Special Memories In Spain
July 5, 2025
One final hello from SPM 2B!
The Morocco section of our trip was truly eventful in every way we could have imagined. Our first full day in Morocco marked Day 9 of our trip and the morning began with a traditional breakfast of mint tea and Moroccan pancakes before we headed into the Souks of Marrakech. Our local guide showed us the Mosque in the city center and a few other monuments before we made our way into our first shop to practice our bargaining skills. Lake kicked it off by being the first to haggle his way into buying a jersey. His bargaining skills only improved after his first purchase as he spent the afternoon helping our entire group get the best deals possible! While everyone found unique souvenirs, Jack left the markets with a pair of traditional Moroccan sandals that are sure to serve as a memory for all we experienced in Morocco!
We shared lunch together after arriving back at Mohammed’s house and then immediately jumped in the pool to combat the mid day heat. After having some time to relax, we showered and got ready for our cooking class! We learned the art of Moroccan cooking by making the pancakes we had eaten for breakfast, Louise’s new favorite food, a transitional tajin chicken dish, and a meatball dish. We wrapped up the cooking class by tasting everything we had made, giving us a deep sense of appreciation for the opportunity to learn the art of tradition in cooking from talented locals. The rest of the evening was spent prepping and packing for Mount Toubkal base camp, followed by moonup, before heading to sleep to rest up for the next few days!
After one last breakfast at Mohammed’s on Day 10, we loaded up the van and began to the drive to the base of Mount Toubkal. The sun was out as we slowly began our ascent up the mountain. As we made our way to our lunch stop, Charlie was sure the keep everyone entertained by telling jokes and coming up with riddles. His constant humor helped pass the time and make everyone laugh when we needed it most. At the midway point, we took a break from the heat and fueled our bodies at a mountain hut before continuing the climb to base camp. The second half of our hike flew by and we could finally see our refuge. We settled into base camp with some tea, popcorn and cookies while gathering at a table to play the card game “golf”. Even though Layla absolutely dominated, she still took the time to help everyone else learn the skill set to have a more competitive game, Lillian learned these skills very quickly. After wrapping up games and having dinner and moonup, we headed to sleep in preparation for summit day.
Day 11 had an early start as we laced up our boots and put on our buffs to begin our summit of Mount Toubkal. The optimism flowed through our trail talk and we slowly ascended along the steep path. When the hike felt tough, Lillian truly stepped up as LOD to keep the group motivated and focused on the goal in sight. Once the top was near, Wyatt led the boys in a sprint up to the metal tower marking the tallest height of the mountain! After everyone else made their way up, the celebration continued as we overlooked the entirety of the mountain, shared candy, and took pictures. Standing at 4,167 m, this summit was truly an accomplishment for everyone. The sun stayed out as we enjoyed our time at the top and slowly began to make our way back down. After what felt like 6 or 7 hours of hiking, we made a safe decent back to base camp just as the afternoon thunderstorms began to roll in. The rain made for a relaxing afternoon filled with naps, more card games, and even a few rounds of hacky sack with some new British friends. The night came to a close with dinner and moonup reflecting on the growth of the group over the climb that had taken place the past two days. The way every member of this group chose to face and overcome challenge undoubtedly impressed us and reminded us the importance of community when facing difficulties. We closed moonup and headed to bed before our final day of trekking began.
While Day 12 marked our final descent of Mount Toubkal, it still challenged us as we pushed through the exhaustion from the past few days. Nora toughed out her blisters for our final hike, never complaining at all. We made our way off the mountain and into the town of Imlil where we sat alongside the river to have a freshly made lunch accompanied by an eventful games of mafia. We wrapped up lunch and made it to our riad where we took some time to settle back in and shower before heading into the town to explore. We stopped for ice cream and looked at souvenir shops while walking through the streets of Imlil. Annie even found matching bracelets for all of the girls to have! Seeing a smaller city deepened our view of the way of life and culture in Morocco. After arriving back at our riad, we made our way to the rooftop where we were able to overlook the city and mountain. We listened to music and took in the sunset while reminiscing on the time we have spent together over the past two weeks. It is evident that the growth of this growth has only strengthened as our trip has gone on. We circled up for moonup as the sun went down and talked about how we have been able to learn from each other throughout our time together. Every single member of our group has stepped up to help someone in some way, and listening to how this has impacted everyone was such a valuable reminder of how important it is to show up for the people around you. One small act of kindness can always make a difference, and SPM 2B has been a clear reminder of this.
