To learn without learning, learning to learn

Recently all around the youth informational media the leading news was about the upcoming transformation of the youth programs of the European commission. The idea is that from 2014 a new program, called “Erasmus for all”, will start and it will include the nowadays Lifelong Learning Programs (such as Erasmus, Comenius, Leonardo da Vinci and more) and Youth in Action. There is already kind of internet strike against this idea. And as a volunteer at this moment and an ex-Erasmus student I can clearly see why.

The education that a person gets in the university, while studying on terms the basics of a certain profession, has nothing to do with the other one, the so-called  “non-formal education”.  What it means to me, after some more than 12 years participation in non-governmental and non-profit organizations… It is the attractive, funny, innovative, fresh and thus quite efficient way for the people in their young years to learn from practice and experience, mostly from each other - something that usually lacks in the state educational system. Non-formal education could be the everyday life as well, especially when you are put in front of new challenges or possibilities. Youth in Action gave me and many more people that have been EVS volunteers one unique experience, connected strongly with the process of non-formal education.

To learn is something we do all the time, without realizing. One of the things that an EVS volunteers gets from doing his voluntary work, is the so-called Youth Pass. It is the experience you get written black-on-white. In other words, the formal document of the non-formal education.  This is why the Youthpass, written by each person for themselves, is meant to have a big importance.  So the institutions responsible for the volunteers are usually doing their best to educate everyone in a slightly unusual thing – the idea of “learning to learn”. Basically none is taking this seriously in the beginning, but at the moment I started appreciating the things that I had only the chance to start or to develop here, I saw it is may be not just a bunch of complicated words as it first seems.  And after all, sometimes, in the rush of the time, day after day, year after year, it is good to stop, to look around and to accept all the things you can get by this life, because it is easy for them to slip away by the time you don’t pay attention.

All those philosophical thoughts are coming to my mind mainly because all the time, just like all the people, I am forgetting how fast everything is going, how impermanent experiences like this one are. And it is good to take the maximum out of it. The maximum out of the places, the people, the conversations, the work, the time, of yourself.  In a few days  Aleksander, the Estonian flat and work-mate is quitting preliminary his voluntary service. This was a little shock when I first got to know it. Of course, it is for a serious reason and he is making the best decision for himself. Also very soon we will have to choose the next volunteers for our project after us. Isn’t it amazing how fast things come and go?! So, first thing I would say I have learned - to appreciate. And to live NOW.

Another thing that you learn with everyday is communication. Yes, we communicate since we are children, but usually with people like us, with the family and the friends and the colleagues we choose. But part of the informal education that you receive as a volunteer I believe is the fact that you start to communicate with people that you haven’t imagined before, with characters and personalities so much different from yours! Our cozy volunteer flat on the last floor of La Torre is a perfect example. The three of us are incredibly different persons, from different countries, different background, different past and a common present, which in the normal life could possibly know each other, but wouldn’t think to spend together almost 24 hours/day.  Except for the flow of information you get from a new person, there is also an important  impact on your perceptions about cultures, emotions, lifestyle and a new point of view on life and how colorful it can be.   Both the good and the bad moments we have together are leading to something, and it is called experience. And this I do not only see at home – the friends and people I meet every day at work or at a party are so much different, everyone with their story, with their life and so much to tell you about. And I am thankful for meeting all this variety of characters, spending some time with them.

All those positive things and many more which I don’t want to describe in details now,  are the reason I stand against mixing up university with EVS. Because in this is in two word what is about to happen if the new program starts working. Of course it has the good points, but as long as Youth in Action is an independent program, the necessary non-formal  education will be the leading topic of many more youth meetings and partnerships.

Thus, realizing all the good points of being here is making me feel much more comfortable. In the last month I also spent a lot of time by myself. I really needed a rest, a little break from  moving around in the last months. This gave me the chance to do exactly what I was speaking about – to look around and value the things. It is important for a person if they want to develop also to have time about it… Unfortunately in a country like Bulgaria it is hard to be part of the society, to work and still to have time for yourself. This is why I give a specific importance of my year in Galicia, a time to enjoy.

