Como ya sabéis, he estado fuera, en un sitio sin acceso regular a internet, las últimas semanas. Tocaba volver a la aldea en el noroeste de España (una región que se llama Galicia, y que aquellos que hayáis leído sobre el Camino de Santiago ya conoceréis) donde nació mi padre, Paradaseca, para depositar sus cenizas al lado de las de sus padres.
Yo no había estado allí en 25 años, más o menos, así que como os imaginareis fue una experience. Parte viaje en el tiempo, parte una sensación de que todo había cambiado solo para que todo (o casi) siguiera igual.
El sitio donde nació mi padre está en una zona muy rural que ha conocido un masivo movimiento migratorio, con muchos de sus habitantes mudándose a grandes ciudades, ya sea en España o en otros países. Como resultado de ese movimiento de la población existen muchos lugares donde solo queda gente mayor y otros que están completamente vacíos. Muchas propiedades muy baratas aunque a veces el acceso a ciertos servicios es limitado.
Encontré un artículo sobre ese tema, que aunque en inglés, os dejo por si os interesa.
Tengo planeados una serie de posts (y posiblemente algunos vídeos, una vez esté de vuelta en casa con una conexión mejor) pero mientras tanto, decidí compartir algunas fotos.
Fuimos a dar muchos paseos y una tarde me llevé la cámaraEl panorama desde Cabeza de Manzaneda, una estación de esquí muy cercanaEste castaño se rumorea que tiene más de mil añosUna de las casas de la aldea. Y un tractorLa iglesia del puebloLa vista desde la parte trasera de la propiedad de mis padresAyudando a mi tío Eloy a extraer mielLa plaza del Hierro en Ourense
Como os he comentado, habrá más posts. Ah, y aunque no dispuse de tanto tiempo como había anticipado (encontrarse de nuevo con parientes a los que no había visto hacía muchos años puede resultar en largas conversaciones) conseguí leerme algunos libros y espero poder seguir con mis reseñas.
Gracias por vuestra paciencia, por leer, y estoy segura de que aún os acordáis de lo que hay que hacer: darle al me gusta, comentar, compartir, y si os va el inglés, hacer CLIC!
As you know, I’ve been away, somewhere where I didn’t have regular access to internet, for the last few weeks. It was time to go back to the hamlet in Northwest Spain (a region called Galicia. Those of you familiar with the Camino de Santiago will be familiar with it) where my Dad was born, Paradaseca, to lay his ashes to rest next to his parents.
I hadn’t been there for 25 years or so, and as you can imagine it was a bit of an experience. Part a trip back in time, part a feeling that everything had changed only for everything (or nearly) to remain the same.
The place where my Dad was born is very rural and has seen a lot of emigration, where plenty of the inhabitants moved to big cities, within Spain or elsewhere. As a result there are places where only older people are left and places totally empty. Plenty of very cheap property although sometimes the local facilities are somewhat limited.
I found this article discussing the phenomenon, that I thought was interesting.
I plan on a series of posts (and possibly even some videos, once I’m back home and have a better connection) but in the meantime, I thought I’d share some pictures.
We went for many walks and that evening I took a cameraThe panorama from Cabeza de Manzaneda, a a nearby sky resortThis chestnut tree is supposed to be over a thousand years oldOne of the houses of the hamletThe churchThe view from the back of my parents’ placeHelping my uncle Eloy extract honeyLa plaza del Hierro (Iron Square) in Ourense
As I’ve told you, I hope more posts will follow. Ah, and although I didn’t have as much time as I anticipated (meeting relatives you haven’t seen in many years makes for long conversations) I did manage to read quite a few books, so there will be plenty of reviews to come.
Thanks for your patience, for reading, and you I’m sure you still remember what to do: like, share, comment, and if you fancy reading the article, CLICK!
This Thursday I’m leaving to join my mother and then we’ll be travelling together to the little hamlet where my father was born, Paradaseca, Ourense (I did check in the internet but there isn’t a lot about the place, apart from the fact that a pair of twins from there seem to have seen a UFO a few years back. Anyway…). We are taking my father’s ashes back home, visiting relatives and sorting a few things out. We don’t have a land line there and it seems that even mobile reception is poor (it’s a fairly hilly region, and the hamlet is very nearby the only sky resort in that part of the country, so mountains don’t help matters), so I don’t expect to be able to connect to the internet regularly.
