Finally, a break.
After the first week of lectures, I think all of us are just exhausted and have gone overload with information and notes about the philosophy and romantiscism behind space exploration, limitations on technology transfers and the inticacies of why the sky is blue when the sun is brightest. Whoever thought the two months in Spain would be a breeze must think again. Lectures daily from 9am to (at least) 6pm, the swerltering heat, and who-know-what they are feeding us at the student cafeteria. But I'm in the sun, having some fun, and having this wonderful opportunity to meet over 100 people from all over the world... some (or perhaps most!!) of whom share this rare passion for Star Trek, and are not ashamed to say it!
To be honest, I have not been able to do much sightseeing since I got here. So imagine my relief when we were 'let go' to enjoy ourselves on Saturday afternoon. I quickly left the campus buildings, and left the group of people behind, and went out by myself. As exciting and necessary socialising can be, it can also be extremely tiring having to introduce yourself and tell al about your life and background twenty times a day.
I headed to downtown and treated myself to tapas (Spanish aperatifs)... mussels with french fries, mushrooms with garlic and parsley, and a light salad of octapus, squid, shrimp and egg. The portions were not very big, so I guess that's why I had ice cream straight afterwards. I rarely eat so well by myself, but I guess being generous to myself would not hurt.... besides, my two months here is all expenses paid, so why not enjoy a little, live a little?
I strolled down the touristic areas, the sun beating down on me. Something about this city fills it with life and colours that are very different from the gray tones of the Netherlands. I feel comfortable here... a kind of comfort that is somewhat similar to Asia; and the temperatures and traffic chaos are not much different either. But shopping and bourgeios boutiques were nothing for me, so I hopped on the train, and headed to the suburbs.
When the Devil tempted Jesus, He With the Horns is supposed to have said "Tibi Dabo" ("To thee I give"). So it is no surprise this beautiful basillica is built on top of the highest hill overlooking Barcelona, on top of which stands a statue of Jesus that is reminiscent of the one in Rio de Janero. It was a long journey to get up there, and I had to change three times, taking a suburb train, then an old Blue Tramway, and finally a Fenicular Railway. But the scenery was rewarding, if you could just ignore the run-down looking theme park and rusty-old rides. You could see the whole Barcelona, this beauty gem on the Medditerean, with all its neatly arranged streets, with its unique spires and skyscrappers, and the modernism of the Olympic Stadium and Sir Norman Foster's communication nearby. Behind me lay columns of hills that streteched into the distance, while before me was the lazy sea, sail boats and sun.
And it was perhas this same sea that attracted me most, so much so that this morning I headed out to the little resort of Sitges, some 40minutes by train south of Barcelona. It was only when I got there did I realise that Sitges prides (literally) itself as the most prominent gay resort in Spain. Indeed, the narrow alleyways were filled with rainbow flags and pictures of transvestites and men in drag. Tanned men walked around with naked tops and winked, which was somewhat embarrasing.
But we headed down to the beach, and decided to have a swim. Or at least, my friends did. I have never been much of a fan of public nakedness, so I just sat in the sun and watched the waves wave as I read my Time Out guide to other places I could venture to and restaurants I could conquer. The surrounding fat old(er) people and bare breasts were not really much of a sight to look at.
I stayed on the sand a while before heading into the water myself. I wore these pants that dry really fast, so I wadded in the sea till my thighs, and let the water tickle my feet and soothe my skin. It felt cool against the heat of the Medditerean sun, though all arond me were all these kids and people splashing and playing. I thought back to the last time I touched the same waters not so long ago, not so far away in Israel....
It was on a clear day like today, and it was the same water as the one that washed over me. But it was just my friend and me, and moments of joy in one another's pleasant company.