Of course, also came the moment to ask myself if I miss my country. And to be honest… I don’t, not even a little bit. Because the thing I miss are mainly my friends and now I know I will meet them around soon. About the family - it is amazing  how sometimes you need the feeling of being part of a something, of a group of people to love, to support and to care about. But also such a feeling could be taken from an experience far away from home. An amazingly sweet feeling gave me a visit in Asturias for a second time in the middle of November. I visited my friend Aleksandra in Oviedo, who had her mother staying for some days. It was a really pleasant  weekend, the friend, the mother, the slow  walks around the hills over Oviedo, the touristic visits of the town, and also Gijon and most of all - the big happy family of Erasmus flatmates as well, spending time together, playing music and having fun. This easily becomes an alternative family, if you let it be.

The idea of self-development that has obsessed me a little bit recently made me also start visiting French classes - something I do with a great pleasure because of the language itself and also because of the comfort of having them for free in the office of OMIX with the best teacher, a friend of mine called Susana. Travelling together with her is just as nice! In the end of November  we visited together Barcelos and Viana do Castelo in Portugal so that she introduced me to some old friends of hers. Susana is an interesting example of a local person with an objective point of view about Galicia and Spain that only a foreigner could have. Or, such as in her case, a person that travels a lot and that has lived in other countries. And I find this a really important thing – to be able to THINK about your home as a place, to have an opinion, not only loving it just because you are supposed to. This is another thing you learn with the chance to live somewhere else. Back to the topic – viva la Youth in Action J 

what autumn have brought...

It is obvious that after already 6 months of my EVS I pay less and less attention to writing in the blog. But I find it pretty normal – the initial excitement of my new life has slowly turned into a quiet satisfaction. I feel already so much used to everything around and, thinking about it, I am grateful for choosing a project of one year. Actually, I would recommend to all the future volunteers to search mostly for that duration of their project. It simply gives you the chance to adapt first, then to get into the language and the way of life and after both the pleasure and the work become much more satisfactory.  After all, this is one of the best things about making a voluntary service – it is a period, in which the process of learning is based on the living experience, having enough time to do whatever and combining it with some volunteer work. That I would call learning directly  from the source, from life, from the simple communication and even only from observing.  What I mean…  for example for me the experience of living in such a small place as Ribadavia for longer period  is something I am living through for the first time. I have also never thought that I will have some friends, with whom I would only communicate in Spanish (together with all the mistakes I make of course :) ) ! It feels some much different to what I am used to and at the same time … I love it!

But anyway, back to the monthly report of the events for October…

First are appropriate to be mentioned the achievements of the three brave young volunteers in Ribalandia… In the beginning of the month Casa da Xuventude welcomed one exposition of a young painter from nearby, a girl with a lot of talent but with no individual presentations by now. She was really happy to have the first chance to show her works, and that was moer than enough to make this exhibition worthy taking place! The initiative was lead by Santa. Meanwhile, Aleksander was working on another cultural event in the town. He collaborated with a local young poet, called Jaime to prepare visuals for a literature reading, organized in the honor of a poet from the previous generation. So one warm October evening a bar at the central square of Ribadavia hosted  a world of imagination, words and beautiful slides that we had painted together at home previously.  I was as usual in the whirlpool of organizations, projects, events and activities and also was really glad with the help I gave to some young people with ideas, consultations and information; and of course with the boy that already arrived for his one-year stay in Italy for making EVS – a chance he didn’t know about just 2 month earlier! Similar satisfaction of being helpful I usually feel after the English conversations/classes that we still successfully give in the office twice a week.

