For the Love of Christmas

December 11.  It's the time of year when people start acting jolly and fun-loving, and they start laughing and smiling more too.  The "spirit" of Christmas is still alive and well, and here in Vancouver it's a nice change from the gloominess we usually carry around with us.  Everyone puts their Christmas lights up and some street blocks even compete against their neighbours to see who can put the prettiest display around their homes and yards.  Heck, I even caught myself humming a carol yesterday.  "The First Noel", I think it was.  And then I caught myself chuckling.

Today the skies are blue and the traffic is heavy - lots of rushing about is being done.  'Tis the season.  Myself, I have decided this year to have a non-commercial Christmas, and I have to say that I am feeling far less stressed and pressed for time because of it.  I still have the Christmas spirit though, I'm happy to report.  It is a nice time of year!  And you don't have to run out and spend a lot of money just to enjoy it! 

Some would say that Christmas makes you feel so much goodness and love for everyone around you, that you might be more inclined to think about deeper things, such as the friends that really do mean a lot to you and who you haven't reached out to in awhile.   Such as love, and forgiving the one you love.  Such as the family you remember all sitting around the fire together on a chilly winter's night, everyone in their pajamas, munching on Christmas treats and singing Christmas carols in harmony while their dad plays the guitar.  Or maybe even deeper and warmer than that?  And for some reason, no matter how deep I get with my thoughts, I am always brought back to that gentle feeling of love. Even though winter solstice is upon us and the days are much shorter now, it is a "feel good" time of year. 

So here I am on this sunny afternoon, sitting at home with my herbal tea and a candle, and my laptop finally back home and working again (fingers crossed!).  On a day like today I should be taking advantage of the beautiful weather.  But I've decided to stay inside for a while longer and contemplate some of those deeper things, and to give thanks for them.  Life is so god-damned beautiful, and it's all the imperfections that make it so beautiful.  Today I have to be honest with myself and with you.  I am thinking about my past relationship and the person in it, and I'm remembering lots of good things.  I am thinking that there was love there.  And because I'm sitting here thinking about it, I'm feeling it now too, and I am overwhelmed with gratitude, sadness, and wonder at the life that the combination of two people creates.  How this unique combination can make a certain type of magic happen, which then triggers events that give you an opportunity to learn, grow, and develop on a personal level, and which sometimes reaches out to the entire globe.  The energy of those lessons spreads out, just the way love does.  It is a wonderful, crazy thing; relationships.  For me, that relationship helped me to grow into the woman that I am today.  I am not so young anymore, but my eyes still sparkle like a child's does, and I still like pulling on people's legs just to get a laugh out of them like I did when I was a kid.  But I am much wiser, deeper, and not so superficial.  Without having had the relationship I had with that one person, I would never be where I am today.  I realize that there is no way I could have become who I am now without his influence in my life.  Three years ago who was I?  I was a woman going down the wrong path, that's who I was!  Heck, maybe we will always wander down paths, check out angles and use it as a way to try to get to know ourselves.  I do know that we are always growing and changing so that first part must also be true.  But I know that the person who I was starting to become was someone who had fallen off her path, and I was very unhappy because of it.  I thought I was so happy, but looking back I see clearly that I wasn't. 

Am I happy now?  Heck, naw.  I don't know if one can be happy every single day of their life.  How would you learn, and from what would you have to compare life to if things were always the same, same mood, same energy every single day?  But am I starting to be happier more often than not?  Am I pretty impressed with the person I've become?  Can I honestly say that I like myself ?  I full-heartedly answer YES to all of those questions.  I think I'm a pretty cool cat, and I like what I have to offer the world.  I see my unique qualities as of much as a gift as someone else's.  I'm starting to understand the real meaning of mirroring, self-projection, ego, and how they can affect a relationship with someone...and to be honest I'm not sure I would have gotten this far on this type of work had I stayed on in the relationship, on that path, with that person.  So then it was that very relationship that brought me to where I am today, and which really forced me (the hard way) to learn some wonderful lessons.

