Last one from Morocco!
July 22, 2024
Family and Friends of SPM 3A,
Spoiler alert — Spain and Morocco 3A partied at the top of Toubkal!!! Let’s rewind, though, for the play-by-play of our latest Moroccan adventures.
Tuesday afternoon, after some R&R at our riad, we ventured into town. In the center of our little mountain town of Imlil, our guide Ahmed showed us to a friend’s store for tea and learning about traditional Moroccan clothing. Traditional Moroccan clothing, like the djellaba and head wrap, is known for its comfort and cultural significance. The djellaba, a long robe with a hood, is worn by both men and women, providing protection from the sun and a stylish look for exploring Moroccan markets and cities. Paired with a head wrap, these garments showcase Morocco’s rich heritage through their designs and colors. Our crew had to get in on the action, and we had a full fashion show in the store. MC and Kiersten purchased yellow djellabas, while Andy and Dallas purchased red and blue head wraps, which ended up being very helpful for sun protection during our hike. We thoroughly enjoyed immersing ourselves in Moroccan culture, exploring languages like Arabic and Berber, and delving into the diverse traditions of tea preparation and drinking. Back at the riad, we enjoyed a tajine on the terrace for dinner, then headed to bed to prep for our big hike to basecamp.
Wednesday morning, we ate a hefty breakfast of a popular dish called “msemen,” which is often likened to pancakes or flatbreads. Msemen are square-shaped, flaky Moroccan pancakes that we devoured with honey, cheese, or amlou. Amlou is an elite version of peanut butter consisting of argan oil, local honey, and almonds. Between the amlou, homemade msemen, and freshly squeezed OJ, breakfast throughout our time in Morocco was something to look forward to.
Then the hike began. With this being our third session, Will and I had prepped the group for our toughest day yet. The hike to basecamp is 8 miles consistently uphill without any shade. However, Wednesday morning we woke up to clouds in the sky, making it easily 10-15° cooler than our previous hikes. With the cooler weather, vibes could not have been higher. We chatted endlessly on the trail and took our time taking breaks at the many mountain huts along the way. We treated ourselves to freshly squeezed orange juice and the trail mix Ahmed had brought for us. MC was obsessed with these little candied nuts, Jonas created his own fruit tea mix with the OJ and tea, and most of the group tried dates for the first time. We continued our hike, seeing goats and mules along the way until the last mountain hut where we had lunch. Lunch was a delicious tajine of sautéed vegetables and meatballs, as well as a rainbow platter of vegetables. Earlier that morning, Will and I had gifted the group with two mystery packages: a dinosaur egg and what looked like a subway sandwich, both wrapped in duct tape. One the group got to choose when to open; the other Will and I got to choose. The group chose to open the first Dino egg at the end of lunch. Our LODs Henry and Kennedy ripped it open to find a bag full of “sugars” (the Spanish equivalent of Starbursts). We all laughed as Kennedy sent sugars flying across the room in an attempt to toss them down to the other end of the table. Dino egg numero uno was a success!
The end of the hike left us all in shock. It started raining!!!! I had not even seen a cloud the entire summer in Morocco, and now here it was raining for the first time in 6 months. Due to the rarity of a downpour in this desert country, very few of us had rain gear. However, spirits could not have been higher as the cool rain trickled down our skin in the final mile of our trek. We arrived at basecamp more than excited for summit day the next day!
We woke up the next morning to begin our ascent to the tallest peak in North Africa. The beginning of the climb is always a little tough as our lungs adjust to the thinner air at higher altitude. About 2 miles into the hike, we came up and over a rock formation, giving way to a more level path ahead. At this point, after our rest stop, the crew was rocking and rolling. With Henry at the lead, the group trudged upwards as we watched the groups ahead of us at the ridge leading up to the peak grow from small dots to distinguishable fellow hikers. Our final stop before the summit ascent was at the ridge I just mentioned. At this point, you can see out for miles, all the way to the small Atlas Mountains. We cranked up the speaker and had a full-on dance party. Ella, per usual, brought the energy and hit us with her best dance moves. Dallas and Andy serenaded us with their beautiful singing of “Meet Me Halfway” by the Black Eyed Peas, which has become an anthem of SPM 3A. Energy was high, and we started towards the peak.