But the weekends remain to be my favorite time of the year J My mission to get to know the world around brought me in the first weekend of October to the last fiesta for the season – the celebration of San Froilan in Lugo, one of the bigger Galician cities (still not really big), the last one I still hadn’t been to. The event itself was the next prove on the row for the Spanish passion about the Fiesta – 8 days full fiesta program with concerts and events which brought huge amount of visitors in the town. And the town itself is beautiful! It is known for the unique fully restored Roman wall, surrounding the beautiful streets and houses of the old town of Lugo, famous touristic destination as well. During my experience I could experience also the Erasmus spirit once more, together with people from Brasil, Peru, Mexico and Ecuador… Quite colorful experience! On the way back I stopped for a train change in Monforte de Lemos, another small, but beautiful Galician town, and walked there for hours in a quiet Sunday, being a proper tourist with my camera J

Next weekend, I kind of unexpectedly found myself in Madrid, where we made a little Bulgarian reunion with my friends. Meeting periodically people that I know from before and communicating freely with them in my language is a good moment to look from aside to all the experience I get here, as sharing always makes the things more real. We spent great time together, as usual, and also got involved into the protest movement that is spreading around Spain (and not only) since May, soon after I arrived here. The 15 of October flooded the wide streets of the capital with uncountable amount of people, in a peaceful walking demonstration for a change in the messed up system of society and politics… It is hard to say if all this actually leads to something… but the emotion to be in the middle of this crowd of people, gathered with the one idea, and smiling, so much different than the usual way they all are frowning and pushing each other on the street… There was something special! Actually in  those 3 days in Madrid I managed to see a lot, the long walks helped to get to know all the centre, some interesting neighborhood, parks, squats… And to be honest, I loved the feeling to be in a capital with the taste of the big city, so much alive, intercultural, interesting; moving with all the little people going all around, breathing with them, speaking with their voice and with the noise of cars, traffic lights, ambulances, street musicians… and to know, that I am not to stay in this mess, but enjoy it for a while and get back home in my quiet little place.

Next weekend on the go and another amazing place to be visited. After not seeing for a long time Barcia, the first person I got to know when arriving here, this weekend we visited together a friend living in Baiona, a beautiful town on the coast which I have probably mentioned, because I have been there twice before. But never before I visited  a place in the mountains above it called Muinos with beautiful old stone mills, situated in a row down the hill following the stream of a little river. Same day we also went to a place I wished to see already some time ago – the point where the river Mino, the big one passing next to Ribadavia and later becoming the border with Portugal, flows into the ocean. This can be observed from a high hill called A Guarda/ La Guardia at the corner of the land, with an enchanting view. Centuries ago the celts chose to build there a village of theirs, which is nowadays one of the most visited archaeological sightseeings in Galicia (together with the Muralla, the wall, in Lugo).

Adventures are not only to be taken far away from the place of residence though J The love for hiking brought me and Aleksander many times this month on nice autumn walks around – to the hot springs of Prexigueiro, to the nearby villages, and our latest discovery - some marked touristic routes such as Ruta Verde – 35 km along river Avia, and Ruta Azul – 27 km along the river Mino.  A daily hike such as those is full pleasure, consisting of movement, precious views and getting to know all the surroundings.

Ribadavia was also once more in fiesta mood in the last Saturday of the month. The occasion - Noite Meiga, or Helloween in Galician style. And as here they are quite respected as part of the folklore, it is the fiesta of all the witches, together with the vampires, corpses and all the scary fantastical creatures one could ever imagine! And after a perfect preparation almost everyone in the village had an amazing costume or at least professional make-up and was part of the common celebration of the evening. There was a defile of the all the scary creatures, a pumpkin face competition,  the biggest queimada on Praza Maior with a theatre show and more and more… Town was back to life again, streets and bars filled with people (or zombies and beasts), a good concert of a new local band gathered big audience as well. I was amazed once again – not only by the realistic make up that gave me the goose skin, but mostly about how seriously the fiestas are taken… People definitely  know how to enjoy, each time of the year J

The adventures of September & La Evaluacion Intermedia

After the dynamic midsummer, September was the gate to the autumn and to a lot of new experiences…

