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BarcelNoa - 1st International Noa's music eGroupers Meeting Barcelona Spain

- A memory of the heart
Dedicated to all BarcelNoa Pilgrims. July 6th - July 11th
In the summer of 2001 some crazy people decided to meet at the first Noa-tour after Ayehli was born. The meeting place was  Barcelona, renamed for eternity to BarcelNOA. 35 people from all over Europe gathered for 5 days in BarcelNOA. Friendships were formed and are still going strong. Since that meeting we all try to meet at each
concert we go to.

Dear e-family:
I think I'm beginning to feel sufficiently awake to write this e-mail and tell you about BarcelNoa. I have now recovered my usual sleeping pattern and that helps to think clearly and return to the beat of everyday things. For more than a week I have been drunk, totally drunk on magic, light, happiness, tenderness... drunk on you. BarcelNoa is one of the brightest and most special pages in the book of my life. I'm sure that this magic, this strength, and this love will continue to inhabit my memories for the rest of my life. As a beginning, an enormous thank you to all Noapilgrims for your patience, for your affection, for your understanding, for your dreams, for your smiles, hugs, laughter, silences and complicity.

BarcelNoa began under a Friday morning burning sun in the Plaza de Catalunya, where I was lucky to receive the first Noapilgrim. Arnández, king of Spain, pirulacho brother, box of surprises. The image is engraved in my memory, a German sitting in the shade of a tree, a mobile phone in one hand and a minidisk in the other. Even now, I can almost feel the giddiness that opened up as my feet took me closer, step by step, to the roundabout of magic and merriment... little did I know what incredible and wonderful moments were waiting for all of us.

I've been walking though Barcelona these past few days... partly tracking your footsteps and my memories of you. You have now returned to your real lives in your own cities, with your own memories, with tugging at your hearts... but for us (or at least for me, specially) there is so much that remains: every day we see the Grec signpost with Noa's photo in the Plaza Catalunya, where I so happily bowed in adoration... the places in the Plaza Real (the "Tobogán" restaurant where we had dinner), the different meaningfulness of the Mediterranean ("Port Vell" and the Olympic Village beach), walking past the Hotel Monegal/Papriol, going into the FNAC, gazing at the silhouette of Montjuic (the Grec, Plaza España...), having another breakfast in "La Table du Pain" just like it was an ordinary place, just as though it had never been home to the universe's most incredible gang of lovely freaks.It's hard to live with this post-BarcelNoa syndrome!

Being happy is wonderful. And I was happy during this time,(close to madness with so little sleep)... but, what the heck, we're spending 350 days apart this year, and I hardly minded being a zombie, grabbing every moment to treasure. It was worth it, no doubt about that. It was something we will never forget, something that will remain alive forever until old Alzheimer steps in and mucks up our insides. And when that happens, we Alzheimerites will surely wander through the geriatric ward with our singing papriols. 

 

I appreciate all the beautiful words you have written about the meeting, about BarcelNoa and about the effort that Ana and I did to making sure that things were basically under control. From the bottom of my heart, a thank you for being there (Noapilgrims in person, ChildreNoas in essence, and the whole group reflected in our smiles, in the warm glow of exchanged looks). Without you, this dream would never have come true. Thank you, thank you and thank you. I have many, many pictures of these days engraved in my memory. Pictures that we will surely share, one by one, enough for a book... or an encyclopaedia ?. Thanks for the bliss of what we experienced and shared together. Beauty outshines the sadness of missing us. You made BarcelNoa what it was: something magical. Thank you.  Before finishing this e-mail, I'd like to say a few personal words.

Arnández, king of Spain and Germany... in the end, we didn't finish up like Dustin Hoffman in Rain Man ?. The first pilgrim, the first soul brother, the first singing pirulacho in the streets of BarcelNoa, the first martyr to suffer from my madness, the first face-to-face partner in magic. Let's bless ICQ for allowing us to continue pirulaching together. I want to give you that hug that was a promise hanging in the air when you left Barcelona. The tears still sting my eyes when I remember. I miss you and I love you. I take my hat off to you and your shining light.

Mariangela and Maurizio. You really are blood of my blood, my soul mates. Thank you for your tenderness, for your unconditional affection and your infinite love. Thank you for being, for having been and for always being what you are, on all planes.I will never forget the paella at my parents' home, indeed I will never forget each and every moment we spent together. My love for you goes beyond words... you know how I love you from - infinite to + infinite. We'll be together in a few weeks... there in Sicily, which I feel is my home. Bedda matri santissina quanto vi voglio bene! Well...:-) your love is a mirror in which I can see myself reflected

Idoia... my honorary Aunt Idoia. As a lyrics writer you have no rival: "Universe begins with ICQ" is simply amazing. Thank you for all the love you made me savour these past days, it's invaluable... the same as you. Thank you for not only making me feel loved but also for the happiness you gave to our sorella, that jewel that we share and treasure. All the happy.pax you deserve. Kisses, kisses, kisses.

 

Xabier, pendejo... my favourite doctor... I must have told you countless times how incredible you are and how much I love you. My confidant in my deliriums, witness of my slopes and ascents in the road of living, my friend in uppercase, my accomplice-pal, my confessor, my window open to the Cantabrian and to a generous and warm soul that loves me and accepts me the way I am. Just a few people can know me so much and as well as you know me. It was wonderful to have your playful self here... and you know it. A big hug and, as we say: "é lo que tiene".

