Imagine what it would be like to climb to the top of a pillar in the blazing sun, surrounded by thousands of vaquilleros (partygoers) all cheering you on. It´s early July in Spain, the crowd is soaked in sangría and they´re bellowing for you to continue. You waive the red pañuelico (handkerchief) faithfully in the air for all to see; the…
TERUEL September 19, 2013: Within minutes, rumors started spreading like wildfire that a bomb exploded in Teruel! I found it hard to believe that this could happen for such a quiet, quaint city far from any airport or major government buildings. Within minutes, I heard the high frequency sound of an ambulance and then… silence.…
Ríos de piedra Borrocal Near Orihuela del Tremedal in the Sierra de Albarracín mountains flows a periglaciation 2.5 kilometer river of impervious Paleozoic rocks. It is one of the largest stone rivers in the world and quite astonishing to see. High latitude, high altitude, cold air temperatures and low precipitation are a good environment for periglacial…
Inside Philadelphia´s Eastern State Penitentiary Before venturing off to a new city, I always check various websites for travel guidance. For one such trip to Philadelphia, I found a plethora of information about the necessary places to visit like the historic part, which includes the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, City Hall, Philadelphia Museum of Art,…
17 ESPAÑA Interviews by Lori Needleman Interview: Pastor of Andorra — José Iranzo Bielsa The first time I learned of this extraordinary singer I was taking a road trip with a friend to the Pyrenees. About two hours in, she began teaching me the words to one of his most praised songs, Palomica. I thought I…
Las Monjas: The nuns at the 17th century Convento de Santa Teresa. ℋ emos conocido el amor que Dios nos tiene y hemos creido en Él. We have known the love God has for us and we have believed in Him. -1Jn. 4, 16 — The words above the door as you enter to see las monjas. I have…
Amigos de la Jota celebrate la Virgen del Pilar One of my very first blog posts written a few years ago for The Huffington Post was about celebrating the Fiestas del Pilar in Zaragoza, Spain. Every October, Zaragoza celebrates with a massive fiesta in honor of their patron saint, the Blessed Virgin Mary, Nuestra Señora del Pilar. It…
Aragón: Orihuela del Tremedal In a small Aragón village with only 570 habitants during the winter months, Orihuela del Tremedal is known for its agriculture, livestock and logging industry. During La Guerra de la Independencia Española (1808-1814), Napoleon and his troops destroyed much of the village. In 1815 to revitalize the economy and the people, King Fernando VII authorized the…