First of all, still in the first weekend, I took the chance to visit Asturias, the neighbouring “comunidad autonoma” of Spain. It is smaller than Galicia, situated on the Northern coast and rich of beauty. High green mountains, picturesque villages, wild beaches, in one word – charming! The main purpose of the visit was meeting Aleksandra, my friend living in Oviedo for her EVS, for a little festival in the mountain pueblo of Pravia… including concert of Ojos de Brujo, an old dream of mine. We travelled through Gijon, the summer capital of Asturias, full of cultural events and young people, and of course, cidra J

The more I see from Spain the more I realize how many differences could exist in the different parts of the country – the views, the culture, the people, the smell, the feeling… It all changes the more you travel across. This impression grew with visiting Andalucia – the region at the South coast, soon after. The reason for the long travel was the meeting of all the long-term EVS volunteers in Spain in the middle of their projects – the mid-term evaluation. This made me think how fast all this time went, soon reaching the middle of my stay in Galicia…  There were around 70 young people from all around Europe, to share their experience and to evaluate. Of course, the reason for those meetings is quite formal – for the National Agency to be able to control the ways the volunteer projects go, their success or fail. The program of the daily activities was also quite intense – in three days we had to speak over everything around the projects, for more than 8 hours a day. But of course, as it is the normal thing to happen, when so many young people gather, it is always big fun as well. There was presentation in artistic way of all the regions of Spain, made by foreigners – brief plays, full of love and irony. Next evening there were also some traditional foods and drinks from all around. Me, Santa and Aleksander made the ritual of queimada, the burning alcohol liquid, going together with a mystic spell, which is one of the traditions of Galicia. The same evening there was a crazy party of the forest creatures – the idea was good, but the consequence – even better, just amazing J 

This evaluation took place in a small village, called Mollina, an hour travelling North from Malaga. It was so typical Andalucian – all the buildings pure white, still streets in between, and all around surrounded by olive trees… This was the Spain I knew from before, the cliche Spain from the books. May be the reason for this famous face is  Andalucia itself and the beautiful Mediterranean Costa del Sol, being one of the most touristic destinations in Spain. And we had the chance to see some of it before and after the meeting – Malaga, the mountains of Sierra Nevada and the beautiful city of Granada. The true spirit of the flamenco, the Arabic heritage, the alegria of the people – in brief a warm, hot-hot days as emotions and adventure… I loved it! As I didn’t find it a waste of time travelling all the length of the North-South of Spain in a train, even though… yes, it took a whole day, but with a stop in Madrid and some unforgettable views.

Speaking of waste of time… This blog probably leaves the impression of my EVS as party every day and night, plus some travels. Yes, it is a volunteer work, not so many hours and not getting you into the stress and the every-day routine as most of the jobs… but we DO work on our tasks. Random conversations and stories of other volunteers at the evaluation proved me once more that I was lucky with my project – the responsibilities we take and the job we are given is not out of importance. We are kept busy with things we like, with others that improve us, teach us, give us back. An example is my help to the locals decided to go for an EVS – there is a boy that just left for Italy few days ago, another one is going next month and a girl is applying now. When I work with them I remember clearly the tension I felt, the uncertainty and the hope when searching and applying for numerous projects. In September also a group of young locals went to Slovenia for an ecological exchange and I can just see the result of what I do – people are coming back happy and with their mind more open to the richness of this world. Another event we helped for was a charity hike, which took place during the days of the village. The official day of Ribadavia, the day of the patron saint, is 8^th of September, so it made four days of fiesta with the following weekend. Though the celebrations were nothing special, mostly musical – classical concerts in the summer theatre, which I was visiting together with the old ladies, and the so famous orquestras, present at each village party to make people dance during the night. The march itself was actually a really nice idea, even if not so many people joined. The moto “Give a forest  as a present” still made some people run or walk for 10 km in a Sunday, which is a lot J

In September the people of Ribadavia and the whole Ribeiro region don’t really think about parties so much. It is the time of the so-called “vendimia” – the wine picking. Everyone is getting busy working in their own wine-yards or for someone else. As it is the leading industry of the region, the vendimia was something everyone spoke about, everyone did and many people came especially here to live for the month and to work. I wanted to become part of it somehow as well, but unfortunately didn’t have the chance… or most correctly – the time.

