Under the shadow of a mountain ~ Nomads in Tarragona, Spain

GreenGlobalTrek Spain 77 Comments

The topic has often come up in the past about the implication of living a nomadic life, when it comes to friends.  Default thinking is of friends being geographically close.  And yet, we often point out, this does not have to be so.  Having lived a mostly nomadic lifestyle over the past decade, we now have a group of close friends, who are global nomads themselves.

Life throws us occasional opportunities to reconnect with these global friends and we seize any such chances to make good on the premise of being able to stay connected.  We have managed to concretize reunions more often with some… (Brook, for instance, whom we have spent time with in Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, Chicago, Vietnam, India and Sri Lanka), and Monica (Nicaragua, India, Chicago), than others (Maya, whom we were friends with in Nicaragua but, having returned to Poland, remains on our “must reunite soon” list).

This week is therefore a special treat as we manifest an opportunity to have a sweet reunion with our awesome friends, Rasa and Kris.

Rasa is a New Zealander.  Kris is Belgian.  We all met in Nicaragua when we were neighbors for a few months. (Think yoga, music, vegan food and many animal rescues).

5 years ago in Nicaragua together.

 

2013 ~ Granada, Nicaragua

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And so, finally, 5 years later we reunite.

There was a special connection with these two beauties and we have stayed in contact, patiently knowing that our paths would cross once again. And here it is…

We are particularly eager to see Kris and Rasa again since they have married (under British law that recognizes same-sex marriage), and have grown their family by 50% by bringing into this world a Kiwi/Belgian/British little girl, and we are eager to meet her.

For those intrigued by the nomadic lifestyle we and many of our friends have espoused, Kris and Rasa (and now Kiki’s) life illustrates how flexibility, trust and courage combine to create unique global nomadic lives.

We catch up with K+R+K in a tiny village in the magnificent mountainous regions north of Tarragona, Spain.  Here is their story, in Kris’s words…

“Rasa and I met in January 2011 at our yoga teacher training on Koh Phangan in Thailand. When the training finished we spent another few few weeks as newly lovebirds cruising around the island doing lots of yoga, Khirtan music and skinny dipping.

Rasa then flew back to NZ (after having lived in Canada several years) and I travelled to Belgium to sort out most of my belongings and paperwork as I had a feeling I would never go back to live there (I was already living a nomadic life since September 2007). 

In July 2011 I joined Rasa in NZ where we lived in a community for 8 months, a growing place where we met some of our best friends. Rasa started teaching yoga and together we did markets, selling home made raw chocolate and kombucha.

By March 2012 we both got itching again and our journey brought us to Thailand (where we got engaged), India, turkey, Germany, Belgium, France, Spain, Ecuador, Nicaragua (where we met you guys in February 2013) and the US.

During this trip Rasa took various body work courses and we both worked and volunteered in several places. Helping both our human and our furry friends. 
.
In September 2013 we moved to Brighton, England, as we were looking for a place where we could both work and study without having to deal with visa issues. We chose Brighton because of its alternative scene, a city big enough to find anything you need but small enough to cruise through it on a bicycle.

In June 2015 we got married and in April 2016 Kainoa was born.  Kainoa was born in our loving home, with “only” the gayatri mantra and hot towels for pain relief!  The midwife was present, but the help was minimal.  Rasa was the one who caught the baby and cut the chord.  

Today, Kainoa calls Kris  “Mama”…

And she calls Rasa  “Mummy”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

.

 

Soon after she was born, it became clear we didn’t want to raise Kainoa in the UK. We are outdoor people and apart from the exceptional weather they are experiencing right now, it usually is just too crap. The cost of living is too high and and the pace of living too fast.

So we took the plunge, gave our notice and left our jobs.

At that point, in August 2016, we had nothing lined up. All we knew was that we needed to be out of our flat by September. There definitely were some stressful times – we did have a newborn and no roof over our heads! – but the universe was listening and gave us all we needed over the last two years.

