Final Update from Spain + Morocco!
July 7, 2024
The final countdown of Spain and Morocco 2A!
When we left off we were eagerly in route to our riad in Marrakech, and boy did it live up to the hype. We relaxed. We laughed, We bartered our hearts out at the markets. We cooked. We cheered on Spain in the Euro Cup. We soaked up every last minute together!
After a hot two days of hiking, when we arrived at the riad, we dropped our bags and ran to the pool for a Fourth of July pool party. As USA-themed tunes like “Born in the USA” and “American Kids” played over the speaker, we embraced the cool water and finally not being covered in dust. Marco Polo commenced shortly after where Maggie found herself “it” nearly every other round. William attempted to evade getting caught by sneaking off underwater. The pool games continued with rounds of “Star” where Lillian shined with her expansive knowledge of all types of movies and TV shows as well as her quick thinking. We took a break from the pool games to have snacks that reminded us of home like popcorn and Chips Ahoy, but nonetheless still devoured the constant Moroccan mint tea.
The evening concluded with a ping pong tournament, where Avery and James showed off their skills, and tossing the frisbee, where Wrenn and Caroline showed the most progress. We ate a wonderful meal at a long ornate table together on the back patio overlooking the pool and watching the sun creep towards the horizon. The delicious chicken kabobs, potatoes covered in fresh herbs, green beans, and fresh bread (of course) filled our bellies. Avery and Doug led a thoughtful Moonup under the stars as we sat circled around the shallow-end of the pool with our feet dangling in the water. It was the perfect end to a long day of hiking and we all welcomed sleep in our cozy beds and cool AC.
Friday was a day to shop, relax, and eat. I mean are you kidding? What’s better than that?! We slept in and enjoyed a breakfast of pancake-like bread, fresh OJ, coffee, and tea then hopped in the van for the markets. Before our market visit, our tour guide shared the history of Marrakech with us. He described the 12 gates to enter the city, pointed out the many gardens and green space, walked us by luxury riads that had been transformed for the surge in tourism, and shared the history of the BIG TOWER!!!!. Fun fact: the water in Marrakech flows from the Atlas Mountains which we saw through our mountaineering portion. Our tour ended at the markets and the shopping began! Our first stop was a spice and oil shop where we learned about (for real) Moroccan oil and spices like saffron, cumin, and special Moroccan blends which we had eaten with many of our meals. Then, we headed into the big market. We split up boys and girls and got to work.
The girls first stop was to a shop with luxury jewelry dupes. Everyone bought matching bracelets, and buying in bulk helped with our bartering skills. After the first store, everyone felt more comfortable and haggled left and right for chess sets, woven towels, and colorful tajines. With lighter pockets and full bags, the girls headed to the center of the market and sat down at a cafe drinking cold cokes watching the happenings in the busy square. The boys arrived shortly with more goodies to commemorate their first time in Africa. Doug took full advantage of the extra space in his bag and loaded up on souvenirs causing his bag to weigh in 5 kg heavier on our return flight to Madrid. We thoroughly enjoyed his haul when we returned to the riad. On our way back to the van, we saw snake charmers and monkeys ready for a photo opportunity. While we didn’t seize this opportunity, it was an experience nonetheless!
We arrived back at our riad for another incredible meal and more pool time. Everyone at this point is quite good at frisbee, so monkey-in-the-middle with a frisbee kept us entertained for hours. Our crew has become big Spain supporters since watching their last dominating victory in Madrid, so they were thrilled to find the game on in the front room of the riad. After a long day in the sun, we took some respite inside and watched Spain versus the host country of Germany intently as it went into the final minutes of extra time. Spain scored in the 118th minute to secure their spot in the quarterfinals!!! As soon as the game ended, we headed back outside to do our cooking class at the outdoor kitchen by the pool. We made the pancake-like pita bread and delicious meatballs with fresh tomatoes, spices, and herbs for the marinara sauce. Francie with her careful attention folded her pita perfectly and Wrenn showed off his skills with a knife as he deseeded the tomatoes. When the pita was done, we sat down for tea time and devoured the fresh, warm pita we created with of course, TEA! Shortly after we sat down for dinner to enjoy our meatball tajine. Post-dinner was so silly as we attempted one handed push ups, had handstand constants, and laughed about nonsense.
