In the town square there were bonfires, lots of people in traditional medieval costume, and typical wares of the region. There were drummers, and recorder players, and traditional dances. Santiago Martin is the customary Grand Marshall of the fiesta, and he presides over the activities in traditional dress. This year he let Jose Andres have the honors. Speeches were made, the pig made its appearance and was raffled off, although it was so crowded we couldn’t actually see what happened to the pig. Afterwards, long tables with food and wine were set up and everyone (several hundred people) ate and drank – for free!
Read Full Post »
Three dates you might keep in mind if you are planning a trip to Spain in 2010
Read Full Post »
I am including an entertaining email account of the boys’ first encounter with Spanish culture coming from staid, very Anglo Williamsburg.
Read Full Post »
This Christmas I am going to try to recreate Nochebuena Roast Pork a la Valdespino in Williamsburg! (Perhaps it is a fool’s errand, but why not?) To begin with we have encountered two realities. First, unlike Miguel, we do not have his unique marinade, which he nurses over the years in a small oak cask.
Read Full Post »
One of the ironic accidents of history, which occur when rival cultures intermingle for centuries, is that the classic sweets for Navidad – the celebration of the birth of Christ, are Moorish, or Islamic, confections. I think it is a happy natural convergence when people learned to live with one another.
For today, and for centuries past, virtually all of the traditional Christmas treats served in Spanish homes are variations of almonds, honey, and sugar whose origin comes from the Moorish confections of the Islamic era of Andalucía.
Read Full Post »
You might think that with the many Nadal men who have great athletic ability, that this would be a family of “jocks”. But the family is more balanced than that. One of Rafa’s grandfathers is a retired orchestra conductor. Rafa’s father Sebastian is involved with real estate and a small business in town. Rafa relaxes by fishing with high school friends, and has continued to date the same hometown girl since he was 19.
Early in his career Rafa
Read Full Post »
Traditional Spain is another world, an ancient culture where continuity and variety are one. It is so different from our very young America, (233 years old), formed by waves of disparate people from every corner of the world. Just as with the celebration of Cádiz’ patron saint, and the venerable Semana Santa of Zamora, it is hard for the imagination of Americans to capture the elements fervor and fiesta which are inextricably combined, unless we are willing to immerse ourselves in the event; or better still, to allow ourselves the freedom of participating in an ancient culture.
Read Full Post »
Within the medieval walls that separate the winding streets of ancient Cádiz from the modern world, I welcomed in The Millennium with my wife Ruth, nine years ago. Our celebration in Cádiz was so magical that we returned the next year, 2001, to participate in its legendary Carnaval, which has been occurring un-interrupted for centuries, even in the most difficult of times.
I am not a utopian or a romantic. Not for a minute would I like to trade the opportunities for individual growth that we have today. After all, Ruth’s and my grandparents were emigrants who left that culture in order to improve their lives – and those of their children. But, as with everything, this freedom has been bought at a price: individualism and mobility can fray family ties.
Read Full Post »
One of the most appealing aspects of the Spanish people is the prevailing attitude of mutual support, of sharing in a common life. It provides integrity to their way of life, for their communal approach to life is what keeps them centered. Traditional Spaniards view their extended family – all the uncles and aunts and [...]
Read Full Post »
“We have learned a number of things during the four weeks we have been here in San Sebastian: While numbers one and two probably don’t surprise anyone who knows us, I’m guessing that number three might. It has certainly shocked us.
(1) Everything tastes better fried (as attested to by the fact that our rental unit has SIX frying pans in the drawer under the oven);
(2) Walking the paseo is better than walking anywhere else; and,
(3) Participating vicariously in the running of the bulls in Pamplona is addictive.” — Barbara Hurlburt
Read Full Post »
