Temps de Flors

This week I’m back bringing some very bad news. On Thursday the 5th of May I received a Whatsapp message from my mum telling me that my granny was dying and that I had to come home for a week. I panicked and went back to my host family’s house, telling them the news. I then went to the school to ask permission to go home and then return a week later. I have just over a month until I finish up here, so as you can imagine it wasn’t the best time to come home. However this was family and it was important.

On Friday morning I woke up early and soon was in the car with Ines and Alex heading to Barcelona Airport. The traffic was horrendous and I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to make it for my flight. Not to worry though as the traffic was soon over and the airport was in sight. Ines dropped me off just outside Terminal 1. After a swift goodbye I pulled my case along to the check in desk and dropped it off. It then slid along the conveyer belt where I would not see it again until I got to Aberdeen.

With a sigh of relief I made it through the awkward security line. When I finally got a seat I heard my phone buzzing and swiftly answered it. It was my mum on the other line breaking the news that my granny had died just before midnight on Thursday. My heart sank. I tried so hard to come home and see her one last time. It was too late. I choked up and tried my hardest to hold back the tears in a busy airport. Managing to withhold my emotions I bought some food and a drink of water for the plane. Soon it was time to board and as fast as you can say KLM (other airlines are available) I was on my first flight of the day.

When I arrived at Amsterdam Schiphol, my phone was flooded with condolences. It took time to process than when I got home I would never be able to talk to or see my granny again. Not in this lifetime anyway.

A few hours passed and then it was time to board for Aberdeen. I felt very happy as I heard familiar Scottish accents all around me. It’s very frightening being in a place where languages and accents are unfamiliar, as I’m sure people who have moved abroad are aware. An hour later and I touched down in Aberdeen, where I was greeted by my friend Reuben who works near the airport. My mum then came to collect me and we had a coffee, where she explained what had happened with granny.

It was a long week, as the funeral was not until the following Thursday (12th). I spent time with my dad’s brother, his wife and my five year old cousin Ellie. My grandad spent a few nights at our house until he was ready to adapt to living alone. The funeral service was lovely, it was handled with the utmost care and compassion. I then had to help bury my granny (it was the first time my sister and I had done this). I managed to do it, but it’s not something I would do again in a hurry. I’m still going through a grieving process, as it will take a while, but I’m comforted by the fact that I’ll see my granny again someday. Not in this life, but in the next.

I returned to Barcelona on Saturday and took the train to Sils, where Ines met me at the station. After having a meal at Bonmati, I was full and went to bed straight after as I had spent fifteen hours travelling on trains, planes and cars.

I had arrived just in time to see the last day of the Temps de Flors. The flower festival takes place every year at the beginning of May. The city of Girona is decorated with decadent flower displays and tourists from all over Spain and the world come to visit it. Ines and I visited the festival and it was packed! The narrow streets were full of people. However it was worth it and it was a reminder that even in times of sorrow and grieving you can see the beauty that life has to offer.

As usual I have attached photos with this blog. I hope you enjoy looking at these photos as I did taking them.

Until next time,

Rachel xx

Parent's visit to Catalonia, Spain

Sorry I haven’t updated for a while, life has got in the way and I’ve also been lazy! I thought I would tell you a little bit about my parents visit to Spain!

On the first week of April my mum sent me a Whatsapp message saying that they were thinking of visiting me the following week. I got very excited and told my host family that my parents were coming to visit. My host family kindly offered to let my parents stay with them. I told my parents and it was settled.

They arrived on Thursday 14^th  in the afternoon. Ines, Alex, Julia and I were in the car coming back from school and when we arrived at the house, my parents were there trying to park the car. Ines parked the car and I ran out and hugged my parents.  My parents had rented a car and because it was almost my dad’s birthday, they gave him a free upgrade to a Fiat 500 which had a sunroof. They were introduced to the other members of the family. Then we had lunch altogether.  After lunch Julia and Alex returned to school and my parents stood drinking their coffee on the veranda.  They enjoyed the spectacular views from the house and also from the terrace on the very top of the house.

After lunch, Mum and Dad slept as they had been up all night travelling to get here. Once Dad woke up we went for a walk around Anglès. Later Mum woke up and all the family had dinner together.

The next morning I had to go on a school trip to Manresa, where there was a gathering of FEDAC schools. FEDAC is the semi private schools in Catalonia and I work at the one in Anglès. It was a lovely hot day and my parents enjoyed exploring Girona, they said it was a very beautiful city.

The next day we drove to Sils and took the train to Barcelona. It was a very hot day so we looked like typical tourists in our shorts and t-shirts. An hour later and we arrived in Barcelona. Mum was feeling a bit tired so we took her for a coffee and then she soon perked up. After we had coffee we walked to Sagrada Familia and admired its beauty. The queues for the tour bus were huge at the Sagrada Familia, so instead we walked to a less busy neighbourhood and got on the bus there. It took us all around the sights of Barcelona while providing commentary about these different sights. Once we got off the tour bus we went for a light afternoon snack, before continuing to go on the bus again. The weather was great and I got slightly burned on my shoulder. We then went for dinner and had a delicious meal, before catching the last train back to Sils.

On Sunday, my parents wanted to take Ines and her husband out for a meal. Ines’ husband preferred to stay at home so Julia went with her grandmother instead. Ines drove us out to Lloret and Tossa de Mar. Next to Lloret de Mar is a beautiful place called Cala Banys and it reminds me of the Greek islands in the Mamma Mia film. It certainly was a magnificent sight to behold. After visiting this we went into Lloret and had lunch outside. It was a lovely treat for Ines and Julia. Then Ines drove us out to Tossa de Mar, which is an attractive seaside town with a stunning castle. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and returned home to change quickly and go to Calmariner, the local café where we all had tapas. We all had a good laugh and after Marta and Julia left, my parents and Marta’s husband Alejandro spoke to each other and told funny stories. It was soon time to go home and Dad drove us all back to the house. We had the sunroof down, as it was Spain, even at night the temperature wasn’t freezing. When my dad tried to drive uphill to the house the car started groaning. He soon realised that he was in the wrong gear! When he quickly changed to first gear, the smell of burning rubber hit our nostrils. Everyone laughed so much, but we couldn’t believe how fun that car ride was! It was another great day.

Monday was the last day before my parents returned home, so we aimed to make the most of it as much as possible. We drove to Espai Girones shopping centre in Salt where we purchased a few things and after that drove to Banyoles, where we had lunch at a restaurant overlooking the stunning mountains and lakes. When we had finished taking pictures we returned to the car and decided to take one last visit to Girona. There we had an ice cream. Mine was Ferrero Rocher and dark chocolate, which was really delicious! It was then time to return to Anglès where we had a delicious paella supper. The last night was really enjoyable, but there was a pang of sadness because I knew my parents would be leaving in the morning. I really enjoyed having my parents over to stay and meet the host family. I was sad when they left, but I knew it wouldn’t be long until I saw them again.

Enjoy the photos posted below. 

Until next time,

Rachel xxx