In 1986, the coastal marshes of la Pletera disappeared due to the construction of a promenade and six apartment blocks on the seafront. After a few years, the city halls of Torroella de Montgrí and L'Estartit joined forces to deurbanize the area and restore the natural space. The Life Pletera project was implemented from 2014 to 2018, and its results show that it is still possible to restore altered areas to their full ecological functionality despite urban pressures.
I awoke early and I'm walking under the darkness of a cloudy sky that reveals the fading stars. I simply had to overcome my early morning drowsiness, but the reward I'll get is much greater. It's worth the effort to enjoy experiences that nurture the spirit. Seeing the sun rise over the sea does just that. I have entered the natural area of La Gola del Ter, a world of dunes and salt marshes where the river's water blends seamlessly into the sea, a union that fluctuates according to the whims of the rains and the winding sand. Night remains on the horizon and shadows cover the marsh. I am surrounded by rushes, thick salicornia, and tamarisk. The path connects the lookout at La Pletera and the mouth of the river. I want to free myself from cluttered emotions and repetitive thoughts. As I approach the beach, I let go of everything weighing on me. The tamarisk are by my side along the way and I can see the silhouette of the Medes Islands and the light from the lighthouse illuminating the rocks. On the horizon, I glimpse a sign of life bathed in light.
It is only possible to get close nature when you slow down and find time to observe it. I once thought that traveling far afield allows us to better avoid routines, as if geographical remoteness was the only way to break with everyday life. In reality, it involves knowing how to distance oneself from thoughts, not being afraid to travel within, and finding spaces to disconnect at any time. A tenuous clarity shines at the end of the horizon. I can see the beach unfolding in front of me and the mouth of the river. I take my shoes off, head to the shoreline, and walk a bit, feeling my feet sink into the sand, without losing sight of the pearly speck of horizon that preceded the dawn. At this moment, the day remains an untold story that will soon shine. At first light, I salute the sun as I have done in yoga classes for years. The light begins to explode over the sea. I sit on the sand in a lotus position and observe everything. The Medes Islands are clearly profiled and the lilac light tints the sky. It floods me with the feeling of being part of this cosmic landscape, of these islands, and of the sun peeking out behind the clouds. For a while I keep my eyes open, attentive to my own breathing that comes and goes like the waves of the sea. I inhale life and exhale everything I no longer want. I focus on the here and now. I try not to get attached to any thoughts, seeking to be present while the sun spontaneously rises and everything becomes illuminated.
