Jump In!

Sunday was a warm and sunny day here in Sevilla and, since my allergies seem to be easing up a bit, I am back to taking long meanders all around town.

In the afternoon I decided to see if I could locate the Andalusia Center for Contemporary Art, which I learned on Google Maps is just across the river on the Island of Cartuja. It looked like a bit of a hike, but it turned out to be much closer than I thought — another great destination less than 15 minutes from home. It's a contemporary property developed within an old ceramics factory. A fascinating blending of buildings, old and new. Something else to explore and blog about one of these days.

As I headed across the bridge to the island, I came upon a bunch of teenagers in bathing suits running toward me. All along the island side of the river is a park with jogging and bike paths, places for picnics and sunbathing, and opportunities for swimming. A lot of kids were having a ball jumping off a modern boardwalk/pier into the river. But the gang that I saw approaching looked like they intended to jump off the bridge. Three of them did. The rest malingered, talked big, and walked back down to sit on the grass.

CATCHING ONE DAREDEVIL MID-JUMP.

THIS POOR GUY WANTED TO JUMP, BUT COULD NEVER SUMMON THE NERVE.

I have been a risk-taker for a long time — usually choosing to shake things up and embrace change while sacrificing financial security and quite often, temporarily, emotional stability. So, I have been jumping off bridges my entire life — but only figuratively. Jerry is the same way. I'm sure we'll keep jumping, but we won't be joining the kids on the bridge.

I TRIED HARD TO CATCH THE ACTION. BUT I JUST COULDN'T KEEP UP.

DOWN BELOW. SWIMMERS. NOT JUMPERS.

AFTER HIS THIRD JUMP, HE CALLED TO HIS FRIEND WHO CONTINUOUSLY HESITATED,
"NO, I ALREADY TOLD YOU, THERE ARE NO FISH. THEY'RE MORE SCARED THAN YOU ARE."

THE VIEW NORTH OF THE BRIDGE. MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM IN BACKGROUND.

IT'S SEVILLA. THERE WAS BOUND TO BE SOMEONE WHO COULD WALK ON WATER.
(HE HAD JUST JUMPED OFF THE LOW RAILING.)

I read somewhere that you don't need a parachute to skydive.
You only need a parachute to skydive twice.