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Four Days, One Van, and a Very Sore Back!

Capervan

We have lived in Barcelona for seven months now without traveling anywhere. We decided we needed an adventure but not on a plane or a train.

We rented this Volkswagen California van for 4 days. The price was reasonable. We rented the bedding too, and a kitchen package. We had towels from Turkey and food from our apartment.  We packed a few articles of clothing, the stovetop expresso maker and some food into a suitcase along with my pillow. Simplifies the moving process.
I jokingly told my partner, Maximo, that he was out of practice with moving luggage, since we hadn’t traveled anywhere in months. He told me he was an expert and then dealt with the bag.

The pickup point for Roadsurfer says it’s in Barcelona, but it’s actually in Viladecans, which is a 30-minute cab ride from our apartment in Garcias.

campervans
Checking in was pretty simple

Checking in was pretty simple, since most of the work was done on the website, but, like anything, it takes time to go through the complete list.

The van we rented was a Volkswagen California beach model. It’s pretty small, but it features a manual pop-top roof, and located in the rear of the van is a couch that becomes a bed, an electric cooler, and a single 5propane burner.

The woman who checked us in was named Gerta and she had worked with this company for many years.  I asked her who the people were renting these vans… she said, “hippies.” I had to stop myself from laughing out loud because I do remember the original Volkswagen vans.

camporvan
Years ago, camping

Years ago, they were okay to camp out in, but when driving up a hill, the joke was that you could walk faster than the van could go. Fond memories!!! Wow! Almost 50 years ago.

After receiving our instructions on how to use everything  it was time to hit the road. We had a full tank of diesel, and it was only 1 o’clock. Maximo is the driver, and my job is the navigator.

And of course, for us, the first thing we wanted was to get a coffee, but we decided to drive for an hour before stopping.

Driving the secondary roads

Driving the secondary roads, we are usually assured a scenic route. In Spain, every city or town has a church in the middle of the town or at the highest elevation. Nearby is the open-air market that sells mostly fresh food, including meats, fruits, and vegetables.

Stopping at a market is meeting the town’s folk where they live.  The quality of food is very good, and so many casero foods [homemade] are offered. In Cataluña, the bread is fresh and comes slathered with tomatoes. The sausages are made of various types of meat, and the Iberian ham is delicious. The prices of fresh food is not as high as in, say, the USA.

We love shopping at these markets, and today we really don’t need anything except maybe some fruit. On this road trip, we will not be cooking; we will be finding local restaurants to eat at.

We find our coffee while camping

We find our coffee at a small restaurant up in the hills. We enter and see the wood-fired cooking area. We look at each other and wish we were hungry because the food on the tables looks great.  Alas, we buy our coffee to go, promising the restaurant’s maître d’ that we will return later in the day. This is one of the habits that you acquire while living in Spain. You always say you will return.

We continued our driving for another 90 minutes before arriving at our camping destination in the small town of Bagaure. It’s early in the season, and we are the only people spending the night. We meet a young tech guy working remotely from this campground.  He’s been living here for a couple of weeks saying, “It’s inexpensive and has great internet coverage”.

The next step for us, as it’s getting dark, is to make our bed. Sunset is at 6.30. We are parked close to the bathrooms and showers. Plugged into the electrical outlet with our cord, we started making the bed.  This happens by transforming the back seats into a lying-down position and adding a folded-up cushion. We unfastened the manual pop-top roof, and now Maximo can stand up in the van. The heater runs separately from the motor, so we will stay toasty warm as temperatures are expected to drop to almost freezing.

Next is dinner

Next is dinner, which the camp host, Alina, has agreed to cook for us. We chose lamb, salad, and potatoes, agreeing to return at 7.30 for dinner.

As the bed was made, we decided to explore the old town down the road across the river. The drive was short, and the town was built up the hill. The roads are closed to everyone except locals. Most of the town looks deserted, and the one restaurant is closed on weekends. Rain turned a small stream into a wide river, flooding the surrounding landscape.

After driving for 10 minutes crossing the bridge over the roaring river, it was time to return, as it was getting dark and we were hungry.

