Sitges Tales 1: An Evening Conversation

It was on the walk back home to Poble Sec when I realized it was the end of the holiday weekend of St. Joan Bautista with the smell of fireworks filling the air. No more arsenals of noise pollution until the small hours of the night. Single people and families, very curiously, with children under the age of ten still strolling about as the night truly began. We had an interesting evening where our brains worked overtime contemplating a myriad of life quandaries and potential solutions; politics, societal norms, different cultural backgrounds and the element that bound us – Sitges.

Strange how we’ve found each other and more to the point, how we’ve found a commonality. The one called humanity. You see, we are not only of different cultural backgrounds, but of different generations and races. A genuine affection lives between us and we get together about once a week to discuss life and the mysteries of the universe...our gatherings are usually impromptu, which probably makes them all the more enjoyable, as we thoroughly enjoy each others company.

This warm evening started with our meeting at the playa San Sebastian sea wall and how the summer weather and its mosquitoes had eaten Juan Carlos (SQ columnist) alive the previous night. I noticed her (Gloria Gannaway, SQ assitant editor) “Obama 2008” button pinned on her blouse, and we were off! At the time, Obama had recently won the Democratic Party’s nomination to run for president of the United States this November. Historic, yes; for he is the first African-American man to advance and be as successful in a presidential race. Inevitably, President Bush and his administration came to the forefront of the conversation and how, hopefully he and Vice-President Cheney will be held accountable for the terrible state of the world; with war still raging in Iraq and the ever rising price of petrol spiraling out of control. The rippling effect on everything everywhere was astounding. All of a sudden the price of flour, in the West Indies increased exponentially and the downsizing of airlines in America was happening all over again, so soon after the 9/11 series of U.S. airline bankruptcies that followed and added to the western devastation. I digress, but this is exactly what happens when we get together. One thing leads to the next and before you know it, we have to rap things up and get home and call it “a night”.

Walking along the Carrer Major, we negotiated the narrow street and made our way to the seafront to walk along the paseo. The sand sculptures beckoning a lasting gaze as we passed familiar faces, found in a small place, all on our way for the obligatory glass of wine and pica-picar before our late Spanish meal...The focus here was our projects and motivation to devote time and effort to their cause, and generally our current frame of mind. While verbally being encouraging and supportive of each and of our said endeavours, I thought, hopefully one day we’ll look back on this time affectionately and realize, although living meagerly, how fortunate we were to live in such a place, at such a time. Most people, I’m sure, pass the time in the moment, never imagining that this moment will never be given to us again under exactly the same circumstances. Never relishing the richness of Sitgetan life of: extranjero (foreigner), Catalan and Español. Ever mingling to produce the delectable flavours of its blend and how it permeates all that is here.  

"Blanca Subur" by Ramón Moscardó

I get it. It is what has drawn me here. It is what keeps me here. Conversations such as these inspire appreciation for relocating to this, something special by the sea. A certain stability makes me feel that all will be fine as I change my focus for my life. A change in my profession at my “stage of the game” taking me out of my comfort zone. An underlying unease or stress has lived in me for the past few weeks. Just keeping my head above ground makes for a particular way of being. I can’t quite put my finger on it just yet, but hope by speaking with Gloria and JC, it might give me a different and new perspective.

JC trying to figure ways in which to establish himself as a respected psychologist here in Sitges dominates his direction, while Gloria refuses to follow the western ideology that a woman her age should retire or stay “at home” (with all that entails). I spoke of a documentary I recently viewed where the featured artist declared, “retirement is a waste of life”. My conversationalists added, “I agree”, “Why should we?” and “I don’t want to” and it seems, we never will…

Note: Ramon Moscardó does friendly paintings with a strong regional flavour of traditional exteriors, cafés and bars in Barcelona, Cadaqués and so on. Nostalgia is often found in these spaces and in their still lives.

Since 1990, he has been living in Cadaqués, although he never stops travelling in search of new impressions to transform them into sensations through his brushstrokes. Original graphic work has also been part of his creation for many years. He periodically exhibits in Barcelona and Sant Cugat.