We chose Europe because we wanted to stay close to Kiki’s papa and his parents (her grandparents) and my family and friends in Belgium and France. And we wanted guaranteed sun!
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We did a few “work-away” places as we were looking for something more long term. We spent both winters in the Pizarra mountains near Malaga, where we were looking after a yoga retreat that was closed over winter. Wonderful place hidden in a valley of almond, lemon and olive trees.
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In April 2018 we left Andalucia and made our way to Catalunya. Et voila! the rest is history.”
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Kris and Rasa got super lucky in that their latest short term work-away gig morphed into a long term living situation. The family who owns the house got relocated for work purposes for five years, leaving them in charge of running the house and caring for the animals.
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Super sweet deal as it provides them a base to raise their little one, in an incredibly beautiful environment, nestled near a stunning mountain with olive groves and hazelnut trees and forest all around.
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Photos do not do this view justice. This is the scene that they wake up to every day! For people who love nature and being outdoors, it is a dream come true.

This house is completely “off grid”, thereby being a model of sustainable eco friendly living. All electricity comes from solar panels, water comes from rain water which is stored under the house, and toilets are compost toilets. There are a series of vegetable gardens ~ a work in progress (thanks to Rasa).

Happiness is ~ a sweet reunion. Kris (right), Rasa to her left, and the cutest addition to the family, Kainoa (aka kikki) (center).

Kris (middle) and Rasa (Kiki on her back), as they take us on one of their favorite hikes from the property and through the forest. Perfect setting to start catching up on our respective life adventures.

Ben and Kris break into French every now and again, as Kris grew up speaking both Flemish and French.

Kainoa is pretty independent, yet enjoys holding hands over the rocky path.

Rasa, ever the fearless one demonstrates her balance skills.

What a setting! We are both loving being here, and with them under the shadow of this majestic mountain.

Time evaporates when good friends reunite.

There is a little sleepy village close by, and we take the house dog Rex, for a walk to town.

 

Olive trees are the dominant crop here. As well, hazelnut trees! and grape vines for wine abound.

In the heat of the day, during siesta time, the village feels deserted. The pastel architecture is quaint and the streets are narrow.

It is less than an hour from the mountains and forest to the Mediterranean sea. Kiki’s daycare is close to the beach so this is a regular spot for them. (We await watching the World Cup Belgium versus Brazil game in the only beach bar, in a few hours.)

 

All meals are eaten on this patio in the shadow of the mountain. Rasa is a kickass vegan cook and it is a treat to eat her delicious creations al fresco.

Rasa, you outdid yourself! When you start doing your yoga + meditation retreats, people will flip over your delicious plant based meals!

Getting to know Kiki a little. Kris talks to her in Flemish and French, Rasa talks to her in English, she is surrounded by Spanish and her day care is in Catalan. Her language skills are quite impressive as she manages to integrate all these language tracks with ease. What a gift to a child.

We love our time with these 3 girls and it is hard to say goodbye. Yet we know, our paths will surely cross again. Hopefully soon.

Waiting for the high speed train (up to 240 kms per hour) from Tarragon to the North of Spain.

Farewell lovelies……

 

 

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77 thoughts on “Under the shadow of a mountain ~ Nomads in Tarragona, Spain”

  1. Kris

    Awwww you guys!! It was so wonderful having you stay here with us and meet our little angel. You guys opened your house(s) and hearts to us in Nicaragua and welcomed us into your lives from the very beginning of our Nicaraguan adventure. Happy to have been able to return the favour and share our life, food and home with you guys! Until we meet again… ❤️

    Reply
    1. GreenGlobalTrek Post author

      This time with you and Rasa was magic and we loved every single minute of it and would love to come back again. Hard to believe that it has been five years since Nicaragua and so much has happened in our respective lives. Meeting little Kiki was undoubtedly the highlight!

      Big love
      Peta & Ben

      Reply
  2. Rasa

    Absolutely magical to spend time again with you both. Rex misses you also, he loved the attention and I’ve gone out and bought some bones as suggested. Next time you see us you may be able to get some full sentences from Kiki, but whether it will be in one consistent language or a mix remains to be seen, haha! You are welcome back anytime, bienvenido guapos! Lots of Love xo

    Reply
    1. GreenGlobalTrek Post author

      So thrilled that we finally had a sweet reunion. And what a setting. You guys rock and deserve this unique experience in your life. Have no doubt that Kiki will be speaking in full sentences, she has more language ability than most toddlers her age, no doubt of that! Smart little cookie! Love you all, and thanks again for the absolutely delicious vegan meals, such a treat for me to have someone else preparing food I love!

