The Unspoken Spanish Civil War

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.…

The River of Tears

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…

17 ESPAÑA: Pastor de Andorra

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…

On the Other Side of Happiness

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…

Celebrating la Virgen del Pilar

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…

Feria de Orihuela del Tremedal

  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…

Chasing Windmills in Spain with the Masters

An unforgettable journey with Cervantes, Dalí Gaudí, Goya, Picasso and El Cid.  — originally posted for the Huffington Post Travel Next Magazine  For centuries, Spain has been home to some of the world’s greatest artists. Imagine what it would be like to have coffee at a local cafe in Madrid with some of these legends…