As it was our last moonup before banquet, Noah and Caroline wanted to make the most of this Moonup opportunity and formulated a skit to “open the nug jug”. After Caroline read a thoughtful quote about reflecting on these experiences, Noah excused himself from the circle and ran around the back of the pool. Caroline attempted to distract the group, but all eyes were on Noah as he dramatically dove into the pool “retrieving” the nug jug from the bottom of the pool. He emerged from the water, hands above his head, and Caroline exclaimed “the nug jug is open!”. All I have to say is, nugs to their commitment and the most exciting nug jug yet!
As we went around giving nugs, we were reminded how many big and little things we have to be thankful for over these last two weeks. Nugs to tea! Nugs to the Barbie dancing dogs! Nugs to the juice guy in the square! Nugs to Paprika Pringles! Most of all, nugs to new friends and cool experiences!
Yesterday, we headed for the airport where once again, other than the good pizza place being closed in the airport, went flawlessly. SPM 2A has a way with the airports! We landed and hopped on the metro to our hostel in the center of Madrid. Planes, trains, and automobiles was the motto for the day.
Now, for our town day! We wanted to maximize our time exploring Madrid, so we quickly dropped our bags and set out to see the city. We went to a Mexican restaurant nearby as everyone was craving a new cuisine (we love tajines and tapas but a burrito has never tasted so good). Then, we walked all over the city, over the bridge, and back passing the famous San Miguel Market, Plaza Mayor, and Royal Palace. We then headed back to the city center to Chocolateria San Gines, which is world renowned with their walls featuring famous guests like Rafael Nadal and Jimmy Carter. We enjoyed cool ice cream and warm churros with James of course finishing off any extras. Then, we headed back towards the Royal Palace for Moonup in front of the gates. The sun was setting behind the mountains and we had a beautiful view of the city!
Our last Moonup was special. We went around offering nugs to each and every person totaling 132 nugs. While the places we visit are awe-inspiring, it is the people that make the place and that was evident as we shared all the reasons why each person made this Moondance a memory we will have forever.
To each of the parents, thank you so much for entrusting Will and I with your wonderful children. They brought us joy everyday. We can confidently say we have the best job in the world. To all of the kiddos, y’all rock!!! Keep being your genuine, thoughtful, driven, courageous, and hilarious selves. Will and I are so glad to know you!
Spain and Morocco 2A, over and out!
We did it!
July 4, 2024
SPM 2A Trip Update 2
Reporting live from Morocco!!! We’ve got 10 students with tired legs but all smiles because we made it to the summit of Mt. Toubkal! Today is the Fourth of July and we are so ready to celebrate by the pool at our riad in Marrakech. Before we can do that, let’s take it back a few days!
Sunday, after a morning of surfing, we arrived in Madrid. We dropped our bags and took part in the cultural experience of watching the Euro Cup. Spain was playing and everyone was watching! Spain ended up taking home a win over Georgia 4-1 and it was so fun to be in Madrid for the win!
Monday was airport day! In Will and I’s combined 8 sessions of Moondance, we agreed, this was by far our smoothest airport day. Everyone paid attention, security lines were short, and we were to our gate in no time at all. William bought a bag of Haribo Twin Snakes that we all quickly devoured at the ripe hour of 10 am. On the plane, much of our group read their summer reading (some successfully, others less). Others enjoyed the views out the windows as we reached our destination. Excitement filled the plane as it was our entire group’s first time in Africa! Soon enough, we arrived in the town of Imlil — the gateway to the Atlas Mountains! Our riad was stunning — decorated with traditional Moroccan flair, elaborate colors, and stunning views of the mountains we would be beginning to climb the next morning. We enjoyed lunch on the terrace consisting of our first tajine and lots of mint tea. After lunch, we relaxed on the terrace playing cards, Empire, reading, and napping until it was time to explore Imlil.