      Peta
      xoxox
      Love and kisses to all 2.5 of you from Ben. And a big cuddle for Rex the pooch. Good on the bones.

      Reply
  6. Shari Pratt

    Thank you, everyone, for a wonderfully loving adventure shared with us. You’ve all maintained friendships that belie borders and timelines. And now there’s little Kiki, multicultural and multilingual, loved and loving. OK, world, this can be done.

    Reply
    2. GreenGlobalTrek Post author

      Shari, yes hear hear. I agree with Kris. Perfect description of little Kiki. And her moms absolutely ROCK and are role models for courage – based living. When fear is not a part of the equation and trust in the universe happens, things work out. Thanks for the lovely comments.

      Peta

      Reply
  7. Darlene Foster

    What a lovely little family and a great place to build a life. Pleased you had a good time in Spain. The fact that Kiki is being surrounded by so many languages is awesome.

    Reply
    1. GreenGlobalTrek Post author

      Darlene, the setting is spectacular and the natural way of living which is so respectful of the environment will no doubt influence little Kiki as she grows up into a 21st century woman. The interesting thing about the multiple languages is how easily she shifts from one to the other and in English has really good language ability for her age.

      Peta

      Reply
    1. Kris

      The retreat always needs winter house sitters but the might already have people lined up. If you want me to check I can and could potentially put you in contact. Winters are amazing there. Gorgeous blues skies all winter long and mild temperatures (around 18-22 degrees). It’s pretty isolated so good for families or couples unless you really love being on your own. We both loved it!

      Reply
      1. Sunny Harvy

        Thanks for your reply. Could you send me a link to their website so I can take a look. It would be my husband and I, but as Americans I think we can only stay in the EU for 3 months at a time

        Reply
    1. GreenGlobalTrek Post author

      Laurel the visit was a delight. Not only to see our friends so happy and flourishing in such an amazing setting but as well to experience it with them for a few days!

      Peta

      Reply
  10. Judith Westerfield

    “It is not for him to pride himself who loveth his own country, but rather for him who loveth the whole world. The earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens.”

    All of you are living testaments.

    Reply
    1. GreenGlobalTrek Post author

      Thank you Judith for this! Wholeheartedly agree… “the earth is one country, and mankind its citizens”.

      Yet so much of what transpires through politics, education, business etc is geared toward reinforcing the concept of nations and countries in a zero sum game relationships with other countries. The current trend toward nationalism not just in the U.S. but in Turkey, Italy etc suggest that societally we are moving away from global integration unfortunately.

      Ben & Peta

      Reply
  11. Lynn Martin

    How lovely you were able to reconnect with your beautiful friends & meet their daughter. Wishing all of you the good fortune of reuniting from time to time ❤️

    Reply
    1. GreenGlobalTrek Post author

      Johanna, we are firm believers that if you KNOW what you want, one can usually manifest it. Almost all our nomadic global friends have this same philosophy of life. Experience over stuff. Trust and love over fear. Respect for environment. Proactive life sculpting.

      Yes, when it comes to “resourceful” Kris and Rasa are great role models. They are both very competent in many different areas and their skills compliment each other very well.

      Peta & Ben

      Reply
  13. Ann

    I’m so happy you were able to reconnect with your old friends, and for their new little one! Seriously, I am in awe of the life you lead. I think traveling from one state to another is a big treat…..

    Reply
    1. GreenGlobalTrek Post author

      Thanks Ann.

      I think the fact that we have all moved around easily from country to country from a young age perhaps makes it easier and more natural as adults. What is interesting is that there is no fixed formula, for instance, their time in Brighton U.K. was great (for a while) and when things changed, they were able to pick up and continue the adventure elsewhere, now taking into consideration what would be good for their daughter, growing up.

