Final Update from Spain + Morocco!
July 7, 2024
After a night under the stars and group card games, our first morning in Morocco started bright and early in preparation for a morning in the bustling Marrakesh markets. After a lesson on bartering, the group piled in our van to head to the city center. We first sampled some Moroccan mint tea and learned about different spices at a local herb shop before our guide took us to the main part of the markets. George was quick to approach a vendor, immediately switching into business mode. He was able to cut the prices pretty much without batting an eye. Leigh was hilarious in the markets, creating different life stories and convincing different vendors to cut prices way down as well. George and Leigh definitely took the prize for our best barterers! However, the entire group was successful in the markets and every kid walked away having made great deals!
After our morning adventure, we headed back to our house outside of Marrakech and relaxed by the pool. In the evening we had our very own Moroccan cooking class! One of our dishes were Moroccan style pancakes, hand kneaded and cooked on the stove-top. Lila shined, making practically perfect pancakes with ease! After a moonup under a clear night of stars, we began to mentally prepare for the road to our Toubkal summit!
The next morning we woke up early and made our way to the High Atlas Mountains. Our first hike was a complete success, with all of the kids keeping positive spirits as we gained 4,000+ ft of elevation in one go! Trav led the group the entire way, showing his impressive hiking capabilities. Lauren kept group morale high as she displayed constant encouragement to the rest of the group as well as created a fire music queue to help get us up the mountain! We had some well deserved rest at our basecamp hostel and headed to bed early in preparation for summit day!!! The entire group made it to the summit, an amazing feat. Everyone in the group fought through the tough ascent, all while supporting each other the whole way up. Although the summit is mentally challenging, Livi was a cheerleader for everyone, spreading positivity. After working through some serious altitude sickness, Stock showed his resiliency by racing back down the mountain, impressing all!
The following morning we began our final descent! After our previously intense day, we began our final descent, a much needed downhill break. Although the hike was physically easier, we faced winds like I’ve never hiked before! Although Lucile practically blew away, she kept a smile on her face the whole way down. We arrived to our final hostel in Morocco, nestled in the mountain village of Imlil. Ann Lane gazed over the village as the sun set, taking in the unique architecture and observed the children playing in the street with a smile on her face! We headed back to Madrid the next morning and spent our last night together bonding in Parc de Retiro with a nice Italian spread. We laughed the night away with Millie’s infectious laugh and side comments making everything funnier! Although we are sad to see them go, we had an incredible two weeks with y’alls wonderful kids and would not trade it for the world! We hope y’all have an amazing rest of your summers!!!
-Katie and Garrett
Hello from Morocco!!!
July 2, 2024
To resume where we left off last time, the group woke up to the crisp mountain air common in Picos de Europa National Park. Starting our day with a nice breakfast of bread, fruits, meats, cheeses, and, most importantly, Spanish coffee, the group began their trek in high spirits, but not before saying a temporary goodbye to Katie and Millie, who would end up having an adventure of their own before being reunited with us the next day. Our trek through the clouds began with none other than George leading the pack with our guide, Alejandro, setting the tone for the day by being extra encouraging and curious to learn more about the local culture and history. As we weaved through switchbacks and trekked up the steep mountain trails, Leigh conquered each challenge with persistence and determination, celebrating each downhill section with Lucile by shouting in victory. As we hiked up the rocky trail to our destination, we caught glimpses of the incredible views around us, hidden within the clouds.
Once we reached our lunch destination, a beautiful mountain hut called Cabana Veronica, all the clouds magically cleared away, leaving us in awe of the true mountains around us for the first time. Below, a valley was shrouded in clouds, but above, the clouds revealed astonishing mountain peaks that left us in awe of the amazing place we had the privilege to experience. As our group ate lunch on a peak by this mountain hut, we soaked in the views before heading back to catch a cable car ride and transfer to our next accommodation. Throughout the hike and the trip, Livi has been a source of amazing conversation and positivity for the entire group, motivating everyone to push past adversity to arrive at our destination.
The little town of Cain is situated in a remote valley with mountain peaks towering above us in every direction. The group’s “vlog” series, led by Lauren, Lucile, and George, visited a local supermarket to get some well-earned ice cream and explore the town before dinner. As we ate a dinner that hit close to home, it was, of course, filled with laughter thanks to Stock’s hilarious jokes and impressions. Afterward, the group took a nice post-dinner nature walk, which Lila especially enjoyed. She seemed absolutely in her element as we explored around a river and water mill, passing by local animals and townspeople. This little adventure was the perfect way to get the group ready for a great MoonUp.
We woke up the next day to begin the most famous hike in all of Picos de Europa National Park, the Cares Gorge Trail. Our resident photographer, Trav, took this opportunity in stride, and as we hiked through this gorgeous valley, he took some of the best photos the group has ever seen. His talent for photography really shone that day. Lucile remarked that this was by far her favorite hike of the trip, and she savored each moment walking through the breathtaking valley. As we finished the trail seven miles later, the group ate a well-earned lunch down by the river, and Stock, Lauren, Livi, George, Trav, and Garrett took advantage of the body of water in front of them and jumped into the freezing river, prompting shouts of both shock and contentment as the cold water soothed our sore bodies.