It feels like there is alway a price to pay for things.  Have I obtained any of this information easily?  Was it just some natural "talent" that allowed me to access this worldly wisdom?  No friggin' way.  I have had to work darn hard to get here, and I am still working darn hard at it.  Whenever you peel back a layer you can bet you'll find another one under it.  It's just the way it is.  But right now I look around and I can see my hard work paying off in all sorts of ways and with all sorts of people.  It's a pretty far out existence when you can bump into someone and automatically understand the lesson, or the gift, that that person has brought to the world and into my life.  Sometimes relationships only last a few minutes, sometimes they last a few years.

And so this afternoon after a very brief exchange with the person I shared that relationship with, and a rendez-vous with that part of my past, I have come back home to sit and contemplate it, and to let the tears flow.  Because I know there was love.  And I know there still is love.  And I have to say: it's just all so god-damned beautiful.

So here's to it! 
Merry Christmas,
Charleen xo

Negative November

... not that I like to be negative, mind you.

The grey skies and cold weather have set in.  The other day we had our first snowfall, which, of course like any first snowfall in Vancouver, melted by the afternoon.  Melted or not, I am seriously unimpressed with Mother Nature.  My parents said it went down to -20 in Cranbrook, way over in the south east corner of our province, but now it's expected to warm up again to "normal" by mid week!  That seems kinda crazy to me and I think the weather is increasingly unpredictable these days.  My Dad assures me that the weather man is pretty bang on, and that really only a certain amount can be predicted accurately anyways.  Hmph.

Cold weather aside, it's the constant grey skies that I struggle with.  As I've gotten older this struggle has intensified to the point that I'm seriously wondering how I'm going to get through this winter.  And it's only November!

I had my annual psychic and tarot card reading last weekend and, as usual, she was bang on about me.  Here I thought I was hiding my negative frame of mind so well!  She has reminded me to try to be objective about my position in life, my position on this planet.  She did see that I'm generally a very nurturing and caring person, but that I tend to get "moody" and can spend too much time mucking around in the duldrums.  Shoot!  How'd she get that so right?!  At this time of year especially, I admit that I seem to be consciously forcing negative thoughts away more often than usual, and that it seems like it's a race to some unseen finish line and the blues are winning!  Fortunately I still have a handful of very good friends who I can bounce my self-defeating perceptions off of, and who set me straight right away.  Really I know that life isn't that bad at all.  If I had to admit even more, well then, I guess I have to admit that I think I'm probably a little depressed.

Tired of fighting the negative ghosts, I've taken the day off work to let myself sleep longer, to contemplate my position in life, and to consider alternative ways of keeping myself from going so low.  Where am I?  What am I?  How will I get to where I'd like to go?  Someone said once that there is no "trying"; there is only "doing" or "not doing".  Sheesh, that's harsh.  But I also think it's true, and I have to accept that I'm creating my reality in life and I'm probably making it out to be a lot worse than it is.  Does anyone else wonder what will happen to them in their old age? Who will look after them? Where will the money come from to look after myself in my later years?  Never mind my later years, what about right now?  How come it always seems like such a financial struggle in this city?  Is it me??  These types of thoughts and many more similar to them have been making me clench my jaw tight while I sleep (now where's my mouth guard when I need it?), and jolting me awake at night, panic-stricken.  How many nights is it now that I've laid awake for three hours at a time, breathing shallowly?  Gawd.  More of a reason to stay away from the office today and work this out, I say.

Thankfully, writing in my blog usually helps.  :)

Ahhh, wouldn't life be great if I was a stable (and maybe slightly boring) Capricorn or Taurus?  Wouldn't it be nice to be so insensitive to everything and not be so deep about it all?  Sometimes I think it would be very nice to be someone else.  I think we all think the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence, but the real truth is that it very rarely is.  If my sensitivity allows me to explore life in a deeper way then I accept that.  My task in life now is to learn to manage these winter blues a little better, to watch my spoken word both about my own life and other people's lives, and to continue to choose positive thoughts.  If I'm going to be a grump then that's okay too, but I am going to stay away from people if that's the way I'm feeling because no one else needs to listen to my moody blues.  I know that the more I can do this, then the less I will ask others for their acceptance of me, and the more I will love and accept myself.  The more I love and accept myself, the better I can be for those around me who maybe are also feeling overwhelmed with life and fighting the dark days of winter.  And in this way, even though I know it sounds so simple, I think I can be of service to our planet and to human life.  I think I'm speaking not only for myself but for anyone who suffers from weather inflicted depression here, and all you can do is put one little foot in front of the other. Slowly but surely.

