2011... a new plan...

How many of you asked me how long I'd been staying in Barcelona or what was happening to me?... I must admit that I almost believed myself that I was done with the adventurous life I'd been living for 6 years. Almost 2 years settled in Barcelona and happy as I was, I thought that was it, I had found THE place to settle down.

Well, yes and no actually! I have a new project for 2011.

It all happened when I accepted to spend last New Year's Day in the Canary islands sailing with my mates. I never thought I'd come back depressed to Barcelona. Once the Crazy French Frog sets foot on a sail boat, the virus is being reactivated and my passion for sailing, my thirst of adventure and freedom carries me away! When you can have the whole world in your hands, how can you stand living in a 50m2 flat???

I have been negotiating with my company 6 months off, from January till June. They granted me 3, from January till March, half of the time I wanted but still, I thought the opportunity was too good not to say yes!

So here is my plan. Sail across the Atlantic and do some volunteering in Honduras for an Association helping kids to live a better life.

I found Comparte 2 years ago on internet as I wanted to do some volunteering in Barcelona during my free time. I spent a few hours talking with the people in charge and got convinced. I first started supporting them by translating their web site into french and english (www.comparte.org) which helped me have a good idea of their structure and actions, then I decided to sponsor a kid, Fidel Eduardo, 11 yrs ago, living in Honduras.

Why them? They are a small and transparent structure, employing people passionated by what they're doing, supporting local associations in Latin America through sponsorship of kids and supervision of interesting programs (schools, nurseries, restaurants, workshops...) in Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Equator, Argentina, Chile and Peru. Their aim is to improve the Rights of Children in Latin America.

So my goal is to volunteer for the Cultural Center of Hibueras, for at least 2 months, the length depending on whether I sail across or not.

I thought I should let you know as I want to involve you in part of my plan.

As you can imagine, I will leave behind an empty flat. I first thought of renting it out to one person for these 3 months but it might get complicated to find somebody for such a short term and as I leave my stuff inside, I need somebody I can trust to look after my giraffe and plants :-)))

Claire, a friend I met during my Bostwana safari, suggested me to involve my friends in my project and rent out my flat to friends of theirs, willing to spend a week of holidays in Barcelona. I thought the idea was awesome. It would enable me have some money back to pay for my rent and my trip in Latin America, plus I'd have people I can trust in my place.

Let me now give you a description of my place. It is a 50-55 m2 flat with a big hall,

with 2 bedrooms, a double

and a single,

an independent kitchen,

and a bathroom,

both small but functional, a spacious lounge,

with a nice terrace orientated sea, but no sea view, only nice buildings :-))).

Actually now you can see my tomatoes plants but they'll be gone by the winter so there will more space on the terrace...

It has been entirely renovated with wooden floor, a new kitchen and bathroom, and equipped by its new renter with nice furniture :-))) ... and for internet addicted people, it has wifi...

It is located in a small building, 2 storeys high, we are only 7 neighbours, mostly families and oldies, so the building is quiet as my flat does not communicate with the street.

The bus is located across the street, the metro 2 streets further down, the center of Barcelona is 10mn away in the underground and the beach 3 streets down. All commodities are nearby, supermarkets, bakeries, a park for kids, all you need for your stay. The suburb is called Poblenou, just at the entrance of Barcelona, North of the city.

My idea is to rent it out 400 euros per week. It can host a maximum of 3 persons.

I will have somebody in charge of the keys and somebody to do the cleaning.

And also, as I am on holidays from the 27th of August till the 12th of September this year, I could also rent it out for this period!

Thanks to forward this info to people you trust and know... and thanks in advance for your help!

Frenchy