Writers in Spain

From Vine Watch to Wine Watch – Un año fatal (a disastrous year)

Here in Galicia, the annual grape harvest is a time for celebration; the culmination of six months hard work. This year is different. Many growers …

Castro Caldelas – A town with a view

Many borders are simply lines drawn on a map, but not in Galicia. The canyon of the river Sil, dividing the provinces of Lugo and …

All dressed up and nowhere to go – 1973, Cadiz, Spain

I’m really lucky. It’s been so easy to get private students here in Cadiz. Who knew? I had no idea English was such an important language. Word …

In Search of Paradise

Does paradise exist? The council of Sober certainly believes so. Their latest tourist guide proudly boasts, ‘O Paraiso Existe’ (Paradise Exists). Its publication coincided with …

The Horse Whisperer

Horse ownership is on the increase. At least it is in this quiet corner of Spain. To be perfectly honest, horses aren’t really my thing: …

Petín – Stimulates the Senses

The province of Ourense, in the south of Galicia, has the distinction of being the only landlocked province in the region. That said, finding a …

Sober – Tipsy with Success

Earlier in the week, Alberto Nunez Feijoo president of the Galician government, made a significant announcement. The municipality of Sober, in the province of Lugo, …

Experience the Camino

In 2012, just over 900,000 tourists visited Galicia (source: Institute of Tourism). Of those, less than 200,000 were pilgrims walking El Camino de Santiago (Way …

What’s this about a Canary?! Lol. – El Puerto de Santa Maria, Cadiz, Spain, 1975

El Caudillo Francisco Franco is in a sorry state. One rumour has it that he’s about to kick the bucket. The part ‘about to’ is …

Secrets of San Clodio

The town of San Clodio is situated on the eastern edge of the area known as the Ribeira Sacra in Galicia. It’s a small town …

Heroes of Rodeiro – Past and Present

Nestled in the foothills of Monte Faro, on the eastern edge of the province of Pontevedra in Galicia, is the small town of Rodeiro. It’s …

Black Death – A Modern Plague

The Ribeira Sacra is a Spanish Denominación de Origen (DO) and one of the most difficult places on the planet to harvest grapes. This relatively …

“The Winner Takes It All” – Miami Playa, Tarragona, Spain, 1981

The little kitten I found on a wall recently is growing fast. He has a great life, it seems to me. If he’s not outside climbing trees, …

Revisiting an Old Friend

The name Regina Viarum might ring a few bells for some. You could be thinking of the Appian Way in Italy: the ancient Roman road …

Ribadavia – Strolling through the passageways of time

Without doubt, Ribadavia is a sparkling jewel in Galicia’s historic crown. In 1063 King Garcia chose Ribadavia as the capital of the kingdom of Galicia. …

Queen´s birthday party at the British embassy

The British Ambassador to Spain, Simon Manley CMG hosted a reception at his official residence in Madrid on Thursday 12th June to celebrate HRH Queen …