Our final full day together began with one last Moroccan breakfast before heading to the airport. We made it through security and onto our flight in Madrid with plenty of time to get airport snacks and last minute souvenirs to remember our time in Africa. After touching down in Spain, we flew through customs and made it to our hostel where we got ready to explore the city. We headed to Las Bravas, one of the oldest tapas restaurants and creator of the salsa brava, for our banquet dinner! With a table full of tapas, we tried foods like pig ear, squid, calamari, and of course patatas bravas! Each dish was incredible and we left feeling ready to take on the city. While we were stuffed from our dinner, we still had room for ice cream and had to make a quick pit stop before we continued on. We then wandered through the center of Madrid, seeing the Plaza Mayor and Royal Palace, stopping in a few shops, and even walking through a festival. As we settled in near the Palace for moonup, a rain shower rolled in and it began to pour. There was nothing to do but embrace the weather and dance in the rain! As the rain continued to come down, we made our way over to San Gines, the oldest chocolateria in the city! As we ran through puddles with crowds of people watching, Lila’s shoes were almost swept off her feet! When we finally arrived, San Gines welcomed us in, despite our wet clothes, and served us churros and chocolate! We enjoyed the warm snack while resuming moonup and sharing lots of nugs from the past two weeks, and the kids even had a surprise nugs performance planned for us! As we closed down San Gines and wrapped up one of the most memorable moonups, we walked back through the streets of Madrid to end off our night. The tears began to flow as Day 13 officially came to close and we packed up for the journey home tomorrow.
Day 14 had an early wake up as we all made our way to the Madrid airport and the kids began to board their flights. As we said our goodbyes in the airport and parted ways, we were overwhelmed with gratitude for the perspective and experience the past two weeks has given to each of us. This group is incredibly loving, easygoing and adaptable through challenge, and curious of new cultures. There is no doubt they made the most of every moment of this trip, from groups activities, afternoons spent playing cards, or long travel days. Their inclusive nature, ability to laugh in any situation, and unwavering support for each other were key factors in the intentional bonds built on this trip. We feel lucky to have played a small role in their Moondance experience and cannot wait to see all they will do in the future. To Spain and Morocco 2B, thank you for your constant laughter and love for each other, we miss you already!
Bueno,
Cassidy & Sebastian
Moonups and Mountains
June 29, 2025
We are currently flying into Marrakesh where we will begin the second half our adventure together! The last few days have flown by but have been full of lively memories and activities that have continued to bring this group closer together and we have loved every moment of it.
After arriving at Via Ferratta on the afternoon of day three, we strapped into our harnesses and hooked into the mountain side where we began the climb up the cliff side on different bridges, ladders, and ropes. Charlie stayed steady in the back, overcoming his fear of heights and slowly making his way to the top of the course. The group cheered him on as he overcame the last mountain edge and ascended onto the platform where the zip lining section of the activity began! We soared across the canyon, looking down on how far we had climbed together. It was clear Layla thrived on the adrenaline and enjoyed every second of the ride down the staggered zip lines! After our entire group made it off the course, we hopped back in our vans and entered in the Picos de Europa National Park. As we winded through stone tunnels and made our way up the mountainside, we were greeted by vast views stretching further than the eye could see. We parked alongside a trail and began the walk up to Vegabaño, a refugio sitting beneath the mountains of the Picos. We were warmly welcomed by the owners who have spent their entire lives living in and running the refugio. After settling into our cozy bunk room, we headed outside to take in the scenery while playing games. Annie explored around the mountain hut, taking the time to look at the wooden sign making table, vintage wooden sleds, chickens wandering in and out of the coops, and other unique details that make this refugio one of a kind. The kids all gathered at a picnic table where Lillian taught a new group game called “salty fries.” While each of the kids embraced the game, Louise really took it to another level after having to bach at the chickens running around the property. She truly never fails to make the group laugh just by being herself! Our night came to a close with dinner followed by moonup in the top bunk of our shared room where we waited out the evening rain. As the drizzle slowed, we made our way back outside for one final glance at the view before heading to sleep.