On top of the shorter, darker days, I've recently discovered that I have a sensitivity to gluten.  Yup, that's right.  No more french baguettes for this girl.  I think my body has been telling me to knock it off for quite a long time but only recently when I got back from Spain did my body start to really show some aggressive signs that it was fed up with my bad behavior!  And let me be honest here: if it wasn't for vanity I probably would just keep on going.  Alas, my face breaks out and looks like I have the measles if I don't watch what I eat, and all my clothes threaten to burst their buttons if I gain one more pound!  With those very obvious facts staring me right in the face and in the mirror each morning, I bit the bullet and did the Wild Rose Herbal Detox.  You know it really wasn't that difficult or uncomfortable, but I have to warn you that one needs to be organized and prepared to eat without wheat or yeast for 12 days (not to mention without dairy, sugar, booze of any kind, and certain types of fruits too).  I'd be lying if I told you that it doesn't bother me to not be able to simply step out and buy a yummy sandwich for lunch, because it definitely is an adjustment.  Living gluten-free definitely forces you to think ahead, plan, cook more and spend more time in your kitchen.  A difficult feat for this un-domestic chica, but not impossible!  So for the last few weeks I've been educating myself with researching all the gluten-free options I can find including on-line recipes, blogs, and shopping at specialty stores that provide for this change in lifestyle.  There are tons of alternatives out there and lots to choose from if you're looking for breads without yeast or wheat in them.  It seems that lots of people are starting to turn towards gluten-free living.  As a matter of fact, I believe that probably 90% of us have sensitivities to the foods we indulge in, but we ignore these signs and/or think they are normal.  What's the outcome for me in this change in diet?  My face has cleared up, I am far less bloated than I was (I even lost 3 lbs!), my clothes fit again (albeit still a little tight for my liking - nothing that stepping up my exercise and aerobic activity can't cure!), and I feel like I have more energy and fewer mood swings that used to be caused by sugar.  12 days is all it takes to set you straight with the Wild Rose cleanse, but for me I've decided to continue on the same eating plan as much as I can.  I've cleared out all the wheat and yeast products from my cupboards and fridge, folks!  Please don't tempt me with your delicious cooking unless it's made without wheat products and sauces, thank you very much!!

Check this blog out for more information:

www.glutenfree-vancouver.com

My body and lifestyle habits are changing, and I should be very proud of myself for facing the music.  I am, just not as much as I should be.  Today I am still struggling with my position in life and looking too much over the other side of the fence.  Are we all dealing with the change of the forces on the planet, or is it really just me?  What can I do differently to help me live my life more fully?  Sheesh.  I find these types of questions to be incredibly sobering and tiring, but I am going to continue to work on digging my way out of fear-based thoughts and into lighter, happier thoughts about life and my future. 

As always I have to finish this post by affirming and stating my gratitude for the things that I certainly know are gifts: for the freedom and liberation that my bachelorette, Canadian lifestyle affords me.  For the loving arms of friends who continue to let me lean on them every now and for whom I can reciprocate that same strength back to.  For my quiet cozy home in South Granville and the ability to live in a city that gives me options for nutrition and for starting a new way of life.  For running, spinning, and warm yoga classes, and for my two strong legs that remind me that I am alive and well.  For the 2-month old "new" full-time job that is allowing me to grow professionally and personally.  And even for the less obvious things like my Dad's laughter on the other end of the telephone, and for the happy thoughts that imagining my young niece and nephew playing in their home up on Denny Island, BC, bring to me.  I'm going to keep these and many other blessings at the forefront of my mind as the days get darker and the weather gets colder.  And you know what else might help?  Treating myself to a night out, maybe this Friday even.  :)

Hold onto your toques people, it's going to be a long winter.

