Entre dos años

He tenido unas vacaciones fenomenales… Unas Navidades en familia, con los seres queridos todos unidos. Bansko, Sofia y Salónica han sido mis destinos para despedir el año pasado y empezar el nuevo.  El 2017 fue algo intenso y aunque mi vida aparentemente no ha cambiado mucho, siempre hay cosas sobre cuales me gustaría reflexionar….

Nueva etapa en 2017

Descubrí el África profunda… Aquella parte del continente con belleza impresionante y contrastes que apuñalan directamente al corazón. Descifré el significado de la frase de un gran amigo – “es un infierno disfrazado de paraíso y viceversa”.  Palpé la realidad de la calle y descubrí que mis problemas cotidianos no son nada, porque hay sitios en la tierra donde el único problema es comer tres veces al día. Donde los ricos son los que tienen electricidad, agua corriente, sanidad aceptable y educación secundaria.  Que puedes tener un móvil y no tener colchón en tu cama. O que cojas el avión a Paris por un simple dolor de muela. Y que, en aquel mundo tan dispar, la piedad casi no existe…. En fin, llegamos a aquella conclusión que las únicas cosas que nos igualan todos los humanos son el amor y la muerte.  Muy griego clásico, ¿verdad?

Transición 2018 - Grecia

Aunque la tragedia clásica no fue el motivo de nuestro viaje a Salónica, volví sin contar los años entre dos visitas. Resulta que son diez. Han pasado tan deprisa, y me pregunto si la falta de piedad del tiempo es lo que más nos hierre con los años.  La presencia de las batallas perdidas y el cansancio después de las ganadas. Y aquel Mediterráneo impasible en su majestuosa eternidad…

Bansko

We all have a place that has marked our lives. As I have repeated many times: for me it is Geneva. Another one is Bansko.  I still remember the small town, with ancient houses and special people that still speak a dialect you’d need translation from.  Two decades ago, there was ONE decent hotel and the rest were guest houses and small B&B. Later, the big ski business and… construction invaded this beautiful site and turned it into a famous European resort, full of eating and drinking tourists!!!

However, each time I go back to my favorite Kempinski (me and my sister have left so much money there, that we could've bougth some shares with), I find a story, an image, a moment to keep for myself:

Christmas in the same traditional tavern, with patriotic songs, Gipsy Orchestra and finally, the owner (a nice chap, I must say) taking us back to the hotel,  at 1 a.m.: a kind gesture, provided we had drunk three bottles of his best wine, from his proper vineyard.  Me and my sister trying to be reciprocal (verbally), but the result was, obviously, pathetic. 

 Species of extinction, the Bansko Grannies.

They were sitting under the winter sunshine, in front of a GSM shop on the Main street. I approached them with the request for a photo. The younger one looked at me annoyed and replied – “Go somewhere else!”, but the older,  the one with the Armani glasses, cut her: “Don’t be so picky! Look how nice the girl is!” and she posed as a real star… Extremely happy with the “girl” word, I made the best photo I could. May both ladies, as ladies they are, remain healthy and happy as long as possible. My wishes derive from the unwelcome sadness of that moment, when I had the vision of the next generation of Bansko grannies, driving their Hammers and wearing Moncler jackets and Moon-boots.

Franco Café

For years we have been passing by the Main street in Bansko, drinking coffee at “Franco” and leaving the place without any trace. Suddenly, my Spanish mother in law, while walking down the street, looked at the name and exclaimed: “Look someone has named his place on Franco!”. Of course, she was thinking about the late Spanish dictator... And, of course, we discovered not to be the case, but that small remark gave us the chance to hear the amazing love-story of the owners, while enjoying a cup of the special hot chocolate and observing their three years old daughter sleeping in the corner.