Dinner was delicious

Dinner was delicious; we enjoyed the food and had a couple of alcohol-free beers. The stars came out in the pitch-black sky, but OMG, it was so cold, I couldn’t stay out. At 9pm, it was time for bed!

Frequent waking is not ideal for camping, but somehow we made it through the night, and at 8.30 our host emailed and said coffee was on. We enjoyed the hot beverages and ate bread with cheese and ham from our food stash.

Leaving the campgrounds shortly after 9,we drove through the foggy valley.  Slowly,with the passing of time and the earth warming up, the fog dissipated, and the sun returned.

We were off to

We were off to visit a place called the Sweet Revolution. Maximo had discovered this place years ago, as this is a farm that grows and distributes natural medicinal plants and herbs. The farm was founded Miguel Figueroa, a social activist who believes and practices the idea that plants can cure most diseases. The farm site located off the main road is huge, filled with open-air greenhouses. On Saturdays, the gardens are open to the public for plant purchases and escorted tours. The greenhouses are organized by the diseases the plants can help cure. Insomnia, high blood pressure, etc.

The variety of plant material is very impressive, and, of course, we bought a few plants for our apartment.
We spent quite a time walking through the greenhouses. This was an impressive stop.

While walking through the greenhouses, I noticed my back was very sore from sleeping on the mattress in the campervan. I was thinking that it would not be advisable to spend another night in the van. Plus, I looked at the weather forecast, and it was much warmer and sunnier at the beach.

Off we went to

Off we went to Tarragona, which was another 90-minute drive, with another coffee stop along the way.  Discovering a place for us to stay at a campground that offered not only camping sites but also rooms and mobile homes. Wahooo, said my body. A real bed.

We rented this campervan because we thought to buy a similar vehicle next year. We discovered that this vehicle was too small for us to move around in and be  comfortable, with no bathroom and no kitchen either, so we mutually decided to rule out this smaller van.

Arriving in Hospitalet de Infante just south of Tarragona, we registered and rented a small mobile home for two nights. My back was so happy not to spend the night in the van!!!

The place was just

This place was just what we wanted, right on the Mediterranean with maybe 50 campsites. Quiet, not many young children running around, screaming their heads off at play. What we discovered were mostly campervans from Germany and Belgium, driven by retirees, some with dogs.
The most impressive feature was the deserted sand beach that stretched for quite a distance, and maybe 10 people were in view.

We grabbed the chairs from the van and sat on the beach for the afternoon. It was warm and sunny, and we slowly peeled off our layers. We sat. We talked. We dreamed.

One of the features of staying in a campground is walking the grounds and seeing all the types of vehicles. We looked at many and even were invited to see inside. Most people speak Spanish, German, and English and are usually friendly. 

What we discovered

What we discovered was the type of van that would work for us and the variety of options available.

After a few days out of the city, we were looking forward to our return.

The Spanish countryside is filled with old cities with churches, fortresses, and food markets. Taking the secondary roads allows us to travel slowly, enjoying not only the landscape but also the little interactions with the locals.

I love our road trips. We looking forward to another adventure next month in a larger van equipped with a large bed, a small kitchen area with stove and sink,  a bathroom and a separate heater as spring in Spain is still chilly!

Abrazo Yy Besos

Links:

Camppervan rental

https://roadsurfer.com/

Info about Tarragona

https://www.tarragonaturisme.cat/en

Sweet Revolution

https://dulcerevolucion.com/en/jardin-medicinal



Tango Clothing

https://travelingtango.com/?page_id=704






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Waiting: A Meditation

Consequently, my time seems to be filled with waiting.


Waiting to leave the apartment.

Waiting for the bus.

Waiting for the taxi.

Later, when we start to walk towards Carrer Escorial to catch a taxi, at least 5 taxis pass by us. Their little square green unoccupied lights on, silently signaling that they are available for hire. Nevertheless, by the time we arrive at the corner, no taxis are in sight.

We will wait

Eventually, we will wait about 5 minutes. This has become a pattern for us. The school of thought is that when you don’t need a taxi, there are plenty, but when you do, you must wait.