Day five brought sunny skies as we shared breakfast together in the quaint dining room of Vegabaño and laced up our boots for our first day of hiking together. We walked right out the door to begin our climb to the top of Jario Peak. As we made our way past dirt trails and into the grassland of the mountain base, we passed old cobblestone huts and waved to the cows wandering around. The top of the mountain greeted us with a light breeze where we sat together to enjoy a snack before beginning our descent. Completing our first summit as a group made for a rewarding hike down full of trail talk and games to pass the time. The clouds rolled in and covered the mountain peaks, setting a beautiful scene for us to admire as we arrived back at Vegabaño for lunch. After our picnic outside, we made the hike down to the nearest town where our vans were awaiting our arrival. We made the drive to the next stop of our trip, a fairytale like town named Caín.
We settled into our albergue, or hostel, before walking the streets of the town and making our way into a local shop to try fresh Iberian ham and goat cheeses. As we snacked on these specialties, we shared sodas and candies while recounting our first summit day. We made our way down to the stream where Jack jumped between rocks to explore the other side of the bank. We relaxed on the rocky beach while listening to the rushing water before heading back to play a quick game of cards and get ready for dinner. After dinner, we sat along the river, under a moonlit sky, for Moonup. After wrapping up for the night, we admired the night lights of the small town as we walked along the cobblestone roads to head to bed.
The next morning marked day six which began with breakfast before starting a long trek along the Cares Gorge trail. Standing between two mountain ranges, the trail sits in a canyon and is built onto a cliff side. We marched along the path in a single file line, hugging the walls, as we peered down to see the stream rushing between the mountains. The Cares Gorge is a trail that reminded us how small we are compared to the grandness of the mountains making up the Picos de Europa. After making our way through the entire trail , we made a pit stop at a restaurant nestled in the end of the national park to pick up ice cold coca colas to sip on with our sandwiches! Then we headed into Sotres, another small mountain town surrounded by towering views. The afternoon was spent outside playing card games and making friendship bracelets before heading to a local restaurant for dinner. We enjoyed plates of chicken wings alongside traditional tapas and ice cream! As we walked around the town, we could see Wyatt’s growing love for the culture of the small Spanish villages we have had the privilege of seeing. We ventured up to the highest lookout point in Sotres and circled up in our crazy creeks to soak in the views of not only the mountain, but also the local life below us. We had moonup while the clouds rolled in before making our way back to the albergue to get some sleep.
Day seven was filled with some of our favorite views from the trip so far! After a quick breakfast and van ride to the beginning of the trail, we began climbing towards the top of a mountain called Peña Main. The sun was beating across the green grass with clear skies above as we trekked through multiple false summits and admired the views of the various mountain ranges in the distant. We made the final push towards the top where Lake was sporting a Rumbo a Picos shirt to match with our outfitters. He was ready to take as many WOW photos as he possibly could! The breeze rolled in as we sat down to have lunch together and celebrate our second summit of the trip! After making our way down the mountain, we knew we needed popsicles to cool down. We quickly showered and headed to a shop in Cain to enjoy our icy treats together before taking some time to prep for our big travel day to Morocco! After packing up and having dinner together, we went back up to our lookout point for one final Moonup in Spain! We talked about our favorite memories from the first half of the trip as well as everything we are looking forward to for the second half! We closed out the night by saying goodbye to the mountains and walking back to the albergue.
We woke up before the sun on day eight to begin our transcontinental journey to Morocco! Our LODs, Nora and Lila, fearlessly led us through two flights and into the second half of our trip! While we did cut it close on our second flight, we made it on board just in time and touched down to feel the mid day heat of Northern Africa. After a quick drive to Mohammed’s house, we indulged in delicious Tahin chicken before jumping in the pool to cool off! The afternoon was spent relaxing and reflecting on our time in Spain as we enter into our new adventure in Morocco. We shared a cous cous dinner and spent some time getting to know Mohammed, our host, before we circled up for moonup under the stars before heading to bed.