      One interesting aspect of this nomadic lifestyle is that none of us delude ourselves into thinking that any of our chosen homes need to be “forever”. What works for a while, works for a while…. We are at a unique time in human history when the ability to travel from continent to continent is now available to all given the relatively cheap price of tickets. As Kris and Rasa’s case of leaving Brighton illustrates, they were able to get past the reasonable fear factor and move forward with confidence that things would work out.

      Ben

      Ben & Peta

      Reply
  14. Stephanae McCoy

    What a lifestyle! It sounds idyllic and one I’d love to test out if only for a few days but I fear I’m too westernized to do the whole out in nature thing. This is so awesome though being able to experience it in a virtual manner through your blog Peta. And what gift of languages for little Kiki, she is so adorable. Thank you for sharing.

    Reply
    1. GreenGlobalTrek Post author

      Thanks Stephanae.

      Wondering what you mean by “too Westernized” to do the “whole out in nature thing”.. but am guessing you are referring to the compost toilet? Yes, it can be strange at first, but if you think about it, it just makes so much sense, for so many reasons. It is amazing how adaptive people can be.

      The more time one spends in nature I think the more we appreciate it and the benefits to our wellbeing overall. Minor inconveniences are for us, just that.. minor inconveniences.

      Ben & Peta

      Reply
  15. Janis

    It’s always nice to reconnect with friends… and to do it in such a beautiful setting, perfection! I love how Kris and Rasa have created such a well-suited life for themselves… and now for their little girl.

    Reply
    1. GreenGlobalTrek Post author

      Janis, this setting was incredible. When they told us about their “score” we were determined to make it there to be able to share a little slice of their new lives with them. Putting our climate change hat on, it is hard not to conclude that experiencing life “off grid” is the way to go and gives them a level of preparedness to deal with future climate impact that is inevitable for us all.

      Ben & Peta

      Reply
  16. Alison

    What a wonderful reunion! I can feel how special it was for you. And what a beautiful place they have. It must have been an idyllic holiday.
    Alison

    Reply
    1. GreenGlobalTrek Post author

      Thanks Alison, it was super special in every way… both to be with them and the setting!

      “Holiday”? haha, nope we do not think of ourselves as being on holiday. This is our life. Ben continues to work no matter where we are, and I manage/organize the logistics so that we can continue to travel as a way of life, (with our base being in Sri Lanka.)

      Peta

      Reply
  17. Yvonne Daniel

    I really enjoyed the pic and reading about your friends. They are a lovely family and their child is beautiful. Spain is such a wonderful place. If I were young and adventurous I would want to live their presently. Lottie Niven of Rojas Diaries is my best blogging friend. She and her husband, Pete are both British and artists. They have renovated two houses in Andalucía and recently moved to the countryside in Northwest Spain. I don’t think I can leave this comment and go to my blog to find her link.

    Reply
    1. GreenGlobalTrek Post author

      Glad you enjoyed this post Yvonne. Spain is pretty awesome, we love it too and have enjoyed returning for more.

      I will take a look and see if I can find their blog and check it out. Thanks

      There has been a significant migration to the sun for adventurous Brits for at least two decades and I wonder what kind of havoc Brexit will have on the internationally minded and re located Brits.

      Peta

      Reply
  18. Lexklein

    A reunion of kindred spirits, a lovely child, animals, Spain, sun, mountains, good food … I started this list of appealing things with two or three items and then just couldn’t stop! Sounds like a fantastic time. I try very hard to reconnect with people I meet around the world and I know how gratifying and just downright fun it can be. Cheers to a happy reunion for you all!

    Reply
    1. GreenGlobalTrek Post author

      Thanks Lex for your enthusiasm. Pretty good summary list! Spot on!

      I love reunions with good friends around the world, it is always worth the effort to make it happen. We have been fortunate to have a few nomadic friends visit us in Sri Lanka but it is super nice to do the opposite also, i.e visit them on their turf.

      Peta

      Reply
  19. Eileen Norman

    So delightful to see and read about citizens of the world up close and personal. I am so happy to have some time to reconnect and travel beyond my physical horizons with you. Thank you for sharing your lives, values, experiences, and love. eileen

    Reply
  20. Suzanne

    Lovely family. I admire their choices, but am a slave to creature comforts. When a place is this remote and off the grid, how does Ben continue to work? I assumed he must need internet access at all times. Thanks for sharing your friends with us. Interesting people attract likewise!

