Journey with Andalusian Horses in Spain, 2019

Updated: Jul 22

A Refined Journey and Encounters

Hajime Yamashita, Kochi City, Kochi Prefecture, Elementary School Teacher (Participated in this tour together with his wife, Miho)

If I were to describe this trip to Spain in a single phrase, it would be "a refined journey."

Allow me a small digression: I once had a female colleague with whom I worked, and whenever something unexpected happened before her eyes, she would always shout, “Arien-shi!” ("Impossible!").

Here in Spain, our group’s lunches started around 1:00 to 2:00 PM, consisting of full-course meals beginning with hors d'oeuvres, and lasting two to two and a half hours. And this was every day. In our everyday life, such a thing would definitely be "Arien-shi!"

The word "refined" is similar to "elegant," but the nuance is slightly different. "Refined" carries the sense of natural elegance inspired by aesthetic sensibility. Fourth Day — Departure for the Horseback Journey

This was the day we would finally embark on our horseback journey. The day before, participants had matched with the horses they would be riding. There were five white Andalusians and three horses in black and brown. Although I am not entirely unfamiliar with horses, I understand that each horse has a different personality, and compatibility with the rider is important.

Everyone was saying things like, "The bit is strong," or "This horse is sensitive." Unfortunately, I would not be riding a horse this time. I will omit the reasons here, but I accompanied the group by bicycle instead. Because of that, I felt both a sense of relief and a touch of disappointment.

In the morning, we traveled by bus from Seville to a cattle ranch, the starting point of our journey. Out the window, the vast, rolling hills of Andalusia spread endlessly. At first glance, it reminded me of Biei in Hokkaido, Japan, but it was still different — a landscape difficult to grasp fully. The land was undulating, not mountainous but purely hilly. I thought of the hills of La Mancha, of Don Quixote — and yet, it was unmistakably the great rolling landscape of Spain.

The route we would be trekking today was not through these boundless hills but along a former planned railway track. In other words, the land had been prepared for a railroad that was ultimately never built, and now the road remained. Today, it is repurposed as a trail for hiking, cycling, and horseback trekking.

Over the next two days, our group would trek along this trail by horseback (though Mr. Tanaka, the organizer, and I would be on bicycles).

Eight tour participants from Japan, our host Ignacio, and a supporter — whom I nicknamed "The Man from La Mancha" (he looked like someone out of a spaghetti western!) — making a total of ten, set off gallantly.

Among them, Ms. Mayumi Tsukamoto (FRC Manager and trail guide) stood out with her refined and elegant appearance on horseback. There was almost no trace of anxiety — it seemed as if she could gallop endlessly across the Spanish plains.

We followed the group in a jeep — driver Manolo, assistant Andrea, Mr. Tanaka, and myself.

The group advanced steadily and quietly. When you first start riding, you may feel tense, but as time passes, the body naturally adjusts to the horse, and you begin to relax and enjoy the surrounding scenery. The view from horseback must have been exceptional. Inside me, a feeling of envy began to grow. ("I’m so jealous... I want to ride too!")

After about two hours, we arrived at the picnic lunch site for the day. Tables were set up, and two chefs were preparing paella in a massive pan about one meter in diameter. Various beverages such as wine and beer were lined up, awaiting our arrival. If this isn't the very definition of "refined," I don't know what is.

Our leisurely lunch began. The weather was beautiful, and the climate was refreshing. Everyone’s faces relaxed completely, freed from all worldly cares — an utterly stress-free atmosphere.

Good companions, beautiful scenery, and wonderful food. There was a heartwarming, liberating air all around.

After a full two hours, our lunch ended. Our destination for the day, the Colipe Station Hotel, was said to be a little over an hour away from there. From here, Mr. Tanaka and I continued on electric bicycles, which made the journey much easier.

I alternated between leading and following the group by bicycle (mostly following), taking lots of photos along the way. Of course, Mr. Tanaka also took countless photos, as it is half his job.

To our surprise, Jorge, who had been accompanying us since the previous day, was flying a drone and filming aerial footage. As a professional commercial photographer, he ran up cliffs, stood on rocks, and captured every possible angle for photos and videos.

Our group continued steadily along the trail once meant for a railway, heading forward to our destination. I pedaled along behind them. The wind caressed my cheeks. I thought to myself: I am truly glad I joined this tour. The heavy lump of stress that had built up inside me was dissipating, vanishing like mist. I couldn't help but smile naturally.