9 November – 21 November

It’s the 17th of November and As usually I wake up by myself. I’m sleeping on a matrass on the second floor of a Spanish house. Here I’m the guest of Maria, who has lived in Granada all her life, and Yann, who grew up in Montpellier. They’ve got a quiet, six-month old son called Ocean. They form a friendly, spiritual family. Their house stands on the side of the Sacromonte mountain and from here there’s an excellent view of the city and the 13th century moslim fortification which towers above it. This district, Sacromonte, is the Flamenco district of Granada; there are flamenco shows, flamenco restaurants and flamenco pubs. Often, when sitting in front of the house in the afternoon sun, the wind carries some music from the nearby terrasses. And sometimes, walking on the main road, I meet the fancy dressed dancers and guitar players who are preparing for their show.

(more…)

30 October (Spanish autoroute) – 8 November (Granada)

I’m strolling around on a gasstation somewhere in Spain. It’s late afternoon and weekend so there’s not much traffic around. Then a truck sounds it’s horn and as I look in it’s direction I see the driver waving at me. When I get back to his truck the German driver tells me he has changed his mind about taking me; “I haven’t done a good deed yet for today”. After I get in he tells me, in German, how much he loves Spain; “With this truck I drive refuse any destinations but Spain”. When I ask about his vacation plans he replies; “I always go to Spain, my second house is located at the coast, at Malaga”. Well, that’s one person in love with Spain. I’m wondering what impression this country will leave on me. I’ve visited it once before, but that was a different time (10 years ago) and a different setting, namely canyoning with a group of Dutch people in the mountains.

(more…)

La Versenne (middle France), Wednesday 27th of October

Sunday I went back to my former www.hospitalityclub.org hosts in Paris. Not so long ago I stayed at there place for a week, and now coming back was like meeting with old friends. It’s so good to see some familiar, friendly faces! I intended to move on on Monday already, but the atmosphere was so good I couldn’t resist staying just one day longer.. and then yet another..

But this morning, I’m really moving on. We hug and kiss our goodbyes and I’m back on the road again. I’m going to pick up a package with some road maps and some winter stuff my friend Robert send to one of my adresses in France. The package only arrived after I’ve left, but this is no problem, it’s a nice scenic road to hitch and on the way south. The location is La Versenne in the middle of France, a Dutch family lives there in the middle of the countryside and I’ve worked on their farm for a while. Besides this I’ve also helped out a couple of days in their construction company – I did things like helping rebuilding a bathroom or reconstructing a fireplace.

(more…)