Figols

As we were wrapping up our time living in Europe, it became difficult to choose how to spend our weekends. Do we soak up every second in our beloved city that we adore? Do we see as much of the surrounding countries while we have access to cheap and short flights? Do we dive deeper into our own region that we have grown to love? While we have tried to make the most of every moment living where we have, when it came to the end, we still felt torn about how to use the last of our time. 

Having flown so much in the Spring and also getting to the point where we felt more local, we decided to spend our last few weeks staying in Catalunya. In June, we drove to a tiny village in the Pre-Pyranees called Figols. Figols is about as authentic as it comes. We were definitely the only non-Catalans in this tiny hillside block, which had one corner café for local neighbors ot gather and play cards in the morning. At the end of a school year and before a big move, it was a perfect getaway to the quiet mountainside. We had every meal on the terrace overlooking the mountain, drive a bit further into Andorra for a longer hike, and hiked around the village on the small trails surrounding us.

 

The highlight of the weekend was realizing that this region is known for its paragliding. We have both wanted to paraglide for many years  (and almost did on a previous trip to Switzerland!), so this was a perfect opportunity. We walked into the one company in town, and were signed up to go the next morning. After a twenty minute ride up a very rocky road, we set up our parachutes on the flat edge of a mountain, and our guides coached us through how to run towards the cliff, and our parachutes would float up and lift is right off the ground. Sure enough, it was just as easy as it sounds, and within a few minutes, we were soaring over the beautiful countryside with a bird’s eye view. It was breathtaking to see the layers of mountains all around us while feeling the breeze in our face. It was an experience we will not soon forget!

When we left the mountains, we returned to Barcelona for the last ten days of school and the final stretch to the end!