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TRAVEL BLOG ENTRY
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“How often do you get to go to a film festival?” |
This week is bussssssssssyyyy.
But first:
Last weekend 6 of us hopped on a train to Sitges, a little beachtown about 30 minutes south of Barcelona. We went on Friday, October 12, a national holiday in Spain celebrating Christopher Columbus discovering America. However, in Catalunya, the people more or less take the day off as a holiday - but not in celebration. More along the lines protest, since Catalunya more or less does not consider itself a part of Spain (depending, of course, on who you talk to, or how technical the person wants to get on the subject, or how intensely they feel about Catalan nationalism . . . and there are many different opinions along the spectrum).
Well. Back to Sitges. October is a little late to go to the beach, even on our b-e-a-utiful Mediterranean coast - but we had other motives for our trip south. The Sitges International Film Festival was wrapping up and we thought we could catch some films. How often do you get to go to a film festival? The crazy thing is, the Sitges Film Festival is known for being the largest horror and fantasy film festival in the world. Hmmmm. None of us are particularly fans of horror and fantasy movies, but, whatever - If anything, we figured we'd come home with some great "One time, in Spain, I went to this horror film festival . . ." stories. We started our trip to Sitges a little bit later than to Figueres or Montserrat - being that it was cold, and we wouldn't be going to the beach to sunbathe, leaving midafternoon was perfect. Sitges was very peaceful, in a sleepy-resort town kind of way. Apparently in the summer it's hopping, which we caught a lingering taste of down at the beach where the October "we will catch every ray of sun as long as our bodies can stand the temperature" crowd was found. Also, on account of the film festival, later in the evening stores and restaurants opened and people emerged to eat, shop, and get in line for the films. Many of the films were sold out; luckily we bought our tickets when we arrived in the afternoon. Speaking of stores opening late - it really is true that a lot of things close during the middle of the day and then open up again later at night. In the bigger cities, like Barcelona, it's not as noticeable - especially in the main tourist areas - but in a little place like Sitges - definitely noticeable. We walked by some shops in the afternoon that my friend Mazal commented on wishing they were open, and then at 6,7,8 pm when we passed them again they were open. Most things are like that: Closed between 2-4, or 3-5, or like the lingerie store beneath my apartment (which when I first arrived to Barcelona, I swore was never open - and then all of a sudden, 2 weeks into living here, one day, randomly . . . . open.) which is open, like, 4 hours every 3 days.
After spending some time at the beach taking photos, walking around lazily, catching some dinner, we went to see the movies! I have to say, it was a really neat experience - the director and one of the actors were at the film we went to, and introduced it and thanked the crowd for coming. The crowd was electric and there was lots of clapping and laughing throughout the film.
Leaving Sitges to get back to Barcelona was an experience in itself. We had found the nightbus schedule that was running all night from Sitges to Barcelona for the weekend of the festival, which was perfect since the Renfe train stopped running at 10:30. We found the station, ready to head back around 11:45. Not too many people were waiting - maybe 10,15. The bus was running late, and more people were arriving - more and more and more and more. Way more than would be able to fit on a single bus. So the bus arrives, about 10 minutes late, and as its pulling up everyone just RUSHES the door. Literally, it was as if the end of the world was starting and the only way out was ON THAT BUS. There was plenty of shoving and pushing and crushing of bodies and Spanish cursing . . . pretty much all the makings of a good horror film. Of course I thought, "oh my goodness, anyone could unzip the pocket of my bag and steal EVERYTHING!" But then I realized, obviously everyone was in the same position as me, and couldn't so much as flinch without causing a ripple in the whole mash of bodies.
One by one we pushed ourselves onto the bus - Mazal was the last one behind me, and I got myself onto the landing, and looked back and everyone was pushing in around her. Crisis. I kept calling to her to push and she gave me a defeated look, and all I could think was, "oh my goodness . . . what if have to get back off and wait for the next bus and go through this again, and if so, HOW are we going to get OFF of the bus now that everyone is pushing onto it?" Luckily a miracle happened: The 12:15 bus showed up and the rest of the crowd outside rushed towards it, and Mazal was able to get on our bus. We had to stand during the ride, but it definitely seemed like a small price to pay considering the mass panic we'd just experienced.
Phew.
Sitges was definitely a memorable experience, probably for being a trip that we really didn't plan to see sights or specifically map out what we were going to do, but just planned how to get there, get back - and hey, maybe walk to the beach and see a few movies at an International Film Festival. No biggie ;)
previous travel blog entry
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