Walk on By

“I’m just sitting here watching the wheels go

round and round",

didn’t John Lennon sing these lyrics? 

One evening sitting at Central Bar Cafe Sitges… I look around and see the elderly strolling, taking in the sweet air coming in from the sea, the families, the lovers, the occasional DRAG Queen on her way to work; the musician seeking attention despite the music already filling the atmosphere in competition with his talent, or a duo of mossos wearing their berets stylishly with a 45º tilt across their foreheads (how else is a beret worn?) ensures that all is well in our world.

The whole world sometimes passes through la Placa d’Indusrìa. People-watching in other parts of Sitges is fairly straight forward. However, in la Placa d’Indusrìa you’ll see a variety of humanity. People from the four corners of the Earth walking, kissing, laughing, playing. Men and women, and all who live in between. The gender-benders - and I mean that sincerely. As they say, all the colours of the rainbow - and it’s beautiful to see.

On this splendid occasion, I couldn’t help but wonder... What exactly do tourists see? Something queer and wonderful or simply something strange?

The visiting beachcombers unashamedly walking up arguably the busiest street in town barefoot and half-naked (what are they thinking?) as we gaze at them in disbelief. Of course, not a word, in any language, is said for that matter, not that we can hear.

If you’re in people-watch mode early enough in the mornings you’ll see store owners, deliveries being made, and housewives in house dresses or aprons mopping their portion of the sidewalk, obviously spaces considered to be public extensions of their homes. I know the scene all too well, for it brings back memories of another place and time in my childhood in Antigua, but I digress...

In Sitges during anytime of the year, especially in summer, you’ll live a wide range of sights and little surprises. You see, you aren’t really just an observer. What you haven’t noticed is that you were being seen too, and from time-to-time even observed.

The GSL-Visión Magazine no. 5 Editorial – The Pride Issue

The GSL-Visión Magazine no. 5
Editorial – The Pride Issue

Happy Pride!

A salutation I was greeted with, time and time again, as I walked through the streets during New York’s 2017 Gay Pride celebrations and researched this years' issue of the Visión magazine. I couldn't help but ponder the relevance of the festivities, and needless to say, I was inspired!

Sitges Gay Pride has become a considerable economic driver for the local economy, in addition to being a celebration; but its significance is very different from our Carnaval held in February and also very important for the LGBT+ community.

It’s about being Out and Proud of all that you are—being publically visible and most of all being yourself—unapologetically. Having Gay Pride is especially necessary if the society in which you live is conservative and unaccepting of different lifestyles.

When was the last time you actually felt proud to be part of a truly, accepting and resilient community?

Enjoy the Pride issue and again,

Happy Pride!

¡Feliz Orgullo!

De esta manera me saludaron una y otra vez mientras caminaba por las calles de Nueva York durante las celebraciones del Orgullo Gay en 2017, mientras investigaba para la edición de Visión Magazine de este año. No pude evitar pensar en la relevancia de estas festividades y, ni que decir tiene, ¡estaba inspirado!

Además de ser una celebración, el Sitges Gay Pride se ha convertido en un motor considerable para la economía local. Pero su significado es muy diferente al de nuestro Carnaval, que celebramos en febrero y que también es muy importante para la comunidad LGBT+.

Se trata de mostrarse y sentirse orgulloso de todo lo que eres: ser públicamente visible y, sobre todo, ser tú mismo sin disculparte por serlo. Celebrar el Orgullo Gay es especialmente necesario si la sociedad en la que vives es conservadora y no acepta estilos de vida diferentes.

¿Cuándo fue la última vez que realmente te sentiste orgulloso de formar parte de una comunidad verdaderamente receptiva y afectuosa?

Disfruta del Pride y nuevamente,

¡Feliz Orgullo!

May Post Under Development

Under Development.....

No, Not in Sitges

Mr Rashon Nelson (L) and Mr Donte Robinson (r)

No, Not in Sitges...

On April 12 two African-Americans, Mr. Nelson and Mr. Robinson were sitting in a Starbucks coffee cafe in Philadelphia. They were waiting to conduct a business meeting with another man, Andrew Yaffe (who is white), who had not yet arrived.

They asked to use the restroom before they had made any purchases, and an employee said, "no."

I am unsure whether or not they told the employee that they were waiting for a business associate, but eventually, they were asked to leave, and when they did not, an employee called the police.

The men were arrested on suspicion of trespassing as Mr. Yaffe arrived for the meeting, and were released later that day.

 [Here I'll say, whilst I enjoy Starbuck's abroad, I am aware of some of their more questionable business practices - how predatory they can be to keep competitors out of a geographic location - and hope the company is never allowed to open an outlet in Sitges as long as these practices persist]

Captured on video, the peaceful arrest was uploaded on social media and has been viewed millions of times. 

I was proud of how the young gentlemen carried themselves with dignity from the beginning till today; and I was extremely relieved the altercation did not end in gunfire... 

I can’t fathom such a thing happening in Sitges. And although when I moved here years ago incidents like this didn’t make headlines, or go viral as they do today, we know injustices did occur in the US, and in other places around the world.

However, when I moved here it was a consideration. I had been living in London for years and never really experienced anything like this. But as I planned to relocate, it was important for me to choose a place where I felt I would not be treated adversely due to the colour of my skin. 

