If you are aware of the kind of traveling I enjoy the most, you might know that sometimes I enjoy joining some kind of volunteering while being abroad as it gives you a complete different approach and perspective of the place, community, culture and lifestyle from where you are.
This time I joined as a camp coordinator a 10-day long Workcamp in Vall de Siarb, Catalunya from September 30th to October 10th on Conservation of Ancient Paths.
At the beginning I wasn’t sure I chose the right project and place for me as it was quite different of anything else I’ve done before.
But once all the volunteers arrived, days started to pass and we dove deeper and learnt and practiced more about the Drywall Stone technique I realized I was in the right place at the right time.
Refugi Vall de Siarb (the place where we stayed for the whole duration of the camp) is a small and cozy refuge run by Marc, who has an awesome project* with the aim of recovering and maintaining a big net of old paths that connect Llagunes (the village where we were) with some other villages around.
The work we did there, mainly consisted in rebuilding some parts of drystone walls that had fallen in the past. This process is a long one and which took us most of the time and days of the camp to complete; one has to take it almost as meditation where rush, frustration nor speed will help but rather patience, awareness and concentration. It’s important to make sure each rock/stone used is put in the right position, stabilized with the ones around, that there are no gaps in between and by that make sure this good job done now will endure over the years. Some other work we did was to widen paths, spread soil, find old pathways and clean & clear them from unwanted bushes, stones and branches.
I want to thank Marc from Refugi Vall de Siarb, Gemma and some locals as well as to the people from SCI Catalunya for giving me the opportunity to coordinate such a wonderful camp.
* If you are interested in getting to know a bit more about the project that Marc is running in Vall de Siarb about the recovery of ancient paths I encourage you to contact them. There’s a lot of work that has been done during the past four years up to now and that still needs to be done; become a part of it!
Down below you can see some of the photos I took during the camp.
descobreixcatalunya
SUMMER VIBES II: USING THE FUJIFILM X100F IN LA COSTA BRAVA
Few weeks ago I got a new camera (secondhand tho because I like giving live to otherwise forgotten items). The camera I got is the one and only Fujifilm X100F; compact APS-C sensor camera with a non-interchangeable 23mm f/2.0 lens (that equals more or less a 35mm) perfect mostly for street and travel photography hence why I ended up choosing it.
Yesterday July 20th we went out with some friends to La Costa Brava. This time we went to S’Agaró and Calonge. The photos that you can see down below were exclusively taken during the walk at S’Agaró Camí de Ronda.
I am still trying to get used to its focal length mainly because I’ve been using a 35mm (on an APS-C which equals more or less a 50mm) for the last three years or so and it’s still a challenge for me to get to think on the new focal length. Anyways, no more talking for today and hope you enjoy the photos.
SUMMER VIBES: A MORNING IN LA COSTA BRAVA
‘After a storm comes a rainbow’
The few last weekends weren’t what were supposed to be.
If you’ve ever been to Barcelona (and even lived here) you will know that when the warm weather comes in, everyone is out in a terrace having ‘tapas’ and beers (or Sangría) and laying down in a beach by the sun. But this time, May has been pretty grey and cold and has taken some weeks to get to that beloved point; but finally, last weekend was THE weekend.
We didn’t thought it twice. Hop on the car and Saturday Sun Roadtrip Time it was. Hit the road to Costa Brava and there was no turning back.
Despite forgetting the swimsuits at home because our first plan was to go for a walk on the Camí de Ronda -recommended lovely hiking path that goes by the shore- and not touching the water even once, we had a blast of a day. Our destination of choice was Blanes and its Marimurtra Botanic Garden with a Fideuà for lunch at the only restaurant in front the Cala de Sant Francesc.
Song of the day was Al Mar by Manel
