Feria del Turismo

Yesterday I took my first school field trip in Spain! It was an optional field trip organized through the Tourism School, so naturally we went to the Turismur Tourism Fair.

I think Sandy likes my weird poses

The fair, about a forty-minute bus from campus, was totally paid for by the school (bus ticket and admission). The idea behind the fair is to showcase what tourism opportunities are available throughout the Region of Murcia.

Credit: http://www.ifepaweb.es/blog/?p=2078

Each small city or pueblo in Murcia has its own booth set up with pamphlets, video presentations, and representatives there to answer any questions. There was a huge section of mobile homes and cars on display for consumers. I noticed that there were a lot of rural and adventure tourism "vendors" showing off their offers of spelunking, rafting, senderismo or hiking, mountain climbing, canoeing/kayaking, etc.

Sandy and me chillin' inside a motor-home

It made me really want to get out and do some adventure tourism before I go home in less than two months! It's really getting down to the wire, so I made a mini bucket list of ideas from the fair, just to keep me on track.

• camping
• rafting
• hiking (senderismo) 
• cueva sima de la Serreta (Cieza)--planned for Saturday 
• Mula (my classmate Vero's pueblo)--planned for Friday
• Museo Salzillo, by the bus station in Murcia
• Mueseo de la Ciudad (Murcia City Museum) 
• Sierra Espuña (mountain range/national park)
• a cementary? They look really cool, like the above-ground ones in New Orleans

I was very happy that Sandy introduced me to Vero, a girl in our tourism classes--it was nice to meet a new friend and practice my español!

Mari recommended that we try a "picardia," one of the sweets famous from her pueblo of Abaran. It looked like a fried egg, but it tasted like caramel! 

It's got a little nut inside!

Marta, Sandy, Vero and me

Vero, Sandy, and me :)

Vero and me inside a motor-home!

Loving Sandy in front of Fortuna's pueblo booth.