Li, Northern Princess, at last we could let our mystic vaginas fly over the Grec stage... intoxicated from the magic we share (our silences, our conversations, our smiles). The image of you leaving the Papriol with the Dalmatian blends into hundreds of moments when your peace and your light filled BarcelNoa. Thank you for your love.

Gill, despite the black hole of Calcutta and the cafeteria at the Corte Inglés... I believe BarcelNoa has left a vestige of eternal rapture in your memory and the light in your eyes. I'm happy to know that and happy, too, that you lost your "NoaConcertVirginity" in our company. Kisses. (and thanks for being more than my own-private english dictionary!)

Manuel, your laughter and happiness are extremely contagious... it was enough to mention Gill's room to send you into peals of laughter. My telephone seems to have recovered its normal life ? I know how special BarcelNoa was to you and I'm proud to have been a part of it... Thank you for the T-shirt, you are an artist.

Heidi and Kris, "qué pasa coño?"... my two favourite Belgians, my adorable crazy people, your love, your sense of humour, your tenderness, your ability to surprise, to learn... you are wonderful and I love you a lot. I was very touched to see you at the concert, floating, fervent, together... it's been a pleasure and an honour to joke, to talk about serious subjects with you... and to share this magic. "Es lo que tiene". I love you both. 

 

Véro and Marielle... soul sisters. Months together on ICQ... and at last the chance to hug you, laugh together, talk, ramble on... thank you for being here, thank you for sharing so much love with me, for making me happy... I love you, I hope I'll still be able to show it night after night on the net. I miss you... thanks for the T-shirt, the pic,... and specially thanks for being inside my heart. You are both great.

Hannah, I'll never forget how your eyes shone with happiness after the concert, so much beauty in that. Good luck with your work... and a big hug. Miguel... patient man, martyr of my non-perfect-organization... at the end I hope BarcelNoa deserves your trip from Madrid. A big hug. Yohan... thank you for your understanding, for your quiet affection, for your unclouded and happy glances... for coming to BarcelNoa and sharing with us your happiness and warmth. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Edwige... my sweet Edwige. From the very first e-mail we exchanged (so long ago!) you have kindled my unconditional tenderness and affection. Don't you doubt that I will visit you one day... we still have so much to talk about. Thank you for being the way you are, for radiating love and for loving me as you have shown me. I was really happy that you finally came... je t'embrasse. Marine and Didier, thank you for your sweet goodbye note, knowing that you spent unforgettable days in BarcelNoa made me happy. Your happiness makes me feel good... many thanks for sharing your magic (and talent) with me. (And, of course, thanks for the wonderful T-shirt). Kisses... from a BarcelNoa that is far from paradise, like all the big cities in the world. Ghil, I hope we have more opportunities to share magical moments... a thousand kisses. Anne, Mariame... sweet sisters, I embrace you too with all my heart.

David, Camefito... certainly my personal surprise of this encounter, a friend, a confidante, a pirulacho, a survivor... I know (like in Casablanca) this has been the start of a beautiful friendship. Kisses... and watch out for your Catalan accent ? Everything, except beauty, is catching. We'll keep in contact, don't doubt it.
Joan, Josep, Eli, Pedro... the Catalan troop.. sou collunuts! Millor descripció que aquesta no crec que hi hagi. Petonets!!!

 

I want to publicly thank and say how much I love my biological sister, my Deri, my Encarnita. Certainly one of the most important people in my life...magical, special, deep, warm, sweet, fun... in perfect harmony with my soul and my neurones. Thank you, my darling, not only because you adopted this cyberfamily as one of your own and for taking care of them and loving them as much as I do... I thank you for being a tower of strength in my life. I love you and I always will. Welcome to the e-family.

And now a few words to my other sister, to my fellow soldier... Ibizamoon...Ana, my Ana. I managed to sleep (I had to consult the encyclopaedia to learn how to close one's eyes) and to rest... I feel more than proud of the work we've done, of being your sister, of my being here and your being here... of sharing pirulacho joys, of sharing heartbeats and dreams, chats and vomit.pax, fears and joys... in the final analysis, of shouldering so much together. I shall cherish the 23rd September 2000, when we met... I also love you much, much, much more than I can say or than it seems. May all our saints bless you... all my love, Ibizan moon, utterly yours. Te quiero hermana.

To my ChildreNoas (Sandra & Fabrice) all my love from your first-time adoptive mother. To my beloved cousin-on-the-net Martina: thanks for being here, in the postcard, pics and specially in our minds in hearts. Cugino Marco e cugina Claudia: see you in a few weeks nella nostra Sicilia. To those I haven't mentioned... thanks and a big hug

And to Noa, Gil and Zohar... I thank you for your love, for dedicating me something during the concert, for being so genuine and so kind to accept my request and allow us to meet you at your hotel... words aren't enough. Only gratitude, love, admiration and complicity. We'll meet in Sicily. I love you.

Touched and tearful... thank you for your love and your magic. Love to all, 
Emilia, BarcelNoa July 2001.

Downhere find the noadoptive children in BarcelNoa 2001, some of the many people involved at the BarcelNoa Meeting. All the pics at this special BarcelNoa-Tribute are from BarcelNoa's Pilgrims, mainly David (Camefito), Ana (Ibizamoon), and Mariangela & Maurizio. BarcelNoa Ticket is a design by Idoia Lainez. BarcelNoa Gaudi logo is a design by Manuel Sevilla.

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