Our guide Ahmed has been guiding in the Atlas Mountains for 27 years, so needless to say, he has a friend or two in town. He took us to a friend’s shop where we enjoyed tea and he showed us the handmade Moroccan rugs, pillows, and traditional dress wear. William was the first to try on the headdress, and soon enough our entire group was sporting a new item of clothing. Noah in his colorful jacket and sunglasses gave us a runway walk and a fashion show commenced. Doug walked away with a full fit to commemorate his time in Morocco! Afterwards, we headed back to our riad for dinner and moonup with the sunset creating the most beautiful red mountains as a backdrop.
The next morning we fueled up at breakfast and hit the trail. This group never fails to amaze Will and I on the trail. They are incredible hikers. One mile after the next we kept a great pace getting us closer and closer to base camp. We stopped at one of the mountains huts for lunch which gave us a much appreciated escape from the heat. We enjoyed a delicious egg tajine, massive plate of salad, bread, and even some Paprika Pringles (another fav of the group) as an appetizer. We arrived at base camp speedily with plenty of time to rest and chill. Lillian, Caroline, and Maggie kept us entertained with their constant singing and array of song choices. Avery continued to win or get close to winning Empire each time with obscure names like “John Deere Green.” Noah had us all laughing over his love of tea and ability to drink not one, not two, but 9 cups at tea time. He explained, “tea is good,” which has become a group motto over our many tea times. After an evening of recharging, we watched the sun set behind the mountains and we went to bed ready for summit day!
Summit day came early and we watched the sun rise seemingly minutes after we had watched it set the night before. Upwards we went with our goal in sight! Doug was at the lead helping set a good pace while Wrenn and I attempted to have some trail talk in the back. The views were incredible, and during each rest stop we always took time to take the views in as we were speeding up. Our final rest stop before our last ascent was full of magnificent views of the surrounding 4000 meter peaks and the Little Atlas Mountains in the distance. As we neared the peak, you could feel the energy surging in the group and the pace pick up despite tired legs.
At the top, with massive smiles, we relished in our bucket-list accomplishment. We gathered beneath the pyramid for the long-awaited group photo. Trekking poles in the air, it is a memory we will remember forever. We surprised the group with summit treats including sour straws, starburst-like candies, and assorted nuts/candies our guide brought up. If being at the top of the highest peak in North Africa wasn’t enough, many people tried dates for the first time as well. We took off our packs and sat on the rocks taking in the views and listening to music. Mr. Blue Sky felt appropriate as there wasn’t a cloud in sight and only blue skies were above us!
On our way down, Francie and Avery brought up the rear chatting the whole way yet staying focused enough to never take a tumble. At the front, Noah showed off his parkour skills easily traversing down the mountain. In no time at all, we were down the mountain and back at base camp. We propped up our feet on the porch and learned a new game — Psychiatrist. The gist is, everyone sits in a circle and one person steps away. Everyone in the circle comes up with a “rule” that the selected person must figure out by asking a series of questions to the circle. We could always count on Francie to come up with fun rules like “act like the person on your right” or “always answer with the last letter of the question they ask.” Everyone laughed hysterically as Will did an impression of Caroline. Maybe our favorite rule was when everyone chose an emotion to portray when asked a question. Avery nailed “annoyed” on the head with her sassy responses and Doug pulled off “nonchalant” with ease. Francie being “enthusiastic” fit perfectly as we can always count on her positive energy in every activity. Maggie acting as “overly kind” was also fitting as her kindness allows her to gel with each person in the group. On the porch we played other games like Presidents and were also cheer on the other Spain and Morocco group as they ended their ascent to base camp. It was finally dinner time and we ate happily refueling after the long day of hiking. We can always count on James to hang down at dinner finishing off all of the fruit and chat with Will and I. Honestly, it has become a bit of a tradition that we look forward to. After dinner, we circled up under the most vibrant stars we’d seen the entire trip for Moonup. Lillian and William posed thoughtful questions to the group and even performed a little skit to “build the nug jug”. The night before, Wrenn and Maggie ran it back as co-LODs (they were LODs together our very first night of the trip) and really challenged the group to lean into Moonup and being intentional with each answer. Will and I are so proud of this group’s evolution growing deeper and deeper each Moonup.
