caitlin bellah: barcelona

Today has felt a little likea dream. The only thing making me believe I was actually awake was the wind on my face. Had it not touched me, you could have fooled me. Everything around me was so beautiful. Fall in Spain, the large, gorgeous leaves and tree lined streets were so..extraordinary. I listened to people, their voices speaking a language I still don't understand, laughing, sharing drinks together. Even though I knew I was way off I imagined what they were talking about. It was more fun that way anyway. Everything about this part of the world is full of so much passion I've realized how dead part of me was before I came here. I am inspired by the strength every moment has here. Every moment of my life, even the quiet ones alone, are filled with thoughts of so much real possiblity. I am aware that everyday can change things for me so drastically. I feel more comfortable and safe here than ever. I live in a world where a plane ticket to Berlin costs 32 euros and in only a few hours I would be transported to another culture, new landscape, new everything. It's not Berlin really, it's anywhere. I feel such comfort that whenever I need a change I can have that change for a little while. I had a conversation with a brilliant makeup artist the other day about going to Lisbon for a shoot. Portugal. I've never even dreamed of Portugal. But now I do. I dream of adventures in Lisbon, creating art, and memories. But I am also safe in love with an amazing person who wants my gypsy heart to thrive. He wants to come with me and experience it all too. That is biggest gift life has given me.

pink house in the woods

wild mushrooms

So....I got married!

....and it's awesome!

Which is why I am in Spain. My husband is from Barcelona and after some immigration issues we have found out we are probably staying for the next year or so before moving back to Los Angeles. Which is definitely not something to complain about. Barcelona is absolutely amazing!

people having drinks in the square

old folks playing petanca in the park by our place

Okay...maybe I didn't feel that way instantly when I found out we had to stay. Sure, I really like Barcelona. I liked the idea that we would come back a few times a year. I liked the idea that our kids would call this place their second home. But living here indefinitely seemed like a scary concept. What about my people back home? Work? Language? I had already been living in Europe for 5 months (Paris, London, and Barcelona) and I missed home. Also the cultural differences were hard to deal with at first. Americans wake up early, we live our lives completely around work and base a lot of our self worth on our jobs. We eat earlier (and more often), go to work earlier, and rarely take a vacation. When I first began living here 6 months ago it drove me nuts because I was still in that same frame of mind. The months I spent in Paris and London came with cultural differences, but they still lived pretty similarly to Americans. Everything was fast paced and revolved around work. But really, I've come to admire the way Mediterranean people live their lives. They take their time. They enjoy life and base their worth on who they are...not their jobs. The enjoy time with their friends and eat outside. They DO work hard, very hard, but never forget to make time for whats really important. I've met the most amazing people on shoots, and off, and am so grateful to have been given this opportunity to experience the world. I hope to move back to Los Angeles with two new languages ( Spanish & Catalan) and a whole new outlook on everything.