James Pons, Casa Nereta
Sensory People is an interview series about the specific, sometimes unexpected things that help people find comfort & beauty in daily life. It's the questions I always want to ask — and the reminders we all need.
This week: hotelier James Pons, founder of Casa Nereta, one of our favorite hotels. Located in Cadaqués, on Spain's Costa Brava, it was originally the home and studio of surrealist painter Joan Ponç, and is now a hotel run by his grandson James and James's mother, artist Romy Pons Ruiz.
On our first stay, I immediately noticed all the sensory details — especially scent. James is passionate to the point of obsession with creativity in all forms, and staying at Casa Nerta feels like spending time in the home of a curious, thoughtful person, which is exactly who James is.
1. What's a feeling you're always wanting more of in life?
A peaceful life. Building a companionship around love, support, and respect for life, and building more things, investing my time in almost constantly creating. To me, work and personal life and finding the balance of the opposites, has always been a life goal.
2. What are your favorite sensory objects?
I love all sensory... I’ve always had a nose and crave to be surrounded by aromas that connect me, push me to be at my best for whatever occasion that requires it or bring back memories & states of self-reflection. Probably what you can smell is even more important than what you can taste, for example, both fantasies and real memories can come back to you or you can almost immediately feel release and inner peace with the right incense, scents can awaken creativity, connections ... the sense of smell is very powerful. A good albahaca leaf, a lavender oil drop in your skin, and magical rituals from nature that make our life a lot more fascinating.
3. What scents instantly comfort you?
Woody scents.
4. What emotion or memory would you bottle if you could?
Loving moments with my mom when I was a child.
5. What words, things, people or places bring you back to yourself?
Feeling safe, my cat, music, my bed, an acoustic guitar, a hug by the right person, my perfume.
6. What's your favorite BODHA and why?
I don't know if I can have one only? Instead of choosing one, I choose them all, each for a different occasion cohesively coexisting in a harmonious range.
