Let me start by introducing you to the Niña Luisita, my home for the next three weeks.
She’s 20 meters long, two masts, and built in 1932, with her given name, Pofi. She’s moored in the Barcelona harbor — I will not be sailing her at all. For perhaps her best feature, she retains all the original woodwork from nearly 100 years ago.
How did I end up staying on a sailboat? Well, it came about quite magically.
And some will scoff at calling it magic, but it’s just easier to say than: when I arrived in Barcelona at the end of our class study trip to Catalonia in March, where I first met Anna and we set up my internship with el Peix al Plat, and Anna invited our group to the Barcelona Slow Food Earth Market, where she introduced me to several Slow Food people, including Cecilia, who runs a business called Tea on Board, and who immediately invited Anna and I to join her for tea on her boat the next day, and we had a fabulous time and Cecilia and I became friends, and then I worked out to flat- and cat-sit until September but still needed to find a place for my last three weeks in Barcelona, and Anna mentioned that to Cecilia, who immediately suggested I could stay on her other sailboat, the Niña Luisita.
So, we’ll save time and call it magic.
By the way, if you’re looking for a really great and unique experience in Barcelona, check out Tea on Board, and Cecilia can set you up with an amazing spread of local foods and special tea and beautiful stories and conversation.
This means, unfortunately, I’ll be soon leaving the Cat Flat, officially next Wednesday when the Cat Mom returns from holiday. I’ll say farewell to my buddies Luna and Carlotta, who have been extremely helpful in keeping me from working by demanding attention or conveniently weighing down whatever I might try to read or write.
Without question the goodbye will be extremely difficult (for me, anyway), although I am hopeful I will see them again.
But back to the Niña Luisita. It is big-ish as far as sailboats go, but it’s small as a living space, especially as I move from a three-bedroom flat in Old Town Barcelona (and even compared to my small flat in Bra).
I have a small bunk, a tiny galley (a.k.a. kitchen on a boat), and a reasonable sitting/dining area.
And a good amount of space on the deck.
I’m viewing this kind of like fancy camping, because I’ll be showering a short walk down the dock at the Reial Club Marítim de Barcelona. They have a gym, pool, restaurant, and library that will all come in handy.
The sailboat is only about 1.5 kilometers from the Cat Flat, so it won’t be difficult to move — but it will take several trips, as I have a lot, which means I have a lot to sort through once I get settled on the Nina.
Because, then many things will be happening.
For the next three weeks I continue to work for Anna and el Peix al Plat, and we have much to do, including three showcooking events — you can now find these and other el Peix al Plat events on Eventbrite. And we have many more short- and long-term projects.
On 23 September I fly back to St. Louis, but only temporarily. I’ll spend that first weekend in Sacramento at Terra Madre Americas, and if you have a chance you should go, because it will be a fabulous event, and I’ll be sharing some of my experiences at UNISG in the Master of New Food Thinking program. (At some point later this year I’ll also share my experiences in St. Louis, and elsewhere, to be sure.)
Then back to St. Louis, and prepping for the Best of Missouri Market 3-5 October at the Missouri Botanical Garden, where Kakao will return for our…I lose track, but I think we first attended in 2009 or 2010?
On 7 October I head back to Torino/Bra/Pollenzo for graduation, and to gather again with my Sisters before we all head to different parts of the globe. Then, via Milano, I travel to Kalamata, Greece for the Tomorrow Tastes Mediterranean conference. This has been on my radar for a few years, and I’m excited to attend, and also for my first visit to Greece (and for another reason having to do with an internship idea that didn’t work out, but that was for the best).
On 15 October I fly back to Barcelona, where I will be for a few days. I’ll gather up another load of things to bring back to the US, and also pack away some things to store for when I return to Europe (hint, hint).
On 22 October I fly back to St. Louis, the conclusion of this magical sabbatical year.
And there is so much more I need to tell you…
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Wowsers.....
That boat looks absolutely fabulous ~ enjoy your stay aboard! Your kitty friends are beautiful. Such interesting adventures. Hope to see you during your brief return to StL.