When we were within 50 yards of the top, Andy went into a full sprint to the iron pyramid that marks the peak. With the peak all to ourselves, we cranked the speaker back up, celebrating our accomplishment. After getting our iconic group photo with the Moondance flag and hands up, it was time to open the second mystery package. What many believed to be a 6-inch club sandwich on white bread was revealed to be numerous packs of sour straws. Sour straws have never tasted better than when you feel like you’re at the top of the world.
Will and I ceremoniously placed a Moondance sticker on the iron pyramid. Brody and Parker stretched out across the rocks, admiring the view. The girls hopped on each other’s shoulders for maybe my favorite photo of the trip. Henry, using his skills from his time on the farm, fended off the sheep from our beloved trail mix. Jonas captured each and every “WOW” moment and celebration on camera. One of my favorite moments from the peak was our 10 minutes of silence. We turned off the music and spread out for a moment to just listen, reflect, and admire the awe-inspiring experience and world we’ve had the privilege to be a part of. I think I can speak for the group when I say our hour at the top was pure bliss and a true “high” of the trip.
After we had captured every moment, pose, and dance, it was time to make our way back down to basecamp. While we were still exhausted from our trek to the top, we sprinted down as fast as possible to enjoy a nice tea break and the best nap of our lives. We made it down the mountain in record time, only stopping for a snack and a quick potty break. Most everybody managed to stay on their feet as the rock was pretty slippery back to basecamp, but 3 miles and 3000 feet later, we were back to our home for the night. A massive lunch of veggies, pasta, and lentils awaited us, as well as a surprise Coke from Hayes for completing our journey up. We then played some cards and snacked around all afternoon before dinner and a bed that was calling out our names.
Our last day of hiking was one of the most exciting, as on the horizon was a poolside vacation in Marrakesh. We quickly packed and ate a breakfast filled with protein, bread, and yogurt and got our boots on for the 7 miles down to Imlil. We passed all of the stops we had stomped past on the way up and found ourselves a nice cold glass of OJ and tea at the halfway mark. Dallas and Andy tried the combo of the two liquids alongside Jonas and discovered a new favorite flavor. We finally arrived back down to Imlil, where we had an amazing lunch that we finished just in time to avoid the rain yet again! We then grabbed our gear, hopped in the bus, and headed towards Mohamed’s riad. While we were driving, we decided that since it was nearly 105 degrees, it would only be fitting to buy some pool floats for the crew. So our LODs Anna and Dallas helped select an inflatable camel and seal to hang out in the pool in (who said we wouldn’t get to ride camels on this trip). When we arrived at Mohamed’s house, we all rinsed off and sprinted towards the pool as we relaxed and cooled off from the warm Moroccan sun. We played games, tanned, and swam till our fingers were shriveled! After some decided to hop out of the water, an intense game of Marco Polo broke out where we discovered that a professional was in our midst. Brody was dodging and juking every Marco that came his way like a matador with a bull! We then posted up for a delicious dinner and a Moonup to cap off our night and get the best night of sleep before we hit the markets the next day.
Oh wow, Saturday was just glorious. We shopped, played by the pool, cooked, and ate. We were in full vacay mode. Our shopping adventures began first with a small tour to learn about the history of Morocco. Our guide Rashid told us about how Marrakech is also called the “city garden” with the water flowing from the Atlas Mountains allowing for all the many gardens and public baths in the city. Rashid then took us to a shop boasting argan oils and spices. We learned how to make amlou (the almond butter with argan oil) and about the origin of many precious spices like saffron. After our trip to the herbal market, it was finally time to hit the markets. MG and MC in their matching robes may not have looked fierce, but they were quite the bargainers. One shop owner told MG she was very strong after she walked away when he didn’t give her a good deal. The boys had a bit of a different experience in the markets. They told us girls afterward about their attempt to buy live turtles, photos with the monkeys, and the snake charmer experience. All in all, this crew walked away with lots of fun things to commemorate their time in Morocco!
