Take two, Monfrague National Park

This weekend I spent my second weekend in a row planting trees, this time in the beautiful national park of Monfrague, located about 1 hour north of where I live. Another weekend of meeting new people, eating lots of food and visiting several new places that I had never been to before. Our accommodation's were a large and cold pavilion, instead of nice stone cottages and there was a huge group of high school students that made sleeping almost impossible. Besides having a cold and getting almost no sleep it was another weekend that I will never forget. Ever heard of a black stork? Me neither, but I saw one this weekend and a scorpion too!!! If white storks bring babies, what does the rare black stork bring???












Watch out for these bad boys!!! This guy was only the size of my thumb.



















Just like a tree, I need water, food and sun to grow.



















Some ladies doing laundry in the street in the tiny town of Mirabel, Spain.
























Me and Alonso posting bellow the Salto de Gitano in Monfrague National Park

Leif goes planting

Last weekend I got the chance to give back to mother Spain. Thanks to a volunteer program here in Extremadura and the regional Spanish government I was able to participate in a reforestation program about one hour north of where I live. There were around 80 of us who participated this weekend and we all were provided free transportation, free accommodation and free food. In total, I think I planted around 60 or so native trees. Besides being left with a bad sun burn (next time I will think twice about not bringing sun block) I am left with many new memories, friends and an appreciation for being outsides in the hot and powerful Spanish sun.


















Leif gets down and dirty



















A mighty American swing!





















My Spanish friends: Paula, Ana, Jesús, sunburn boy, Carol and Victor




















The results of a fire 8 years ago and a tractor that has cleared the land.




















Our sleeping arrangements. A camp group run by the government of Extremadura.

For my Jerez de los Caballeros students

Hello students from 2nd de Bachillerato!! Click HERE for pictures from our trip to Gibralter and for pictures of El Dia del Centro. It was very nice and fun to see all of you again in Cáceres. I hope to see you soon.

I love PIPAS

What is Leif doing in this picture and what is a pipa? Pipa is Spanish for sunflower seeds. Spain has the best pipas ever and Spanish people seems to have mastered the skill of getting the seed out of the shell. After many hours of practice and observation I am closing in on receiving my PHD in pipa eating. Often, sunflower seeds are part of your beer drinking experience here in Spain, order a beer and out comes a dish of sunflower seeds, peanuts and other dried snacks.