Love, Charleen xo 

Something Knew

I can't say exactly why, but I didn't feel as excited as I thought I would have been knowing that I was on my way back to Ibiza.  After all that day dreaming that I did about the place on an almost daily basis back in Vancouver, one would have thought I would have been way more excited as I boarded the plane with Alok.  Ibiza is Alok's home and so he was excited to be getting back to his life there.  I, on the other hand, was starting to realize that I didn't know exactly why I was going back to Ibiza.  I checked in with myself.  "Is it because of the parties?"  No, that's not the reason.  Even though the night clubs and the music (and therefore the parties) have always been a fun aspect to the island, I'd always maintained that one of the nicest times to be on Ibiza is when the night clubs have all closed, and there is a more relaxed and quiet feel to the island. 

Was is the endless variety of beaches, each with a different essence, and the warm, clear blue Mediterranean?  Well, if it was only about that then I guess I could have stayed in Barcelona for two weeks, couldn't I have?  Or I could have gone to any other number of places along the coast of Spain for that matter.

Was it the fabulous shopping and the cutting-edge fashions that seem to always start right there in Ibiza and then branch out into the rest of Spain, Europe, and maybe a couple of years later, Canada?

Or maybe it was those cute little restaurants and beach bars like no other place on the planet, all serving fresh seafood, and cold, fruity cocktails?  Perhaps it was the sunset, and the famous west-coast cafe's (like Cafe Del Mar or Cafe Mambo) where the entire island seemed to gather during the last hours of the day, everyone applauding the sun as it dips and dissolves beyond the horizon?  What was it that was really dragging me there?

As soon as the wheels of our Iberian Airlines flight touched down, I realized that going to Ibiza on my own, this time, had nothing to do with all those things that I love about the island.  With a sinking feeling, I realized it had everything to do with the memories of the times when I had travelled there several times with my ex.  It had everything to do with memories.  As I smelled the familiar, unique scents of the island - the salty sea air mixed with sage brush and sun-baked Balearic grass - my stomach dropped.  I realized that I was going to have a tough time here over the next four days, no matter how great all of the above were, if I didn't work this one little kink out of my reality and quick!

A planted a kiss on both of Alok's cheeks and off he went to his continue his life, his own path.  Me though, I continued to look for signs that suggested that I should not have come.  Like for instance, I knew that if my suitcase had gotten lost then I definitely shouldn't be there.  No luck with that one - my luggage appeared as rapidly and seamlessly as it had on all my other flights across the Atlantic and around the country.  Hmmm.  "Okay, I've got it!" I thought.  If I have difficulty at the car rental agency, then I will definitely KNOW FOR SURE that I shouldn't be here!  Alas, five minutes after arriving at the meeting point specifically detailed in my car rental voucher, along came the shuttle van to take me to the rental agency which was adjacent to the airport on the other side of the highway.  I was really searching for a quick answer to my gut feelings, trying hard to compartamentalize the nagging problem so I could just get on with having a good time and really start getting exciting about being back in a place that I had dreamt about every night.  Maybe it was the humidity? Yes, that's it, the humidity is making me feel all off!  It was about 30 degrees in Ibiza, but with the humidity it somehow made it feel hotter and harder to handle than 43 degrees in Sevilla.  Oh, I so just wanted to blame it on the humidity!

But I couldn't.  As soon as I got to my hotel (which wasn't completely ready for me when I got there... Oh!  It's a sign!), and layed down in the simple but cozy apartment I would call home for 4 nights, the cute little place on the west coast of the island that had views of the blue Mediterranean sparkling up at me and should have made anyone smile, and I rolled myself into a tight ball on my bed and had myself a good cry.   I chastised myself, wondering when I was ever going to get over the memories of the fun times I used to have when I visited the island, con espouso.  Well damnit, I'd come this far after all this time, and I was damned if I was going to let those old visions of my married life, and all the pain that came afterwards, ruin my trip!  No way! I kicked the bed and pounded the pillows!  Then I stepped into the ring and fought that demon right there on the spot I did!  That demon had me in a good head lock and was threatening to choke the life out of me when I made a lightning decision to tackle it, flip it on it's back, and beat the crap out of it myself instead!!  Well, at least I was able to get it into a position where I could tie it up in a ball and shove it back in the closet where it came from!  You are not ruining my trip here, damn demon!  So there!

And with that little inner quarrel out of the way, I jumped back into my little 6-speed, two door, Alfa Romeo, and took a long drive around the island, getting familiarized with the energy there again, the roads, the exits, the ronda's, and all the sights.  I was actually quite amazed to realize how second-nature the place was to me.  Almost like I'd never left.

