El Pueblito de Abaran

Mari, Sandy, Kayla and me after a yummy chocolate crepe! (Before leaving Murcia)

Today, I took a wonderful daytrip to Abarán, a small town about an hour's bus ride from Murcia. My classmate Mari was very excited to show Sandy, Kayla and me around her pueblo.

I have noticed that many Spaniards have an immense sense of pride about where they're from. My landlady constantly presents me with ideas for where to eat and explore around Murcia, cab drivers and cashiers have been more than willing to tell us which sites to see, and many of my classmates talk about their small towns as if they were glamorous tourist destinations, often referring to attractions as "precioso!"

Me 'n Kayla on the bus to Abaran

Finally in Abaran!

Upon arrival in the pueblo, our first stop was a convenience store owned by Mari's grandfather. He was friendly, so I decided to buy something. I sifted through the magazines and opted for a Cosmo. The Cosmo is not always sold by itself like in the States, but often comes in a pack: a few things attached to a big, square piece of cardboard and wrapped in saran wrap. For only €3,50 I got a pretty thick Cosmo, a supplement Cosmo Beauty issue, and a full-length DVD of Una Pareja de Tres (Marley & Me) in Spanish and English. When I later paged through my magazines, I found that they had wayyy less advertisements! I wonder if there are more subtle advertisements (make-up & clothes in articles, that don't look like ads)? 

There were two birds in hanging cages outside the store. Their names are Pimpón (ping-pong) and Happy!

Then it was just about lunchtime, so Mari gave us a few options and we decided on a Chinese restaurant. It's a cuisine that I have so rarely indulged in while in Spain (I've heard that the Chinese restaurants are hit-or-miss in Murcia). This place, however, was good and cheap! We split two bowls of mixed rice and veggies, and each got a coke, for €3 per person. 

Kayla with our food. Yum!

I did get to meet Mari's cobaya or, guinea pig!

 After a tasty lunch, Mari invited us inside her apartment where she lives with her parents and sixteen-year-old sister. When we met her mother, she offered us a variety of drinks and snacks, but we settled on tea (of course, after we politely declined several times). Sandy, Kayla, Mari and I chatted with her mom and sister over red tea and Kit-Kats. I wish I had taken a picture! They were so sweet and really nice to talk to. We discussed lots of cultural differences in schooling, our countries' respective geographical organization/ city-planning, festivals, television, language, and ages to drive, drink, and attend university. 

Done with lunch and tea, we grabbed Mari's sister and set out to explore Abarán. We climbed and descended several steep streets in order to reach the Ermita (hermitage) and beautiful view of the land. Mari assured us that these streets were "nothing" and that she was sparing us from the truly steep ones!

 There was a little below-ground convenience store set up beneath the church. We took full advantage of the granizados de limon, basically lemon slushies.

Sandy 'n Me at the overlook

Kayla and me with our granizados

I love seeing new places :)

 Our next stop was one of the Norias of Abaran, waterwheels that the town is famous for. According to Wikipedia, Abaran has four of the seven Norias that still function in the region of Murcia and the Noria Grande is the largest functioning waterwheel in Europe!

We had just enough time left to wander along the river Rio Segura, coincidentally the same river that runs through Murcia and right past the Tourism School!

I begged Mari to show us some nature since I've been so deprived of it, living in a city for the past few months. Rio Segura sparkled in the afternoon sunlight and the sky was just the clearest, perfect blue. The river was lined with little white and yellow daisies, golden wheat that gently swayed with the breeze, and bright red poppies that really popped out from the surrounding earth tones. I love flowers (especially poppies), so I really enjoyed our walk. No wonder Sandy calls me "Flor!"

I love poppies because they are so silky and fragile,
but they still really pop with color

Sunshine sparkling on the Rio Segura

Golden wheat swaying in the breeze

Incredible blue sky

Eucalyptus trees' leaves are green on top and white on the bottom.
It looks sort of mystical when they blow in the wind!

Sandy, me and Mari on a mini-pier

A wide, shallow section of the river--there's a little pier for fishing