Loosening Up in Southern Spain

Loosening Up in Southern Spain

Our group and I were looking out towards the unfamiliar landscape waiting for our arrival at our hotel. As our tour bus traveled through the rolling hills and the city towards the coast, we were looking out towards the unfamiliar. The scenery was heightened by the late afternoon and the seemingly picture perfect shadows everything evidently cast. The Spanish countryside was a beautiful place.

As we traveled closer to our hotel and the Mediterranean Sea, our tour guide rambled on about the history and other things that only the older people cared about, while we teenagers talked and looked out at the new world before us. All of the non-adults were really bummed about there being so many adults in the group, and old ones at that. I felt somewhat estranged because of my noticeably younger age. I was at least two years younger than everyone else there and was in a way not fully welcome into their world. I was not specifically excluded from anything, but it was noticeable in the way they spoke to me.

As we drew closer to the coast, the roads became more active and the pathways not on the main streets began to grow smaller. Soon it was as one would imagine if they have ever seen a movie with a setting in Spain. A lively environment, plants and trees growing wherever possible gave the place a natural, laid back look. All over Spain the houses and buildings were made up of a white substance that gave an old but clean feeling.

There was a good mood in the air that made the short trip seem even shorter. We were all happy to be on the bus, but even happier when we finally did arrive at the hotel. We all grabbed our luggage and slowly worked our way off the bus. The place was beautiful; at least...

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...and took my first drink. The taste was bitter, just as I suspected it would be from the smell. I didn't like it but tried to hide my displeasure. I didn't fool any of the others; they told me after a while I'd get used to it and love it.

I finished the rest of it ounce by ounce throughout the rest of the night. It felt good doing something that had been strictly outlawed my entire life. I think that after that night the guys looked at me differently and gave me a newfound respect. For the rest of the trip, I was one of them, an equal. I look back on that day and think of how much that night changed me. More importantly, I attribute my change to being in southern Spain and the Mediterranean. I still believe that if I had not been able to make this trip I would still be the up-tight person I used to be. I learned to relax and enjoy life, 5000 miles away from home.