A lifetime of encounters with Spain.
Posted in Reflections on Spain on Dec 20th, 2011
The essence of the holidays is the celebration of loving relationships, especially within the family. It is the time for children with their joy and enthusiasm and their sense of wonder. What fun it is to be with them as they open their presents with such gusto! It is not the gifts so much as [...]
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 Corners of Spain, Reflections on Spain on May 10th, 2010
Many times when I am traveling the byways of Spain, I feel an almost magical bond connecting me with the hundreds of generations who have populated this ancient land. Sometimes it is prompted by a seemingly insignificant object such as the humble cazuela, the simple terra cotta dish that has been used by Spanish families [...]
Posted in Reflections on Spain on Jan 14th, 2008
Sometimes when you are welcomed into a different culture, you appreciate it more than if you are born into it. With our three little boys we lived among a generous and warm people in the sherry town of El Puerto de Santa María. Our Spanish neighbors extended to us their hospitality, even though we were passing strangers (visitors). What impressed us most is when we saw how their extended families were the foundation of their lives. Their little children were precious, not only within the family but also were embraced by the neighborhood within which they would be nurtured.
Posted in Reflections on Spain on Oct 12th, 2007
Spain is witnessing a culinary revolution in reverse. After all the years of commercial progress, Spaniards are now seeking to revive their traditional heritage. It took only two or three resilient generations to overcome the tragedy of the early 20th Century: the Civil War and exclusion from European recovery after WWII. What they have accomplished [...]
Posted in Corners of Spain, Reflections on Spain on Oct 15th, 2006
Today I would like you to meet my friend Esteban, whose family roots go back almost 1,000 years. He is a warm and gentle man, whom our family has met on several occasions.
He and his brother Javier work together with his father, Esteban Salvadores who founded a small business, El Maragato, in the ancient stone village of Castrillo de los Polvazares, which was first an encampment of the Roman legion. Later, in medieval times, the villagers welcomed pilgrims traveling along the Camino de Santiago.
Posted in Amigos, Corners of Spain, Reflections on Spain on May 15th, 2006
From our few hours with Patxi and our visit to El Navarrico, we left with a feeling of satisfaction. It was fascinating to see how the people and the fruit of fields come together in their native setting. More than that, we found it reassuring to have met a member of the Salcedo family. His pride in the common labor of his family was abundantly evident. Their family, working together in the deep fertile valleys of Navarra, reflects the soul of Spain.
Posted in Reflections on Spain on Sep 13th, 2005
The next time you grab a bite to eat and hurry on your way, remember that dining is also a time for the refreshment of your spirit in the company of others. That sense of companionship is central to the traditional way of life in Spain. The Spanish culture is richer for it.
