It’s July & that means one thing only in the Basque Country… time to run with the bulls! I’ve been lucky enough to go for the past two years, so this post is an amalgam of both experiences. And while I’ve never been tempted to put my life on the line & actually run alongside, the spectacle is something I’ll never forget.
Continue reading → pamplona: running with the bulls
Twenty years ago today, Lisboa opened a specialized World’s Fair that completely altered the city’s landscape. Local government reclaimed an abandoned industrial zone to make way for pavilions, new housing, a new Metro line, a multi-modal train station & a second bridge across the Tejo River. Lisbon would never be the same.
Continue reading → lisboa: expo ’98
While Feria may not be my thing, an event coinciding with the April fair gets me excited every year: a horse carriage display & competition. Horses & Andalucía have gone together forever, & many families choose to arrive to their caseta during Feria either on horseback or by carriage… one more way to promote local culture as well as add a touch of glamour.
Continue reading → sevilla: exhibición de enganches
I practically grew up in our local branch of the public library in Memphis. I think my mom figured out it was free child care, & I could spend hours going through the stacks without ever noticing the time. So when I heard the Lisbon city government spent 2.5 million € to fix up this public library, I couldn’t wait to check it out.
Continue reading → lisboa: palácio galveias
Sevilla —as any city with a 2,000-year history— has seen its share of ups & downs. But one of its most prosperous periods came after the discovery of the Americas in 1492. Possessing an inland location on a river navigable all the way to the Atlantic Ocean, Sevilla became the heart of all trade for the Spanish empire. Wealth & power concentrated in a walled city rich with tax income & bursting with new products as well as new ideas… even for Catholicism.
Continue reading → sevilla: san luis de los franceses
An hour & 15 minute bus ride from Sevilla takes you to another important Roman city in Andalucía: Écija. Although technically in Sevilla province, Écija is actually closer to Córdoba which influences its gastronomy. But let’s work up an appetite first…
Continue reading → spain: écija
AfterLife
Over 500 posts documenting
Recoleta Cemetery in Buenos Aires