As we left to drive back to Madrid, we reunited with Millie and Katie, who had much to tell us about their adventures in Llanes, which included an impressive tale of their Spanish skills coming in clutch with the local townspeople. At dinner that night in Madrid, Ann Lane, proud of accomplishing these difficult but rewarding hikes, revealed her newfound love for hiking because of these amazing views but also the satisfaction of completing a challenge. We woke up and headed to the Madrid airport to begin our next adventure! As we said goodbye to our Spain guides, Stock took special care to say his farewells. As a very intentional guy, he spent the last few days really getting to know them and was sad to say goodbye.
Signing off from Morocco, where there is plenty more fun to be had!
Katie + Garrett
Stock- Hey Mom and Dad and Kate, Spain is awesome and can’t wait to go to Morocco can’t wait to show y’all photos
Lauren-having so much fun! Miss you all and can’t wait to see y’all and tell you all about it!
Millie- hi mom and dad I’m having so much fun. Spain is soooo cool! Tell BUBS I said hi
George- hi mom and dad Spain is super fun and I am really looking forward to Morocco and the market
Trav – hey mom and dad, this first week in Spain has been really cool and the photos are awesome, I will make sure to get something for you all in the Moroccan market!
Leigh ~ hola, on the plane to Morocco and staying w Muhammad. Spain was fun and the hiking was tough but we are going to bargain in the markets
Livia- HOLA mom, dad, family, and squad!! Miss you like crazy but we’re having an absolute BLAST! I can’t wait to tell you all about it! 😘🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸💃
Ann Lane- Hola Madre and dad, I miss y’all so much and Dave and Watts. can’t wait to tell u all abt it’s so much fun. otw to Morocco rn and can’t wait for the market.
Lucile – Hey, I am having so much Fun! I loved Spain, we are on the plane now . I’m excited for Morocco.
Lila- Hi Fam! I have had so much fun in Spain and I cannot wait for Morocco! Get hyped for your gifts from the markets, Love y’all
Coasts 'n' Canyons
June 29, 2024
Hey Spain and Morocco parents!
We have had a fun-filled few days over here in Spain! After the long haul from Madrid to Llanes, the group settled into our first hostel of the trip, nestled in the mountains right down the road from the beautiful coast of the Cantabrian sea. After the kids took a walk around the quaint neighborhood, we headed to the beach for an evening swim! After splashing around in the water, the boys passed around the frisbee while the girls soaked up the sun relaxing on their towels. The whole group was exhausted from our day of travel and headed to bed early to reset for our first day of activities, canyoneering and surfing. Canyoneering can be described as a natural water slide over rocks and waterfalls, an adventurer’s dream! Livi was one of the first down the falls, squealing with joy as she slid down the rocks. After a few hours of fun, the group headed back towards the vans but not before a quick cliff jump into a crystal clear turquoise river. George jumped off about 4 times with hollers of glee and left with a new passion for cliff jumping. After a morning of fun, we headed to lunch before our afternoon surf session. Lucile got fresh salmon, a local speciality, coming straight from the river we jumped in! We headed back to the hostel for a quick siesta then back into wet suits we went! Ann Lane laughed as she wiggled into her wet suit, anyone who has put one on knows the difficulty it may cause; however she did it with a smile on her face! After a quick lesson on technique and reading waves, Lila raced towards the water with determination to catch the first wave. Our California girl did just that, showing everyone who’s boss by being the first to get up. As the afternoon went on, Stock and Lauren were in close competition for who had caught the most waves… luckily we had a second day of surfing to settle the score! As storm clouds rolled in, we all got showered up and headed to a restaurant serving local Asturias cuisine. We started by trying an array of cheeses, one of them being a world famous blue cheese crafted only in caves of northern Spain! We also had Cachopo, an Asturian dish consisting of pork, ham, and cheese all fried up. So delicious! After dinner we took a group adventure to an ancient washing machine tucked in our hostel’s neighborhood. Rain and thunder in the distance created an ascetic experience for our first student led moonup of the trip.
The morning after the storm, we headed back to the coast and we were met by some wild waves! The mist in the air combined with the active water felt like a movie scene! After giving a valiant attempt to surf the rumbling sea, we decided to switch to jumping in the waves. The kids all took the unexpected conditions with admirable positivity and made the most of the day! Leigh’s giggles could’ve been heard far down the beach as she went over and under the waves without any fear. All tired out from our morning in the ocean, the gang loaded up in the vans to head towards Picos de Europa, our location for the Spain trekking portion of our trip! We drove through the clouds as the vast mountain range peeked through at different points throughout the journey. We spent the night in our mountain hostel and woke up ready to attack the day! The kids were all enthusiastic as can be despite the foggy weather, laughing their way through the trek. Trav, who has a passion for photography, impressed all with his stunning photos of the hundreds of cattle we passed throughout the day. Our hike ended with a slightly treacherous hiking section that Millie completed with determination, singing the ABCs backwards as a brain distraction tactic, helping me get up the last push as well! After a great start to our trek, we relaxed the afternoon away tucked inside the clouds and spent the evening bonding as we anticipated our second day of the trek. We have had the best time so far and are so excited for the many memories to come!
Over and out!
Katie and Garrett
Safe Arrival!
June 25, 2024
Hello Spain + Morocco Families!
All students have safely landed 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
