We haven’t found a parking space yet and I’m already annoyed by Mura, this small village in the Parc Natural de Sant Llorenç del Munt i l’Obac. Even on the drive here, I wasn’t sure what we were getting ourselves into.

Winding roads, some so narrow that only one car can pass through. It’s the only road to reach this area and is therefore open to traffic from both directions. Which doesn’t mean it was built for that purpose.

No one really seems to have given much thought to how the road should be. Neither in terms of width nor quality. Everything looks makeshift and haphazard. The surface changes every few kilometers. Sometimes it’s full of cracks, then bumps protrude. Rarely is it a flat surface.

I’m relieved when we arrive safely in the village. And there I’m stressed by the many cars lining the streets. The few parking spaces are completely overcrowded. Turning around is hardly possible. Eventually I manage it, and as we drive past a parking lot, a car pulls out. We’ve made it. For now.

We lace up our boots and set off. After a short walk downhill, we leave the village and turn onto a partly muddy path, continuing along a dried-up riverbed. From there, we head slightly uphill into the forest, passing the village once, which we observe from a safe distance.

We stop at a small cave and a few waterfalls with very little water, then return to the village. But only to the outskirts, then further into the forest. And now we enter a real forest where no one else dares to go. Where earlier the sound of people talking could be heard as a slight murmur, here it’s completely deserted.

Pure nature. Dense forest with thick bushes. Rocky outcrops and cliffs that reach up into the sky, beneath which we stand, gazing out into the vast natural landscape and enjoying the absolute peace and quiet. No words, just the chirping of birds. Again and again we stop and pause until the sun disappears behind the mountain.

At this moment, we set off and walk back to the village without another break. There are still a few families with small children in the alleyways, enjoying decorated logs, taking photos and strolling around. It’s too contrived for me, too artificial, but the children seem to like it. The world we’ve just left behind is the only real one. And the one that touches me.

I’m happy with the hike and the day. It was a wonderful excursion. No cars come toward us on the way back. And just as the sun is setting, we get out of the car and enter our warm accommodation. I’m grateful for this day.