Having the time of our lives!

Leah

"Repelling down a cliff face next to a 10th century church, exploring a castle, partying at the discotec, hiking to the top of a waterfall, sunset with the roof down zooming down the highway, having the time of my life.I´ve never felt this way before!"
                                                          Leah's latest facebook post.


It blows my mind that Heather and Leah are on this adventure! I love hearing what they are doing and where they have been. What a magical time for them. Some people must wait their whole life to experience the things these girls have, especially with all of Heather's travel. When Heather suggested a few years ago that she wanted to take a year off between Undergrad and Grad School, I told her, "No go straight through or you might never go on." I am so glad that she did not take my advice! She has learned and experienced so much that a classroom could have never offered. IS that not one of the reasons we home school?

The girls are now on vacation in Barcelona. Both Heather and Leah have friends that live there. The original plan was to head to France next week. But Leah's VISA runs out earlier than planned. So they will be jetting off to Miami next week. Instead of Waldo, it is now Where in the world is Heather?!

Where art thou?

The following gives a great feel for Heather's present location.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Málaga is a city and a municipality in the Autonomous Community of Andalusia, Spain. With a population of 568,305 in 2009, it is the second most populous city of Andalusia and the sixth largest in Spain. This is the southernmost large city in Europe. It lies on the Costa del Sol (Coast of the Sun) of the Mediterranean Sea, about 100 km (62.14 mi) east of the Strait of Gibraltar and about 130 km (80.78 mi) north of Africa.

Málaga enjoys a subtropical climate. Here are one of the warmest winters in Europe, with average temperatures of 17 °C (62.6 °F) during the day and 7–8 °C (45 - 46 °F) at night in the period from December to February. The summer's season lasts about 8 months, from April to November, although also in remaining 4 months temperatures sometimes reach around 20 °C (68.0 °F).

Málaga's history spans about 2,700 years and is one of the oldest cities in the world. It was founded by the Phoenicians as Malaka about 770 BC, from the 6th century BC in Ancient Carthage, from 218 BC - Roman Republic and later Roman Empire (as latin Malaca), after the fall of the empire of the 800 years under the domination of Arabs (as Mālaqah (مالقة)), from 1487 under the dominion of the Spaniards. The archaeological remains and monuments from the Phoenician, Roman, Arabian and Christian eras convert the historic center into an "Open Museum" displaying its rich history of more than 3,000 years.

I can see Africa from here!

Four more helpx volunteers have come to Casa Mayor, all women. Two French Canadians and two Dutch. Having a great time and learning loads of skills while growing physically and mentally stronger. Every morning we get up to do yoga at 730 and then walk the dogs to the top of a hill where we can see Africa! 

On Friday, we helped a British neighbor/friend dig a huge ten foot trench between the mountain and her house to keep the rains from coming in. It was so empowering digging and moving literally hundreds of pounds of rock. I was asked to teach the yoga class! I’ve been learning loads here- about good posture, and energy. 

Will be heading to Barcelona within the next week. Hanging out there for 15 days or so, then on to France!

Greeting from Spain!

Casa Mayor

Hi all! I am kickin it here in south Spain. Its amazingly beautiful! We are so high in the mountains you can see Africa on a clear day... which we haven't had the opportunity yet. Global climate change has brought insane weather here and its been cold and raining since we arrived Monday night but still pleasurable. We are staying with two lovely birttish folks- deirdre and bill who caretake a not for profit, not money based retreat center in the Malaga Mountains. Its kind of like what the farm desired to be... a space where artists, thinkers and the like can come and heal and create for very little money. Being well fed as well- just this morning Leah and I split a hardboiled goose egg for breakfast! 

Beautiful Leah

Besides the cold, its amazing here. We are even getting used to the cold- I've fallen in love with going to bed with a hot water bottle! Not sure how long we will be here, learning and living tons. Here is the link to our new home away home.

Hola from Spain!

This is the beautiful seaside village where Heather has been staying.
The Mtn over looking the sea and village is
the one the girls climbed over the week end.

Heather arrived in Spain safely. Hard to believe that she has been there a little shy of a month. She has been staying with a Swedish family that a horse ranch in Southern Spain over looking the ocean. To hike to the beach is about a mile. The girls in their free time have been hiking and mountain climbing. Some of the work that Heather has doing is tending the garden, cooking and child care. She even learned how to ride a bike!

The following is part of her latest journal entry:
Just wanted to drop a line and let you all know I am happy and healthy. Today, I learned to use a big land tilling machine, went to a village market and got to watch the sunrise. Food and health and life is wonderful. On Sunday, Leah and I will travel to the south of Spain (literally mere miles from Africa) where we will work for a couple of weeks at a yoga and meditation center helping them prepare for their upcoming season doing mainly garden, land and painting work. I am so excited!

Recent mtn. Heather and Leah climbed. Look at the lovely town below.

Missing her so much but knowing that she is having an amazing adventure is great! I look forward to hearing more from her. Seeing an occasional picture or two. Will continue to update her journey. Please hold in prayer for safe travels, remain healthy, and enjoying her adventure to the fullest!

When one leaves the nest.

On Thursday a new chapter begins in Heather's life. After living with us almost a year she will spread her wings and fly to Spain. She is so excited! If you had told her this time last month that she would living in Spain she would have thought you had lost your brains! Two weeks ago she would have thought you were crazy~ but in less than 48 hours she will be going to the Southern Coast of Spain.

Her girlfriend Leah left a month ago to be part of a work exchange. Several weeks later the offer arose to join her. Leah is working on a horse ranch. She is living in a villa that over looks the sea. Her host family is a single Swedish mom and her 2 children.

Two weeks later they will move to another farm for a month. In between each move they will have a week to explore Spain. They are hoping to visit Portugal, France and maybe Germany. This will certainly be a whirl wind few months!

At the end of May, Heather will be state side. Her next journey will find her traveling around Appalachia. She has a graduate assistance position work withing her mentor in Sociology. I do not quite understand what she will be doing other than having an amazing time~!

Keep her in your thoughts to be safe, healthy and happy. Maybe occasionally she will end post a few pictures!

~b