The Hike of a Lifetime

By: Enely Hiciano

I could cry thinking about my time spent in Alicante, none of the readings about landscape and climate we completed beforehand could have prepared me for the adventure that I would embark on while being in Alicante. Prior to being in Spain, I frequently lifted weights and went for walks but nothing compared to the hike I would embark on while being in Alicante. Going into the trip I was aware that I would be walking excessively every day and I prepared myself for it or so I thought. On this one specific day, I wore a baggy shirt, tight leggings, and platform sambas and if you’re unfamiliar with sambas, they are probably one of the most painful shoes you can wear while hiking let alone with a platform bottom. I would say I’m not usually the type of person to push myself out of my comfort zone, but being surrounded by my encouraging classmates and admirable professor, I was empowered to do something that I will never forget. While in Alicante, I climbed the Castillo de Santa Barbara. The castle includes ninety one stairs, and depending on your fitness level can take about an hour to complete, the path is a mixture of paved cement, steep slopes, and stairs. Despite the physical pain I felt, the views along the way made it all worth it. The castle faces the Mediterranean Sea and the breeze from the sea would be felt along the way up and it was the perfect way to cool off. My headspace throughout the entire climb was a battle between I can do it and I don’t think I can. The climb at first was nothing like what I expected. Initially I started climbing the stairs and attempting the hike because I wanted to prove a point to my classmates, we all wanted to see who would stick it through the whole way but shortly after agreeing to this “deal,” I wanted to prove it to myself too. Only to find out that this entire experience would change me as a person. There were moments throughout the hike that were so rough not only because my shoes were extremely uncomfortable, but I completed this with no breakfast, a lack of sleep, and no water up until more than halfway through the hike. At any point I could have turned around and gone back down to meet my classmates that had opted out of our group climb, but I was so determined to see what was at the top of the castle. When I finally reached the top, all I could think about was how proud I was of myself and my peers for sticking through it despite the struggles and encounters we faced on the way up. This hike was not only a testimony to how strong my mind is, but also to how much I truly need to push myself and complete things even if I struggle in the moment. The hike to Castillo de Santa Barbara was the most fascinating moment of my visit in Alicante because I physically pushed myself and I learned a lesson within myself that my mind is much stronger than I think.

After the hike we walked around the city and it felt like a new world. There were palm trees and the Mediterranean Sea was directly next to me. The first couple days of being in Spain were cold and gloomy, so when we got to Alicante it was warm, and the sun was beaming on me. I experienced Alicante as a place full of life. While visiting Alicante my classmates and I dined at Barri Vell. My interaction with the cashier was bubbly and positive, we laughed about my Dominican accent when I spoke Spanish and she kindly helped me decide on what to eat from a menu full of options. Since this experience, now that I am home I implement the mindset that I had while climbing the castle while I’m in the gym doing cardio. I enjoy running but I would slow down or give up once my legs started cramping. However, after my experience in Alicante, I push myself because I’ve already proved to myself that I can do physically hard things such as running or hiking. I remind myself that if I can complete that hike that felt physically impossible at the moment, I can lift heavier weights or go up in reps.