Spain of the Mountains

There is that Spain that consists of the low lands that makes driving so very easy. We still manage to kill ourselves and one another on the roads when often we drive along straight open stretches with perfect visibility.

The people of the low lands are a breed unto ourselves. We take Nature for granted. We seem to think nothing of throwing our trash on the ground, and we have to be encouraged to treat the environment with kindness. Except for those people who make a special effort to walk or cycle, (probably because they have had exposure to the mountains) the rest of us want door-to-door car service. Even those of us who live in the country outside of towns and cities, with grand views of the mountains are spoiled. My wife and I live in what I like to describe as an orange tree forest. As far as the eye can see there are orange trees, interspersed with olive trees, and in the background there are the mountain ranges. Beautiful! We are so lucky, but what we have is just a taster of what the other Spain is like.

To experience the high country we have to go to the Spanish Pyrenees. This is the part of the country that takes us up to approximately 3,355+ metres or 11,007 feet above sea level. At that level the air is very light indeed and the going gets tough. This changes everything. The respect of humans changes to realise that in this district man is not king. We have to conduct ourselves with care and concern for the environment and for our own safety.

Starting with driving, those roads that we are so accustomed to simply disappear. The roads become twisting and winding and narrow. However, we still encounter large busses and mega-trucks. It is bad enough when a small car meets one of those beasts. I have no idea what happens when they meet one another on a bend.

Focus is everything. Keep your focus on the road ahead at all times. If you are having a conversation with a passenger sitting beside you, not for one second can you safely take your eyes off the road ahead to look in his direction. I experienced uphill gradients that are rarely encountered, and of course, on the other side there are downhill hairpin twists and turns on unpaved tracks. If your are moving just a little too fast and you slip and slide, that will likely be the end for you.

Our base was the small town of Broto where our son lives and works as a mountain guide. His idea of going for a hike often means going straight up the side of the mountain. We are suitably impressed by the skills he has trained for and acquired, and his knowledge of the mountain is truly encyclopaedic.

As a city slicker I always thought that a mountain is a mountain and once you have seen one, you've seen them all. However, from afar that may be so, but in reality they each have their own special characteristics. Mountains, including waterfalls and lakes and running rivers all represent some of Mother Nature's finest work. To go into these areas means that we should be prepared to be awed by the natural beauty of the natural world.

Expect the best from nature; take photos and leave only footprints; (make no trash) and take care of yourselves.

This advice is extended to all other city slickers like me. The people of the mountains live like this.

Copyright (c) 2016
Eugene Carmichael