A lifetime of encounters with Spain.
Posted in Amigos, Fairs, Feasts and Fiestas on Sep 13th, 2011
Stephen Donahue, a Spain enthusiast and an old friend from the La Tienda community for over 10 years. He recently wrote the following comments to me: I am sometimes asked, “what is Spanish food like?”, by someone whose image is probably of the North Mexican cuisine we find here. I want to say no, that [...]
Posted in Amigos on Sep 2nd, 2011
I just received a nice message from Alberto, which brought back lots of fond memories of Rota. I thought some of you would enjoy this too: Wow, I was so impressed with your website and all the Spanish food items you carry. I really miss ole Spain. I too was stationed at Rota Naval Station [...]
Posted in Amigos, Reflections on Spain on Apr 4th, 2011
My wife Ruth and I always have fun when we share a meal with Fermín and Aixa Rodríguez. Fermín is a master olive oil taster, who provides La Tienda with our favorite blended extra virgin olive oil. Along with their cute little daughter Sofía, they live in the hilltop city of Priego de Córdoba, high [...]
Posted in Amigos, Corners of Spain, Fairs, Feasts and Fiestas, Reflections on Spain on Dec 23rd, 2010
Last month I attended my grandchildren’s primary school for the Veteran’s Day exercise. Seated before me on the floor were a couple of hundred boys and girls happily chattering with one another, surrounded by us veterans: largely fathers and grandfathers who lined the gymnasium walls. On the stage, the fifth grade chorus presented a program [...]
Posted in Amigos, Corners of Spain, Reflections on Spain on Nov 22nd, 2010
My family and I have traveled the byways of Spain over the years, and we take great pleasure in getting to know members of Spanish families whose livelihood is intimately linked with the earth. Whether they are churning milk from tended flocks, growing rice or peppers; pruning grape vines or olive trees, there is something [...]
Posted in Amigos, Corners of Spain, Fairs, Feasts and Fiestas, Migas, Reflections on Spain, Tesoros, Un Sabor de España on Sep 15th, 2010
This book is a collection of some of the most interesting essays on this blog, which I have extensively edited, and included many pictures.
Posted in Amigos, Fairs, Feasts and Fiestas, Reflections on Spain on Aug 9th, 2010
Ferias and celebrations are part of every day life in Spain all year long. Their roots are in the religious and agricultural cycles of traditional life, although, with some notable exceptions, modern Spaniards largely focus on fiestas as joyful events for the extended family to mingle with the rest of the community. Earlier this year [...]
Posted in Amigos, Corners of Spain, Reflections on Spain on Jun 1st, 2010
Both Juan and Elena Yurrita are in their mid-thirties, from the generation that grew up in the heady years when Spain was emerging as a young democracy after the rule of Francisco Franco. The vision of these young people looks outward to new possibilities, after so many years of national isolation that was typical of [...]
Posted in Amigos, Corners of Spain, Reflections on Spain on Apr 12th, 2010
For just a brief moment, all of Spain was focused on a deep valley in the dramatic Picos de Europa, bounded by almost vertical canyon walls. Like a shooting star, events in the bucolic valley of Covadonga and the village of Cangas de Onis flashed across the sky, and after a few dramatic years returned [...]
Posted in Amigos, Reflections on Spain on Mar 15th, 2010
I have been writing reflections about Spain and her culture over the past several years. The prevailing theme has been that the bedrock of the traditional Spanish culture is the importance they place on being together as a family, including the extraordinary way they cherish their children. A few years ago, this was the normal [...]
