*I know I’m posting this on the day of the massive shooting in Las Vegas. My love and thoughts go out to all affected. I urge everyone to remember that action is prayer.
Now, for a very different tone: No pasa nada is pervasive phrase that encapsulates much of the laid back Spanish attitude. It doesn’t have a direct translation in English, but essentially it means “it’s all good”/“no worries”/“it’s chill” all rolled into one. I’ve appreciated this saying because it’s very forgiving and goes hand in hand with the “tranquila” (chill, you’re good) and usually makes me feel like less of an idiot when I mess up some cultural norm – like forget to do the two cheek kisses or can’t describe what I need in Spanish. The teachers I work with also use it when students mess up so that the kids don’t get stressed-out or worried about a mistake – instead they can just focus on the next thing or getting the original thing right. However, there are times that make it fully evident that I have not fully adapted to the “no pasa nada” lifestyle. This weekend some of my friends and I joined other teaching assistants and students who are studying abroad at University of La Rioja on a trip organized by the University. Here is the exact transcription of the event description (which, yes, was written in English): “We were told that some people wanted to visit Clavijo and…wish granted! On Saturday (30th) we will be meeting in “Monumento al Labrador” beneath the statue at 10:50am. Please be punctual since we will have to take a bus. The price is a single urban ticket to buy on the bus, usually around 1 euro. Half of the trip will be on the bus and the other half walking (around 50 min, it is not a well connected town). Please, bring your own food.” Let’s recap: 10:50am, be punctual. Around 1 euro [each way]. 50 minute walk. Bring food. To prepare, on Friday I went a bought a bunch of snacks because I know how hungry I get and also I figured I could share in case people didn’t bring their own and I prepared for the following morning: I’d wear my running shoes, athletic tights, an athletic tank top and athletic long sleeve for layers, and then pack a fleece and my rain jacket for additional coverage. When I arrived to the base of the statue ten minutes early, I greeted my friends and told them all about my abundance of snacks (including juice boxes) in case they needed anything. I have since been dubbed “mom-scout.” Significantly after 10:50 (ahem “be punctual”) the “leaders” of the trip finally emerged and led us to our bus-stop where we waited long enough for each of us to get coffees and pastries at a nearby café. The bus cost 1.55 euros, so there was major blockage as each person, armed with a one euro coin, had to dig through their coin purses to produce the proper amount for their ticket. We were on the bus no more than 20 minutes when a loud whistle alerted us that our huge group was supposed to get off. On the ground again, the leaders told us to buy whatever we needed at a grocery store across the street, so we waited once again while people purchased last minute snacks. Finally, we began our “50 minute walk”. We went through the small town and directly into vineyards. It was beautiful and we were excited, but quickly we began to wonder where the castle was. There was nothing within what we considered 50 minute walking distance, only jagged mountains in the distance so we asked where we were going. Sure enough, that spiky mountaintop we were seeing in the distance was actually the pointy tips of the old castle. My friends and I looked at each other with some skepticism, but what we were going to do about it at that point? Onward and upward we went. Our walk soon became a straight up hike and, finally, after ALMOST TWO HOURS, Ali and I (who were yards ahead of anyone else) made it to the park at the bottom of the castle. Both of us like hiking and had been prepared with sneakers and hiking gear, but not everyone had been so lucky. We ate our snacks as people from our group joined us steadily. Once everyone had rested and eaten and questioned our “guide” thoroughly — he, as it turns out, had never done this trip before — we turned into the village to make our way to the actual castle. I was stoked because I haven’t been to many castles. We walked up the path leading to the entrance and with great anticipation I walked towards the archway. I walked through the door and almost ran directly into the barrier shielding you from the cliffs below. Yeah, so the castle was less of a castle and more of a couple walls left of one. We’d just hiked two hours to see a pretty cool old wall. It was still beautiful, and the views of the vineyards below were stunning, but it definitely wasn’t the castle you dream about going to when you romantically plan your trip to Europe. But, I love being outside and hiking in mountains with gorgeous views and fun people, so no pasa nada, right? There wasn’t too much to do at the castle besides take pictures so that you can show your family and friends you are indeed soaking up Europe and then sit and imagine what the castle looked like when people lived there, so before too long a few of my friends walked down to the little village to find a bathroom. We found a little café with an adorable elderly gentleman who kept telling us he couldn’t understand our Spanish and did we know that the Spanish language was invented right here in Rioja and also to please eat the peanuts. Before long we heard the now signature whistle that meant we needed to group up. It was getting late and we figured we could begin our long trek back to the town that could get us to Logroño. But apparently, there’s also ruins of a monastery nearby. I checked with the leader and he said it would only be 20 minutes out of our way and then 40 minutes back, to which I responded if he meant 40 minutes there and 80 back due to the fact that our original walk had been double what we’d been told. He said he was sure this time and dubiously I followed him. These ruins were also cool to see. Especially since I was actually expecting ruins. It was an overcast day in Rioja, so the red stone really stood out against the green grass and the gray sky. I was able to meet some more teaching assistants, students, and Spaniards. Though the path was much steeper, I don’t think it took me 20 minutes to get down and it definitely didn’t take 40 to go up. When we all made it back to the little village, we sat and took yet another coffee break. At this point I was a little irritated because it past five and I knew that we still had a long walk ahead of us. I guess since we’re adults we technically could have left, but alas. After a loooong coffee (or beer for some) break, we got back on the road. Again, Ali and I had little tolerance for even moderate speeds of walking, so we ended up ahead again, but this time we had a German guy named Claas (“Claas, like First Class” as he said) with us. The three of us chatted about the pitfalls of slow walking and disorganized outings and made the LONG HIKE (not a 50 minute walk) back more enjoyable. When we arrived to the village, fairly exhausted from having hiked 15 miles in the Spanish countryside and mountains, and checked the bus schedule, we found we’d missed the bus by four minutes and that the next one wouldn’t arrive for nearly two hours. While this was “no pasa nada” for many, a few of us were not about it. (Or, as I say “yes, pasa everything”). I began checking my phone to see how long it would take to walk to Logroño while Claas quickly figured out that if we walked twenty minutes to the next town, we could get on a bus right away. Claas led the way and our small group made it no problem to the next town and onto the bus and back to Logroño. To recap: our “50 minute walk” ended up being an over 15 mile hike and the whole outing took a whooping 9.5 hours. Despite all of this, I am so grateful I went. I wouldn’t have known how to do it on my own. I was able to bond with friends, make new friends, and spend a full day out in the mountains of Spain. The castle and the monastery were lovely and historic – as I said, it not what I pictured for my first castle of this year, but at the end of the day, that isn’t what mattered. I’m still sore from the 15+ miles, but still smiling from the incredulous looks and silly jokes my friends and I shared over our grand adventure that was not at all as advertised. At the end of the day, despite feeling like I’ve been adapting well to the Spanish way, I am clearly not made for the complete “no pasa nada” attitude quite yet, but I’m hoping I’ll get there.
8 Comments
Sally Farrell
10/2/2017 04:25:44 pm
This couldn't have come at a better day for us in the US! We need a smile, a chuckle and a laugh right now. I'm so glad you posted it. Love the pictures. A beautiful place.
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Jordan
10/3/2017 09:14:56 am
Thanks Grammy, love you!
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November 2018
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