    Reply
    1. GreenGlobalTrek Post author

      Suzanne, thanks for your comments. Actually the house is extremely comfortable. In this case being off grid does not mean uncomfortable, it just means environmentally prioritized. We had great comfy beds, plenty hot water, fans, great wifi…. All the creature comforts we needed.

      (Of course the toilet is compost, so I could see where for some people that would not constitute as “creature comforts”, although it is indoors and looks like a regular toilet, just instead of flushing it needs to be emptied each day.)

      Yes Ben continues to work, even if our surroundings change. The internet at the house was better than in many other places. (However, additionally we use hotspot on our cell phone when necessary, but in this case, it was not.)

      Thanks for stopping by to read us and to leave a comment.

      Ben

      Reply
  22. Brook Skillman

    OMG this blog came just in time…completely inspiring, hopeful and yes, I am without words once again.

    That picture of you, Peta with the dog doing one of your favorite stretches…just so Peta and so in the moment, as if I was there.

    Rasa and Kris, you two are my role models although you don’t know it;) On a journey with a baby girl as well, and after reading this blog future decisions have been made. So, THANK YOU for the blog, for Rasa and Kris, and that beautiful Kiki for reestablishing EXACTLY how Jaia and I will live our lives…

    Reply
  23. Liesbet

    What a wonderful family, a wonderful mountain retreat, a wonderful reunion. Thanks for sharing the good times and the smiles. It is obvious that you are all very compatible. Kiki is cute, indeed, and I’m so glad for the girls that this temporary solution in “paradise” turned into a long-term one. What a place – to live and to meet.

    As you know, we are very familiar with long-distance friendships, as fellow nomads, but that makes reunions (especially spontaneous or last-minute ones) even more special!

    Reply
    1. GreenGlobalTrek Post author

      Liesbet thanks for your enthusiasm and positive response. You are absolutely right that the fact that we as nomads do not see our friends on a regular basis, makes reunions very special. And with good friends, times in between visits seems to “shrink” and the friendship becomes like a pointillist painting, with dots of color comprised of each interaction. Over time, nomadic friendships are just as rich as any other type.

      Peta & Ben

      Reply
  24. Gilda Baxter

    Such a gorgeous family, living their dream. An absolutely idyllic setting and a very wholesome lifestyle for little Kiki😄 It sounds like you had a great reunion😄

    Reply
    1. greenglobalrek

      It was awesome, thanks Gilda. Such a great place and way to raise a little one. And I love the system that Kris and Rasa have which is one day on and one day off, for each of them.. this way every other day each mom gets a break from parenting. Brilliant strategy in my opinion.

      Peta

      Reply
  25. Pamela

    A life unknown to be, but thanks to your blog and your friends’ willingness to share with us their life together, a life well-imagined by me. In many ways, it sounds idyllic, although foreign to me.

    Reply
    1. GreenGlobalTrek Post author

      Pamela, we are wondering which part is the “foreign” part to you? The off grid, the two mommies? or? interested to hear….

      It certainly did feel idyllic to us and so happy to see our friends with huge hearts manifest such a rich living situation.

      Ben & Peta

      Reply
  26. Lydia

    You’re so lucky to have such wonderful friends and that you stayed in touch, Ben and Peta. I was so happy to read about their story and grateful they shared it with us. I wish them all the luck in the world and may your friendship last forever!

    Reply
    1. GreenGlobalTrek Post author

      Thanks Lydia for your sweet comments and good wishes. Thanks to Facebook we were able to stay connected and in touch. Five years went by very quickly..I definitely did not think it would take that long for us all to have a reunion, and hope the next one will not have such a long gap in between!

      Peta

      Reply
  27. Bespoke Traveler

    What a wonderful opportunity to reconnect. Kris and Rasa’s courage is inspirational. Many think of the nomadic life as romantic, but it has its challenges just as a non-nomadic life does. I love how your friends and the two of you embrace those difficulties head-on.