Back at our riad, we lounged by the pool and played on our floats. Now that we didn’t have miles to hike the next day, we indulged in Coke and Fanta. Brody, Parker, and Will made it their mission to prevent me (Sarah Catherine) from relaxing and had a grand time flipping me off every float. By evening, it was time for our cooking class! The food at our riad was the best we’d had all summer, so we were pumped to learn some of the techniques. We made msemen, each taking a turn to knead the dough. Then we flattened it out into little pancakes. Anna and Kiersten had great attention to detail, folding their pancakes into perfect thirds. On the other hand, Henry was having too much fun with the dough and started a trend of making shapes like faces, initials, stars, and moons (for Moondance, of course). We also made our main course of fresh tomato sauce with herbs and meatballs. The final step in our cooking class may have been the most crucial: learning to make tea. We enjoyed the fruits of our labor eating pancakes with honey and drinking tea, then migrated to the dinner table to enjoy our meatball tajine. We went to bed with full bellies, and I could hear giggles from upstairs as everyone soaked up our last African night.
We rode the next morning and traveled back to Madrid. Nothing super notable from the flight except the intense game of Uno that Ella and crew had going on behind me. When we got to Madrid, we quickly dropped our stuff at the hotel and headed out to explore. We saw a lot! We strolled through Puerta del Sol and ate a late lunch nearby. We shopped for souvenirs. Ella comes from a big soccer family, so she had to get some merch. Then, after freshening up at the hotel, we continued our city tour. We began our stroll at Plaza Mayor, surrounded by the lively buzz of tourists and locals alike, before making our way to Mercado de San Miguel, where the aromas of Spanish cuisine filled the air and tempted our taste buds. From there, we wandered towards the Royal Palace, sharing jokes and laughter outside its majestic gates. Will, MC, and Anna had a game something like charades going on and proceeded to have a full photo shoot of all the things they acted out. As the sun lowered, we headed to the Temple of Debod. The Temple of Debod, bathed in the warm hues of sunset, transformed into a lively gathering spot where a spontaneous dance circle formed. Our group eagerly joined in, especially when a FIFA song played (of which Andy started a kick line during), adding to the festive atmosphere as we celebrated amidst ancient Egyptian architecture against the backdrop of Madrid’s evening skyline. After our dance party, as we searched for the perfect spot to Moonup in the park, we took a pit stop and played on the playground. Henry and Andy swung as high as possible on the swings, then proceeded to try to get Brody to launch them off a seesaw-like apparatus. All of us girls attempted to cross a shaky log with little success. One of my favorite things about leading Moondance is the opportunity to feel like a kid for the summer. I definitely did in this moment as we all laughed on the playground as the sun set over the city.
After our final Moonup together, filled with 182 “nugs” for one another, we were headed back to the hotel and planned to grab a quick late-night snack since we’d eaten lunch late. On our way back, we stumbled on an outdoor summer event with a movie playing on a big blow-up screen and booths of food vendors. We ordered a few pizzas and, of course, had to get fresh-made Nutella crepes. As we sat under the twinkling lights, I thought of how everything fell into place seamlessly, creating a perfect harmony of moments. It was a flawless blend of laughter, discovery, and shared experiences that made our last night together truly unforgettable.
If I’ve learned anything through Moondance, it’s the people that make the place. To Spain and Morocco 3A, thank you for making each and every adventure so joyful. To the families, thank you for allowing us to know and love your children these last couple of weeks.
Over and out,
Sarah Catherine and Will
Adventures in Spain + Safe Arrival in Morocco!
July 16, 2024
Trip Update 2 3A
¡Viva España! Salam, Morocco! An
Last you heard from us we were getting ready to surf in northern Spain, now we are looking at the mountains in another country! This trip continuously blows my mind. Let’s recap.
Sunday was not a day of rest I’ll tell you that much. Our apartments all have mini kitchens, so we took this opportunity to make a grand breakfast spread. Our LOD, MC, took the reins making two dozen eggs. MC volun-told Anna to be on avocado duty. Parker and Brody diligently manned toasting the bread. Others helped set the table with yogurt, cereal, and an array of fruit (including kiwi which Ella eats like an apple — skin and all). Andy and Dallas remained in bed, but don’t worry, they pulled their weight for dish duty. It was all hands-on deck, but the big breakfast fueled for a full day of activities in the sunshine!
