Groundhog Day

[March 2nd, 2008]

… I’m warm… I can feel it… I don’t want to open my eyes yet… I’m feeling good, let’s enjoy it… I’m stretching my legs while I push my head in the pillow… I hear nothing outside… no wind, no rain… that’s right, I’m not in Dublin, I’m in Tivenys… Let’s see what time it is… 9 am… I’m not sleepy anymore.

I silently wake up because Timur and Carlos are still sleeping. I heard Gerard leaving about an hour ago. I go get a shower and then I’ll squeeze the oranges I picked up yesterday on Gerard’s trees. I think I must be the first one up. It’s not just sunny outside, there’s also a fantastic clear blue sky like in Avignon or Marseille. God, what am I doing in Dublin?

10 am. I wanted to go for a walk in the streets of Tivenys but people are waking up now. I’ve seen Madalena already, now Pera and Rut. We start “breakfasting”. The TV is on. It seems to be an habit here. I would turn it off because I found it too noisy and mostly because we all seem to be attracted by it but I doesn’t really bother me either in fact. Takeshi Castle is on. I never heard of it. Apparently I’m the only one. Everyone else seems excited about it. I’m curious now. It’s a Japanese TV show. At first I found it stupid but now that I’m paying more attention it turns out to actually be stupid, in an hilarious way. I can’t stop laughing. Every game is stupider than the previous one. It’s great!

We’re meeting Gerard for lunch but before Pera and Rut are taking us to the water falls. I’m debating whether I should take my sweater. Yes? No? Screw it, it’s Catalunya, it’s going to be T-shirt and nothing else today. Once at the water falls, we take a few pictures and end up laying on the riverside for an hour. Just enjoying the sun. Talking. Trying to avoid the tiny mosquitos that leave huge marks when they bite you. Pera and Rut warned us about it. There isn’t much we can do though but at least we know it exist. It’s just too much a nice day to care anyway. There are great flat little rock on the riverside. They are perfect to do some “ricochets”. Last time I remember doing this I must have been 13. I did this with Morgan and Steven in Charente. 12 years that I haven’t done it! Sh*t. Let’s see if I still know how to bounce rocks on the water. First try: 0 bounce. Directly in the river. Hum… a little bit of practice won’t hurt. Second try: 0 bounce. Sh*t. Third try: 3 bounces. There we go. 5 bounces. 6 bounces. 7 bounces. Who’s your daddy?! ;)

On the way back to the village, Pera takes the very small road that goes in the fruits trees and the fields. It’s amazing. I feel like in these movies that take places in these very small villages in Italy or Spain, where you enjoy living without stress. We arrive at the “Calçotada”. Several tables of about 20 people each are already dressed. All the youngs of the village gathered here. Gerard is by the fire cooking the oignons. We’re heading for the “refreshments” (= beers). It’s 1 pm. The sun is high. I love it. What am I doing in Dublin?

People are handing out bibs. It says a lot about what’s going to happen. Now the food is being brought at the table. Gerard throws a big package of oignons rolled in newspapers in front of me. I open it. There is a lot of food here. Pera shows me how to eat it. Somehow you peel one part, dig the other one in a garlic sauce, put your head back, hold the garlic-sauce-dipped-part above you, open your mouth and eat the oignon. It’s messy and fun. Not so tasty. But messy and fun. More “refreshments” arrive. This time it’s the locally produced wine that we’re drinking. We’re done with the appetizers. It’s time for sausages and beans. And more wine of course. By the way, I think I’m tipsy. It’s so much fun.

Pera is now making me try some local drink. Crema Catalan. It tastes like baby Guinness to me. Not bad. Pretty good actually. Let’s get some more.

After awhile, Gerard and I are going by the river. Madalena’s been taking the sun for about an hour apparently. More people are joining. It’s a pretty place, really. You could stay here all day. You could even swim if the water was less cold. Or you could just swim apparently since Gerard is striping and is ready to jump. He’s in. He says it’s not so cold. My guess: he’s lying big time. Nina’s next. She confirms it’s cold. See? Should I be next or should I be next? Screw it, let’s dive in. Wow, it’s is really cold. I can’t breathe normally. Could I drown if I stay too long? I don’t know but let’s no stay long enough to find out. I’m out. So are Carlos and Madalena who must have been thinking just like me. Ge and Nina are too drunk to notice it’s cold I think. They’re having fun though. What a nice day.

It’s 7pm and we need to be in Sabadell by 9. We’re looking at a 2 hours drive from Tivenys to Sabadell. It’s time to go. Gerard’s parent’s will be waiting for us for dinner.

10pm. We’re in Sabadell. There was some traffic on the road but the drive really didn’t feel long at all. In the Sanz’s appartement it looks like Christmas. There is a huge 12 people square table with loads of plates of food: jamon, tortilla, gambas, Russian salad, cheese, … I’m not sure 12 people is enough to eat all of this but I will be glad to contribute at the effort. The food is delicious. I want to help out but Gerard makes me sit. Men don’t help here. I feel bad about it but I look at it as a “new experience”. The evening finishes after more talking, telling stories and laughing. I’m going to bed. I’m falling asleep… I’m exhausted… I’m feeling good… hopefully tomorrow, I’ll wake up in Tivenys … and I’ll live this day again…