Cindy and I are spending a few days in Tarifa. What first attracted us to Tarifa was the combination of kitesurfing and a charming Mediterranean town. Tarifa is THE most popular kiting destination in the world. On a windy day there are literally hundreds of kitesurfers out on the water simultaneously.
But what keeps us coming back is something else: the people. Within hours of arriving we are out having drinks with friends. Forgot a kite leash or pump? Not to worry, a local friend will lend us one. And beyond our friends, there is something reassuring about seeing "familiar faces" all around. Whether it is the waiter from our favorite breakfast place, who this morning showed us the livecam of her dog cooling in front of a fan, or the bartender at the kite spot who was telling us how much her niece has grown since we last saw her a year ago... Or even the parking and bathroom attendants. You feel a bit more "at home" when you are surrounded by familiar faces... It reminds me of the the Annapurna hotel where I went as a kid, then adolescent, every December for over a dozen years...
Exploring new places can be fun. But not as good as getting to know the ones you really like - and going back over and over again...
But what keeps us coming back is something else: the people. Within hours of arriving we are out having drinks with friends. Forgot a kite leash or pump? Not to worry, a local friend will lend us one. And beyond our friends, there is something reassuring about seeing "familiar faces" all around. Whether it is the waiter from our favorite breakfast place, who this morning showed us the livecam of her dog cooling in front of a fan, or the bartender at the kite spot who was telling us how much her niece has grown since we last saw her a year ago... Or even the parking and bathroom attendants. You feel a bit more "at home" when you are surrounded by familiar faces... It reminds me of the the Annapurna hotel where I went as a kid, then adolescent, every December for over a dozen years...
Exploring new places can be fun. But not as good as getting to know the ones you really like - and going back over and over again...
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