Day 5 - Cooking , baking and . . . milking goats!

During our last, sunny day in Spain, we took a scenic walk and hiked from our cabins to the farm. After arriving at the farm, the girls were divided into groups that rotated to the different workshops: picking vegetables, cooking, milking goats, making cheese from scratch, crafting rustic bread and baking cookies. Our lunch consisted of these organic foods from the farm. Total distance from the garden to the table? 80 feet.

Picking vegetables to cook lunch

While picking vegetables, Hewitt girls learned about sustainable farming practices and the importance consuming local produce.

The goats were very friendly, so most girls wanted to give it a try! After milking, time to make goat cheese!

After cooking and baking, it was time to enjoy what the girls had made. Lunch consisted of the farm's own charcuteries, goat cheese, vegetable soup, grilled tenderloin and more vegetables, all accompanied by the newly baked bread the girls had made, sprinkled with local e.v. olive oil.  Delicious!! The fact that there was a fireplace in the dining room made it all even more enjoyable.

Visiting La Gruta de las Maravillas (Cave of Marvels)

After some well-deserved rest, we went back to our buses for our last activity of the trip, a guided tour of Gruta de las Maravillas (Cave of Marvels), a spectacular natural landmark in the town of Aracena. There we explored the chambers of stalagmites and stalactites, limestone ceilings and colorful interior lakes. After the visit, we went for a walk in town, stopping at a bakery where the girls bought some homemade chocolate and other local specialties. 

The girls with their chaperones, guides, activity coordinators and the farmers Lola and Armando.

We are currently back in the eco-lodge. The girls are lounging in the lobby of the hotel checking their emails and chatting with their friends before heading to the restaurant for our last dinner in Spain. Tomorrow morning, we leave for Sevilla's airport for our flight to New York. We will be sad to leave, but we hope to have the chance to return and explore Spain again in the future.