Dog Days

Portugal, July 2020

It was so damn hot when I got out of the co-working space in the old town of the village, way too tired to go surfing. And I do consider myself a lucky bastard being able to do home office for the newspaper here, as I prolonged my stay for the whole month. Getting used to daily normal life, avoiding crowded beaches during high season and enjoying mellow evenings with either seafood and friends or alone on the terrace with laptop on the knees, trying to keep up with deadline of manuscript handover.

It was a busy online day at the newspaper, so I went home for a nap and took, later on, the dogs for a walk along the wild and rocky coastline close to the house. I usually rent a house next to my basque friends Adriana and Ibon but its occupied, so staying with them in harmonious and relaxed co-living in their house. I know their dog Ura since she arrived, Ibon‘s birthday present from his long time girlfriend Adriana, when only a few months old. We have had many walks together since then. But today, her mother, a german shepherd, came along. And we had lots of fun climbing down the narrow trail on the cliffs towards a stony beach. I sometimes had difficulties with my balance and walked barefeet, of course, since my trip to Czech Republic. Have not had a pedicure yet and feet look absolutely terrible but have been very well prepared to walk over all kinds of surfaces. Anyway, the german shepherd was so caring as she noticed my instability and would wait right behind or in front of me, to check if all good. Amazing! Not used to that from Ura, her one year old daughter, who rushes and jumps along tearing you down. Her shepherd’s instinct is so deeply involved that makes me feel safe but strange, suddenly being taken care of a dog. In my life I would not have spend a minute on the thought of having a dog myself, not even a cat. But it‘s great to borrow one every once in a while.

During the morning walks with Adriana, Ura would pull to reach the end of the dirt road where she‘d be let loose from the dog halter and run off. Not too long ago, the cadaver of a woman had been found in between the bushes, highly decomposed, in this area. Ura had come back smelling of cadaver, that day of walk in june.
I was happy to have mama dog with me, in case I fell off the cliffs, to be smashed against the rocks on the shore by the ocean‘s heavy waves.

I am better off going surfing those beach break waves in the evenings , when the wind has calmed down and the conditions are good for me and I am able to paddle out with ease, mostly with a surf buddy. Because Mr P. has nothing to say then, so cool! Thankfully he’s not jealous at all to anybody. But loyal to death.

To all the loyal german shepherds in the world.