When we shop for groceries at the market, we wait in line to pay. We do our food shopping almost every day.

We walk down the hill to have a coffee or visit a farmacia.
We wait for the bus to take us back up the hill. We wait in a line. Esperar en la fila.

After entering our building, we wait for the elevator to take us up to our third-floor apartment.

In our kitchen, we wait to unload the groceries from the shopping bags.

After doing the laundry, we wait for the washing machine to finish. Then we are waiting to hang the wet laundry on the portable dryer rack.

In our kitchen

We spend a lot of our day waiting. I can now wait patiently. Waiting, I believe, is an acquired skill.

In all probability, I have been an impatient person for most of my life. Nowadays, I am finding there is a luxury in waiting and how it makes you feel. Very quiet and confortable.

Certainly, we do’nt work anymore, as we are retired a few years ago, this absence allows of daily work allows us the time to slow down.

As time moves slowly, even the smallest details take on greater significance and depth.

Occasionally, I revert to being an impatient non-waiter.
Luckily, while living in Barcelona, I have learned to wait patiently.

I can even wait in a line!

I can even wait in a line.

It’s a very Spanish thing to do.

Argentinians practice this too.

Waiting in lines.
To wait. To wait. To wait.

The Spanish people who wait are mostly patient and gentle folks. These folks get upset when harsh or loud voices are used.

The reaction to a loud harsh voice is utter confusion. It’s this vocalization that creates utter chaos and confusion for many Spaniards.

They are not impatient people.

They are not an impatient people. They are very patient and helpful.

Absolutely unwavering in their commitment to enjoy their lives and their families.

They are courteous people except on the street, where they might walk into you and never as much as say “pardon me, desculpeme, or excuse me”.

These people are usually fast and intentful walkers and talkers. The clack-clack of leather boots on the sidewalk is very familiar. Generally, with all the rain we are experiencing, feet are divided into sneakers and boots. People wear all sorts of boots here, from cowboy boots to over-the-knee high-heeled boots. The way people walk mirrors the sound their boots make on the street. Some sounds are sharp, while others are thuds.

There is much conversation

There is much conversation on the street.  Enthusiastic voices talking about their day, the weather, and their lives.

But create a loud, undignified shout-out noise.
Boom.
You get this look of hurt, the look representing the words, Are you a crazy person doing this horrible and uncomfortable action?

Spaniards don’t like to be uncomfortable.

Spaniards don’t like to be uncomfortable.

Spaniards love their families and their food. Not sure which is a greater passion.  On a recent Sunday, we stopped by one of our favorite neighborhood cafes about four blocks away in a small square.


The were tables set. There were many butane barbecues with people cooking sausages or calcotadas [green onions]. Lots of beans in huge bowls. White tents covering the other food stations.

The white banner stretched

The white banner stretched above the barbecue station, declaring this was a fundraiser for the upcoming big festival in March.

Mothers gathered with their babies in strollers, dancing to the music blasting from the speakers. Children ran free. Men huddled in groups, talking, waiting for the food to be ready.

All the tables were packed.  Mothers with sons. Lovers out for a leisurely brunch. Families with children in strollers. Lots of co-workers are sitting at the larger tables.

As my Spanish language skills progressed, I could follow many conversations. People chat about either family members or their work schedule. Mostly chatting about the inane.  The weather, the Euro, or Trump. The local language is Catalan, which sounds very lispy, and I am starting to understand more of the words.

Listening is another acquired skill.

What surprises me about my eavesdropping is how many languages I hear and understand. This builds my confidence. As a constant learner, I always try to learn new words.

My partner, Maximo Miguel, speaks Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, and Catan and is currently learning English.

We have conversations speaking

We have conversations speaking in many different languages.

Ultimately, language is for communication. My grammar needs work.

Serendipitously, most people understand my Spanish Argentinese.

Continuing to wait and learn while living in Barcelona is very sweet experience.

