A Much Needed Vacation to El Chorro, Spain

We woke early only to be locked into what some would call a tenement hostel, but the price was right and I didn’t find any bed bugs so we tried it out.  After nearly breaking down the door and missing the boat across the sea someone showed up to let us out and we stood in line like tourists to get on the boat to yet another adventure.  What I noticed was that other then tourists there were no women traveling across the Mediterranean.  I guess it’s a cultural thing.  The place was full of men and it wasn’t long before my friend was being offered hash by some cross-eyed man local in a nearly drunken stupor.

The African soil well let me tell you was… wow.  Well, it may not have been so dramatic and we walked till our feet were sore taking in the touristy sites and hit the local market for food and headed back to Europe.  The rest of the time at El Chorro went well, there was a wild and catered New Years Eve party that thumped until I woke up in the morning and I guess that everyone had a great time because the crags were empty the next morning.  In the last few days we had the opportunity to bum rides on the twisty roads that make a veteran driver sick to nearby crags and right when I was in need of something more I was shown crags that made me want to stay for weeks.  Steep huge north facing caves with wild and exciting routes of all grades and styles.  When I hopped on the plane home I knew that there was some exploring to be done and Spain would be the site of my interest.

Rob Pizem is one of the most enthusiastic climbers you'll ever meet. When not climbing he is a High School teacher in Salzburg, Austria.