    Reply
    1. GreenGlobalTrek Post author

      Yes, absolutely. Every life style has its pros and cons and the nomadic life is not suited to everyone. More than logistics, which are a significant consideration, it seems that one distinguishing trait of the nomadic lifestyle is ones ability to tolerate risk and trust that whatever arises can be dealt with.

      Ben

      Reply
  28. Charles

    my, Peta, what neat folks you seem to meet along the way! Thanks for another nice post. Are you presently in Spain? I hear it’s a little warm at the moment. Qué bien que tengas la oportunidad de hablar otra vez.
    Wishing you happy days

    Reply
    1. GreenGlobalTrek Post author

      Nice to hear from you Charles. One of the best things about sequential living for us, has been the people we meet along the way and the good friends we have made. We are presently in Amsterdam and the heat wave has hit here as well. It is hotter for us than Sri Lanka because there we have fans in every room whereas here the heat is unseasonable and a first and no one has fans!! Would love to catch up soon…
      Enjoy the rest of summer
      xo
      Peta

      Reply
  29. Agness of eTramping

    It was so great to read about your friends and their story. It’s really amazing how many people and awesome friends we meet when travelling, Peta. It’s always a pleasure to read your posts! 😉

    Reply
    1. GreenGlobalTrek Post author

      Thanks for the lovely words Agness. Because we are travel a lot, from our Sri Lankan home base, it is a way of life for us, we continue to make new friends and then reconnect with “old” ones, often in different places and countries. Many of our friends are nomadic too, so it is fun to reunite in different environments. So glad you are enjoying our adventures.

      Ben & Peta

      Reply
  30. Carol

    I enjoyed reading this beautiful story. How lovely that everything worked out perfectly and in such a gorgeous location. Kikki is definitely a lucky little girl.

    Reply
    1. GreenGlobalTrek Post author

      Glad you enjoyed reading about our reunion and taking a peek into the lives of our beautiful friends. So good to reunite and in such a beautiful place, for sure. Kiki is getting a good start in life as a young nomad having already lived in a few different countries and now in an environmentally conscious setting.

      Peta

      Reply
  33. Sue

    What a delightful post! Although we arent nomadic we too have met so many wonderful people around the world and now consider them friends. I am delighted to see this joyous reuinion. Kiki was born the same month as our granddaughter. The joy of a little one that age is heart melting.

    Reply
    1. Green Global Trek

      Thanks so much Sue. It truly was a joyous reunion. I would love to have reunions with all the friends we have made from so many different countries.. sometimes timing just doesn’t work. In this case it truly was prefect. Kiki is an absolute joy!

      Peta

      Reply
  34. Marcelle

    Now that we are based in France we get more friends and family visiting during summer as before. We enjoy that but also miss the independent travels without responsibilities. Happy pictures in your post and lovely to read about the experiences of your friends.

    Reply
    1. Green Global Trek

      Thanks for reading us and for your comments Marcelle. Yes, I am sure that living in France many would take the opportunity to come and visit. Rasa and Kris sure have some interesting life stories under their belt…

      Peta

      Reply
  35. Frank

    Nice story, almost interesting reading about non-conventional lifestyles and people. Thank god, otherwise the world would be boring.
    The small town and nature look gorgeous, what a beautiful place to live and raise a child. Congratulations to them!

    Reply
    1. Green Global Trek

      Thanks Frank… Variety is definitely the spice of life. They do love where they are living, the only drawback is that it is quite remote and so requires a fair amount of driving and gas consumption to go back and forth. Other than that, it is quite idyllic.

      Peta

      Reply
  36. Mabel Kwong

    What a lovely post about reuniting with your friends in Spain. Rasa and Kris sound like such a loving couple, and Kainoa is just adorable. Friends can certainly be all over the world, and when the time and place is right, you just meet and catch up where you left off like it was yesterday. That’s what real friends are…distance and time doesn’t matter, it’s about being together when you can actually be together. Safe travels 🙂

    Reply
    1. Green Global Trek

      Mabel thanks for your lovely comments. It is very true that timing is everything… We have tried to make other reunions work over the years that have not… the stars all need to be aligned as they were in this case, and then, well its perfect. Always great to share good times with good friends! Nothing quite like it…

      Peta

      Reply

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