Transported by the Mind

Today the waves are rich and chocolatey, and the sky is the color of a pewter pot with a small sliver of white clouds above it reminiscent of the foam on a cappuccino. And the sea is still there. The immense Pacific Ocean. And I love it no matter what color it is. The waves and changing tides bring in the rocks at night or carry them away. Some mornings I see them piled up maybe 3-4 feet deep and then the morning after they’re gone. Where did they go? Where did you take them Mother Mar?

This is a place I really love. There is something about the water, a big expanse of water. In Lisbon I have the Tagus River and the Atlantic Ocean and here in Mexico, the Banderas Bay. So beautiful, so restful. It makes me feel like no matter what preoccupations I have at home, it’s all worthwhile. It’s worthwhile just being here where I can feel this energy.

Yesterday I saw an incredible presentation on YouTube. It was about one of my favorite writers Antonio Tabucchi. They were discussing his visit to Mexico 10 years ago. He passed away since then. The tribute was hosted by the renowned Mexican writer, Juan Villoro. I’ve really been impressed with the few things that I’ve read by him. He has wonderful insights, a broad intellect and real feeling for the Mexican people and Mexico City. I loved his book called Horizontal Vertigo about Mexico City. He’s also a great leader for the discussion.

Antonio Tabucchi was really inspired by my favorite poet and thinker, Fernando Pessoa, so that’s how I was introduced to his literature. A novel that blew me away is Requiem, an Hallucination. Tabucchi's mind was fluid. It took him across time and space and even realities. This book is full of meaningful encounters both with people, many no longer living, and foods and places that illuminate the lives of the people involved. It is a treasure.

The excellent panel spent a lot of time on his novel Sostiene Pereira, (Pereira Maintains) one of my favorite novels. The story is very thought-provoking and I won’t go into depth about it now but Guadalupe Nettel, who did go into depth in the discussion, was absolute magic. By the way, there is a very nice film adapted from the book. One of Marcelo Mastroianni’s last films. It is in Spanish and Italian and well worth watching even if you haven’t mastered those languages. It can be seen on YouTube using the link below.

The conference took place in Mexico City and there were several other people who spoke. An Italian writer, Andrea Bajani, who had been inspired by Tabucchi and considered him his mentor had visited his home in Italy after his passing. Tabucchi split his time between Italy and Portugal. Bajani spoke about visiting his old home in Italy which is still in place and can be visited although I don’t think it’s a tourist destination. The writer was trying to get a feeling for where Tabucchi wrote. He had an incredible office with a beautiful desk and all kinds of books and everything that was appropriate for for a famous writer, but Bajani decided that he wrote from the kitchen.

I certainly believe that he wrote in the kitchen because from the things that I have read by Tabucchi, his heart was definitely there around the table, talking with friends, and talking about food and talking about dreams and talking about past lives and every day life. In fact, in Requiem an Hallucination he actually gives recipes for the traditional Portuguese dishes in his novel! He was a very enchanting (or enchanted) person and I’m so glad I got to see this revealing presentation by people who actually knew him.

So now I’m at the beach contemplating my good fortune having these treasures presented to me without even asking.

Thank you universe!

You can see the discussion on YouTube at the site below. It is in Spanish and Italian.
https://www.youtube.com/live/CNLlQlHo-fA?si=ATWuamtSIcdkkP

Sostiene Pereira on YouTube. also in Italian and Spanish. The book is available on Amazon in English under Pereira Maintains.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojApfyDG7Oc

Antonio Tabucchi