For me, there is no better revitalising walk than one in nature, or in places where you can breathe peace and where my eyes can contemplate beauty.
In recent days, I have walked a lot, in different places, but there is one in particular that I wanted to reach and visit. It was something I had been meaning to do for almost seven years. I went there practically as soon as I arrived in Spain, but then, due to various circumstances, I never visited it again. I'll tell you about that spectacular place later.
But to get there, I had to cross other places, other trails, paths, spaces... there is a lot in that place, and I am referring to the highest point in the city.
While it is true that there are mountains, hills and other peaks in the surrounding area, within the city itself I think the highest point is the largest tower of Gibralfaro Castle. I always look at that tower from the streets, from below, and there are always people visiting it, people from all over, especially tourists.
There are many ways to get there, and before visiting, I preferred to explore each of those paths or ways of getting there. One day I did a section of the route, another day I went a little further, and another day I took a different path. I wanted to explore the whole place thoroughly before reaching the tower, but above all because the climb is so difficult that I wanted to do it before the summer heat set in.
The walk I am sharing with you today is the highest section on the south side before reaching the castle, where every step I took offered me a different view, and as I climbed higher and higher, it seemed as if I were reaching the sky.
You know I love to relate walks and hikes to life itself, they are part of it, right? Well, in this case, I thought that exploring the surroundings of this fascinating place was like seeing the different alternatives that life presents us with in a given circumstance. When faced with an event, there are always variables to consider, and it is necessary to do so in order to arrive at a better solution. Every detail counts.
Every path, every way of reaching the goal, the summit, is a variable, a possibility, and I think that's why I explored them all beforehand so that I could then fully enjoy reaching the goal. This reminds me of something someone once said to me: it's better not to have goals. And I always said to them, for me it's essential to have them, measurable, accessible, quantifiable, realistic goals. Small goals that lead me to the bigger one.
Each of these trails I walked in the last month are small goals I set for myself to then reach the biggest one. That way I could see the whole picture. That's how my walks are.
The sun is already very strong at this point and it is necessary to bring water on these walks. The effort has been great, my legs were crying for help, but I was able to do it. The reward has been these beautiful landscapes that I could see from above, almost reaching the clouds.
I like to look through the trees and see how the panorama and the view change with each step I take, how the points of view change.
At the top of the trail there is a very luxurious and beautiful hotel. I was speechless; it is absolutely paradise.
On one side I was accompanied by the castle walls and on the other by nature, the sea, the colours, the breeze blowing through the leaves and the rays of the sun.
I reached the highest viewpoint on that stretch and it was glorious.
There is a map of the city there made of some kind of material that can be engraved, like metal or sheet metal.
I had reached this new goal, a stepping stone to my ultimate goal. It had been a month of intense walks, and this one was wonderful. The views were worth it.
I spent a long time contemplating the spectacle of the city united with nature. It was very relaxing and enriching.
Thank you all for joining me on this Wednesday walk. Best regards to all. See you soon.
Amonet.
All photographs are my own.