Today, we enjoyed an extra hour or so of sleep and then set off down the mountains. Vibes were high and everyone agreed this was our easiest hike yet despite the mileage being the longest yet. This statement could be because we are just in better shape or maybe it’s the good night’s sleep, but personally I think it was the thought of a Fourth of July pool party at our next riad that had everyone hustling down the mountain.
Morocco is wonderful and we hope all of the friends and family of Spain and Morocco 2A are having as much fun as we are this Fourth of July! Read below for some thank you’s from your sweet kiddos!
With love,
Sarah Catherine & Will
Thank you!
Doug: Hi mom and dad, thank you so much for sending me on this trip. I am having so much fun carrying pringles on the hike.
Wrenn: Hi Mom and Dad, thank you for sending me to Spain and Morocco with Moondance. I’m having a wonderful time out here and I can’t wait to see y’all in a couple of days.
James: hi mom and dad. Thanks so much for sending me on this trip. I’m having a lot of fun and I really appreciate it. Love you
Noah: Hi mom and dad. Thank you so much for sending me on this trip. I had so much fun in Spain and Morocco. I can’t wait to so you in a few days.
William: Hi Mom and Dad,I am having so much fun in Spain and Morocco. Thank you so much for sending me on this trip I am loving it. I am excited to see y’all in a few days.
Lillian: Hey mom and dad, I have had such an amazing time in Morocco. Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to go on a trip like this! I love you so much and can’t wait to see you!
Caroline: Hi mom and dad! I’ve had so many amazing experiences in spain and Morocco. Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to travel with Moondance! So excited to see y’all soon!
Maggie: Hi Parents! Thank you so much for sending me on this trip! I’m having incredible experiences and it’s all thanks to you! I love my mom and dad SO much and cannot wait to see you YAY!
Avery: Hi Mom and Dad! Thank you so so much for sending me on this amazing trip. I’m having a great time. Love you and can’t wait to see you guys in a few days!
Francie: Hi Mom and Dad. I really appreciate the opportunity to be on this trip! I love you guys so so much and I hope you guys are having a great Fourth of July. Thank you for sending me here to make great friends and have great adventures! Love you!
Update from Spain + Morocco!
June 30, 2024
Hola from the adventurers of Spain and Morocco 2A!
After a safe touchdown in Madrid, our group gathered at arrivals making their first introductions. Due to some delayed connecting flights in the USA, many of them had not met while waiting for the group flight to depart to Madrid. William and Wrenn deserved a round of applause for skill deboarding the plane and navigating the Atlanta airport/Sky Train with such expediency to make the flight!
Our journey north towards the Picos de Europa was filled with well-deserved naps to get ahead of the jet-lag, awakening to breathtaking mountain vistas that left us speechless. The lush greenery and vibrant blooms, including poppies and wildflowers, painted a picturesque backdrop throughout our drive.
Nestled in a quaint mountain town by a river, our first hostel charmed us with its rustic beauty. We were greeted with clear skies and stunning views of the mountains. Everyone was revived after their naps, so we threw the frisbee and introduced the fan-favorite game of Empire. After the memories we made with our guides last session, Will and I were so excited to introduce this crew to our incredible guides, Sofie and Irene. Everyone introduced themselves and we immediately set out on a mini-hike through Caín where they told us the history of Picos de Europa. Skipping stones on the riverbank became an afternoon highlight before we gathered for a comforting dinner featuring homemade pasta and hand breaded nuggets. At moonup, we circled up beneath the astounding peaks. Our first LOD’s were easy choices: Wrenn for his eager enthusiasm and engagement with the guides during our mini hike and Maggie for her easy going joy that quickly brought the girls together.
