Ups and Downs
There are lots of ups and downs in our lives. I’m learning about ups and downs while hiking and riding bike around Granada. Granada lies at the bottom of the mountains overlooking a large “vega,” a relatively flat plateau, fit for farming and a few towns. Streams from the mountains run down the ravines, bringing much-needed water for man, beast and crops. Typically, our hikes start at the bottom of a ravine, such as this.
Getting up is no easy task. Lots of work, pausing to see not only what lies ahead,
But what lies behind. On the journey of life it’s good to look back and appreciate the view sometimes, especially if the way ahead looks kind of formidable.
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But, as they say, “when you’re up, you’re up,” and (after catching your breath) there are wonderful views of the vega,
Including the city of Granada, a beautiful city to be sure, but reminding one of Hebrews 13:14, where we have “no continuing city, but we seek one to come.”
If you use your imagination, you might be able to see a “baby sleeping” on top of that far ridge (or so they told me).
Of course, what goes up must come down. How appropriate! We don’t spend all our lives on the mountain top.
Passing almond trees on the way,
With almonds just starting to ripen. The green pods turn to brown and dry up. Somewhere inside is the almond. No wonder they cost 5 bucks a pound! (Or is it more?)
The road down was blacktop, so I returned a couple days later on my bike. What you don’t see is how steep it was coming up and how I huffed and puffed to get up here. Getting up is hard and time-consuming, but being there is exhilarating – while it lasts. Going down is way too much fun and way too quick! It was all brakes and no pedaling for 10 minutes, down into the heat and the noise of the city – but that’s where the people are.
Today we started out at the base of the Alhambra, (you can see the cathedral and the vega in the background),
Past this house decorated with ceramic plates, painted with typical local patterns.
Maybe some of you will want to try this style of exterior house decor!
Up past Sacromonte (“holy mountain”) with its caves – a flamenco music haven,
Past some fig trees
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Which yielded some ripening figs. After eating one, it’s no wonder Jesus was ticked off (without sinning, of course) when the fig tree didn’t have any fruit!
After another serious climb, we arrived at the top, the “Plains of the Pheasant,” where we took the customary midmorning break. This is something all the guys look forward to, both as a reward after a hard climb, and a time to “chew the fat,” although this time it was fruit, bread and tuna (with lots of raw garlic!). It gives new meaning to the admonition to let our speech be “seasoned with salt,” if it has an effect anything like garlic!
Back down again.
That’s life in Granada – ups and downs. Actually, both are quite good places to be!