Call of the Wild: Switch off everyday life

Call of the Wild: Switch off everyday life

A strange evening with desconnexion in Catalonia reminds us of why it is so important to take off our laptops and occasionally leave our phones at home

I was on Wikipedia and read about a controversy in 2015, in which a judge about the New Zealand version of X Factor was involved, when I realized that I was again: To waste time to read about a person I did not know and who was involved in an event that I didn't see in a program that I did not see.

I had fallen into the internet rabbit hole-again.

There is no name for what we do: the billions of hours that we spend every day with it to surf the Internet. We sit on our laptops apathetic and relieved: Thank God we don't need to think about an hour.

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

Of course we very often do not learn or read. We don't even relax. I rarely feel relaxed on the Internet after an hour. I feel ripped off and wired and very often angry in view of the current political climate.

photographing, filming and writing on our travels at Atlas & Boots, which means that we are still "on" when we are "off". It was a relief when I was asked to include my phone in a box

alt = “decoupling”> Atlas & Boots Preparations for our evening with desconnexions in Catalonia

fascinated by the concept, we willingly gave our phones and cameras. We had no idea what to expect that evening, apart from what our tour guide Gloudina told us: that we would connect with the environment again.

I suspected a walk in the park, followed by yoga at sunset - a perfectly entertaining evening, albeit a little uncomfortable, because I am about as stretchy as a cast iron door. Nevertheless, I recognized the need to separate the connection, and so I went with the electricity.

Gloudina began to give each of us a glass vessel at the beginning of our walk. She asked us to collect an element that represents who we are and warned us that we would later talk about our decisions.

alt = “”> Atlas & Boots on the way to our first mysterious place

We started our hike on the beautiful area of ​​La Vella Farga in the foothills of the Catalan Pyrenees. We went into the surrounding fields and went over soft, springs with thicknesses of sun -over -flooded trees in the surrounding fields. The sky felt warm above our laughter and the three different languages: English, Catalan and Spanish.

I stopped to collect my element and ran off to catch up with the group. We entered a clearing and approached a hill and laughed with joy when we discovered the picnic that was waiting at the summit.

alt = "picnic in desconnexion"> atlas & boots a surprise picnic

We took our places and Gloudina encouraged us to share the elements that we had selected for ourselves. I waved my glass and explained it.

My element is the earth. It is boring, I know, but it also represents a solid foundation. It is stable and robust, loyal, reliable, stable and practical. I think these properties 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 when we treat ourselves to local cheese, meat 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 in pink and terrifying mammatus clouds.

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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, when it got dark, we had to find our own way to the next place of the evening by using our flashlights to find a number of reflective markings. We walked too ninth in the dark through the forest and switched between laughter and nervous anticipation. We climbed over the shore and meandered past high trees that imposed into the sky.

alt = “decouples clouds”> Atlas & Boots Cloud 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 from The Wicker Man, but it was still charming. We took a seat on a swing, all quietly under the chirp of the grilling.

A voice appeared from the ether. It explained why it is so important to break away from our daily life and why we all have to connect with nature again. We neglect our own needs so often, it was said, and this is an opportunity to re -evaluate them.

We were immersed in the dark, each of us left his own thoughts. Then a flutist began to play high in a tree. We first laughed with surprise and joy, but soon fell silent among the longing tones.

We started swinging, initially confidently, we all city -grapes all driven out of our comfort zones. Then less conscious. Then we closed our eyes and gave the mood.

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It had something elementary: the darkness under the stars and the silence between music. Even I, a convinced advocate of the great -nature, was reminded of her ability to calm down and heal. When I was sitting on the swing in the dark, I felt a deep feeling of well -being.

I once again remembered the power of nature in its vastness, resistance and kindness. I was amazed at the fact that so many of us decide to sit inside with our screens instead of going out into the world and using their miracles.

that may sound pretty serious, but I ask her to try it. I ask you to visit Catalonia and experience this special evening. If this is not 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 is better than spending a billion hours on YouTube.

desconnexion: the essentials

was: a desconnexion experience that should help you to break away from everyday life and connect with nature again.

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

Each of the 13 rooms is adorned with carefully restored furniture and a curated selection of antiques. Original stone architecture is supplemented by elements of contemporary designs that give the hotel an elegant, timeless atmosphere.

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

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

like: Book an experience via the Desconnexion website, by email info@tesconnexions.com or by phone at +34 937 012 941.

We flew to Barcelona-El Prat (BCN) Airport, which offers a good connection to the rest of Catalonia. Book flights at the best prices via Skyscanner.

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