Me and my Alfa Romeo

such an effin' cool car

My friend Ries from Holland, who you will all remember, at the last minute was able to re-arrange his work week to meet me on the island, and his flight was coming in at midnight.  I was really happy to see him again and excited that we were going to be taking in the Tiesto Closing Party at Privilege the next night!  Ries was dressed wayyyy too warmly when he got off the plane, and happilly stuffed his scarf and jacket away in his carry-on luggage, and unrolled the windows of the Alfa Romeo, taking in the the essence of the island as we drove back towards the west coast.

Ries was going to have only one day on the island, and so I knew I had to choose our activities well.  One thing about Ries will never change: the very first and most important thing for the day is to find a good cafe solo!  As we sat sipping our cafes, we giggled and gossiped and got caught up on all that had gone in one another's lives since the last time we'd seen one another - dinner in Amsterdam back in February, remember?  I told him about the things that I thought he should experience while he was here on the island, and ran the day's itinerary by him.  Luckily a good majority of the day involved beach time and sunshine, and he was game for that!  I took him to one of my very favourite beaches on the west coast of the island, Cala Carbo, where we rented two hamakas and a parasol, sipped cervezas, ate paella for lunch, and swam in the beautiful and warm Mediterranean.  I even took him on a short climb up the hill onto the cliffside that overlooks the beach, and I think he loved the sights of the twinkling Mediterranean, the magical rock called Es Vedra, and the Balearic cliffside as much as I did and always have.

 

soaking up some rays

 

Cala Carbo

A little video clip just to show you the scenery:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LstrVeqiPc

After a lazy few hours at this very pretty beach, I decided it was time to change to something a little more upbeat and Ibizenken (sp?): Ses Salines and Sa Trinxa Beach Bar.  We drove across the island to the southern most tip, and found rock star parking just outside the packed parking lot - apparently there were tons of people on the island for the closing parties and the number of cars parked in the bushes and along the road way proved it!  Because we arrived relatively late in the day (4:00ish), the beach was full with hardly any room to walk let alone lay out.  But we managed to squeeze out enough room for two more towels, and then layed down to watch all the people and listen to the funky beats that the resident DJ was spinning.  Funnily enough, another friend of mine, Ralf, who I met when I was in Ibiza two years ago and who I have stayed in touch, also happened to be at the same beach not too far away from where we layed our towels.  I waved and walked over to him, the both of us laughing as we greeted one another with a warm hug, saying that the island was just too small of a place!

 

Ses Salines

Sa Trinxa

a very happenin' beach bar at Ses Salines

 a packed beach

After a few more hours of laying out and talking about everything under the sun (literally! Ries and I never run short of things to talk about), I asked Ries if he felt like watching the sunset.  I had just the perfect place in mind - the cliffside above Cala D'Hort.  I knew exactly the little dirt road to get there too, so off we went in my little Alfa Romeo.  Dang, I had a lot of fun driving that car!

I had shared the same cliff top with my ex a few years ago, and even though I knew it was our special place then, I analyzed the situation very unsympathetically and came to the conclusion that that cliff and the view that comes with it wasn't just "our" special place.  This fact was proven to me as Ries and I walked through the sage brush across the cliff top, and said "hola" to a several different people who had also found that little dirt road and decided to take in the sunset in the exact same spot.  A group of Germans who wouldn't stop talking stood several meters away, while a Spanish couple had brought their folding chairs and had seemingly gotten there early, perched in the best location for the sunset.  Another couple further along the cliffside towards the point were eagerly snapping pictures.  Certainly this place is my place now as much as it was "our" place then, and it belongs to everyone else who comes here now, too.  I took a quiet stroll by myself, leaving Ries to sit and contemplate his own journey, and I once again battled a little demon who I actually knew would be waiting for me there.  I found him quite easily, gave him the respectful nod that he deserved, and then wound up and round-house kicked him over the cliffside, nice and hard!!  I sniffed, wiped away a tear, and then went back to sit with Ries.  We both sat in meditative silence together and we watched the sun go down, heard the wind whisper it's love for us, and felt the calm of Es Vedra wash over us both.

