
Rediscovering Home: A Sibling's Journey Through La Boqueria
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Rediscovering Home: A Sibling's Journey Through La Boqueria
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A La Boqueria, el mercat bullia de vida a la tardor.
At La Boqueria, the market was teeming with life in the fall.
Les parades lluïen colors càlids i els crits dels venedors omplien l'aire fred.
The stalls showcased warm colors and the shouts of vendors filled the chilly air.
L'aroma de castanyes rostides i panellets acabats de fer despertava els sentits.
The aroma of roasted chestnuts and freshly made panellets awakened the senses.
La Núria caminava amb pas alegre entre la multitud, mentre el seu germà Pau la seguia, una mica reticent.
Núria walked cheerfully through the crowd, while her brother Pau followed her, a bit reluctant.
"Pau, mira aquestes castanyes! Són perfectes per a la nostra celebració de Tots Sants," va dir la Núria assenyalant la parada d'en Martí, un venedor simpàtic que havia conegut la Núria des de petita.
"Pau, look at these chestnuts! They're perfect for our Tots Sants celebration," said Núria, pointing at Martí's stall, a friendly vendor who had known Núria since she was little.
En Martí somreia i alçava una bossa plena de castanyes brillants.
Martí smiled and lifted a bag full of shiny chestnuts.
"Núria, sempre saps triar el millor moment per venir," va dir amb un ullada amistosa cap a Pau.
"Núria, you always know the best time to come," he said with a friendly glance towards Pau.
"Ah, potser..." va murmurar Pau, mirant cap a una altra direcció, poc convençut de la importància d’aquells àpats.
"Ah, maybe..." murmured Pau, looking in another direction, not entirely convinced of the significance of those meals.
La Núria va respirar profundament, decidida a implicar al seu germà en els preparatius.
Núria took a deep breath, determined to involve her brother in the preparations.
"Vine, Pau, t’ajudarà a sentir-te de nou a casa," va demanar-li, sabent que ell se sentia fora de lloc després de tants anys vivint a l’estranger.
"Come, Pau, it'll help you feel at home again," she urged him, knowing he felt out of place after so many years living abroad.
Alguns moments més tard, enmig de les converses i riures del mercat, Martí, amb un gest hàbil, va fer saltar una castanya rostida a la mà de Pau.
Moments later, amidst the conversations and laughter in the market, Martí, with a skillful gesture, tossed a roasted chestnut into Pau's hand.
"Prova-la!", va dir-li.
"Try it!" he said.
Pau la va mirar, dubtós.
Pau looked at it, doubtful.
Finalment, la va tancar a la boca i en aquell instant, els records li van venir de cop.
Finally, he popped it into his mouth and in that instant, memories rushed back to him.
De petit amb la seva germana i els seus pares; el foc cruspint a les castanyes, el caliu familiar.
When he was little with his sister and their parents; the fire devouring the chestnuts, the warmth of family.
El gust era com un passaport a la seva infantesa.
The taste was like a passport to his childhood.
"És boníssima!" va exclamar Pau amb una llum nova als ulls.
"It's delicious!" exclaimed Pau with a new light in his eyes.
"Com podien faltar a una taula de Tots Sants?"
"How could they be missing from a Tots Sants table?"
La Núria va somriure, veient el canvi en ell.
Núria smiled, seeing the change in him.
"Em podries ajudar amb els panellets també?" li va preguntar intentant aprofitar aquesta connexió renovada.
"Could you help me with the panellets too?" she asked, trying to take advantage of this renewed connection.
Ell va assentir amb entusiasme, ajudant-la a recollir els ingredients necessaris.
He nodded enthusiastically, helping her gather the necessary ingredients.
Passeuren entre les parades, escollint ametlles i coco, xerrant sobre què farien aquell vespre.
They strolled among the stalls, choosing almonds and coconut, chatting about what they would do that evening.
Pau sentia que cada pas que feia, cada cosa que comprava, el tornava una mica més a casa.
Pau felt that with each step he took, with everything he bought, he was coming a little closer to home.
Després d’un dia al mercat ple de sensacions, Pau va entendre el valor d’aquelles tradicions.
After a day in the market full of sensations, Pau understood the value of those traditions.
No només era pels plats que preparaven.
It wasn't just about the dishes they prepared.
Era per la connexió amb la seva família, amb la seva cultura.
It was about the connection with his family, with his culture.
I ara també, amb la seva germana.
And now also, with his sister.
Quan van sortir del mercat, carregats però plens d’alegria, Pau mirà la Núria.
When they left the market, loaded but full of joy, Pau looked at Núria.
"Sí, ara ho veig.
"Yes, now I see it.
Això és el que sempre ens manté units."
This is what always keeps us together."
Amb el vent de tardor movent les fulles als seus peus, els dos germans caminaven junts cap a casa, encenent amb la seva conversa el foc de la calidesa familiar.
With the autumn wind stirring the leaves at their feet, the two siblings walked home together, their conversation kindling the fire of family warmth.