Call of the Wild: Switch off from everyday life

Call of the Wild: Switch off from everyday life

A strange evening of disconnections in Catalonia reminds us why it's so important to put down our laptops and occasionally leave our phones at home

I was on Wikipedia reading about a 2015 controversy involving a judge on the New Zealand version of X Factor when I realized I was doing it again: wasting time reading about a person I didn't know who was involved in an event I didn't care about on a show I didn't watch.

I had fallen down the internet rabbit hole – again.

There is no name for what we do: the billions of hours we collectively spend every day surfing the internet in vain. We sit at our laptops, apathetic and relieved: thank God we don't have to think for an hour.

Perhaps it is due to a lack of vocabulary that we do not take this colossal effort into account. After all, it's not a waste of time if you "study" or "read" or "relax" or any number of things we actually have words for.

Of course, very often we don't learn or read. We don't even relax. I rarely feel relaxed after an hour on the internet. I feel wired and wired and very often angry given the current political climate.

At Atlas & Boots we photograph, film and write about our travels, which means we are still “on” even when we are “off”. It was a relief when I was asked to lock my phone in a box at the start of an evening with Desconnexions, a Catalan company that aims to disconnect people from their everyday lives and reconnect them with nature.

alt="Decouplings">Atlas & BootsPreparations for our evening with Desconnexions in Catalonia

Intrigued by the concept, we willingly handed over our phones and cameras. We had no idea what to expect that evening, other than what our tour guide Gloudina told us: that we would reconnect with the environment.

I guessed a walk in the park followed by yoga at sunset – a perfectly entertaining evening, if a little awkward since I'm about as malleable as a cast iron door. Still, I recognized the need to disconnect and so I went with the flow.

Gloudina began by handing each of us a glass jar at the start of our walk. She asked us to collect an item that represents who we are and warned us that we would talk about our choices later.

old=““>Atlas & BootsOn the way to our first mysterious place

We began our hike in the beautiful grounds of La Vella Farga in the foothills of the Catalan Pyrenees. We went into the surrounding fields and walked single file over soft, springy ground through thickets of sun-drenched trees. The sky felt warm over our laughter and the three different languages: English, Catalan and Spanish.

I stopped to collect my element and ran to catch up with the group. We entered a clearing and approached a hill, laughing with joy as we spotted the picnic waiting at the summit.

alt="Picnic at Desconnexions">Atlas & BootsA surprise picnic

We took our seats and Gloudina encouraged us to share the elements we had chosen for ourselves. I swirled my glass and explained.

My element is earth. It's boring, I know, but it also provides a solid foundation. It's stable and sturdy, faithful, reliable, stable and practical. I think these characteristics describe me well.

The rest of the group shared their elements and soon it was time for food. This is better than yoga, I thought, as we indulged in local cheeses, meats and pa amb tomàquet, a simple but tasty Catalan dish of bread, tomatoes and olive oil – all accompanied by plenty of wine. The sky hummed with pink and frightening mammatus clouds.

• alt=““>
• alt=““>

A traditional Catalan festival

While we ate, Gloudina provided us with four torches between nine guests (“you have to help each other”) and gave us instructions.

After dinner, as darkness fell, we had to find our own way to the evening's next location, using our flashlights to find a series of reflective markers. The nine of us walked through the forest in the dark, alternating between laughter and nervous anticipation. We climbed over banks and wound our way past tall trees that towered impressively into the sky.

alt="Decoupled Clouds">Atlas & BootsCloud formations

After half an hour we reached a clearing in the forest. There we found nine rope swings attached to the trees. It had something of The Wicker Man about it, but it was still charming. We each sat on a swing, all silent to the chirping of crickets.

A voice emerged from the ether. It explained why it is so important to disconnect from our daily lives and why we all need to reconnect with nature. We so often neglect our own needs, it was said, and this was an opportunity to reevaluate them.

We were plunged into darkness, each of us left to our own thoughts. Then a flautist began to play high up in a tree. We laughed at first with surprise and joy, but soon fell silent under the wistful sounds.

We began to swing, confidently at first, all of us city dwellers pushed out of our comfort zones. Then less conscious. Then we closed our eyes and gave in to the mood.

• alt=““>
• alt=““>
• alt=““>
• alt=““>
• alt=““>
• alt=““>
• alt=“Entkopplungen“>
• alt=“Wolken bei Desconnexions“>

There was something elemental about it: the darkness under the stars and the silence between the music. Even I, a staunch supporter of the great outdoors, was reminded of its ability to soothe and heal. As I sat on the swing in the dark, I felt a deep sense of well-being.

I remembered once again the power of nature in its vastness, resilience and kindness. I was amazed at the fact that so many of us choose to sit indoors with our screens rather than go out into the world and take advantage of its wonders.

This may all sound pretty serious, but I urge you to give it a try. I urge you to visit Catalonia and experience this special evening. If this isn't possible, try a simpler version at home. Take a walk in the park. Sit on a bench at dusk and enjoy the silence. I promise you, it's better than spending a billion hours on YouTube.

Disconnections: the essentials

What: A Disconnection experience designed to help you disconnect from everyday life and reconnect with nature.

Where: We stayed at La Vella Farga, a carefully reconstructed 11th-century country house in the foothills of the Catalan Pyrenees.

Each of the 13 rooms is adorned with carefully restored furnishings and a curated selection of antiques. Original stone architecture is complemented by elements of contemporary design, giving the hotel an elegant, timeless atmosphere.

• alt=““>
• alt=““>
• alt=““>
• alt=““>
• alt=““>
• alt=““>
• alt=““>
• alt=““>

Surrounding the hotel are over 300 hectares of meadows, pine forests and centuries-old olive groves, making it an ideal place to unwind and relax. All in all, La Vella Farga is one of the most charming boutique hotels we have ever seen.

When: The best time to travel to Catalonia is from May to the end of October.

How: Book an experience via the Desconnexions website, by email info@desconnexions.com or by phone at +34 937 012 941.

We flew into Barcelona-El Prat Airport (BCN), which has good connections to the rest of Catalonia. Book flights at the best prices through Skyscanner.

      .