Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Skydivers and Snowboarders

Yesterday we all awoke to a rainy day. It was a rain that reminded me of Alaska. It wasn't a downpour or even distinct raindrops. Just a misty rain and gray dark clouds that hung off the mountains. 

We took Arturo's car to a shop to get the window fixed. After that, Arturo, Elisa, Robert, and I headed to the aerodrome. It used to be used in the Civil War. Nothing is around the airstrip except green grass and rolling hills. With the gray clouds, it lead to quite the scene. 


We were trying to meet a friend there. But the clouds prevented him from flying to meet us. So the four of us went to a tiny nearby village for coffee and hoped the clouds would lift a bit. We walked around a bit as well. The clouds never lifted, but I enjoyed seeing a medieval Spanish town. 




Since the clouds were still hanging over us, we decided to drive to meet this friend. We arrived in a small town on the Mediterranean coast. Our meeting place? A business of indoor skydiving with a bar/restaurant surrounding it. Yeah. I too fell in love with the idea. So much in fact that while all the pilots (aka everyone in our party) went to the airport, I stayed, had a beer, and watched. Pretty much life doesn't get better. I wished I spoke Catalan because clearly these guys were... Okay, there's no other word for it. I tried to think of one... Clearly they were bad asses. Elisa told me instructors like these make 300 euros an hour. Obviously I need to meet a BA Spanish skydiving instructor. 

 


When everyone else picked me up, we went to lunch in an Italian restaurant. Delicious! After lunch, the sun was finally coming out. We decided, "Vamos a la playa!" Vamos we went! I took my shoes off immediately and ran into the water. The adults- clearly I became a little kid in this scenario- laughed at me. What are you gonna do? I see an ocean, I get in the ocean. It's only logical. Okay, maybe not always logical. The water was freezing, but I persevered. You're only around the Mediterranean ocean for so long... 



(This is my spirit animal in a picture. Aka, Robert's dog.) 




We went to Decathlon after the beach. My pants were dripping wet from going a bit to far in the ocean. But a smile was permanently pasted on my face. Anyway, Decathlon. Remember that store that has all outdoor gear for crazy cheap? Nirvana? That's this store. We were replacing my backpack that was stolen. I was picking out a new color when I turn around and see Arturo and Elisa cruising the store on scooters. As the kids say these days, #relationshipgoals. 



This morning began much the same. A wet gray morning greeted us. We went to the a different aerodrome today. Arturo was flying with a different person today. We got there and I saw a sticker on a van saying "We don't need Hawaii. Snowboarding Colorado." Hmmm... 

We got out and greeted everyone there. Arturo and his friend went off to prep airplanes. I wandered a bit to see the place. Around a corner I saw a man. I guessed since he was the youngest man I saw, in his 20's, he was the owner of the snowboarding sticker. I took a stab in the dark. I wandered over to him. He asked me something in Catalan. I explained I spoke English. He asked where I was from. I told him Colorado, hoping my guess on the sticker was right. He laughed and told me he trained in Colorado. Telling him I guessed as much based on the sticker, I confusedly asked what he trained for. He casually said "Oh, I've been in the World Cup for snowboarding six times." What. How do you just name drop that and brush it off? I kid you not that was the end of the conversation because his phone rang, and I never saw him again. I couldn't help but think that this proves everywhere you go, there they are: bad asses. I think sometimes I trick myself into believing they are only in certain places. But no. Everywhere you go, there they are. And I love it. It means everywhere I go, I too can be a bad ass. And I love that! 

While Arturo flew, Elisa, Mary, Robert, Nora, and I visited the tourist spots. Our first destination was the Castell Gala-Dali. 

Okay, here is the quote to start this description. "'I accept the Castell of Púbol, but with one condition; that you do not come to visit me unless by written invitation.' This condition especially gratified my masochist feelings and thrilled me. Gala became the impregnable castle that she never ceased to be. Intimacy, and above all, familiarities diminish every passion. Rigor of feeling and distance, as demonstrated by neurotic ceremonial of courtly love, increase passion." - Salvador Dali 

Yep. He gave his wife a castle and she said, thanks but don't visit, mk? Perfect. Then he said, ah this makes her forever my muse. What's that saying about love makes you do stupid things? Exactly. 

Anyway. It was a museum of her house. It was decorated by Dali so therefore was a bit... Well insane. I'm glad she liked it. We wandered around. Nora and I played in the garden. It was fun to see. I'm not sure I'd go miles and miles to see it, but I'm glad I saw it. I explained later to Arturo the only way to describe it is, viewing a different way of life. 

  







The rest of the day, except a break for lunch, was visiting small medieval Spanish towns. The rain continued to drizzle just strong enough to drench us. Nonetheless, we wandered the cobblestone streets of three different villages. I can't imagine how amazing they must be in the summer. Plants and flowers tried to stay strong despite the constant rain. Castles and church's towered over colorful houses. It was picture perfect. I loved walking around them. Nora was ecstatic about the puddles and her umbrella. Just a calm, beautiful afternoon all the way around. And now, I head home, wondering how Nora can have so much energy while I'm so tired. Life's mysteries.












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