We are in the middle of summer and that in many corners of the planet brings us an image to the head, especially for those who live in the West: the suitcases, or in its smallest version, the backpack.

The suitcases are the photograph of the tourist imaginary and the trips par excellence and at this time, see images of airports full of people with a suitcase, it is the most common.

Needless to say, we are not in favor, precisely, of mass tourism or the 'collapsed' destinations by tourists 'Express'. Rather, we are struggling to try otherwise: to promote a more conscious tourism, respectful and integrated with the environment, and in our case we add the coletilla, which is not balladí, of rural environment .

Returning to the world of suitcases, if there is something that characterizes me is to always walk with a 'backpack Everything necessary to work, live experiences or enjoy the mountain, sometimes even 3 things at the same time.

But, do not worry, I do not come here to bring you one of those videos (or post) of 'things that I carry in my backpack', but that I come here to tell you something that I always take in my backpack, especially After living experiences, but that took me metaphorically and is the connection I live with the people with whom I participate.

A first semester of 2024 of 'Dar Rueda'

Recently I shared it as a reflection by opening one of the Newsletters of remote villages : Often start of 2024 we have had! At least as far as travel, experiences and events are concerned.

Of course, that has not been a casual thing, after a year 2023 in which we were 'more at home', Elsa and I reflect on the need to leave and participate in more events and/or experiences, to meet people In 'living and direct' and connecting 'in situ' with their projects, dreams and ambitions.

The result has been a real roller coaster of emotions, encounters and shared stories, which I am one hundred percent, which would not have occurred from distance or online.

This is, among others, one of the reasons why we make face -to -face experiences, the connection with people, especially having rural environments as a backdrop, is something vital to improve, personally and professionally. And although it could sound like a pombo, it is not something that we say, if you download our impact report 2021-2023 you can read firsthand how they 'changed their lives' to the people who have participated in any of our experiences.

In addition, this 2024 has been a year in which I have been able to put on the organizer's hat, as is normal and the participant hat, something that always gives you a different perspective and helps you improve in the things to start.

My organizer hat

To date, we have organized with remote peoples 3 experiences so far this year: the 'Pop Up Coliving' in the Almagro (Ciudad Real), the experience of three weeks with remote peoples Carnota ( Galicia ) and the experience with university students PR Ull the tank (on the island of Tenerife)

And if everything goes well, we will add two more experiences before the end of the year: the 'pop up coliving' La Gomera (with which we are in full promotion right now) and a new edition with the University of La Laguna that is in the design phase.

Making experiences is something that seems more 'simple' than it really is, if you want March for an experience to have an incredible result.

The true is that it is a luck Quiet and comfortable with everything that will happen.

As for people, that this was the post blog, I can only say how lucky I feel. The truth is that I have to say that the two experiences that I lived one hundred percent were those of Almagro and Carnota, where the connections were the tonic that indicate, always, that we are doing the right thing. But, I can say that I also had the opportunity to live on the last day of the experience in the tank and only see the brightness in the students' eyes, it is an indicator that they enjoyed everything they lived.

As for the two 'lived' experiences, what do I tell you? In this Newsletter I gave you my keys based on the 3 'cs' of what was lived in Almagro , it is incredible how you can generate so narrow ties in just six days and the most beautiful thing of all is that many of those ties continue to strengthen Today, something we feel very proud.

As for Carnota, these are the 'first' words that I put about it on the blog, but it is that both José Miguel , and Gabri , put their words much more than I could have said to describe everything lived in this Rincon de la Costa da Morte.

If you read both, there is something that will surely detect the league, people who connect because they come with the predisposition of doing so.

To this is added another post -written blog of the fist of Ariana Da Rosa , to describe how the Pr Ull lived the tank, once again, human connections, joining a small group of students with rural entrepreneurs.

My participant hat

As I put a little higher, you have to learn from all perspectives, so for me it was a real learning to participate in experiences and not be 'only' in the skin of the organizer.

I opened the year flying Seville, to arrive by car to 'Arroyomolinos de León'. This beautiful town in the Serranía de Huelva is the basis of Almanatura , a friend project thanks to the one we participate in the MIES project . I would talk to you again about this project, because the truth is that I met a lot of incredible people there, but I do not know if I can improve the post blog that I already wrote for it: reaping community and human connections: Mies program .

What I can tell you is that these connections have flourished and I am sure they will continue to grow: to be able to coincide with a Milucho ( Fresco and the Sea ) in walls ( Galicia ), that Israel participated in our webinar to present our impact report 2021-2023 to comment on the impacts of almanatura or that Jacobo ( Regeneration Academy ) was the protagonist of our last rural references. Sowing and reaping, the name of Mies was never more successful.

Keep connecting, one more year, with Syofinicers , was another of this year's events. The EASO (Annual Office event) 2024, took me again to Madrid, again with the Talent Garden in the background and enjoying shared connections and stories. Without a doubt, an event that I will continue to repeat while I can.

And to close the semester, my 'cake ’. I know that I am a heavy one with that, but I think I already repeat if I tell you that I am a real literal It is more likely that the answer is a resounding yes! (And believe me if it was)

The truth is that I have to admit that it was quite tired after everything lived with Carnota remote peoples, but being able to go for a week to enjoy the pilot for digital nomads in the Ordesa-Viñamala Biosphere Reserve , it was a real pleasure and Not only for the mountain, but because I think we join a very interesting group of people, with different perspectives, desire to listen, contribute and add, and that is not something that happens always.

The backpack loaded for the second semester

All these events and experiences have loaded my energy backpack, ideas and projects to execute (or plan) during the second half of the year.

These summer months (July and August) have taken them to stop, reflect and rethink things with Pueblos Remotos , and within this planning many of the people we have met and with whom we have coincided throughout this beginning will be added of the year 2024.

For my part, I will continue with the backpack in tow, adding learning, experiences, stories and laughs, something that I care with pleasure and that also does not weigh me, quite the opposite.