Abrazo

Ruth

Valencia’s Hidden Gems: A Guide to Waiting and Tango
How inflation effects daily life in Buenos Aires.
What’s new? Milonga Elites




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From Art Installations to Tango Floors: An Explorative Narrative

Life as we know it is all about security and changes.

We live our lives with a certain mundane jadedness from our daily life experience creating our point of view. We bath in the same manner daily. We dress in the same manner. Do put your right foot shoe on first then left one. Or do you do the oposite, left then right?

Occasionally, we need to be jarred out of this mundance life and woken up. The start of the new year is an excellent time for new beginnings. In this vein I offer this essay.

One of the unspoken

One of the unspoken tenants of the artworld is to shake things up, to create change. to create a reaction, but not all art is meant to do this.

Some art is about beauty
Other art is about geometry
While others encourage tactile interaction.

Art sometimes is very ugly and oversized.

We recently went to see the show at La Pedrera of work by Cristina Inglesias. I was not familiar with her work. She is a Spanish artist living in Madrid working as a sculptor, mixed media artist for many years. These artworks are created on a grand scale. Organic in nature defining the spaces of nature while limiting and sculpting our viewpoints. The materials used were not disclosed, but based on experience the mediums are bronze, copper sheeting, resins, fiberglass and glass.

On the upper floors

On the upper floors of La Pedrera, our eyes are drawn to the long, narrow, suspended, woven metal sculpture that defines the room. Showing us the positive and negative space in our surroundings.

There are wall photos printed on mammoth copper sheets, and then these intimate bronze water feature pieces.


Her works are about the geological collisions and erosion that shape the environment.  Here, water wells are dynamic, with the water rising and sinking, much like the tides, but they are confined to a bronze and marble box. Mimicking nature.

We spent about 90 minutes looking at and absorbing the show. We were the only folks there for most of the time. Although a family of four from China, I think, found themselves a bench and sat, and communicated with the outside world on their phones 
The only other attendee of the show was a middle-aged woman who was undoubtedly an artist, as she was very observant, putting her hands on the pieces, which was definitely encouraged. The works are supremely tactile.

The gallery space

The gallery space is located on the second floor of the famous Gaudí-designed building La Pedrera. This space is owned by the foundation, the Catalunya La Pedrera Foundation, which offers tours of the building. All monies go to support activities by the  Fundació Catalunya La Pedrera. “We have a dream: we want to improve people’s quality of life by generating opportunities that positively transform society.”

My partner, Maximo, who is not a big fan of contemporary art, enjoyed the show as much as I did.

As in life, there are situations in the art world where we are drawn to observe the work intimately. Looking at the intersection of lines, looking into corners. Touching the edges, watching the water ebb and flow in their marble and bronze enclosures.


These regimes all serve a purpose. They are meant to awaken our eyes and feelings to the world around us. To see the beauty and to consider how we react to these new stimuli.

By now having read this far

By now, having read this far in the story, you are likely asking yourself what is going on here. Why are you spending so much time on artworld observations?


A fact that,  you might not know is that I was the director of a contemporary art gallery for 35 years and  I feel strongly about supporting and viewing culture.

Now you can ask, How does this relates to tango? As this is Blog that is about the art of traveling and dancing tango.

First and foremost

First and foremost, in my observation, tango is a dance of the heart, one that fosters a poignant connection with your dance partner. It’s an emotional and physical connection. Tango is an artform.

Traveling extensively to dance Tango, we have danced in Argentina, Belgium, Italy, Portugal, France, Germany, Turkey, the United States, Canada, Jordan, and Spain. With this in mind, I suggest that we have some experience in tango, whether it involves dancing or simply sitting at a table and observing.

We have attended Encuentros, Marathons, Festivals, and numerous local milingas.

The following descriptions and observations are made based on our travels and experiences.

Many countries develop

Many countries developed their own style of tango, but this will depend on the age of the dancers. For instance, in Istanbul, the younger generation wants to showcase all the steps they have learned and move quickly no matter what the music. They do crazy things like a high gero kick in a crowded space. Watch out, I have seen them draw blood with their heels. While in the same city, some middle-aged dancers prefer to dance in a traditional close-embrace Argentine tango style. The range of music varies depending on the style of the DJs and the venue.

