There is a crowd gathered beneath a tree, so I wander over. On the pavement are two people on tricycles both dressed as corpses, both wearing sunglasses. The tricycles are configured as open sidecars. Each contains a rubber skeleton wearing a tin helmet. Although not moving, their pose makes it easy to imagine all four of them cycling hurriedly towards the afterlife. They look funny.
In front of each bike is a bowl. A little girl wanders out of the crowd and drops a coin into each one. As she retires both corpses give her the thumbs up and begin pedalling. Bells and hooters sound off and the two skeletons start frantically bobbing up and down, their jaws opening and closing as if urging on their riders. The crowd begin to laugh.
Once they have stopped, a man rushes forward and drops a coin in to only one of the bowls. Once again the corpse begins pedalling. The other points at his chest and waves his other arm frantically to try and attract the attention of the benefactor. Despite the sunglasses, his frantic expression is obvious. The first corpse stops pedalling and makes a gloating gesture at his colleague. The man returns, drops a coin into the other bowl and with a gleeful smile, the previously disappointed corpse begins pedalling once again. Everyone laughs.

I could stand and watch them for ages but the sun has broken through and I decide this calls for coffee and few minutes to watch the world go by. I walk slowly down La Rambla until I find a café with tables outside. A waiter is wiping down tables and chairs after the recent rain. I claim one and order my coffee.
The sun has brought forth more people and the trinket market has rushed into action to take advantage of this opportunity. Business in the market becomes brisk just as it has done on the café terrace. The sun is warm and I finally have a reason to find my own sunglasses. Barcelona, capital city of the Catalans has come alive and for a little while, I’m part of it.

Barcelona. Two weeks ago it was Dubai. Three weeks ago I was standing in beautiful Kings Park overlooking the city of Perth, state capital of Western Australia. Two months ago my wife and I had celebrated our wedding anniversary in the medieval city of Prague.
Six years ago I had stood in the car park at Heathrow Airport and cried out of sheer terror at the thought of boarding an aeroplane. Twelve years ago I had got as far as the aircraft door before I turned around and walked away. Leaving my poor wife uttering apologies to the cabin crew.

Barcelona: I am part of a fear of flying reunion and it was flight number 50 that had brought me here. I sip my coffee and think about those 50 flights that have taken me all over the world and amassed over a hundred thousand miles in the air. The Empire State Building, Raffles, Ayres Rock, The Sahara desert, a family reunion, even my work had taken me into the air. The list rolled on. For me the world had truly become a smaller place.

I think about me, the person I was, the person I have become. How could one fear have so utterly affected my life? I considered myself to be well balanced, but this irrational fear had destroyed my self-confidence in everything I did and wrenched me between jealously and confusion.
Where had it come from? How had I allowed it to creep up on me?
I had flown infrequently before the bad times. I had always had a child’s passion for aircraft, hell; I’d wanted to join the air force.
I ponder the questions but I can’t find answers. I glance up at the statue of Christopher Columbus, I know at that moment the fear will never return.
I look to the future. Hawaii next, but that will be seven months away, the longest period I have gone without flying since I sought help. Fear? No: disappointment.

I finish my coffee, it is time for me to go and rejoin my new friends. The evening meal takes place in a relaxed and delightful atmosphere. Everyone is at ease, no shortage of confidence here. 36 hours ago we were strangers to each other; or were we? All from different walks of life but we are part of a unique circle who has each faced the Tiger that stalked us; and the Tiger backed down.