Our trekking adventure commenced with a renowned route through the Cares Gorge, where towering peaks and dramatic ravines surrounded us. The route was created many years ago to carry water from high in the mountains at such a speed to generate power for the surrounding towns. The aqueducts flowed alongside us for the duration of the hike. On this hot day, we joked a lot about how nice it would be to float down the aqueducts like a lazy river (but don’t worry, our river fun comes later). We stopped for our picnic lunch along the trail in the shade. Well, turns out, we think we might have taken the goat’s shade because they surrounded us during our lunch. Lillian gets “nugs” (the Moondance version of props) for defending herself and everyone else’s lunches from the persistent goats!
Before hopping in the van to take us to our hostel for the evening, this group had made such great pace, we had time to venture down to the river. The water was the most beautiful crystal clear blue! We unlaced our hiking boots and gratefully dipped our feet into to the cool mountain water. The fairytale-like bridge was a picturesque final touch to end our hike of the Cares Gorge.
We hopped in the vans and took a short drive to the mountain town of Sotres. The fog had not yet set in, so we enjoyed spectacular views of the mountains and had a spirited Spikeball tournament. Will is quite the Spikeball player, but make no mistake, his partner Avery could spike the ball helping them narrowly win the championship over their fierce competitors, Lillian and William. For dinner we enjoyed an array of traditional tapas served family style. The rain held off until after Moonup, but we happily went to bed with the tapping of rain on the roof.
The next day we set out for our hike to the mountain hotel. Each day we seemed to find new animals during our lunch stop. This day as we sat perched on the rock in the shade we admired the cows and horses as they raced through the low-hanging clouds. We arrived at the hotel and enjoyed some free time. After showers and taking part in siesta culture, we were ready for some games. Our guide Irene taught us how to play Bolo. Bolo palma is a variant of bowling that originated in and is played throughout the region of Cantabria. We divided into two teams and faced off. We laughed as James easily launched the two heavy wooden balls over the threshold while many of us struggled using 2 hands. Doug helped team 2 take the lead scoring a staggering 7 points in one round. In the end, team 1 stayed consistent and was able to take home a win. After a few games of Bolo, Noah rallied the boys to throw the frisbee which has remained a popular activity for this crew. We even played a couple rounds of Empire and it was finally dinner time (meals are eaten very late here in comparison to the USA). We discovered James can take down some food eating a whopping 15 meatballs! After dinner, we ran inside to grab jackets for moonup and when we came out the sky was the most beautiful pink and purple. We took off up a nearby hill and WOW. From our vantage point, we could see the clouds covering the valley with the tops of peaks stretching above. We were all in utter awe! What a way to end the evening!
Friday, we set out for one of the most famous peaks in Picos de Europa. Once again, this crew impressed us with their hiking abilities keeping a steady, speedy pace even through the longer uphill stretches. The weather report had shown potential storms so we were prepared to divert to a nearby mountain hut. Instead we ended up being above the clouds with the trail basically to ourselves. We got to the cable car in record time and were at our most favorite accommodations in Llanes (the surfing town) in no time. We walked around Llanes a bit and saw the beach before eating dinner in town. Everyone went to bed eager for our water activities the next day!
Saturday morning we got to make breakfast at the apartments. Doug and William got right to work cooking up deliciously crispy bacon. Francie, Caroline, and Avery got to work on the eggs. Lillian and Maggie tackled the avocados (which were a challenge because they were quite ripe enough). Wrenn was on toast duty. It was all hands on deck and in no time breakfast was ready. We ate breakfast and eagerly set off for canyoneering.