In Italy, we went to an Encountro where it was almost impossible to get a tanda. I have danced for many years, but here I didn’t know anyone except my partner, Maximo. To attend an Encountro, one must register promptly when the registration process opens, as attendance is usually limited to fewer than 150 dancers. Many individuals get qualified to attend this event by applying early and using their Facebook or Instagram page as their calling card, demonstrating proof that they have danced a close-embrace tango. These events can be very cozy and friendly affairs.

In the Encuentro world

In the Encuentro world, many people know each other from previous encounters. In some situations, people only dance with those they already know. There is a stronger dance connection in an Encountro, as the number of attendees is much smaller and the genders are more evenly represented. Having attended a few, I have found this to be true. The level of dancing is a bit above average, and the embraces can be pretty delightful. With a smaller group of people, it’s somewhat easier to meet and make new dance friends.

Festivals often feature well known maestro couples who offer classes. They perform tango demonstrations nightly typically in the evenings and late at night. Many students attend classes that mainly  focus on learning new steps or patterns. These events, in my experience, attract a varied group of dancers, ranging from those with little experience to those who are very accomplished. At these events, there is no pre-qualification for admission to the Festival; you need to pay for all your classes and milongas in advance. Typically, accommodations are offered at a discounted price, making the experience more enticing. Attending your first Festival with your group of friends is advisable, as city  festivals typically attract between 400 and 700 people.

Lastly, there are the Tango Marathons

Lastly, there are the Tango Marathons; where one can dance tango all night long, and continuing until dawn the next day. Milongas typically begin in the evening at 10 pm finishing up at 6 am. Another milonga takes place in the late afternoon from 3 pm until 7 pm. No maestros are featured. No classes or workshops are held. There is not as much gender balancing when selecting admissions, either.
Many experienced dancers attended these events, trying to make sense of it all as its three or four days of continuous dancing. The event may be both, an adventure and a homecoming.

However, for me, my favorite places to dance tango are the local milongas, where you have the chance to meet the people who live in that city. We have had frequent happy interactions in many of the smaller cities in Turkey, such as Izmir and Samsun. In France, it was Toulouse. In Spain, notable cities include Granada, Valencia, and, of course, Barcelona.

In tango, it’s vital

In tango, it’s vital to pay attention to the music, your partner, and the floor. As in any of the aforementioned Encountros, Festivals, Marathons, or local milonga, it’s essential to put your best attitude forward. Leave the shopping list at the door, the bitchiness too.

Have a glass of wine, sit, and watch the world of dancers go by, in your mind speculate as to which dancer would be delicious to held in their close embrace. Perhaps they are someone you know or yet someone more exciting because you don’t know them. Maybe this is their first visit to this milonga. You can help them to enjoy a new place, a new embrace, and a new tanda. You can get out of your confort zone.

After all, every time you dance with someone, whether a new partner or an old one, the experience will be different. Make it shine.  Make it unique.  And allow the music to enter your body. You dance with all your corazon.

And after all is said and done

And after all is said and done, perhaps you will feel a little different, perhaps a bit brighter or lighter.

A little bit more alive!!.

Go do something out of your comfort zone, whether an art exhibition or a movie.  Catch up with an old acquaintance.  Try sone new out. Let me know how it went by sending a comment!

Enjoy life to it’s fullest after all we are not practicing life, but living to the fullest.

Abrazo

Links:

https://cristinaiglesias.com/es/obras/

https://www.fundaciocatalunya-lapedrera.com/en

https://www.barcelona-life.com/barcelona/gaudi

https://www.edenart.com/news/why-is-art-important

We begin anew
Changes
The Magic of Change
Featured

We begin anew

Happy New Year to all!

With the start of the new year behind us, it’s now time to consider the interests in our daily life.

From my perspective, the requirement for culture is predominant for us. We need to know the town, its history, and its culture. Whenever we travel to a new city or country, we always visit the local historical museum and the art museum, in addition to finding a cafe or restaurant.