 

The view of Es Vedra, and the beautiful sunset on Ibiza

The place I go to in my mind when I need to relieve stress

Destino's Tapas Bar, San Jose, Ibiza

The best restaurant on the island for tapas

By the time the sun set we were STARVING!  Fortunately for me, and being the Aquarian that I am, I had thought ahead and had called to reserve a table for two.  Even then the restaurant was so busy that we had to wait a half an hour for our table.  I wonder if they didn't do that on purpose, because inevitably it made our eyes bigger than our stomachs, and we ordered several yummy dishes and drank several yummy cerveza's (Ries) and rose vino's (me).   The food was, as always, amazing.  I highly recommend this restaurant if you ever go to Ibiza and you only have one night there.  This place is not to be missed!

OMG!  Destino's!

If Ries wasn't already happy, he sure was after our meal at Destino's!

That evening, and since Ries had flown over especially for it, we attended Tiesto's Closing Party at Privilege.  We were very much looking forward to shacking our asses and having a fun evening, but alas, I have to report that the closing party SUCKED!  There, I said it.  It's true.  Our dear wonderful DJ Tiesto is very talented and creative indeed, and has been trying a new type of trance music out as of late, and I was horrified to discover this.  You can't even dance to it.  It was crap.  Privilege, the world's largest night club, is a sight to see for sure, with amazing light shows and dancing girls, acrobats and streamers exploding from the sky.  But the music?  S.U.C.K.E.D.  Sorry Tiesto.  If you're reading this then "Bravo" for branching out and doing what is your right as an Artist.  But BOOO for not making it dance worthy.  Shame!

It was cool to be there with the rest of the island though...

... and we did really like the light show...

... and the Las Vegas Show Girls...

... and the acrobats...

Two years ago when I went to Tiesto's Closing Party it was such a great time!  I danced all night and met tons of great people (remember the two guys from Argentina?).  This time though it was a definite downer.  Wow.  Don't worry - I got over it.   :)

After Ries flew home to Holland the next day, I let myself coast without a watch or a schedule of any kind.  Over the next couple of days I had time to visit my friend Alok another time, strolled through Ibiza town and did some shopping a couple of times, found new little out of the way places that had popped up there in the last two years, and finally got back in sync with the energy of the island.  I explored roads that I'd never been down before, continued to speak Spanish all day long and read Spanish newspapers whenever I'd stop for a cafe solo or Tinto de Verano.  I also spent another day beach hopping, watching people, and I did get a chance to meet with Ralf back at Sa Trinxa for a lazy afternoon with some of his friends who also live on the island.  I made friends with the owners of the hotel I was staying at, I got really good at driving a stick-shift again, discovered my cocky, aggressive, fast-paced Ibiza style again (you better move fast to keep up with the traffic on Ibiza, or get honked at by six different cars for simply pulling a Vancouver U-ey), chatted with several women who owned boutiques in Ibiza Town, sat by the hotel pool and ate melon, fresh croissants, and ripe figs for breakfast, and generally gave myself the right to be a leisurely tourist for a change!  At the end of my four days there, I am happy to report that the place I thought I knew so well hasn't changed all that much, and I still, thankfully, feel right at home there.  I am a part of that island.  I knew it all along I guess.  Maybe I just needed to go back and figure it out for myself?

For my last night there, I took a well-needed siesta and woke up again at 1:00 a.m.  By 1:50 I had arrived at "Space", one of Ibiza's hottest clubs and host to the "BE" Closing Party, featuring Markus Schultz and Armin van Buuren, two of my favourite DJ's.  I had been to a Closing Party at Space two years agao and it was an absolute slop fest.  This year though, while it was jam-packed, was pretty dang civilized and enjoyable.  By 2:00 a.m. Markus was on and I had my rum and coke in hand and was eagerly pushing my way towards the front of the Main Room.  Hey look, if you ever want to feel liberated, just fly to Ibiza and vacation on your own and go to a massive night club on your own.  Add a little Spanish language to the mix and then you'll realize how friggin' cool  you really are!  :)

 

MARKUS! droooool...

Both Markus and Armin had this really psychedelic light show going on

a very happy crowd at Space

(No red-necks here, bar brawls are unheard of)

Okay here is another video I took, this time of Markus Schultz!