At canyoneering, we laughed endlessly at our bright green and pink wetsuits but as soon as we felt the chilly mountain water we were thankful for them. James effortlessly traversed the canyon and was the first the try the backwards slide. Noah impressed us all with his double spin on the jumps. Our guide Río had us all laughing as he dunked and splashed us the entire way. Even when the drizzle began, vibes remained high! Between activities, we ate a big family style lunch of tapas and Wrenn got his wish of going to a gas station to buy postres and Spanish candy. Then it was off to surfing. Avery impressed us all with her surfing skills and was the first to catch a wave. Francie with her driven attitude was right behind her and steadily got more confident after each wave. By the end of the day, we had sore shoulders but were all smiles. On our way home, we passed a parade celebrating the town’s saint, San Pedro (Saint Peter). We pulled over to watch the parade. Standing on the street corner in bathing suits, sweatshirts, and towels was not our most LAP moment (Low American Profile), but everyone in the town was so excited to show us the celebrations. Doug was pulled into the street dance and soon the rest of the boys jumped in to help carry to log to the river with the locals. We befriended a girl in her mid-twenties who spoke great English and her cousin and they told us all about their traditions! We got to tell them about Moondance and how much we had been enjoying Llanes and Picos de Europa. That night at moonup, the festival got many nugs and we were reminded that many of the most memorable moments are the spontaneous ones.
We arrived home after dinner and still had some daylight to spare (the sun sets quite late here). Vibes were the highest they’d been the entire trip. Rather than jumping straight into moonup, we played some games in the grassy area outside our apartments. William and Maggie took on Caroline and Lillian in Spikeball. After 30 minutes, they never finished their game but they sure had fun hilariously laughing each time someone made another “pocket” shot causing them to redo the point. Wrenn with the rest of the group got a game of hitting the other ball around in a circle like a volleyball. We set a goal of 100 hits and were not going to stop until we got there. We could always count on James to make a long-shot save and Francie to settle the ball back into a normal rhythm after a skewed hit. Doug held us accountable keeping score until we reached 100. High fives were given out all around for our silly game then we circled up for moonup.
This morning after cooking another extravagant breakfast headed by our LOD’s Doug and Caroline, we went to the beach for more surfing. The waves were a bit smaller but the sun was shining (for the first time since being in Llanes). We laid on the boards in the refreshing water and listened to Maggie, Lillian, and Caroline sing nonstop. James, Avery, Noah, Doug, and Franci kept developing their skills from the day before. It was a great last activity of our mini beach vacation before hopping in the vans to Madrid.
We are having a blast and next time you hear from us we will be in Morocco!!! See below for shoutouts from all your amazing kiddos!
Wrenn: Hi Everybody, I’m having an amazing time here in Spain seeing and doing lots of exciting things. This is potentially one of the best Moondance trips I’ve done and I can’t wait to to Morocco tomorrow! See y’all soon.
Noah: Hi Mom and Dad, I’m having a great time. We’re going to Morocco tomorrow. See you in a week.
William: Hey! I am having lots of fun in Spain and Morocco, we have done things like trekking, canyoneering, surfing, and many more fun things. I am having so much fun and hope y’all are having fun too on your trip! Love y’all, see you soon!
James: Hey mom and Dad, don’t worry about me at all. I’m having a great time in Spain and have made lots of friends. See you in a week!
Doug: Hey mom and dad, this is so amazing. Spain was fantastic and we go to Morocco tomorrow. I love you!
Avery: Hey mom and dad, I’m having a great time in Spain and Morocco! I miss you guys so much and I’m so excited to see you soon!
Francie: Hi mom and dad! I had so much fun in Spain, especially with the surfing! I am excited to go to Morocco tomorrow as well, even though I don’t really know what to expect. Love you so much and miss you! See you soon!
Lillian: Hey mom and dad, I have had so much fun in Spain and the views are amazing. I hope you are having a great time in Spain! I miss you tons and can’t wait to see you! Love you so much!
Maggie: Hi Family!!! I am having the best time! I miss you guys so much and am so excited to see you and tell you all about this trip! If this was a photo, I would send double thumbs up so don’t worry! I love you so much and see you soon!
Caroline: Hi mom and dad! I am having the best time so far and have really enjoyed trekking and especially surfing in Spain. Love and miss you guys so much!
Safe Arrival!
June 30, 2024
Hello Spain + Morocco Families!
All students have landed safely and the trip is off to a great start! We can’t wait to share more updates from their adventure! Please remember our leaders and students will be unplugged during their trips, but we will be posting trip updates throughout the next two weeks! This will allow you to follow along with the trip. You can also follow us on Instagram, @moondanceadventures, to see more of what we are up to!
-Moondance HQ
