It Took My Breath Away

I woke with a start this morning and for a second I had no idea what caused the jolt. It was the unfamiliar sound of my alarm going off. I have two days left before I leave on Thursday and I thought I should just practice to make sure the thing still works. Well, it does, but I almost didn’t remember what it was for.

I set it too, because I wanted to get an early start to Sitges, my last day-trip while in Spain. It was a recommendation from Becca, and according to the on-line guides it was going to be a quaint seaside town, the St. Tropez of Spain. Having never been to St. Tropez, this didn’t actually give me too much of a clue. I wasn’t sure if it was going to be touristy and tchotchke-filled or something entirely different. Oh my, my.

Even walking from the train station toward the edge of town on the coast, through the tiny one-lane streets, there was this wonderful feel. It was still very early in the morning, the street cleaners were out and the patisseries were just opening their doors. The low morning sun was peeking through other alleys and landing on the shutters and window boxes of the French-doored balconies. America needs more patisseries, perhaps one on every block. It would put people in much better moods right from the start of their day. The smell of baking bread and other little delicacies is too hard to not to feel good about.

I took a turn here and a turn there and suddenly found myself on this marvelous, wide, stone boardwalk that lined the beach as far as the eye could see to the left and to the right. I followed it as far as I could to the left and back again and then headed south. I had to wander through a connecting back alley but it emerged once again heading south, palm tree lined, as far as my little eyes could see. Much farther than the previous cove. Miles.

And so, I headed out. The crash of ocean waves accompanying me for a good hour down and then back north again. Since it was early, not many people were out; the dog walkers, the runners, the walkers, a couple having a personal training session on the beach, some old men catching up, and massive cargo ships far out in the sea heading south. It was only 40 degrees when I started out but the sun was bright. By the time I headed back north, halfway back, I needed to take off the gloves and unbutton my wool jacket.

It was noon and the cafes were opening up. There were several to choose from, but as it was my last foray I chose the one with the white table cloths and stemware, situated right behind the very nice bronze statue of a woman, sans clothing, sitting looking out at the sea. A little tapas. A glass of wine. A coffee au lait (I have to stop doing that to my poor little body, but they are oh, so good!) I think I sat there for a good hour and a half plus. My nose got a bit sunburnt. I only had my shirt on at this point - I did have other clothing on too, but didn't need the jacket any more - just for clarification. The breeze blew. The boardwalk was lined with benches and chairs and people just sat, for very long periods of time, listening to the surf, soaking up the sun, and just….being.

I thought my vacation up until this point had been more than relaxing, and intriguing, and satisfying. Sitges did something else to me. Almost inexplicable. Listening to the sound of the surf rolling on the shore for four wonderful hours put me in an entirely new zone. Continuing not to have a care in the world, I had reached a state of blissful zen that I am not sure I have ever known, or certainly can’t recall. It sounds a little crazy, and perhaps it was nudged by the thought of all of this coming to a close, but I truly don’t think so. It was simply pure, 100%, in-the-moment, contentment, peace of mind, and gratitude.

And then, of course, came the fantasizing. I could live here…. I want to grow old here…. there is the beach, there is spectacular walking, people were biking everywhere, there were mountains within reach to hike, boutiques and little shops to get anything my heart desires…who do I know that would want to go in on a condo and we could split the time in our older age and rent it out when we weren’t there…I stopped to look at what was for sale and that was when I literally saw the Sitges version of Under The Tuscan Sun Spanish vineyard for sale. For 2+ million euros. Huh. Could I …..what if there were others……..I think perhaps I’ll just go see what is up this next alleyway instead……

I didn’t want to leave. The boardwalk had these marvelous old, tall, gaslight lampposts that I could just imagine lit at night, with the cafes and those tall heaters all-aglow. Wouldn’t that be a sight…….and there is a big nature preserve just up the road that looked amazing and I was so curious to know what it would have been like to hike through there.

What an extraordinary way to close out this vacation. What a gift all of this has been. I am left speechless tonight. Well, sort of. After I upload this blog, I will be…..