Written by Eva Barnsley.
Cindy and I arrived in Barcelona on a Thursday. Sorcha and her mum, Maeve picked us up and we drove to their Summer house in Cabrils, Spain. I could finally wash my clothes after only being able to attempt to wash my socks and underwear in the kitchen sink in Paris. Sorcha and I swam in the pool, ate cherries and discussed conspiracy theories as to what the "abandoned" military rehab facility on the mountain really was; aliens or the government? Both? Shit. It was so good to be reunited. Our mums drank wine and ate cheese while we hung out by the pool for a few days.
Before I knew it, we were saying goodbye to Sorch and Maeve as we stepped onto the train to Barcelona. The train tracks are right by the beach, it's great for people watching. In Barcelona we almost missed our bus that would take us to France. It left as soon as we got on. I really learnt how to sleep on public transport this trip. We took the bus to a small Spanish town, Huesca, where a family friend, Heidi and her daughter Maisy picked us up and drove us to their 18th century barn home in a French village, Lees-Athas. Being able to drive from country to country is so strange, especially when you come from Australia.
The next morning, we went to a small village market with fresh vegetables. I bought lots of mushrooms, I love to eat them raw with lemon and salt. Then, we hiked in the mountains for a little while and at the house, I journaled about the beauty of the trip (after ironically smashing my phone).
"It is surrounded by beautiful green mountains just over the border of Spain. We hiked for two hours in these mountains, with stunning views and butterflies perched on mountainside flowers, different colored daisies. The trip grows to be more and more beautiful. I am overwhelmed with inexplicable feelings." - 15/07/18, Lees-Athas Diary Entry
One day it rained and I sat inside trying to write and collage. The mountains were telling me to create, but whenever I sat down I was ridden with artistic block and resorted to making a list of things to inspire me, then put my pen down.
Other days, we watched Maisy at her horse riding lessons. In the car on the way there, she would tell us about all of the horses there, and cross her fingers for the horses she liked the most. Her teacher was an old french lady in a green cardigan, who smoked rolled cigarettes while she spoke to her horses.
After her lesson, we took peaches, mushrooms and sandwiches to the stream which was freezing. Maisy filled up cups of water and splashed them on herself, making sure that somebody dared her to do it beforehand. On the way home, we found a sheep that had its horn tangled in a fence. I pulled it out and took a photo as it ran into the mass of its own.
At night, Cindy and I read ourselves to sleep with cups of tea. I read Patti Smith's M Train while in Lees-Athas. The following day, we drove to Spain for a tapas lunch. The food was so good, and, as always, so was the sangria.
"A casual forty-five minute drive to Spain for tapas, Europe is so strange. Through the Pyrenees, we pass old abandoned forts that watch over the villages from mountaintops and hide within the mountains too. A tired afternoon, watching documentaries on the troubled yet beautiful careers of Fleetwood Mac members. I walked barefoot down the village streets in my red gingham dress and yellow paisley bandana to take photos on film of mountains and flowers. No dogs or cats. It is beautiful here, I don't know how many times I can say so. I am in my element." - 18/07/18, Lees-Athas Diary Entry
The next morning we drove to another village for their market. It was lively in a small town sort of way, it reminded me of my town in Australia. There was fresh pastries, fruits and veggies, hand made clothes and jewellery, old bags and belongings. Cindy bought me a pair of handmade earrings, and I found myself a Chicago album, and CSN by Crosby, Stills and Nash. In the afternoon we took another hike, this one more challenging than the last.
That night was the last in Lees-Athas and Heidi, Clark and Maisy were great hosts. Clark drove us to the perfect picnic place. It was so green, and full of horses and cows roaming freely. Some had big bells around their necks that created a symphony as they walked. The horses with foals hung out by a waterfall, water that had just come from the snow at the top of the mountain. It was a fairyland and was the perfect ending to the Lees-Athas trip.
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