My Connection to Water (Video)

Words, photos, and film by Belén Castelló

As kids, we have wild wishes and dreams often dismissed as silly aspirations, but they are likely an honest insight into our deepest, happiest desires. When I was younger, my parents took us to the sea for holidays, and I remember snorkeling with a disposable camera, trying to capture any moving creature I encountered. I could spend hours underwater, which is probably why one of my very first dream jobs was to become a marine archaeologist. Since I can remember, I have been drawn to water.

But as we grow older and often excuse ourselves with “life happens,” I never took a water-related job seriously and limited my experiences to swimming in the pool. Then, six years ago, my focus shifted entirely to cycling. I thought life on the bike was demanding enough without considering swimming, so integrating both interests never quite crossed my mind. However, as with anything you dearly love and crave, it starts weighing on you if you neglect it for too long. So, I decided it was time to find a way to connect both land and water.

In the video above, I travel to the island of Formentera with a quest to ride around for a week with my swimming and diving gear, looking to reconnect with the feelings I used to have as a kid.

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