We threw on our bathing suits and headed to canyoneering. The Cares River was bursting with cold water from the mountains, but we eagerly jumped in with our super suits (aka our wetsuits) after a rather warm hike to the start. The water was the highest it had been all summer, so our slides and jumps were even more epic. We all laughed as our guide; Rio (which translates to River) jokingly unzipped our wetsuits allowing cold water to shimmy down our bodies. Kennedy led the pack taking on the first big slide without hesitation holding onto the rope and letting go at just the right time to zip down the slide. Parker dove in literally headfirst like Superman down another slide. Collectively, everyone’s favorite part was the end where we could jump and slide over and over again into a deep pool of water. Dallas, Parker, and Brody went over and over again trying new tricks each time. Brody started doing a jump that vaguely resembled a swan dive. I can’t describe it — but it was awesome. We had an absolute blast!!!
We changed out of our wetsuits and headed into Llanes for lunch. We devoured our delicious pizzas — very few words were spoken in the 10 minutes everyone was inhaling their food. However, lunch got more exciting when 2 very special guests joined us! Jonas and Mimi are past Moondance leaders and quite frankly, Moondance legends, and now live about 25 minutes away from Llanes. Fun fact — Mimi actually led Spain + Morocco the second summer it was run! They stopped by to say hello, because Jonas will be joining us in Morocco to take lots of incredible pictures and videos of our adventures (he’s going me to make me look like a kid trying to take photos with an iPad). We are very excited!
After lunch, it was time for surfing! Peak season is upon Llanes, but lucky for us, it meant we got to go to the most beautiful beach nestled in this cove of stunning limestone rocks. The beach is not accessible by car, so we walked about half a mile along the Camino de Santiago along the coast. The sun was shining and with the mountains on our left and the ocean on our right the scene felt surreal.
At the beach we got to work surfing. Henry had bet the boys he could stand up on his third try. His first attempt was well, short lived. On his second attempt he made it to his feet but was behind the wave. With bragging rights on the line, he paddled ferociously and popped up on the board barely catching the wave on his third attempt. It wasn’t pretty, but he did stand up on his third attempt and exclaimed a proud “I told you so” to the group. We all laughed and soon everyone was catching waves. Anna caught wave after wave showing off her skills from Maui while Andy showed off his skills he learned last year in Mozambique. As the day went on, the waves slowed and some of the group ditched their boards for beach games instead. However, Kiersten and Parker stayed out there determined to catch a few more and Ellie and Brody braved the water without their wetsuits to support. Our instructor let us stay a little overtime to make sure they ended on a good one and that they did both riding one final wave into shore.
We got back and showered off the sand quickly and headed to dinner. It was the finals for the Euro Cup and we wanted to watch it at dinner. Spain vs England was shaping up to be a close game. All throughout Llanes people were wearing soccer jerseys and sporting the Spanish flag in support! We stayed until halftime, then raced back to the apartments to finish the game. Right as we wrapped up Moonup, we heard the other apartments erupt in cheers – goal for Spain! England responded with a goal shortly after but in the waning minutes Spain put one more in the net for the win!!! ¡Viva España!
The next morning, after making another breakfast spread at the apartment, we switched up our activities and went paddle boarding instead of surfing. It was a calm, cool morning, but once we started on our boards the sun started to peak out those of us who fell off our paddle boards relished the refreshing water. We started in an estuary to practice, then headed out towards sea. Ellie, with the top of her wet suit wrapped around her waist and standing up on her paddle board, looked like a pro beach girl. The boys, on the other hand, made it their mission to knock one another off their boards and were basically just chasing each other around in the ocean. When we returned to the calm water, we lined up the boards for a little game of Wipeout. We each took turns running across the boards. Henry and Dallas raced tackling one another into the water about halfway. Not sure who won that one, but it was fun to watch, nonetheless.
