the sky dancing on our skin, transforming us into walking sprinkler systems.
Four hours passed as did the litres of liquid that was consumed. I was in trouble, nature called and there was not one place to go. The trek was filled with people and we were standing on the edge of a cliff - my only solution was to climb off the mountain path and into the shadows of the thick bushes above. For 10 minutes I climbed up the rocks, falling into piles of leaves and covering myself in scratches. Finally, I had arrived to the security of my bush - but it only hid my ankles. Curious hikers walked past curiously staring up at me. Sighing, I progressed up the mountain in search for a moments privacy while cursing Superman and his ability to relieve himself easily (and wherever he pleased). Eventually I found a nice spiky bush, and just as my shorts were hugging my feet I noticed a giant cricket staring at me, gradually crawling closer. It was a mexican stand off. I stared at him, and he stared at me. It was a battle of how quickly I could finish clutching onto my toilet paper, or how quickly I would be attacked by a giant bug. I have no doubt Superman heard me cursing nature, squealing and making a ruckus while making my 'graceful' escape. I was covered in scratches, bruises and foliage - I had promised myself i would not go to the bathroom again. You shouldn't make promises you can't keep.
We walked silenced by the magnificent view, until finally we found a perfect rock in which to perch ourselves and share a picnic. In the far distance we could see snow scattered mountains covered in yellow flowers, and a waterfall flowing from the rugged hills creating a cool stream. My aching feet were soon forgotten as Superman showed us the lunch he had prepared. Sheep's cheese, paté and although this can be misconstrued; a fail-proof method to my heart is with a good sausage - Saucisse au roquefort (Sausage with blue cheese). My tastebuds were in heaven. Although I was sore and covered in scratches I was in absolute bliss. This sausage was officially my new favourite food!
After our satisfying meal, we continued to walk until we approached the waterfall, Cola de Caballo. We cooled our hot feet in the streams and breathed in the fresh air and amazing scenery. After 10 hours of total hiking we trundled back to the bus sharing humorous stories ignoring our tired feet.
I don't remember the bus ride back, I had already fallen into a deep slumber.