The Interview

Saying goodbye to Spain was nothing compared to bidding Zachary adieu.  I will miss this shoe-centric, lottery crazed, tapas driven, football loving, sandstone sculpted country.  I will miss the sundress wearing people and the people who forget to put their bathing suits on.  I will miss being able to talk to the locals who embraced my broken Spanish.  However, I will miss Zachary more.  

Let me explain.  There is cafe con leche.  There is cafe con leche con hielo.  And there is cafe con leche con Zachary.  The third option is the best.

We picked him up at the Valencia train station, gave him his unlimited 24 hour Metro card, and slipped underneath the city.  For two days we talked, walked, and soaked him in as we traveled by train and foot from Gerty, to the Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, to the old city, to the Central Market, to Barrio del Carmen, to the Russafa district, and to the playa.  

Then we set sail.  The forecast (which is unreliable in the Mediterranean due to the inability of Europeans to agree on the names of each type of wind) called for a Poniente to blow 10-11 knots from the S SW, so we headed for Ibiza.  Two knots on the nose made for a dull motoring affair in the morning, but 12 to 14 knots on the starboard aft corner, and gigantic, playful dolphins made for a fun afternoon.

Tuna and Rummikub were on the menu for dinner at Cala Comte, Ibiza.  The fresh fish was gifted to us by our new friends on SV Reel Riddim and the sashimi bowls we made were delicioso.  The Rummikub was my idea.

What is there to do in Ibiza when the dance clubs are closed for COVID?  Swim, paddle, hike, stroll, look for treasures, eat, repeat.  Cala Codolar’s treasures were two caves, one with a secret stairway inside, and the other with shade, beauty, and the perfect swimming hole.

The rolly sea at Cala Coldolar chased us away to Punta Grossa, where we met up with more dolphins on the way to Ibiza’s Old Town. 

This was a standout town with standout people and we fit right in.  Okay, okay, we fit right in after we each drank two or three glasses of sangria, but the crowd was fabulous darling, simply fabulous.   

The beautiful Cala Llonga was where we hiked to one spectacular steep overlook after another, after another.  The Mediterranean, so blue, soooo blue.

But we didn’t have time to dilly dally because Zachary had planned to meet friends in Madrid, and he was flying from Palma de Mallorca.  It was time to sail again.

Oh, how I hated when he got stung by that jellyfish in our first moments in Mallorca.  He wasn’t even swimming!  Just dangling his foot in the water off the stern.  Oy!  We got the vinegar and decided to spend the next day on dry land.

And what a day it was!  We treated ourselves to a rental car and a hiking experience that could not be matched for the rest of our time in Spain.  The Serra de Tramuntana trail, ¡Qué maravilloso!

If I had to pick a favorite mountain town of the four we visited (Biniaraix, Sóller, Valldemossa, and Deia) it would be Sóller, because a picnic lunch on a bench just big enough for the three of us was the best.

To clarify, the best thing about lunch in Sóller was the company, not the food.  The most tasty food was the ensaÏmadas from Panaderia Pons in Port Colonia de Sant Jordi.  The Mallorcan breakfast specialty, akin to a croissant topped with crème brûlée was undeniably delicious.

The rest of our time in Mallorca is a collage of beachside town ramblings, sunset jumps off Gerty’s bow, and an endless search for the best value gelato,  The three of us fell into a rhythm of work, play, run, eat, chat, and suturing.

Only one thing fell overboard during Zachary’s entire visit, and that’s because I threw it overboard.  It was the dinghy anchor.  I forgot to tie it on before I tossed it in the water, an amateur mistake!  Zachary officially earned his crew status when he donned his goggles and rescued the anchor.  He made it to Madrid to visit his college friends and we all made it to Barcelona for his big send off.

A week away from the start of medical school in New York City, Gaudi’s Sagrada Familia was surely an inspiration for him to persevere.  Michael described the inside of this church as, “soaring,” and I believe that’s what he will do.

Last remarks: an interview with Zachary Gallin

What was your worst injury during this trip?

Bumping my head! There are lots of low-ceilings on the boat – plenty of places for a head bump – so I bumped my head many times on the trip. The scariest time was when I was swimming with my eyes closed, and I hit my head on the back of the boat. Always wear goggles!

What was your smelliest moment?

The boat bathroom doesn’t have great ventilation, so it’s really important to put Poo-Pourri in the toilet. If not…very smelly. Especially when the hatches in the bathroom were closed because we were on a passage. 

Tell us about the most awkward conversation you had with us

We decided to watch a movie one night, but we didn’t have the data to stream it, so my parents showed me a weird hard drive of like 200 bad movies that sailors apparently pass around among each other. They asked me to pick the movie, but none of the movies had pictures or descriptions, and I hadn’t heard of any of them! I spent 20 minutes just scrolling through all the titles. 

Describe your best meal

My mom’s pad thai! Some of the restaurants in Valencia and Barcelona were also great, but nothing beats mom’s cooking.

Best dessert?

In the airport on the way home, I was able to access one of the super fancy lounges with my parents, and there was FREE cheesecake! That was definitely a highlight. 

Best drink?

Sooo much cheap wine and sangria

What was your most uncomfortable moment?

There was one night when we stayed in a harbor that wasn’t well-protected and a lot of wind blew through. I was rolling back and forth all night long! 

Where was your favorite place to swim?

Honestly, everywhere we went in Mallorca was beautiful swimming. The water was crystal clear and very warm, it was always sunny and hot out, and there were lots of fish. The only exception was one time when I was stung by a jellyfish. 

Best place to hike?

The hiking around Soller in Mallorca was beautiful – lots of terraces built into the mountainside.

Best people watching?

I really enjoyed the people-watching in Ibiza Town. Things were toned-down a bit because of COVID, but there were still lots of people out exploring the town’s nightlife. The people definitely dressed like they were in Ibiza – I’ve never seen so many high heeled shoes! 

Worst people watching?

As it turns out, the middle of the ocean doesn’t have great people watching.

What surprised you?

How well the scopolamine patches work to prevent seasickness! I usually get very seasick, but I wore scopolamine the entire trip and didn’t have any issues.

What will you miss?

My parents – come visit NY soon!

What didn’t you know about your parents before that you know now?

They’ve made so many new friends through their sailing adventures! It seems very special that they’ve been able to join such a welcoming global community of sailors. 

List the things you needed to bring.

Bathing suit, scopolamine, toothbrush

List the things that you didn’t need to bring

Everything else! …I guess I did need a few pairs of underwear, but I definitely overpacked. I brought two jackets, but it was never colder than 80 degrees!

Tell us something you learned during your time on Gerty

I (re)learned a little bit of French! I used to be okay at French, but I’ve forgotten it all. My mom is currently learning, so it was fun to hear her practice and see if I could understand her. 

Which was your favorite bike ride?

We only took one and it was mediocre at best. But my mom really enjoyed it, and it was nice to see her happy.

Which was your favorite ice cream place?

There was a great one in Sant Jordi that we went to after our bike ride. It had sit-down service and some pretty crazy sundaes. I got a creme brulee sundae! 

Who is your favorite parent?

Both, hahaha

What was the most annoying conversation you had with your parents?

My parents are becoming a little bit hard of hearing, and I am pretty soft-spoken. I can’t put my finger on a specific conversation, but there were moments when I had to repeat something four or five times, each time a little bit louder than the last, until I was just screaming at them. And then they asked me why I was yelling…

Did this adventure prepare you for medical school?

In terms of information I need to know to be a doctor, probably not. In terms of being in the right state of mind to start school again, definitely.

Will you come again?

Of course! I can’t wait.