After surfing, we had to say goodbye to Llanes and Picos de Europa. Our drive back to Madrid was long but gave us all some time to chill and recharge. In Madrid, we headed to the Plaza Mayor of Barajas (airport suburb of Madrid) for dinner and one last ice cream. We did Moonup on the playground with our ice cream and we all felt like little kids. Moonup was extra silly as we all joked about B+ superpowers. MG might have taken the cake for the best B+ superpower saying that she could automatically teleport anything she’d forgotten. Dallas’ was quite creative — he can jump as high as he wants but fall repercussions still happen. We were all laughing about Dallas jumping high and being stuck in a tree like a cat. Like I said, super silly Moonup. We wrapped up Moonup and headed to bed ready for our adventures to Morocco!!
After a welcomed continental breakfast at the hotel, we headed to the airport for our flight to Marrakech. We said tough goodbyes to our guides Irene and Sofie who have taken the BEST care of us over the last two weeks. We are so thankful for them and their passion to make our Moondance trip truly an experience of a lifetime. Now, I write to you from the mountain town of Imlil. Imlil is commonly referred to as the gateway of the Atlas Mountains. Our riad is quintessential Morocco with vibrant colors, intricate patterns, and rich textures. Lunch was a spread of food with both African and Mediterranean influence. With the Atlas Mountains as the backdrop, we played cards and listened to music on the terrace, enjoying one another and resting up for our trek to Toubkal Basecamp beginning tomorrow. Check out below for a note from your kiddos!!!
Having fun,
SC + Will
Thank you’s
Ellie: hey family! just got to Morocco!! It is so cool and a lot different than Spain. A couple days ago we did canyoneering and it was so cool, dad would’ve loved it, it was like a long ice bath. I’m really excited for the Markets and our cooking class! Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity! Love you guys and see ya soon!
Henry: Hey guys, just got to Morocco and it’s very hot. I’m not surprised though. Spain was a ton of fun. I’m excited for hiking the big mountain in Morocco. Can’t wait to tell you all about it. love you
Dallas: hey family we just got to Morocco and it’s very hot. We are hiking tomorrow on a very hard hike. Miss y’all
Brody: Hello! We just got to Morocco and it’s almost as hot as Havasu. Missing y’all (and my bed) like crazy! Can’t wait to see ya!
Kiersten: Hey family! We arrived in Morocco and it is very hot and dry. We start hiking tomorrow which is exciting! Thank you for giving me the opportunity to go on this trip. I miss you all so much and I’ll see you soon!
Kennedy: Hey y’all! We just got to Morocco, and it’s very different from Spain, very very hot. Can’t wait to see y’all soon. Tell everyone I miss them so much. I just wanted to say how grateful I am for being able to come on this amazing trip. I’m having so much fun and can’t believe we’re already over half way there. We start hiking tomorrow so pray for me!
Andy: hey y’all. Thank you for sending me on a Moondance. I have had a lot of fun here and made a lot of new friends.
Parker: hey, thank you for sending me on a Moondance trip. I have had a lot of fun and made new friends. We are starting our hike in Morocco tomorrow. It is going to be so hot. Can’t wait to see you.
Ella: Hey y’all!! We just flew from Spain to Morocco. Can’t wait to see y’all soon. Thank you so much for sending me on this trip. I am so grateful for this trip of a lifetime and the opportunities you have given me. I have made so many friends and memories here. Thank you!!
Anna: Hey Mom and Dad! We just landed in Morocco. Thank you guys so much for sending me on Moondance. This has been a great experience different from anything else I’ve done and have made so many new friends. This wouldn’t be possible without you guys! See y’all in a week I miss y’all! Thank you!!
MG: Hey Mom and Dad! Thank you guys so much for sending me on Moondance, I am having so much fun. I can’t wait to get back and tell you all about it. This trip is great and I am so thankful y’all sent me this year!! Miss you ❤️❤️
MC: Hey mom and dad! This trip is super fun and so amazing. I am so grateful to have this opportunity. This is unlike anything I have ever experienced. I can’t wait to tell you guys all about it. Thank you so much. Love you guys!
Viva España: Bold Adventures and Lasting Memories
July 14, 2024
¡Buenas a las familias y amigos de Spain + Morocco 3A!
