Tangier, Morocco

This weekend, my friend Jake and I headed to Tangier, Morocco (aka Africa). We hopped a ferry out of Tarifa, and hi the heart of the city to head out on a guided tour. Being in a Muslim country is much different, and the culture shock is huge. But it was a great experience and a bunch of fun, especially since it was a new continent. First we took a bus tour around the city, then we got out and walked around on foot through the inner parts of the walled city. We stopped for lunch at a traditional Morrocan restaurant, then went on for some shopping in which the store owners are ruthless in trying to get you to buy some stuff. Here are my pictures as well as a video of a cobra dancing (or just getting ticked off) to a flute.

Oh yea, I got to ride a camel too!

Here is the video. It is a real life Cobra. I'm not usually afraid of snakes, but this close to a poisonous one did kind of freak me out...

Canyon Descending

This weekend was also Outfitter Espana's Canyon Descending trip. For those who don't know, canyon descending is like caving, only there is light and take out some of the tight sqeezes for cliff jumps. Apart from getting lost on the way, needing a police escort out of a city (yes, I did get a 15 pax van stuck in a small town), and losing all the skin off my little toe, it was a great trip. Here are some pictures. Sadly, I do not have any of my van in the narrow streets or of the police escort.

Hiking in Grazalema Mountains

For one of my projects this summer, I coordinated with the people at the Fitness Center in working on a "Fitness Fridays: Take it Outside" Program to give people a change up from their daily workout routine. This past Friday was out first one out. We took a group of 15 people of all ages on a 10k hike through the woods. Here are a few of the pictures:

(and yes, one of those is most definitely a picture of a goat in a tree!)

Scuba Class

Being the amazing Outfitters Espana emplyee that I am, I was offered the chance to take the PADI Open Water Diver class (for free!). I took them up on the offer, and am now scuba certified. It will be nice to be diving legally for a change!

Here are a few pictures from our dives...
I would have more, but most of them did not turn out well.

The first is us in the Mediterranian doing some underwater drills we had to use to pass the class.
Next are some fish (obviously!)
And last is our class as we got out o the water on our last dive.

Granada

Erin, Ben and I went to Granada last weekend. It is the home of Alhambra as well as some cathedrals and other big tourist attractions.

Alhambra is a Moorish Fortress and utilizes the balance of light, water, and beauty. Inside the fortress are the Generalife Gardens, Nazarene Palace, and a few other major events. Here are my pictures from the day.

Bullfight

Amature Night at the Bullring in Puerto de Santa Maria. Of course we were there.

Bullfights are crazy, fun, and exciting. But also guesome, brutal, and sad.
We even saw a guy get goared by a bull. He was hurt, but survived.

I'm glad I went, but I never want to go again.

Here is a video and some pictures from the event.

I promise, none of them include any violence, I only wanted to show what they are like!

Enjoy!

Independance Day Celebration

Independance Day on a military base overseas is a bigger celebration than Christmas. Here in Rota, Spain is no difference. As we are located on a Spanish military base, most days of the year we are not allowed to fly the American flag, 4th of July is the exception.

MWR is in charge of hosting the day's events, so everyone gets involved. This year the schedule involved youth activities, contests throughout the day, a dancing horse show, the Spanish Marine band, a Santana Tribute Band, and ending the night with fireworks.

Here are some pictures from the festivities (all stolen from one of my bosses as I was too busy driving the shuttle to experience little more than the horse show and the band.)

Germany & Seeing Andy

I was recently presented with the chance chance to fly to London to meet up with Andy then with him fly to Germany to spend a few days. It was a chance that I took in a heartbeat, because I miss home, but especially him.

We flew to London on June 26th, spent the night, then headed to Frankfurt Hahn Airport in Germany. We spent 3 perfect nights in Germany before heading back to London to head back home... well, Spain for me.

London was expensive, if nothing else. I didn't get to see the city for the short time I was there, but I'm ok with that... not that I could've afforded the city even if there was time!!!

Our time spent in Germany was wonderful. We spent most of our days in the little towns along the Rhine River. We walked around inside a castle, walked up on the city walls, took a ferry down the Rhine, and drank lots of German beer and wine.

Here are some of my favorite pictures from our trip: