Picos de Europa.

We have been staying with Rob, Becky, Francesca and Tobias in Santillana del Mar in the north of Spain. Rob and dad were friends at school a loooooong time ago. Yesterday we went on an 18 kilometre hike in the Picos de Europa.

First we went on a cable-car up to the top of the mountain. When we got up there, there was snow. We went on a metal grated floor over- hanging the cliff and we all jumped on it, and got our photo taken. Then we set off for the long, long walk over mountains back down to the little town.

Rob was in the lead with 2 baguettes hanging out of his back pack {they looked like ski poles}. We followed him wherever he went because we knew we were going to put chocolate in them for lunch. The Spanish like to eat a roll with half a block of chocolate in it. Dad really liked it but I had to eat mine separately.   So about 3-4 hours later we stopped by a river to eat and drink water. Tobias and I walked up stream a little, crossing over one way then back to the other.

Another few hours later we were walking in the woods and a big, black bull jumped down onto the path and blocked our way. Dad dared Rob to go over and try to get it off the path. Rob went about 5 metres close to the bull and tried clapping but it didn’t even look up from drinking in the puddle. It had huge, pointy horns so we had to go up into the bushes and around on the high ground and 20 metres after the bull we hopped back down on the well-worn track.

After another couple of hours we were all very tired and our thighs were burning red hot and by then we were at the end of our walk, it ended where we had left the car. And to our delight and joy there was a restaurant there that sold very good hot chocolates.

 So it ended like this, we all had a hot chocolate each and some nuts. What a lovely day.

M@D!$oN