I know the city very well, but there are always new places to discover. It’s also a new or different experience to explore those same places, but with new people we’ve met who are also family.
Over the course of fifteen days, I got to know a second cousin, a cousin on my mother’s side whom I’d only ever seen in photos and heard about in conversation, but spending time together is a completely different experience. Just as it’s different to go for a walk and show someone the city where I live and which I adore.
Many of the outings had a specific aim, but then turned into aimless strolls, simply wandering about, exploring here and there, showing places I like and which are important to me in the city.
For various reasons, we haven’t gone on a great many walks, but we have gone on a few. Things you plan don’t always turn out as you expect, and in this case it was for reasons beyond my control. It’s the intention that counts.
After a lovely invitation from my cousin to have lunch, the whole family went to the promenade by La Misericordia beach. It’s a beautiful spot with lots of gardens, various paths, cycle lanes and benches where you can sit for a while, chatting and gazing out at the sea. It’s in places like that that I take a deep breath and really enjoy myself; whenever I’m near the sea, it’s incredible for me, no matter how many times I’ve been there.
It was a lovely, sunny day, but not too hot; the sea breeze was gentle and made for perfect company. There was so much to talk about and share that time flew by as we walked and sat down for a while.
Later, in search of some souvenirs for my cousin to take back to Argentina to give to friends and family, we had a bit of a wander around the historic centre. I forgot to take many photos of the places we walked through, such as the lovely shops where we saw so many beautiful things.
But as we walked, I remembered that the Roman theatre was very close by, so I suggested to my cousin that we go there. He looked happy, although tired from all the walking. We took a few photos there and carried on. The first few days we walked quite a lot, so much so that he ran out of energy. He isn’t used to all this walking.
As we walked quickly along the park path, I wanted him to see the ‘Palm Grove of Surprises’, although you could already tell the sun was setting. Even so, the views were lovely. We sat down again for a while to take in the scenery, watch the people passing by, and marvel at how well-kept and tidy the whole place was.
Before the sun went any lower, I took him to see the ‘giants’, the yachts and cruise ships that arrive in the city all the time. His face lit up; he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. We spent quite a while walking along the promenade at Pier One, near the harbour.
Of course, every walk was accompanied by chats, photos and comments about everything he saw – from the shops, the streets and the people to the weather… absolutely everything. My cousin Luis had never travelled abroad before; he’d always stayed close to Argentina, visiting places like Chile and Brazil. But this was something else entirely. I think he felt the same as I did, when I first arrived, I thought I’d landed on Mars. The difference is staggering.
Flowers always take centre stage, and although it’s autumn, summer is still in full swing here.
The views of Pier One with its boats always fascinate me, and I can’t help but take a photo, especially with those gradients of colour in the sky.
Night had fallen and we were heading back for dinner, but not before taking a photo of the pier’s signage.
And I couldn’t miss out on the town hall at night, which is decked out in beautiful colours all year round.
There were several walks; these are some of the first ones, from the early days. Every walk was different, most of them exhausting, but always with something good about them. It’s important to always focus on the positive.
Thank you very much for joining me on this Wednesday walk; I send you my warmest regards. See you soon. Amonet.
All photographs are my own.
