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 8th 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…