With this passion in mind, we have embarked on this cultural undertaking in Barcelona.  Last year, while living here, we visited many different types of museums, including art, historical, and cultural. We will continue this project, as I just googled and found that there are 124 museums in the city. The variety of museums is wide-ranging, encompassing history, art, horror, and chocolate.

A while ago

A while ago, we visited the MOCO Museum. We took the bus and it took us 30 minutes to get there. This small, privately owned art museum is located in Ciutat Vella [old town], Barcelona, near the massive Pablo Picasso Museum.

Visiting museums

Last year, while living here, we visited many different types of museums, including art, historical, and cultural.

This year we continue this project, as I just googled and found that there are 124 museums in the city. The variety of museums is wide-ranging, encompassing history, art, horror, and chocolate.

The physical size of the Moco museum is perfect for covering in about 90 minutes. This is my threshold for looking at art and visiting a museum. This building has two floors, accessible via an elevator and stairs.

The space is

Upon entering the museum’s outdoor space, you are greeted by an oversized bronze mouse by the artist duo Kaws. Unfortunately this sculpture is on loan and I was told is leaving the museum, shortly.

The first-floor area is reasonably small, featuring pieces by Dali, Warhol, Masaaki, and other contemporary artists. 

If you want to linger and look, there is no place to sit that allows this, not a bench in sight. For me, this is a major flaw, as I not only like to put my face up to see the paint strokes, but I also like to sit and contemplate a painting that requires distance.

The second floor showcases a larger selection of the collection, featuring a prominent display of Banksy and numerous pieces of digital art.

Admission was discounted as we are both over 65, and the museum also offers promotions, such as two-for-one admissions.
Maximo had the pleasure of a free audioguide. This was wonderful as it provided him with a wealth of information and explanations about the artworks.

Overall

Overall, this was a positive experience for both of us: me, a seasoned veteran of the art world, and my partner, who usually prefers historical or antiquarian museums. We both enjoyed different qualities of this museum.

On our next museum visit, we will visit the Joan Miró Foundation, situated in a different part of the city.

Visiting museums has always been an essential part of my life, as this passion started when I was young.

I grew up just

I grew up just outside New York City in Jersey City. My immigrant parents were eager to become good Americans and believed that culture played an integral part in that process.

Growing up we watched operas in the theaters, attended art exhibitions at the museums on free days, and went to afternoon performances of ballet and theater. All of this was at the instigation of my mother.

My mom, with her 3rd-grade education, had her studies interrupted by the war in Poland. She was a pretty tenacious woman, and years later she graduated from a 2-year college at the same time my middle sister graduated from high school.

My mother was

She was the type of person who believed it was possible to become a more informed and cultured person. She learned English in London and continued her education while raising her children. One of the tenets she instilled in us was that we could be anything we wanted to be. This was back in the late 1950s and 1960s. And all her children were girls.

We used library services extensively; my mother never edited what I read, which led to confrontations with the librarian.  I read Lady Chatterley’s Lover when I was 12 years old. I don’t think I fully understood it, as it didn’t leave a lasting impression on me; however, I was a curious child. At the same time, I was reading the science fiction greats, Heinlein, Le Guin, and Asimov. These books allowed my imagination to roam different worlds and to this day I still read science fiction.

In my teens, I would often take the bus into New York City with my friends. It took approximately 45 minutes to travel from the suburbs where we lived to the Port Authority of New York, located on 8th Avenue and 42nd Street. From there, it was a short walk up to the Museum of Modern Art, MoMA, or the Whitney Museum. 

Experiencing significant

Experiencing significant artworks in the 1970s was a fantastic educational and enriching experience as New York City was the place where art was happening as at the time it was the center of the artworld.

Guernica, the famous protest painting by Pablo Picasso, before it was returned to Spain in 1981, had a small, separate viewing area in the MoMA Museum. These experiences helped form me. I feel very grateful for these forays into New York City for culture.

Image courtesy https://www.euskoguide.com/es/lugares-pais-vasco/espana/guernica-turismo/

Now it is my hope that over the next few years, we can visit all 124 museums in this city or at least most of them.

