I made a new friend recently. I don't know him, I have never met him, but I feel very very close to him. His name is Unai and he's from Spain. He has a cool blog that you can read by checking the comments on the previous entry and clicking on Unai's profile.
Why I feel such an empathy with him I don't really know, but I'm sure that it has loads to do with the fact that he did what I've always wanted to do: burn some bridges down behind myself and go to Sheffield, my home away from home. To know to be sharing such a love for such a place with another mainland European climber is a great feeling, I feel less lonely. I only have a little envy.
The other reason for this new friendship is that the man comes from Spain. Well, I think from the Basque region, judging by his second name, but Spain nonetheless. And I happen to love Spain, even if I am a bloody Andaluz. I spent one university year in Granada back in 1995, and I love every memory I have of that stay.
I can still remember the first time I managed to get to Los Cahorros crag, a place where the grading is a bit... stiff, to say the least. Let's say french 7b for 8a's. I can remember the first hours in Granada feeling lost, and the first time I got drunk (more or less 20 hours after my arrival). I still have the bandana that that girl gave me that night. I still have the keys of my house. I can still feel as proud as when a guy at a party asked me "Estàs en un gimnasio?" and when I answered "Si" he said "Se ve!".
I can still picture the roads moving around me while I was getting back home at 10 30 in the morning full of alcohol, hashish and kebab. I will forver keep with me the feeling I experienced when that french girl suddenly took my hand in the club one night: it's something like being immortal.
Well, this is Spain for me, Unai, a country full of contradictions, in which I experienced alot of highs and alot of lows, but that forced me to grow stronger, to look inside me, to understand myself and others deeper.
The most important thing I learnt from my Spanish stay is still true now: I want to climb.
So this last red wine is for you, Unai, and for Spain.
Vamonos de marcha.
Why I feel such an empathy with him I don't really know, but I'm sure that it has loads to do with the fact that he did what I've always wanted to do: burn some bridges down behind myself and go to Sheffield, my home away from home. To know to be sharing such a love for such a place with another mainland European climber is a great feeling, I feel less lonely. I only have a little envy.
The other reason for this new friendship is that the man comes from Spain. Well, I think from the Basque region, judging by his second name, but Spain nonetheless. And I happen to love Spain, even if I am a bloody Andaluz. I spent one university year in Granada back in 1995, and I love every memory I have of that stay.
I can still remember the first time I managed to get to Los Cahorros crag, a place where the grading is a bit... stiff, to say the least. Let's say french 7b for 8a's. I can remember the first hours in Granada feeling lost, and the first time I got drunk (more or less 20 hours after my arrival). I still have the bandana that that girl gave me that night. I still have the keys of my house. I can still feel as proud as when a guy at a party asked me "Estàs en un gimnasio?" and when I answered "Si" he said "Se ve!".
I can still picture the roads moving around me while I was getting back home at 10 30 in the morning full of alcohol, hashish and kebab. I will forver keep with me the feeling I experienced when that french girl suddenly took my hand in the club one night: it's something like being immortal.
Well, this is Spain for me, Unai, a country full of contradictions, in which I experienced alot of highs and alot of lows, but that forced me to grow stronger, to look inside me, to understand myself and others deeper.
The most important thing I learnt from my Spanish stay is still true now: I want to climb.
So this last red wine is for you, Unai, and for Spain.
Vamonos de marcha.
4 comments:
Hi Lorenzo. Thank you so much for your kind words. Today I have the very most important exam of my life, so reading your positive vibrations will help me, for sure.
Why do you love Sheffield? I went for the rock and there I realize that the point about Sheffield are the people, the ultramotivational environment.
Maybe in the future we should go to Sheffield and do some climbing there. Is not that far, isn´t it?
Lorenzo, thanks for your post, I´ll link it, all the best with training, and train really hard man, because Malc is doing it, and I´m trying it!
Your friend.
Unai.
hey unai!!!
i hope your exam went well!!! i love sheffield because it's the realm of power. there are loads of humble, superstrong climbers, and the vibes are extraordinary.
i've climbed in many places, but nowhere else i've found the athmosphere that there is in shef!
one trip together is a must do!
ps what the exam about?
Hi Lorenzo. I´m Primary English Teacher and if you want to work in a State School you ahve to pass an exam called "oposición". It consist on three different exams. Today was the most difficult one and went very well. As I tell you before I recive your good vibes and that made the difference ;-)
Going back to Sheffield it is always in mind for this reasos that you explain so, for me will be great go back to the Grit!!
Do you have anything in mind?
How do you manage to keep yourself motivated during the summer season? Do you climb rutes or just PURE POWER!?
hey!!! i'm glad you did well!!! i'm very happy if i could somehow push you!!!
in the last 7-8 years i've just bouldered, but in the last month i tied again into top ropes, but only because it's boiling here and i have no time to go bouldering. this helps keeping the motivation, but soon i'll be starting doing weights and fingerboarding!
i hope to be able to take some time off in autumn to try and score a couple of weeks up north!!!
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