Tumbling in the waves

For quite some time now, I had been feeling like a sock or something in a washing machine: spinning out of control. So I figured I might as well go and spin for real... and a morning spent tumbling in the cold waves off the Portuguese coast did help knock some fresh ideas and optimism in my bedraggled head.

You must be asking yourself, why would a Mauritian leave the warm waters of Tamarin and jump in the icy waves of Europe for their first lesson? The answer is simple: women.

I was heading to the Web Summit in Lisbon on a 'Women in Tech' ticket, and some brilliant person had the idea of organising a surf intro prior to the Summit. Determined, brilliant women testing salt waters for the first time? Of course I was in!

As we drove out of Lisbon, it did occur to me that I might freeze my butt (I am very averse to the cold!). The sand felt cold under my feet - and trust me, for a Mauritian this is the weirdest feeling! - and an icy wind whipped our hair around our faces. I wasn't sure whether I liked the look of the green-gray waves, which were markedly different from the glimmering turquoise ones I was used to. But, well, YOLO.

​And it was fun.

^Photo by Iana Pitt (or it could have been Karuna!)

Rolling in the surf was invigorating. Fighting with our boards, laughing and swallowing buckets of salty water, and finally gliding back to the beach made for an entertaining morning and I am so glad we gave this a go!

The fun wasn't over yet. We were invited for lunch by the Lemon Tree hostel, who laid out a homely, comforting spread of local fruit, cakes, grilled veggies (and fish for the non-vegetarians) and salads. It was a convivial and laid-back lunch, just what we needed after the sea!

Our hosts serenaded us with music, and we toasted friendships, good health and happy moments with fruity port wine. It was only my first day in Portugal, and I'd fallen in love with it. It was a perfect start to the adventure.