Our first day was not only airport day, but also Kiersten’s birthday!!!!! Everyone landed safely and we quickly hit the road heading north towards Picos de Europa. During the long drive, everyone caught up on sleep to prepare for our adventures soon to come. We arrived in Caín and our mini bday party commenced. We shared Oreo and Milka Chocolate Cheesecake with candles reading “Feliz Cumpleaños” and then us girls set off to play some Spikeball in a grassy area by the Cares River. The boys napped and woke up just in time to play Empire. Empire is a game where each person writes a famous person or character and then you go around trying to guess who one another is to build your “empire”. Our guide, Irene, despite only knowing a couple of famous Americans somehow managed to have quite the empire, but Ellie ended up taking the win. After dinner, we circled up beneath some of the most beautiful mountains I’ve ever seen for our first Moonup. Anna was chosen as our first Leader of the Day due to her previous Moondance experience and how she had already began to set the tone for the trip. Henry was chosen as our other LOD for all the energy he’d brought even on a longggg travel day.
Our first trek together commenced rather slowly at first. Steps into our trek, we stumbled upon wild strawberries which we all agreed tasted like little gummies. We walked another couple hundred yards and found a plum tree which Brody graciously leveraged his height to pick us all one to try. Irene and Sofie then shared with us the history of the breathtaking hike through the majestic Cares Gorge. Ella quickly jumped in to throw out possible answers to Irene and Sofie’s questions, just as she jumps into every activity! We learned that the trail was originally crafted decades ago to channel mountain water for hydroelectric power.
We walked and marveled at towering peaks and deep ravines that formed a spectacular backdrop. This trail is nothing short of amazing. Rightfully so, it has become one of the most famous hikes in Picos de Europa. Later, we journeyed to the charming mountain village of Sotres. We dropped our bags and eagerly headed into town in search of flat ground to play Spikeball. We paired everyone up for a tournament which resulted into a championship match between Ella + SC vs. Dallas + Ellie. The game went down to the final point, but Dallas and Ellie scratched out the win with some incredible blocks and getting down low for a last minute spike. The evening concluded with a delightful dinner of traditional tapas shared family-style. We circled up at a stunning overlook for Moonup leaving us with a serene end to an unforgettable day in Spain’s rugged landscapes.
The following day, we embarked on a glacier-carved mountain trek, encountering friendly animals like cows, horses, and donkeys along the way. Our most exciting encounter was a mother sheep and her baby that could have a been more than a few hours old. Precious! We were making such good time we decided to take a side trip to a nearby shepherd’s chapel. We ate another scenic lunch and Kennedy led us in some acrobatics until, after a billion tries, we got our headstand photo. We continued upwards and the fog cleared enough for us to see our hotel, boasting panoramic mountain views.
All afternoon we played cards! Kennedy taught us Gin Rummy, our guide Irene taught us 7s, and hour long games of Egyptian Rat Slap consumed us. We tried every type of Haribo gummy available for purchase and savored the time to chill. After all our riddles on the trail, Ella and Dallas created a riddle for us to “open the nug jug” at Moonup. *applause for their creativity*
After an evening of the clouds obstructing our views, we were all in awe when we woke up to mountains as picturesque as a Windows backdrop. With spirits high and eager for challenges, we tackled our toughest hike yet, summiting Horcados Rojos under perfect weather conditions.
The day before, we had challenged the group to use the trail as an opportunity to get to know other people in the group. One of my personal favorite questions is: tell me something I don’t already know about you. Some people love it, other people hate the open-endedness, but either way, you will always learn something new about someone. During our final ascent towards the summit, Anna, admittedly sarcastically, exclaims “tell me something I don’t already know about you” to the group. The ridiculousness of the question in the moment made everyone laugh and that little moment of joy gave everyone the energy for the final push to the top. At the top, the sun peaked through the clouds for the most stunning views. We got some photos in our Moondance swag and everyone gathered together for photos with their new friends. On the way down, MG exclaimed what we were all feeling, “the views were so worth it!”. Trail chats and breathtaking summit views marked the day, crowned by a thrilling cable car descent through the low hanging clouds.