Visiting Gaudí’s buildings

We have visited most of Gaudí’s buildings, including the Sagrada Familia Church, which is expected to be finished this year. Also visited Park Güell, Casa Batlló, and La Pedrera. These are the buildings that Gaudí designed and built. One night, we attended a fantastic open-air concert on the rooftop of Casa Batlló. It was brilliant.

This city has museums and foundations devoted to a single artist, such as those dedicated to Pablo Picasso, Antonio Tapies, and Joan Miró.

The diversity of the museums here is vast. There are museums dedicated to the art of Catalonia, a maritime museum, and a science museum, too. Plus a few obscure museums such as the Hash Marihuana Hemp Museum or the Museum of Illusions.

The prospect of

The prospect of visiting all or most of these museums over the coming years is both exciting and daunting.

We attended an opera in Valencia, and would like to do so in Barcelona. The opera house here is known as Palau Teatre de Liceu and dates back to 1847. The building was destroyed by fire in 1994 and rebuilt on the same site. “The Liceu is reborn as a cultural project aimed at society as a whole. The new theater opens its doors as a public theater and, as such, has the mission of creating aesthetically ambitious art that reaches the widest possible audience and ensuring that artistic opportunities for the country’s musicians and creators are expanded.” 

There are also concert halls to hear music, including the amazing Palau de la Música. “This building was designed by the architect Lluís Domènech i Montaner, a masterpiece, and was built between 1905 and 1908 as the home of the Orfeó Català. It is designed as a magical music box that combines all the applied arts: sculpture, mosaic, stained glass, and ironwork.”

Barcelona is a city

Barcelona is a city rich in culture, whether it is highbrow or lowbrow. The city’s history is showcased on its streets and in its museums. This city is alive.

There is a vibrancy here that is believed to be unique to this city. The vitality is evident in the streets and the unique shops and restaurants that comprise this city.

Here’s to further explorations and additional stories about these places we discover.

If you are in Barcelona, get in touch and let’s have a coffee!

Links:

https://whichmuseum.com/place/barcelona-24157

https://www.liceubarcelona.cat/es/el-liceu/historia

https://www.palaumusica.cat/en

https://sagradafamilia.org/

https://www.euskoguide.com/es/lugares-pais-vasco/espana/guernica-turismo/


Watching the Olympics from Barcelona.

Opening ceremonies, Milano

When my son was younger, we used to go up to Big White in Canada for what was known as winter break, which coincided with the Winter Olympic Games. A week in winter for a break from learning, as practiced by most school systems in the Northwest.

We would pack the car with food, gear, and an extra kid or two, as it’s always more fun with others, not just your family. My son, as an only child, enjoyed bringing a friend with him. Aa did I because they entertained each other.

In the early days, when he was 12 or 13, he was learning to snowboard on the mountain. His determination outweighed his body fat. Ultimately, we figured out how to stuff a small pillow on his ass, as he probably spent much of his time in this position on the snow.  As time wore on, his skills changed, and he became pretty adept at snowboarding, even attempting jumps and the half-pipe.

As Big White Resort is located

As Big White Resort is located a distance from any town, it’s important to be self-sufficient. There’s a small market there that sells fresh and frozen food, but even with the exchange rate, it gets pretty pricey.

Big White Resort

The food we brought with us, what we had cooked, and could eat for 3 or 4 days, and get pizza and burgers from the local takeout place. Awful diets, but lots of mandarin oranges and popcorn, too.

I would go out and possibly meet up with a friend to ski for a few hours. When tired, returning to the room, relaxing with a book for the remainder of the day on my own.

The apartments we rented were usually pretty well used, in somewhat disrepair.

In the small island town

In the small island town we lived in, approximately 100 other folks would be vacationing on the same mountain. The drive took the whole day, including catching what we called the red-eye ferry.

With stops along the way for coffee and the bathroom, we arrived around 6pm. We would see other known peeps on the road and wave, sometimes playing the driving game of leapfrog.

Switchbacks

Always with windshield wipers working overtime as the roads were slushy or snowy, depending on the moment, using tons of windshield wiper solution.