And more happened during this month, not to be forgotten… I made an old dream of mine come true as a good old friend from my hometown, called Zdravko, came to visit me and together we went surfing at the North coast of Galicia, at a famous surfing spot – the beach of Razo. As we were sleeping in a tent, we could experience both the famous rough and changeable weather of the region of Costa do Morte (yes, the name sounds really friendly – the coast of the dead J) and the sunny happy moments on the beach, when you grab the board and start fighting with the power of the ocean… That was something really special for me, as I dreamt for so long to ride surf, and I only saw the ocean and some surfers for the first time this year in Ireland… and then in Galicia. The good weather also gave me chance to spend some time in A Coruna, to get to know it, to climb the famous Roman lighthouse and to visit the apartment of the EVS volunteers there. Once more I will finish with a word I use often – unforgettable…

Festa da Istoria

http://www.festadaistoria.com/

Una fiesta grandisima! For  a day Ribadavia travelled back to its glorious past as a capital of Ribeiro in the 15^th century and welcomed thousands of people, dressed up in medieval clothes, to celebrate in medieval manner together with the king and the queen, the jokers, the dancers, the musicians and the merchants from the fairy-tales! The streets were filled with life, noise, music, people talking, shouting, dancing, eating, drinking, singing…; the same tidy and quiet little streets that I walk upon every day were simply not the same!

Festa da Istoria is a special celebration – not only because it happens once in a year (always in the last weekend of August). It is the only time when the town hosts so many people and you can see it so much filled with life. The program starts from Thursday with warming-up concerts of medieval music and dances, together with a market and some fireworks. In this period it is already not surprising to see little princesses or executors passing by you… But definitely the biggest gathering of people is in Saturday, when the program starts from the early morning and consists of any type of entertainment, including parade, dances, a jewish wedding, real tournament, falcon-training, live chess, archery and more. There are many fiestas of this type around Galicia. But Ribadavia has the oldest tradition of making it, so here is the event with the biggest number of visitors and the best filled program.

And I could proudly say that I wasn’t only an observer J Me, Adam and Santa took part in the medieval dances for which we were practicing few times a week for more than a month.  The people that we danced together with were mostly women of course, but on the age between 5 and 60, all of them so sweet! Our beautiful dancing group danced each of the days of the fiesta, got shot for the Galician TV channel and was observed by their majesties the King and the Queen on the main square, later on the stage of the theatre, just like real medieval celebrities J

And being a little fairy-tale, this fiesta also ended with living happily ever after; streets covered with garbage, people getting really drunk. And on the next day the town was so quiet and still as if nothing has ever happened. Only the flags with medieval pictures and arms, hanging from the balconies and the street lamps stayed to remind about the time-machine  that we all were in…

Festival Arteficial

www.festivalarteficial.org

Between 18^th and 20^th of August in Ribadavia took place the 5^th edition of Festival Arteficial! The main organizer of this event is the coordinator of our project - Manuel, or “el jefe” as we would call him. So OMIX, Casa da Xuventude and we, the volunteers in particular were involved in the game… It started from the same beginning of my project, even though our minimum level of Spanish did not allow us to do a lot. What we helped with was mainly support for the popularization – bringing posters and flyers around the town and around Galicia, internet advertisement, managing the website and the social networks appearance of the festival.

And so the big day came! After months of hard work the big team of Ribadavian volunteers made possible the final result - three days of great fun with the concerts of over 10 bands from Spain and the special guest ZOE from France. Mostly the genre of music was ROCK and the melody was flowing around from the stage on the central square. The first evening of the festival was fulfilled with three concerts in a row at the local bars, where we were selling T-shirts for the fans; Sonia Andrade, my personal favorite 2us and The Drivestones sang their hearts out… In the Friday evening the big concerts started – five bands in a row, including the really talented Why Go from Vigo, my second favorites J All night RoCkeD; and with no time to rest the second night kept us awake again till the early hours of the morning with five more bands. The audience was not numerous, but really excited, the atmosphere was filled with good vibrations and it all finished with lifting up Manuel high above the crowd with happy shouts! Admirations for all the people doing something for their local community out of good will, with no expectations of profit!