I admit that the music is a little warped and loud at the beginning, but JUST DEAL WITH IT, ok?!

It's a cool show.  You'll wish you were there...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NfJUUtPdsYk

 

And of course no trance party is complete without AVB!

Why does he always have to be so darn cute?

I went to the club by myself, it's true. I was having a completely good time mixing with people from all over the world, and was reminded very quickly that if you get too close to a Spaniard he'll stick his tongue down your throat!  Not sure how, but I found myself gravitating towards the Dutch again.  I know them by their height, the mischief in their eyes, and by how friendly and inviting they are when you bump into them.  And do the Dutch ever know how to party!  Two thumbs up for the BE Closing Party, 2011! 

After getting home in the wee hours of the morning and sleeping in till late the next day, I sat by the pool one last time before catching an evening flight back to Barcelona.  I stomped around The Ramblas for a bit before heading back to the hotel room I'd rented for a night, just off of Plaza Catalunya.  I was bagged!  Early the very next day I was back at the airport for my flight to Frankfurt, and then Vancouver.  My two weeks in Spain went by way too fast!  But I'm glad I did end up going back to Ibiza, and I'm glad that I made my peace with those demons.  I realized what I already knew: that I really do love the place and a piece of it belongs to me and will always remain in my heart.  And this time I realized I love it all for my own reasons. 

My memories are my own.   So is my reality.  :)

Charleen xo

More Fun in the Sun

Even though I am now writing this posting from my little dining room table, back home in my apartment in rainy Vancouver, I think it is worthwhile to say a few things about the conclusion of my recent trip back to Espana. 

If I haven't mentioned it before, now is a good time to say thank you to my good friend, Alok, who joined me in Sevilla.  We took in a lot of the sights together, and we also did a lot by ourselves.  In the afternoons we'd meet up for luncheon tapas or hang out by the pool at my hotel, which was really the only place one could hang in the Andalusian heat.  Alok has proven to be one of my greatest friends, a fellow who is both a spiritualist and a hedonist - a guy after my own heart.  I think we've both supported one another through times where we were each questionioning our own paths, and it always helps to be able to bend the ear of someone who you know well and can trust.  Alok is this kind of friend to me, and I love him dearly.

Alok and me at lunch at a Cerveceria

(notice how much wev are sweating?  Yes, it was dang hot!)

The Basilica de la Macarena - right behind my hotel!

A 17th Century landmark

 The Muralla -

a portion of the old fortified walls that once surrounded the city

still standing in The Macarena

 One of the old gates

 Sunbathing or finding shade by the rooftop pool

Each morning the bells on the Basilica de la Macarena would ring loudly and could easily be heard from inside my hotel room.  It would bring a smile to my face every time, reminding me to stomp my feet on the ground or pinch myself so that I would know that I wasn't walking around in a dream.  I felt so invigorated, so energized during my stay in Sevilla.  Everything about the city is alive, as if vibrating to a happy tune that only Sevillanos can hear.  Well, I could hear it too and was thrilled with each and every sight, smell, touch, person I encountered there.  If Alok wasn't digging my pace, we'd simply meet up for a couple of hours here or there, grabbing a quick bite or a Tinto de Verano on the run.  One afternoon, after a cool dip in the pool, we decided to try our hand at the city's transit system, and took a bus out to view the Plaza de Espana.  At 5:00 in the afternoon I knew it would be ferociously hot out, but I wanted the light of the day to take pictures with, so Alok humoured me and came along for the fun of it.

Quiet Parras Street during afternoon siesta

Although the architecture looks like it could be ancient, Plaza de Espana is really just a toddler of a monument which dates back to it's creation in 1929 for the Ibero-American Esposition, where it was used as the Spanish Pavillion.  Inspired from the Renaissance, it is a row of pillars and towers portioned off into each region of Spain.  There were plenty more tiles, archways and bold bright colours to amuse myself with, but 43 degrees felt like 50, as the Plaza is almost entirely made from concrete and has very little shade.  Alok waited in the shade of its hallways while I wandered from one end to the other forcing myself to not mind the heat.  I had prepared myself mentally for it.

 

I found Sevilla!

