Ever since October began, a large, childish smile engraved my lips, while my heart startled and began sensing this acute feeling of immense happiness. Because I was about to go soon and be next to my beloved ocean once more, sleep while listening to its waves breaking on the shore, in a passionate embrace with the smooth sands of Portugal, receive its heavenly kisses concluded in salty drops running all over my body, savour again its morning mist and its mild sunsets, set my mind at ease and finally embrace the now by caressing the Iberian scenery with my most profound and unforgettable gaze. I was about to travel to Baleal again, where my earthly home, the ocean, lies closest. I arrived late in the evening, after a rather long flight. The anxiousness increased ever since I took my place in the airplane, I did all sorts of activities during the trip – I began and finished reading a short novel, listened to music, played some word games on my phone, wrote down some insights, drew some sketches, but my thoughts were so overwhelming, and time was still running slow. I was very excited to set foot again on Portuguese lands! The following morning was dedicated to commencing the surf classes in the camp, so I allotted some hours to a deep, relaxing sleep. When dawn broke, I silently took my outfit on and left the house. My chest was about to explode because of the rich and turbulent emotions struggling inside. I went to the supermarket to get water, and someone said hello since we’ve already met in the previous seasons; I was surprised and shyly beamed back. Coming out, I met another person which I’ve known for a while now, hugged, chatted for a while and then went straight to camp. Passing by the reception, someone wished me a warm “good morning”. Reaching the camp, I met dear staff members, friends, who said hello and told me how happy they were to see me back there. Faced with all these encouragements, I managed to calm down my emotions, fears ran off, so I was finally free to share a long session of hugs, embraces, smiles and kisses with my dear people in the camp whom I was extremely delighted to see again. Of course, I instantly made new acquaintances, new students in the camp, new instructors, who charmed me almost instantly with their good mood and positiveness. It felt really good to be home! Having my wetsuit on and my surfboard with me, I stopped listening to anything from the outer world and focused on my inner one. My surf instructor was talking to the group, and I was looking straight at him, but for some long moments, I was not quite there, paying attention, I was preparing to get in the water mentally. And finally, somehow, I felt my legs impacting the cold water and so I drifted back to reality and started paddling and enjoying my love-making with the ocean. I had a very good time surfing this season, even though it was for just six days. Those were 144 magnificent hours spent in full accordance with my soul’s desire, with my life guiding principles and with my core values. Basically, each day followed a very pleasant routine; surfing classes start early in the morning and last up to midday; this season, lunch break was held on the beach thanks to the wonderful weather hosting October visitors of Baleal; I laid in the sun, allowing this ancient god to turn my skin into dark, mellow chocolate; after surf classes, each day I walked around, desperately trying to fill up my reservoir with glimpses of this magical place. I’ve reached my favourite island in this part of the world several times, “Ilha do Baleal, a mais linda praia da terra portuguesa” and I had this permanent sensation that everything tastes like home. One afternoon, I went to Bar do Quebrado, a local coffee place in Peniche. This small cafeteria is located on shore, facing the ocean, on one side, and a residential neighbourhood featuring chic traditional Portuguese houses on the other. While serving a coconut milkshake and a hot, green tea, I watched the sun succumb as the surroundings were immersed in hues of nomadic violet, brave pink and frank indigo, in the most gratifying nemesis led by The Sky Lord. One phrase stubbornly stayed on my mind, continuously repeating itself over and over again, in an ever-living manner of expression: “I am truly blessed to have lived another day on this Earth.” Having the same drinks, and food, and table, and chairs, and most probably, thoughts and dreams as the locals made me feel at home anew. I must admit that I am a very moody person, I am prone to change from minute to minute in terms of status and mood, but in some aspects, I tend to be very constant, and to adhere to steadfastness like believers to prayer. Such an activity for me is watching the sunset from Supertubes beach, I do it every time I am in Portugal, in Peniche, at least once while I am there. I find it very special and spectacular. One evening, my friend and I went to have dinner at Xakra Beach Bar, in Praia do Molhe Leste, and after enjoying some really basic, but absolutely delicious dishes, we walked on the beach up until Praia dos Supertubos. The sun was already setting, leaving behind a trail of surreal colours, the moon was rising and shining strong, from behind the scattered clouds. Supertubes beach was going to host the MEO RipCurl Pro Portugal surf championship soon, so a lot of preparations were going on at that time. We walked in silence in the semi-dark environs, I collected some sea shells and simply let go of everything burdening me. The memories I created while being on this beach, the sand I grabbed with my hands and drained over my fingers, the sights I have witnessed shaping here, the ocean’s drops in my eyes which turned to tears of happiness, the wind grasping the ocean’s surface and my entire being, the air with its salty essence stuck in my hair and senses, the unforgettable words that were spoken here, the overall unleashed magic which can easily be felt here, they are all part of me now, and they are also my home, my spiritual home in Portugal. I have never expected anything from any place I have traveled to, I let myself surprised every time and I think it is better not to create expectations, and just live the genuine emotion when that happens. You go to places and you indulge in what each place has to offer (which is, usually, a lot), and that is why travelling is our main provider of unconditional happiness.
It was only when I realized Baleal, this tiny paradisiac area of Portugal, is my home, that I experienced catharsis and finally felt relief and found peace. I simply hope I find more homey places around the globe, where I can be with myself with no limits and where I can be blessed to live and enjoy our planet’s beauty.
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