The Canadian government did a great job keeping the roads open and plowed. The areas we drove through were quite scenic, featuring snow-covered peaks and vast valleys planted with fruit trees. Was it a beautiful drive, though a bit tedious, as my son, when younger, was too young to share in the driving?

On our last trip

On our last trip, he drove the entire way. What an unnerving experience that was.

The great divide on the mountain was the accommodations. The rich folks had large 6-bedroom houses with 3 bathrooms. We habitually rented a one-bedroom apartment centrally located in the village, as it suited the two of us.

There is nothing like an active vacation with preteens. With hormones just activated, the smell from the socks and shoes was painful. The kids were always getting into snowball fights or playing video games. Everyone brought their Nintendo, too.

From an online source:



The average age of athletes at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics varies by sport and national delegation, generally falling between 25 and 28 years old.

Historically, the mean age for Winter Olympic participants has stabilized around 26.1 years, with medalists often being slightly older, averaging roughly 26.3 years.

France: The delegation maintains an average age of 26 years.

USA: The entire roster has an average age of 28.30 years, its largest and one of its most veteran teams to date.

China: The team average is approximately 25 years.

The 2026 Games feature a vast age span, from 15-year-old Australian freestyle skier Indra Brown to 54-year-old veteran competitors.

The thing I remember vividly is watching the Olympic Games every night. The small studio apartment I rented was usually filled with hungry, smelly teenage boys. Our place was known as a hangout. I encouraged this as I preferred knowing where my son was.

Nightly gatherings to watch

Nightly gatherings to watch the Winter Olympics from afar sparked many conversations about sports and national pride. We were in Canada and not the USA. The ethos of sportsmanship is ingrained in all nationalities.

I have a deep love for ice skating, as when I was a teenager, I would skate for hours at a local rink. Not having much talent or ankles capable of supporting me, this was a short-lived predicament. But the beauty of the sport continued to follow me. Ice dancing, pairs, short programs, and more such labels do define the sport.

Now, twenty years later, living in Barcelona, I realized this year the Winter Olympics are in Milano, Italy, and we are in the same time zone.

In the past, I don’t think I ever watched the opening ceremony or the lighting of the Olympic Torch, but I did on Friday night at the beginning.

Outstanding performances

Wow. Outstanding performances by many famous singers, including Andrea Bocelli and Mariah Carey, pianist Lang, Italian rapper Ghali, plus a few Italians singers I didn’t know. With a cast of thousands of dancers and volunteers, the spectacle was truly a spectacle. The ginormous stage was lit in the shape of an elongated Fibonacci spiral, with gyrating lights and 4 entrances.  The dances performed ranged from truly modern to ballet to just having a good old time. The Italians are experts in these events.

Oversized paint tubes descended from the roof, almost touching the floor, followed by 5 symbolic Olympic rings that once light remained aloft for the entire event.

It was a night of discovery, a celebration of the world’s athletes.  It was a night with lots of talk about peace and harmony.

The current president


The current president of the Olympic Committee is Kris Coventry, from South Africa, who was the first female president of the Olympics and was a competitive swimmer. Her opening address touched on the whole olympic experience as a way of breaking down barriers.

Tonight I am watching the women’s freestyle skiing event. It’s genuinely astounding watching these young women twirl and spin in the air. So much hope amid the culmination of many years of work. The joy of competition with nerves tingling creates much magic. Win, lose, or fall out of the standings, what a celebración of harmony.

These athletes are the elites of the world. Tonight an old Italian woman set a world speed record on her 35th birthday and also as the oldest woman speed skater.


While athletes often peak between 20 and 30, “skill and endurance” sports (like curling or luge) often favor older, more experienced athletes, whereas “judged” sports (like figure skating) trend younger.

The oldest Winter Olympian in history is Sweden’s Carl August Kronlund, who won a silver in curling at age 58 in 1924.

As the different categories continue with these games, I hope you are able to catch a few different sports programs.

This spectacular will go on for a total of 2 weeks.  I hope to catch a few more events.



Traveling Tango

Creator of Tango Experiences

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