Monday quote and how to simplify your life in 5 minutes

Good morning everyone,  this weekend we had great weather here in the Basque Country. Some of us we were out exploring nature, and it really reminded me how important is to be "observer" and aware of your life and what you do everyday.

I thought this picture and quote by Thoreau would be wonderful for starting our weeks.

Also while writing this post I was reading an article by Greg McKeown "How to simplify your life in 5 minutes". He gives some great little tips about priority, awareness and planning.
Give it a read if you can!
One phrase it caught my attention was "Live by design rather than by default". Simply awesome.

Would you recommend some other great readings to help simplify our lives? If so, why don't you give me a shout about it?

Thanks and have a great week!

Daniel in grateful peace. Sopelana, Basque Country

About the pic:
I took this pic in Sopelana in 2012. Me and my surfer friends living in Barcelona we attend every year a surf camp in Barrika named "Barrika Surfcamp".
We go there around easter, so it is really difficult to have nice weather. That year from a week of stay we had 2 days of great weather. One of those days we had a lay day, and waiting for the swell finally to come; so we decided to just go for a walk and relax in the meanwhile.

Surfing pic of the day, Ethan Egiguren

I shot this pics of local Ethan Egiguren in Donostia San Sebastian, in last November. This day we had some big waves with so much white water which allows us to appreciate how he splashes water with his maneuver.
Ethan he might be young but he's already a hell of a surfer. It is such an spectacle to see him surf whenever he's at La Zurriola.

A new short film about him and his surf style just been released. If you want to know more about this young gun, check out the trailer here and see the movie online at www.monsterchildren.com and www.3sesenta.com 

Surf city San Sebastian, Basque Country

San Sebastian or Donostia (in basque) is a city at the north west of Spain, just 20 minutes away from the French border. Donostia is the only surf city in Europe, beautifully surrounded by mountains, green landscapes and reefs meeting the ocean. 

Passing a summer here is to fall in love forever with the city. Between the multicultural ambiance, the excellent food, the multiple concerts, the nice and not that warm weather, the surf just in the middle of the city, it becomes hard to leave at the end of your stay.

But this paradise can't be like this all year long. The Basque Country it is precisely very green due to a lot of rain of course. Winters here are not that pleasant, but for me the best season is just when the fall is starting around in September.

I took these pictures at fall when the colors are most romantic, waves gets bigger and light is insanely beautiful.

Agur bero bat!!

Ellen portrait. Hiking the Ullía mountain 

La Zurriola beach and La Concha at the background. View from Ullía 

When Urumea river meets the Ocean with big swell, it creates waves too! Yes, surfers come here sometimes..

Great light at Zurriola beach

Misty surf at Zurriola

Local surfer shredding some chilly waves

Solo mission of big waves at Zurriola

When big,  you can surf at La Concha bay too

Big waves bring a lot of mist. Great for pictures of  Santa Clara island

Sunset colors watching big waves

It's Monday, follow your path!

Monday's are for reminding you to follow your dreams and try whatever you want to do. These are yours and they worth a big try. Good week girls!

Jone, Monte Ulía, San Sebastian, Basque Country-Spain