Miercoles 23 junio 2010 01.30h

Hola:

Yes, it is late ... but for some unknown reason, dispite my head-chest cold I cannot sleep. Went to bed at 22.30 to sleep off the cold, but that lasted about 75 minutes. It is a bit frustrating becasue I blew off my Spanish professor's birthday celebration to sleep, and I can not - suck! Any way, I have to share about the past weekend.

I am currious if anyone else has noticed that my stories are only about the weekends. But not a lot happens during the week, except work - and my students do not provide enough fodder to write about. I mean how many times can you talk about how they mis-pronounce words, especially the past-tenses; or use the wrong tense; or add prepositions where they do not belong, or drop them where needed.... Or talk about how many classes were cancelled - it all gets so old and non-entertaining

But this past weekend was not overly excting, yet a TON of fun! Friday was an average one. A little study time, cleaned my room, went to class - that in itself was unusal (dont usually go on Friday), intercambio and after that met folks out for more drinks.

When I got up (11.00h) on Saturday after being out late - I was not motivated to get moving untl Robbie phoned at about 13.30 or 14.00h to check on plans for the evening/day. I realized how much time I had wasted sitting on my ass - so I called my Equadorian friend to see if he wanted to go hiking in Case de Campo. Nope, he had studying to do (so did I, oh well) but he offered to lend me his bike!! WOW - excellent - got my stuff together and headed over to his place, out on the trails at 16.00!! Biked until about 20.15 - 4 hours more or less. Felt really really good.
When I returned I offered to get dinner together, but he offered to cook for me - wow again!!
Nice bike ride - gratis - a man cooked for me - met his two room-mates - nice guys -
It was fun; however, it made me late for the night out to help collect data for Peter's article.

I was worried, but it was not necessary - there were enough people helping - like 14 in the group of traveling drinkers. I attempted to catch up to their status from beers, but no such luck - they were way ahead of me. About 02.00h I realized I better get to bed if I wanted to make the hike at Cercedilla as planned. About 02.30h Paul and I walked home telling stories and expressing our excitment for the hike (if we get up).

I managed to get my ass out of bed at 07.30h - but with this damn cold!! Paul over-slept and some how we missed Anna at Attocha station.
Five of us on the train enroute and the other two an hour behind (the train ride is 1hr 20 minutes) we waited at the cafe over breakfast (my 2nd) for Anna & Paul.
Once together at about noon we started up the mountains - consulting maps and negotiating on route selection - we continued onward. It was pretty much straight up to the ridge and a big climb - with incredible views. I kept up and often took the lead up the trail. I have been told that some were impressed at my stamina. Once on the ridge top we followed a service road for about a mile to an out-cropping of rock with more amazing visitas to the south and west - toward Madrid, although you can not see it. It was really really enjoyable. After about an hour we started down - again steep terrain and rocky. About 17.00h we all collapsed in chairs at a local restaurant for BEER - and food!!! Simple things never tasted so good....

On the train at 18.35 and home by 20.00 - beat and a nasty cold - off to bed - content that again my experiences in Spain are most fun!

Monday I was grateful Jose had cancelled class ....

more to follow
hasta luego
Beto