Check out this video!  Great acoustics at Plaza de Espana!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Re8dT9xOLpE

After the heat of the Plaza de Espana, Alok took me walking in cool shade of the Jardines de Murillo which were originally the orchards behind the Alcazar.  The Jardines de Murillo border on a part of Sevilla's most famous barrios, Barrio Santa Cruz; the old Jewish Quarters.  Alok and I had a find time wandering the maze of streets which most tourists to Sevilla will try to find some time to explore.  Some of its streets were packed with tourists all vying for the best seat at an outdoor table, but it was easy to take a little detour down a vacant path where sometimes I could touch the buildings on either side of it simply by stretching out my arms!  It was so cool to think of myself roaming the same streets that Christopher Columbus once did, and I could imagine the romantic Don Juan briskly walking through its alleyways or climbing over verandas to entice the ladies of Sevilla.  Did you know that during the Spanish Golden Age, "Galanteadores" (Spanish for "gallants" or "seducers") were very common.  No one can say for sure, but it is estimated that at that time over half of the women in some of the neighbourhoods were widowed or abandoned, and this was because of either war or colonization.  I personally think that if temperatures in the 1500's were anything close to the same as they were here now in the early part of September 2011, it would not have been difficult to find a lovely damsel to play with each and every night.  In Sevilla, well, it seems to be quite normal!  Yay!

a narrow lane in Santa Cruz

Plaza Dona Elvira -

one of the many cute squares in Santa Cruz

Restaurants mercifully mist their customers with cool water

Alok

Still sweating and smiling!

On my last day in Sevilla, I decided to do two last things: go over to the other side of the river to Triana to search for Ceramics, and go tour the Bullring!

Triana:

on the other side of the river it is the centre of the ceramic trade,

and packed full of trendy restaurants and fun bars

Shopping at Plaza de Altozano

Alfareria - "Ceramics Street"

And of course, you have to visit the Bullring...

Plaza de Toros - Sevilla

They were setting up for some event, hence all the tables.

It was amazing to realize that you are so close to the floor!

There wouldn't be a poor seat in the house

Inside the arena there is a museum, complete with the most famous of bull's heads!

Even the head of the MOTHER of one of the most famous bulls was mounted!

Sheesh.

After spending some time in Sevilla, I have to admit that I think watching a live bullfight would have been the icing on the cake!  However, the fights are held only once each week, on Sunday afternoons at 5:30, and I had unknowingly booked my departure for 2:00 pm!  Oh well, this I can definitely do next time!

To finish up my trip to Sevilla, Alok and I watched a semi-private flamenco show in the comforts of the garden of my hotel.  Each member of the entourage was brilliant - a singer, guitar player and dancer.  Alok and I sipped cava and ate a light meal of fresh bread, olives, melon with jamon, and queso while watching the performance.  Afterwards he and I walked over to the Almeda de Hercules, which was created back in the 1500's, again during Sevilla's Golden Age.  The Almeda de Hercules is probably one of Sevilla's liveliest plazas and it's full of cafes and bars, and even tiny playgrounds for all the kids who go with their parents and stay out till all hours of the night, too.  It was only about a five minutes walk from my hotel.

A fantastic performance at Hotel San Gil

 Two very cute Sevillano children, playing at Almeda de Hercules

One of the many bars in Triana

Then I decided on one last hoorah, and went out to Triana again to seek out the best Sevillano bars.  I went to one traditional bar where the band played flamenco, and then after an hour switched seats with another band.  There were people of all ages out for this.  In one corner of the room it very easily could have been my grandparents and their friends out for a night on the town, all dressed up and ready to dance.  Beside me a younger woman who looked to be 21 or 22 years of age, all decked out and arm in arm with her cute boyfriend, both coming to have fun and be a part of what seemed to be a regular Saturday night party.  I watched this for awhile by myself, and then after kicking around the neighbourhood for a while, towards the end of the night I wound up back at Casa Anselma's, where it was even more packed (and sweaty!) than it was two nights before!

It's not difficult to meet and party with new friends in Sevilla!

Yolanda, Marco, Miguel, and me

Good times, good times!

I was sad to leave Sevilla but had to catch a flight to Ibiza.  After all the walking I'd done during my time there, I was ready for some lazy beach time anyways.  I know I'll return, and next time I think I'll stay a good long while, and really become a true Seviallana. 

Love, Charleen xo