Our evening in Llanes, a charming surfing town, promised relaxation and anticipation for our upcoming beach day. Brody and Parker threw the frisbee while Anna and MC led us in learning a new card game that had become a favorite of theirs last year on Maui with Moondance. Henry broke every rule in the book while playing, but Andy pulled out the win nonetheless. After some downtime, we ventured into Llanes for some exploring, souvenir shopping, and our favorite dinner yet! While waiting on Irene and Sofie to grab the vans, we hung out at the beach checking out the waves we’d be shredding the next day. Parker, Brody, and Henry bought bright pink slushies and Dallas started a Juicy Drop Pop trend. Soon everyone had red and blue tongues and there was a heated debate on the best way to eat the candy.
As we continue our journey, spirits remain high, and the bonds among us grow stronger with each adventure. Up next: canyoneering, surfing, and travels to Morocco. Stay tuned for more tales from our unforgettable expedition through Spain and Morocco!
Hasta Luego,
Spain + Morocco 3A
Shoutouts:
Ella: HOLA Madre, Padre and pooch!!!!! I am having soooo much fun here in Spain. The past few days we have been hiking a mountain in Northern Spain. The views are INDSANE!! Each day I have hiked around 8 miles. Today, we submitted the mountain which was so cool.I have a bunch of photos for y’all. Right now we are driving to the beach to go surfing and canyoneering. So excited to see you guys but I am so happy here and have so many friends. See you soon!!!!
Kiersten: Hi mom, dad, and Matheus!! I miss you so much but am having so much fun hiking and exploring northern spain. We have been hiking almost everyday and the views have been so cool! It has been so fun to make new friends and play games and bond. I am looking forward to surfing and also seeing Morocco!! See you guys soon!
Anna: Hola familia! I hope all is well at home. Spain has been a blast! My leaders are super fun and my group is so so good. The last 3 days we have been hiking throughout Picos de Europa National Park. Each day we have hiked about 8 miles and we just summited one of the peaks today which was really cool! The views here are amazing. Also our hiking guides have been super fun and all the people here are super nice. Make sure you tell Parker I say hi and tell Dylan that I miss him lots! We are going surfing and canyoneering for the next two days and then off to Morocco! Thank y’all for this awesome opportunity. This trip has been so fun thus far! See yall soon!!
Ellie: hey mom dad and Charlie! I am having so much fun in Spain and making so many friends! I miss u guys and can’t wait to tell you about it! My favorite thing I have done was our first hike, it was so pretty! Tomorrow we are going surfing and maybe canyoneering and I’m super excited! can’t wait to see u!
MC: hey mom and dad! I miss you guys so much. Spain is amazing and I am having the best time. It is so pretty here and I love it so much. My group is great and I love everyone. I am so excited to go to Morocco. Thank you so much for letting me come on this trip. Love you guys!
Kennedy: Hola mis padres! Miss y’all and the boys so much. Tell Evan I hope his baseball went well and that I miss him, also. We just finished hiking the Picos and stayed in Cain, Sotres, and Aliva. The hikes were hard, especially today, but we summited Hocadas Rojas. We just made it to Llanes and get to surf and canyoneer the next few days. The people are super nice and I’m having a great time. Can’t wait to see y’all in a week! Te amo!
Brody: Hello! We have done a lot of hiking from Caine to Sotres and to the peak of Picos de Europa. Now we are in our surf hostel, my knees have been hurting but nothing serious. Can’t wait to see y’all!
Parker: hey, we have done a lot of hiking the past 3 days. Today we hiked to the peak of Picos de Europa, it was awesome! We are now in our 4th hostel. We are going surfing tomorrow. Can’t wait to see u.
Dallas: hey we just did 3 days of hiking and we r surfing tomorrow in spain somewhere. We have had so much fun. Miss y’all
Andy: hey we have done a lot of hiking. We are going surfing tomorrow. I’m having a lot of fun.
MG: Hi miss you all! Hiking is super hard because my backpack is enormous but I’m having a lot of fun. Hope you’re all having fun at the beach I miss you guys. It’s really nice here and I have tried a lot of new foods. Tell everyone I say hey! I can’t wait to see y’all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Henry: Hey, the trip is loads of fun. Lots of hard/fun hiking. We summited some big mountain and it’s was very fun. The hostels are very nice. Love you
Safe Arrival in Madrid
July 10, 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
