This summer, one lucky Potomac family will have the opportunity to travel to northern Spain to hike, and explore, practice their Spanish, enjoy the mountains and assimilate into the culture. However, it’s not all about pleasure ….

Brian and Nora Ribera will travel with their dad, Michael, a local endodontist, to the village of Lárrede, Spain, located in the Pyrenees. They are volunteering to help with the inaugural year of the Viñas de Lárrede Hotel, owned by Michael’s sister. Although they would love to be relaxing in the luxurious setting, swimming in the pool, and partaking of the activities and spa treatments, the three will be waiting tables, checking in clients, making beds, delivering late-night snacks, maintaining and improving the web-site and more — anything and everything needed to make the hotel guests feel special and cared-for. While they are performing their duties, Nora and Brian Ribera will also be improving their Spanish and all three will enjoy the scenery and learning the ins and outs of the hospitality industry.

“The hotel is a 17-bedroom ‘Chalet’ located at the door of the Pyrenees, in a 10th century town named Lárrede (province of Huesca, Spain),” Michael Ribera said. “It has a restaurant, spa, an outdoor swimming pool, and a garden where all kinds of fruits and vegetables are grown and used by the hotel's chef to prepare the daily delicious meals. My sister, Adriana, and her husband Joaquín purchased the land and built the Chalet from foundation to roof. Skiing is huge there, being the main activity in the winter/cold months. Kayaking, rappelling, horseback riding, mountain excursions, cycling, golfing ('Las Margas Golf and Country Club’), etc, are among the activities to enjoy during the warmer months; all located right there. The Chalet is basically sandwiched between a look-out tower at the top of the hill and a 10th century Romanesque church (named San Pedro de Lárrede), within a three minute walk from the hotel.” Michael and Brian Ribera will spend several weeks helping — but Nora Ribera is committed to spending the entire summer.

“I’m super excited to spend my summer there,” said 16-year-old Nora Ribera, a rising senior at Bullis. “I want to attend college at the University of Madrid so I’m hoping to perfect my Spanish and spend time with the Spanish side of the family. I will also be the go-to person when English-speaking guests come.”

Michael Ribera is looking forward to experiencing activities totally different from his duties as an endodontist. “I will be helping in any capacity I can,” he said. “I might park cars, show guests to their rooms, bring them fresh towels — who knows? It’s such a change of pace for me and I truly love the culture and the mountains. I am really excited because I will be back in Spain where I grew up. I think I will be in heaven — breathing fresh air, helping in the garden, enjoying organic fruits and vegetables — and the fresh air and amazing views.”

“When one arrives at the 10th century village named Lárrede, adjacent to the Gállego River and at the door of the Aragonese Pyrenees, one becomes instantly captivated by it,” said Michael’s sister, Adriana. “The hotel is located just 24 km (15 miles) away from the largest ski resort in Spain, named Formigal-Panticosa. It’s a gorgeous 4-season resort.

“In this beautiful place — once a vineyard plantation — we conceived of the idea of the Viñas de Lárrede Hotel. We built the structure with a facade of stone reclaimed from an old ruined house. We also used larch wood from Siberia, a very cold-tolerant tree, capable of surviving winter temperatures below 50ºC (-58ºF). The large windows allow the enjoyment of the views of the valley, comprising peaks of over 3,000 meters (over 9,800 feet).”

To learn more about the hotel, view www.hotelvinasdelarrede.es.