Now I don’t pretend to know what goes through the minds of the many people I come in contact with every day in Sitges, but I can say that I have NEVER felt put upon or discriminated against here; although I recall an occasion one Carnaval. Float, after float as I enjoyed the festivities of a procession, I turned my head to see the next float of dancers in Afro wigs, black face and brightly painted oversized red lips. Needless to say, I was shocked and horrified that this could occur in my beloved Sitges. I went home gravely hurt, offended and stunned.

Years later, in a favourite bar of mine, I sat enjoying a beautiful copa de vino tinto with my SQ Assistant Editor and we looked at the wall emblazoned with a new mural only to find the same imagery staring back at us - a black figure with the same Afro and brightly painted oversized red lips. 

Look at the mural inside, through the glass

Instantly we called the manager over to lodge a complaint, after which I calmly asked, do I look like this to you? Ashamedly, he professed that he didn’t see the resemblance and looked at us like a deer caught in headlights. 

At least this time I was able to affect change and educate someone in an appropriate lesson of political correctness. We explained how offensive it was and that it was unacceptable to perpetuate such an archaic and negative stereotype; after all, this is the 21st century.

Needless to say, on our very next visit, he hurried to our table to show us that he had the artist alter the image to depict a more, “normal”, dare I say, acceptable cartoon character in keeping with the mural.

“Thank you” Hollywood - and all the bigoted stereotypes you’ve exported the world over, branding the brain of millions. 

I live in hope that I’ll never experience such an egregious arrest anywhere nor see such imagery again here, whether in terms of graffiti nor on establishment walls - no, not here in Sitges.

Scribe Note: Update - An agreement has subsequently been reached with the men. It includes a confidential financial settlement and an offer for both Mr Nelson and Mr Robinson to complete their university degrees through the Starbucks College Achievement Plan, which pays tuition fees for Starbucks staff.

Never Far From Home

Never Far From Home

Under development...
Will post shortly SS

Back to the Future: The Hotel Terramar

Under construction….

I remember the first time I walked into the lobby of the Hotel Terramar. I was transported back through time to the mid-twentieth century. It was amazing to see such a well-executed “retro” interior, authentic down to the tiles. But as I sat and took it all in, I realized the interior was created at that time and never renovated up until 2016! At the time there were 209 rooms.

Over the years I’ve eaten in the restaurants and I’ve met with friends and shared many-a-café con leche. L'Arrosseria del Terramar specialized in rice dishes, while the Restaurante Yuca offered Mediterranean cuisine.

Opened in 1933, 

Shortly after the outbreak of the civil war, the Hotel Terramar Palace was requisitioned in August 1936 and converted into a blood hospital (l'Hospital de Sang de Terramar) to accommodate the wounded.

Sitges, in the World's View

Sitges, in the World's View

As I sat wondering what to write about for this months’ post, I thought of some of the things I covered this year—the GSMA Mobile World Congress n Barcelona and its impact on Sitges, I continued my Sitges Tales series where we talked about social media and voluntary ignorance in regard to the workplace, my GSL-Visión Magazine 2017 editorial, our own singer Ramon Mirabet and his rising career; and of course, the referendum in Catalunya and its repercussions, sending visceral shockwaves around Spain, Europe and indeed around the world. 

So this month, I decided to keep it simple and light, with holiday cheer to end the year.

The View is a top-rated talk show on Disney’s television network, ABC. It is what American’s call a chatshow featuring Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sara Haines, Sunny Hostin and Meghan McCain discussing the most newsworthy events of the day. Up until this August 2017, it was reported the latest season of the series averaged 2.816 million total viewers per episode.

On a trip to San Francisco, as I read the days’ newspapers and had my cup of coffee, a special holiday episode of the show was on my TV. While reading the headlines, I heard “Sitges” and looked at the television screen to find, as a gift prize or giveaway during one of their lighter segments, one of their viewers (Laila) won a holiday provided by the 5-star Dolce Sitges Hotel.

It truly presents Sitges as a desirable place to visit….

It was a pleasant surprise! The presenters quickly raved about the holiday and how wonderful Sitges is… and continued to report how this hotel offers 263 beautifully designed guest rooms and suites—the finest of accommodations. And by checking the website I found that the Wyndham Hotel group boasts “all the flavours and aromas of Sitges are captured in distinctive restaurants and bars, where culinary masterpieces nourish the appetite, as well as the spirit.”

The promotion by the hotel, probably independent of the local town hall or Ayuntamiento also shows how far-reaching the Sitges brand can be,

in terms of tourism.

Scribe Note: The City’s Tourism Budget has increased in the last two years by 44%, from almost €350,000 in 2016 to half a million euros that will be budgeted by the Department of Tourism next year. Not counting the renovation project of the Can Milà farmhouse, amounting to €440,000 more, it is planned to be converted into a reception centre for visitors and tourist promotion, which will place us at a budget for tourism at almost €1 million.

The Hotel main entrance

The Dolce Sitges Hotel in Can Girona, Sitges

Dolce Sitges

Av. Camí de Miralpeix, 12

08870Sitges

España

Tel: +34 938 10 90 00

www.dolcesitges.com