The Shaw Girls - increasing the cuteness factor exponentially.

The Shaw Girls - increasing the cuteness factor exponentially.

Feria

As a result of our time in Oxfordshire, UK, I was unconsciously expecting to encounter town after town after town while travelling in Spain. Not the case. We drove through vast areas of country, with not much more than wild purple flowers exploding over the surface of the fields.

In order to get a better view, we stopped off at the rural hillside town of Feria which had steely old goatherds steering out from the side of the road, and at the same time, kids with iPod docks blasting out music for their street dance parties. And at the summit, a castle/fortress left over from days long gone.

Feeling a little Indy

Our time in Badajoz (said ‘Badahoth’) was marked by tremendous heat, great hospitality, lively discussions, cute kids, and a certain air of adventure. After a very comfortable night with the Hobbs Family, Team A set out for the old city walls, recently restored and completely lacking in any kind of health and safety restrictions. Scampering about these beautiful ruins sparked some Indiana Jonesish joy in discovering new places. My recently acquired (and culturally appropriate) H&M khaki trousers certainly helped.

Before being totally destroyed by the heat, we found a high point on the walls and took some time to send out blessings to this region where unemployment is such an issue, and to offer up our gratitude for being there.

To top off an amazing day, some locals from the church community took us out into town, and bought us a mitre of Sangria. Yes. A mitre. It was amazing. And I loved the way they laughed and made the effort to communicate with us and share a little bit about their lives.

Storks and Swallows

After a few days at the centre, our team (also known as team ‘A’, or the ‘A’ Team, but mostly team ‘Awesome’) headed off to visit a Salt & Light church in Badajoz for a few nights. Unfortunately the air-conditioning in the car was no competition for the scorching heat as we drove north towards ‘the frying pan’ of Spain. So we stopped along the way for ice-blocks and guided tour of the lovely town of Zafra. 

The first thing I noticed getting out of the car was the GIANT STORK NESTS adorning the city’s towers and steeples. I loved the contrast between these enormous birds nests which can weigh up to a tonne and the grace and agility of the many swallows zipping about.

This was not a holiday...

… however much it looks like one!

The KBCTC Trip 2011 commenced in the early hours of the morning. One coach ride to the airport where we watched the husky tones of dawn appear. One plane ride to Malaga, another coach to Marbella Station (cue lots of language cramming and cards), another coach to San Roque and one confused group of tourists searching for the ‘large white building on top of the hill’. When we finally found the centre, Simon greeted us at the door with some Spanish guitar, and then we discovered that roof and that view. Oh… so that’s Gibraltar… and that landmass over there is AFRICA!

We spent the first few days at the centre hearing from some legends, and took some time to explore San Roque. Here are some interesting facts about Spanish customs: You must wear shoes at all times if you want to be respectable. Politicians all employ the same graphic designer for their promotional material and like to use small cars with loud speakers to make themselves heard. Children come out to play at night and chocolate spread is a must for breakfast. I think we might have started that last custom… and I miss it.

More tales of our trip to come soon…..