Today was absolutely amazing… and absolutely exhausting. My feet ache, I’ve sweated enough to refill my water bottle twice, and I could probably sleep straight through to the weekend. Note to future travelers: the itinerary should come with a warning label—“extreme exercise.”
We kicked off the day by meeting our incredible tour guide, who casually speaks Spanish, Basque, German, English, and French. That’s four more languages than me. Honestly, humbling. He dropped all kinds of cool facts on us—like how the Gernika region is environmentally protected and they actively monitor the air, land, and water. Translation: no digging holes for me.
Because of this protection, people can’t build brand-new structures in the area. Instead, they’re only allowed to remodel existing ones. And along the coastline? You won’t find any massive condos blocking your ocean view. They’ve banned construction too close to the water, so the natural beauty stays untouched. Honestly, pretty refreshing—take notes, Florida.
First stop: San Juan de Gaztelugatxe. If that name doesn’t ring a bell, maybe this will—Dragonstone from Game of Thrones. I began the hike feeling bold and energetic, practically bouncing in my sneakers, thinking “I’ve got this.” It’s just 1.6 miles with 738 feet of elevation change. No big deal, right?
Wrong.
About 240 steps in, up to the church, my legs were on fire, I was sweating through my jeans (mistake #1), and the sun was aggressively committed to my downfall. But it was so worth it. The views were jaw-dropping—massive green cliffs, blue waves crashing below, and wildflowers everywhere. Just imagine the How to Train Your Dragon soundtrack playing while you stare dramatically over ancient stone walls. Yeah, it was that kind of magical.
I wish I could say I sprinted all the way back to the bus like a champion, but truthfully, I arrived at the top looking like I’d just emerged from a sauna. However, the reward came not just in the view—but in the form of a solid fist bump from my professor, Dr. Borovetz. Certified victory. I celebrated like any true adventurer would: with a popsicle.
Next, we made our way to Bermeo, a historic Basque fishing town known for boat making and anchovies. While there, we got to hear and learn a bit more of the Basque language—one of Europe’s oldest tongues with no known origin. Here’s your crash course:
- Hello – Kaixo (pronounced kai-sho)
- Hi (informal) – Opa
- Thank you – Eskerrik asko (ehs-ker-rik as-ko)
- Please – Mesedez (like Mercedes, but without the ‘r’)
Now you’ve got a few words under your belt in a language older than most countries. Show off a little.
After lunch, we set off for the famous Painted Forest of Oma—a place where art and nature literally grow together. Our guide suggested we do this hike later in the day to avoid the heat and tackle the harder hike earlier. Solid logic… until the weather decided to be its usual dramatic self. The sun peaced out, the clouds rolled in, and suddenly we were hiking in a light drizzle.
Honestly, I think Spain’s weather might be having an identity crisis. One minute it’s sunshine and postcard views, the next it’s giving “moody European film.”
And while this trail was technically “flatter,” let me clarify: we still had to walk two miles just to get to the actual forest. That’s right—a hike to a hike. We walked through a forest… to get to the forest. Forest-ception.
But once we arrived, it was totally worth the soggy shoes. The concept is incredibly cool. Agustín Ibarrola, the artist behind it, painted directly onto tree trunks in a way that only reveals full images from very specific angles. When you’re standing in just the right spot, the trees line up to form eyes, zig-zags, abstract bottles, and surreal patterns. It’s like a giant, nature-based optical illusion. On the way back, I got to see some miniature ponies, sheep, goats, and a very sweet horse that was just eating his bread like any other good horse would do. 28 rolls of bread for the good boy. (Bread feels weird to feed the horse but I am not a horse expert).
Overall, a beautiful day. 10 miles, 4 waterbottles, and a strong desire for a long night sleep. Besides what we did today, it was also Professor Borovetz Birthday despite him not mentioning that to us at the beginning. So Happy BIrthday Dr. Borovetz! (I know you read these).
Tomorrow is our last full day in Spain. I would love to stay longer, but it’s time to come back home. I will keep the posts going tomorrow. Agur! (Goodbye—Basque).