Except for the concerts, some more events were there to be seen – exhibition of the local painters, workshops for Music therapy and Advanced music, performances of Parkour and Graffitti painting, Magician shows, Street circus and Dj sets in the day and night time.

And as a consequence , our apartment turned into an unofficial camping zone with mattresses all around for our guests, the volunteers from Santiago and their friends, our favorite Australian Adam and more people in need for a place to store luggage… Good times, good memories, hasta luego, Arteficial! 

one hard working summer

…Or the recipe how not to get bored even for a second

Well, hard working in this case should not sound as a bad thing. In fact, working in a youth organization has always been something I wanted to do, so the everyday the five hours in my hosting NGO are quite pleasant. And full of activities. What I am working on recently is popularization of the festival that is organized by many young volunteers in Ribadavia – Arteficial, that will take place here in the middle of the month (http://www.festivalarteficial.org/); also a local volunteer that we are sending soon for his EVS project; two exchanges in the near future, one in Turkey and one in Slovenia, in which our NGO is a partner and we need to send a group of local youngsters; and more and more. Together with this me, Santa and Aleksander started helping in the Sport Centre of Ribadavia with taking the day shifts while the staff is at their summer holidays.

Another initiative that we started is a language exchange, or this is the way we call the classes that we will give to the locals in English, together with conversation in which we can improve what we learn at our Spanish classes. And become more familiar to the local Galego language. The classes are starting this week and as we plan to make them as informal and friendly as possible, are supposed to bring up some nice times.

And as we couldn’t help in organizing Mostra Internacional de Teatro, we should get involved at least in some of the future public events in Ribadavia… On the go!

In general, working on all those things is giving me the feeling of satisfaction which is really important to continue doing the everyday tasks with motivation and will. Conditions good, job well done. Even being the middle of the summer and the holiday season.

Festas, fiestas, feiras, festival, festivities, friends…. (part II)

The new summer month of July came with hundreds of new fiestas and good festivals.

One day, expected or not, I received a call from Yana – a friend from Bulgaria that lives now in Madrid, that after couple of hours she and few friends of her will reach Ribadavia with their car to pick me up on the way to the Festival of Ortigueira. Few days before the festival itself. So, a big car, full of luggage and emotions, with 5 passengers on board left Ribadavia for an unforgettable roadtrip around Galicia in the first days of July. First destination – Redondela, a small town close to Vigo and to the ocean coast, where Luci, our sunny driver, had relatives in which house we could stay for two nights. This gave us the chance to see the town itself but also to visit some nice places around – the resort San Xenxo and one majestic beach called A Lanzada (the spear), situated on a narrow land between two seashores. Our second destination was the final point of the pilgrims – Santiago de Compostella, the capital city of Galicia. It is not the biggest, but may be one of the most beautiful cities in the area. Our little army discovered for the first time the old town, the famous Cathedral and the parks, ate some real Galician food, played Spanish cards and was ready to continue. On the road again… Coffee break in A Coruna, some parking troubles and in the late evening approaching Pontedeume. Really precious little place on the North coast of Galicia, famous for its ancient bridge, towers and so on… As we were not hosted there the way we planned, we had the chance to stay one night out in a tent, so that we can get prepared for the festival which was already so close… But not before a walk on the next day through the eucalypt forests of Fragas del Eume Natural Park. Also an enchanting place and a must-see.

After those few days on the go, but still looking forward some more adventures, there we were – Ortigueira. This small village in the top North Galicia hosts every year the biggest festival for Celtic culture and music. Four days program with artists from Galicia, but also Scotland, Ireland, Brittany, US, really good music and thousands of people audience. This surely is one of the biggest events here. In the last years it has grown so much, that there is a second unofficial festival going on at the camping area, situated on the beautiful beach close to the village. The best place to spend days and nights with no sleep! This is the website of Ortigueira festival: http://www.festivaldeortigueira.com, followed by my sincere recommendations!

Last morning at the campsite, coffee and sun, and the time had come for us to leave. Back to Ribadavia. But after I also met in Ortigueira Sashka, the other friend of mine from Bulgaria, and after the great time we all had there, it was impossible just to let it go. So, we didn’t J And the season of the visits was founded by Yana and Sashka, who both came with me back to Ribadavia. As my V.I.P special guests, they were shown all my favorite places around - from the touristic sights to the paradise summer gardens of the next little village, the river, the parks. How nice it is to share LIVE with someone, to make them experience the life and the place you like so much! In one beautiful evening our little family grew as one of my closest friends – Plam, finally reached Ribadavia after a long travel from Bulgaria together with her boyfriend. I was so so so happy with my small army of Bulgarians marching all around! What I also had to show from the spirit of the place was Her Majesty the Food of course – so a dinner was organized (again) at our place with dishes mainly of sea food and of course the home prepared pulpo (octopus, the local most popular delicates). One by one the guests were leaving, but with Plam and Lucho we saw some more things, we had a water wheel afternoon in the lake, barbeques in the park, and a rainy visit of Vigo (where our mission was to see the ocean behind the fog). Good times…

In the meantime, one of the big festivals in Ribadavia started – Mostra Internacional de Teatro. Between 15^th and 23^rd of Jul daily we were able to see at least two theatre performances  - one on the streets of the town and one at the summer theatre stage inside the castle. Actors from Spain, Ecuador, Colombia, Argentina, France, Italy and other countries were showing the best of their contemporary stage arts. Some of the shows could really leave me breathless, others were just something I have never seen before in my life… Take a look if you want: http://www.mitribadavia.com/, but I was amazed that festival of that quality could take place in such a small town as Ribadavia is.  

At the moment when I had already accepted the idea that all the guests we had in the past days were already gone, not on intention another one appeared. I was working in the office when a guy came and asked for some directions and some info – an Australian tourist in Ribadavia. As he was a good and positive person, me, Santa and Alexander welcomed him in our sweet volunteer residence. Our new friend Adam is a really amazing person, who came to Spain at the same time we did, and he is travelling all the time, making a full circle Madrid – South Spain – Catalunya – North Spain (Pais Vasco and Asturias) which brought him also to Galicia. His desire to experience the true things – the culture, the people, and to improve his Spanish, is usually making him choose not the big touristic attractions, but the small places that keep the real spirit of the country. This is how he found himself in Ribadavia, and was lucky to meet us the same way we were lucky to meet him, because the few days we spent together around, showing him also the must-sees (as the waterfalls of As Mestas, the lake and so on) were amazing. With the car he rented we also went together to Santiago for the Day on San Santiago on the 25^th July. As this is an official bank holiday and the day of Galicia, my second visit of Santiago de Compostella was simply great – the city was full of celebrations and people, musical festivals, fireworks, parties. We stayed at the house of two EVS volunteers – Hannah and Gala, that we met at the on-arrival training. They live 13km outside Santiago, in a beautiful village house and made us feel like at home. Viva la EVS!

The following days, before Adam left to Portugal, he also saw two village festas. There is a matrix they all follow – at least one stage, usually huge, with a funny looking orquestra, a fun-fair, food and drinks (of courseJ) and party all night long.

In the last weekend of the month we had another visitor – Hannah, the same volunteer that hosted us in Santiago. After a quiet night with acoustic guitar concert we made a marathon of showing her the town and its beauty, including its ethnographical museum, which was also something new for me; then - a swim in the lake and a walk outside Ribadavia, and in the evening, the next festa on the list – Festa da Cerveza, which was in the local park by the river. The result – another person enchanted by the magic of Ribalandia that will probably come back soon!

As this was the first weekend for a long time that I spent in Ribadavia and around, a short trip at least should be done. So in the calm Sunday afternoon, together with some of the local friends we went to a National Park at the border with Portugal to enjoy the hot day next to the fresh mountain water springs… Que bueno!!! The feeling that there are still so many things to see is growing with every single day!