We have truly loved every moment we have spent together over the past week and cannot believe how quickly the time is passing. Our group is full of adventure seekers, intentional thinkers, and compassionate hearts, each of them bringing a unique perspective to all of the experiences we have shared together. It is rare to find a group so connected and we are incredibly grateful for the bonds that are continuing to form and for all that we are yet to experience together. We cannot thank you enough for giving us this time together. We have no doubt this trip will leave a lasting impact on every member of our group, us included! As we head into the souks of Marrakesh and up Mount Toubkal, we are overfilled with excitement for this chapter of our trip and cannot wait to share about it soon!
With love from Morocco!
Cassidy & Sebastian
Dear mom and dad, thank you so much for letting me experience this trip. I’m having a great time in Morocco and really enjoyed Spain. It’s extremely hot here, but there’s a pool to cool everyone off. Thanks again, and I love you so much!
Hiii mom and dad! I’m so thankful that I was able to go on this trip and thank y’all for sending me!! Morocco is so cool!!! Love you sooo much!!!🥳🫶🤪
Whaddup fam✌️✌️This trip has been SOO cool and I am having a blast! Morocco has been amazing so far and I am so grateful y’all sent me on this trip!! I love our group so much and our leaders are the best too! Love and miss y’all so much and am so excited to tell y’all about it!! 💛
Hiii! I’m having the best time. We just got to Morocco and it has been so fun. We went to the markets and I bought some stuff for y’all. Thank you so much for letting me experience this trip. Love you ❤️
Hi mom and dad!! I’m having the BEST TIME EVER thank you so much for letting me come! We just went to the markets and I bought some stuff for y’all. Morocco is super cool and I can’t wait to show y’all what I bought! (Lots of fake stuff 😉) can’t wait to see y’all and love y’all so much!!
Hi Fam!! This trip has been so so so much fun and I wouldn’t be able to experience this with out y’all!! We just went to the markets in Morocco and I bought a bunch of stuff! Can’t wait to see you guys and tell you all the details!! Love and miss y’all
Hi y’all!! I’m loving Morocco (even though it’s super hot🥵) and I totally wish you were here to experience it with me!! Thank you for sending me on this trip and I can’t wait to tell you all about it when I get home! I bought some stuff in the markets and we start hiking Toubkal soon 😬. I hope you’re feeling better CH!! I miss you and love you all so much!!
Hi family this is such a sick trip. Thank you so much for giving me this experience. Love and miss you guys.
Hi Family thank you for this trip. It is really fun and cool. I had a lot of fun in Spain and now we are in Morocco. Thank you for sending me.
Hello family thanks for sending me on this trip It is really nice here. Morocco reminds me of AZ a lot. I love it here. See you soon
Surf, Scenery, and New Friends
June 24, 2025
Hola from Spain and Morocco 2B!
After a few delayed flights, all 10 of our group members finally made their way to the Madrid airport, ready to get our trip started! We quickly circled up for a round of the name game, then piled into our two vans to head toward our first destination. Despite fighting jet lag, spirits were high as we played the hat game, solved riddles, and watched the changing scenery as we left the city and entered into Northern Spain. Annie spent the ride coming up with fun ice breakers to get to know everyone in her van! Her warmth and constant conversation made everyone feel welcome and helped create instant connection among our group. We made a quick pit stop for lunch where Lillian stepped outside of her comfort zone by trying calamari for the very first time! We then continued the drive north and finally arrived in Llanes, a small beach town on the coast of Spain. Surrounded by mountains and sea, we watched the clouds roll over the peaks as we settled in for our first night. After learning how to play birdie on a perch, we wandered through the old town where we were greeted by local restaurant owners for our first dinner together. As the conversation flowed across the table, we felt a wave of joy for the chance we had to get to know each and every kid on this trip. We wrapped up dinner and headed back to our accommodations for our very first Moonup where we talked about all the next two weeks has in store for us.
Day three of our trip was off to an action packed start with breakfast and Canyoneering. With Lake and Nora as our very first LODs, we were in good hands as we hiked in between the mountains to find the rushing water of the canyon. We waded through streams and slid down smooth rocks, laughing as we fought to keep our balance. Jack loved every second of it and gave our canon ball competition his all as we jumped into the water hole at the end of the canyon. We made our way out of the mountains and headed back into Llanes for lunch at a pizzeria. The fresh pizza was exactly what we needed to warm us up after our morning in the freezing water! After finishing lunch, we explored the town. Layla’s eye for detail became clear as she stopped to take in the sights and capture photos of historic buildings and quaint shops. We made our way to a heladeria, or ice cream shop, for a surprise sweet treat before heading to our afternoon activity.
