Umbrellas

Little birds find food on the floor next to lovely couples having a glass of wine.

An awning covers them as the rain falls here in the cloudy Basque country.

A person sets up his piano in the street and plays beautiful, slow music in the background.

Couples walk slowly holding hands, in their own little worlds.

Rain is usually an annoyance in other parts of the world, but here in the Basque, it’s kind of comforting.

Things get quiet.

It’s like a reminder to rest, which many of us forget to do.

Umbrellas become a necessary accessory.

Keys, wallet, phone, umbrella – this is the saying one has to repeat anytime they leave the house here.

The feeling of being underneath an umbrella is kind of nice; you can hide a little bit in the world also still being in the world.

You stay warm and dry amidst all of the rain.

They are a remembrance to the comfort that we need and deserve.

One learns to always take an umbrella with them here in the Basque.

Umbrellas; our little sidekicks.