The Spanish region of Asturias, located in the northern coast of the country is one of the most beautiful and interestly one of the less known regions of Spain. Guarded by the mountain range of the Picos de Europa, it is the only land that was never conquered by the…
I am not sure why but most people think we have flamenco and castanets all over Spain, which is a misconception. In northern Spain we have bagpipes and the dancing is quite different and yes, very soulful. I am a northern girl so I always feel home when I hear…
Me complace informaros de que acaba de publicarse mi último libro. Éste es un proyecto que comenzó en marzo del 2020 buceando en viejos periódicos y archivos españoles de los años 20 y 30 en España, para escribir las historias de los 15 hermanos de mi abuela durante la Guerra…
I am happy to inform you that my latest book (in Spanish) has just been published. This is a project that began in March of 2020 diving into old Spanish newspapers and archives of the 1920’s and 30’s in Spain, to write the stories of my grandmother’s 15 siblings during…
Good afternoon everyone. On March 12th I was supposed to leave for Lisbon to begin a tour of 5 weeks in the Iberian Peninsula as an expert scholar for Smithsonian Journeys. The trip was cancelled on March 11th due to the Covid-19 pandemic. After the cancelation I started preparing an…
Salamanca, located north west of Madrid in Spain, is arguably one of the most beautiful and historic cities in the country. The Castilian spoken there is considered to be the purest thus attracting thousands of foreign students each year looking to learn Spanish. Founded in 1218, the university of Salamanca…
Obidos is the finest example of a Portuguese walled town, and is one of the best tourist destinations of the Lisbon region. Historically, Obidos was presented to the Queen of Portugal on her wedding day, a tradition that began with Queen Urraca in 1214 and continued until the 19th century. This…
Porto wine is famous all over the world. Its origins trace back to the Roman occupation of what today is Portugal. In 1756 the Marques of Pomball regulated the production and quality of the Portuguese wines. For hundreds of miles, as far as the eye can see, there are vines…
Visiting the art museum from the monastery of Monserrat near Barcelona was an unexpected treat. The curator is well connected to the elite in the area and he has been able to acquire via donations one of the most spectacular collections in the country. From Sorolla to Julio Romero de…
I am about to share with all of you the start of my experience on this assignment: teaching in the beautiful city of Seville for 3 months. I will let you in to see what it really is like to experience my journey during this adventure….what better way to start…