We drove down a gravel road and then walked along a piece of the Camino De Santiago to get to a private beach surrounded by rocky mountains. We slid on our wetsuits, grabbed our boards, and learned the basics before paddling out. Wyatt was the first one past the break and immediately paddled into a wave, hopping up on his very first try! We spent the rest of the afternoon catching waves together and soaking in our surroundings before leaving the beach.
We spent the evening in high spirits, grilling burgers and playing multiple rounds of Mafia with Charlie as our animated narrator, keeping everyone laughing with every story he told. Meanwhile, Lila took charge of our bracelet making supplies and helped everyone get started with friendships bracelets that will one day serve as a keepsake of our time together! After sitting down for a family style meal together, our LODs led moonup before we wrapped up our day and headed to sleep!
Day four began with breakfast once again before loading up in the vans and making our way to what is coined the most beautiful beach in Spain. Similar to our surfing spot yesterday, the entire coastline is enclosed by towering cliffs and rock formations. We grabbed our surfboards and walked down a winding gravel road to reach the sand. We hoped back in the water where Louise caught the first wave of the day! Our entire group improved so much this morning which was incredible to see. They cheered each other on for every wave and really gave it their all. In between waves, they sat on their boards embracing the breathtaking views surrounding us on all sides. Despite the cloudy weather, our morning was full of light from the energy our group brought to the activity. After showering, packing our bags, and having sandwiches together for lunch, we loaded back into the vans to head to our next destination. We are currently winding through the base of the Picos de Europa towards our afternoon activity, Via Ferratta, where we will climb and zip line on the sides of the mountain before making our way to a stunning mountain refugio where we will spend the night and begin our first day of trekking!
While we have only spent a few days together, the way this group has begun to bond has already impressed us. Their inclusive nature, love for games, and joy brought to every activity is sure to have a lasting impact throughout our trip. There is so much yet to come and we can’t thank you enough for giving your kids the opportunity to be here with us! As we soak in our last few days in Spain, we have nothing but excitement for the growth that is going come and the bonds that will be built between these kids!
Until next time!
Cassidy & Sebastian
Layla- Hey!! Spain is really pretty and I’m having so much fun! Love and miss y’all!!
Louise- Hey fam! I’m having so much fun in Spain, our group is the best and all the things we’ve done have been so cool and it’s so pretty here! Love and miss y’all💛
Nora- Hey mom! I’m having the best time and I have the best group with great leaders! It is so beautiful here! Love and miss you guys!
Lake- Hey family! Spain is really cool and we have a very good group! Love y’all!
Wyatt- Heh family! Lovin Spain a lot, it’s pretty sick out here. See you guys soon! Love and miss you!
Lila- Hi Mom and dad!! I miss all y’all but I’m having lots of fun!! It’s GORGEOUS here and we’re about to go hiking. All my new friends are so fun too!!! Also, hi CH I miss you too! 🤗🍽️🍚 🥳🎉💗💗
Jack- Hey mom and dad! I’m having a great time here in Spain. We went to this beautiful beach and the mountains are crazy too. I really enjoyed surfing and was pretty good at it. I miss you, Gunner, and Charlie!
Charlie- Hi Mom and dad thank you for sending me on the trip. I am really good at surfing and now we are going hiking. Miss you guys
Lillian- Hiii mom and dad! I’m having soooo much fun all my new friends are awesome!! I am super good at surfing and now we’re going on a hike. My leaders are super cool and all my friends say hi. Miss u guys 🤪🤪😜😜🤭🤭🐊🐊💗💗
Annie- Hiii mom and dad!!!! I am having SOOOO much fun!! Spain is AMAZING!!! We just surfed on the most beautiful beaches I’ve ever been to in my entire life! My leaders are so cool and I’m so happy I was able to go on this trip!! 🤪🤪🥳🥳🫶🫶
Safe Arrival!
June 22, 2025
Hello Spain + Morocco Families!
We heard from our leaders this morning that the group has landed safely in Madrid! The trip is off to a great start, and we cannot wait to hear more stories 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 week! 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