I considered sharing some old posts, or trying to programme new posts in advance but I didn’t have much time to do that, and I love to check the comments and answer, so no good from that perspective. What I’ve decided to do is to share a few of the reviews I hadn’t had time to share with you, and I’ll leave them programmed. I’ve also shared some that you might not have seen in Lit World Interviews, although I know many of you are regular visitors.
I’ll be away for a few weeks (not sure how long as it depends on how long it takes so sort everything) but I hope to be back early in September. Sorry I won’t be able to visit your blogs and comment, but I didn’t want you to worry if I disappeared.
If I manage to get a connection I might send a surprise post sharing whatever is happening and pics, as the place is beautiful and I haven’t been there for over 20 years. I’ll make sure I keep reading and writing, if I have time, and I hope to come back refreshed.
Do take care. I’ll miss you all.
Ah, and let’s not forget the review. You know I review books for BTS e-magazine (link on the side bar) and although I can’t share the same review, sometimes I recommend you the books I’ve come across whilst there. With this book, I had whale of a time, so much so that I decided to write another review so you could enjoy it.
The book is:
Where Eagles Cry by Dee Ann Palmer. Wild California, handsome men, gorgeous horses and a daring heroine
Where Eagles Cry by Dee Ann Palmer
First, the description of the book:
Jilted by love in 1834, Cara Lindsay sails from Boston to Mexico’s rugged California to begin a new life with a favorite aunt. Heartbroken to learn her aunt has died, she takes a companionship position to the wife of Don Miguel Navarro, the tough and irresistible owner of a major inland rancho. Prior to her arrival, Miguel’s wife had suffered a permanent brain injury in a suspicious fall, and the lonely ranchero’s heart opens to Cara’s kindness and beauty like parched earth to rain. Yet love may break Cara’s heart again, for she would never be any man’s mistress. Until ships sail for Boston months away, she’s trapped in the midst of danger and an impossible love. When the bells ring and the eagle cries, will she be the next to die?
Now my review:
This is a great novel for lovers of historical fiction and romance. Set in the California under Mexican rule (just lost to Spain and in a period of historical turmoil) the descriptions of life at the time are detailed but never boring. The story is seen from the eyes of Cara, a young American woman who has suffered several losses and is at a loose end.
She ends up taking a position in the Navarro ranch, looking after the wife of Miguel, el jefe. The book has been compared to Jane Eyre, as Desira, la patrona, suffered a serious accident, lost her child and has been left brain damaged; although she is not locked in the attic (Miguel is much nicer than Rochester, although Cara is not always sure about his intentions). We see the story from Cara’s point of view. Her poor understanding of Spanish and her total naiveté with regards to the world and California in particular, create many misunderstandings. There are secrets, mysteries, plots to kill, Native-American raids, mountain lions, love rivals, wild horses and barely contained passion.
The plot is complex enough to keep everybody guessing, the intrigue is well maintained, and Cara, the main character, is strong and determined (most of the time) although in keeping with the customs of the period. She doubts herself and has her moments of weakness, but she’s a very likeable and loveable character.
There are also strong secondary characters and the ending is satisfying. It’s a solid romantic historical adventure novel and a very enjoyable one. You won’t regret giving it a go.
Algunos puede que recordéis que el martes pasado publiqué un post sobre la próstata, y la importancia de hacerse chequeos (para los hombres y sus parejas/parientes). Os comentaba el caso de mi padre, que estaba enfermo de cáncer de próstata en un estadío avanzado.
Por desgracias, y como algunos ya sabréis, mi padre falleció el jueves. Había empeorado mucho desde antes de Navidades y las cosas aceleraron bastante.
La boda de mis padres
Por desgracia no tengo un scanner aquí y además las fotos nunca se me han dado muy bien (a mi padre tampoco) pero compartir una imagen de los buenos tiempos. Quizás escriba más sobre él en algún momento. Solo deciros que era de Paradaseca, Ourense (en Galicia, el Nororeste de España) y le gustaba mucho su tierra aunque había pasado la mayor parte de su vida adulta en Barcelona (que también le gustaba bastante). Le gustaba contar historias y siempre tenía un corrillo de gente a su alrededor escuchando.
De pequeño quería ser piloto de aviación, pero se quedó en conductor y llevó autocares durante muchos años. No le gustaban nada los hospitales y no entendió nunca como pude hacerme médico (aunque estaba orgulloso). Le gustaba mucho el ciclismo y el fútbol, y era del Celta de Vigo primero, y del Fútbol Club Barcelona después.
La bicicleta de mi padre
Uno de los amores de mi padre (por supuesto mi madre también).
Adiós papá. Y gracias a todos por los mensajes que nos hicieron llegar.
Just Olga 