Am I just Vintage or completely Obsolete?
The turn of a year makes one particularly aware of dates and numbers. We might not remember what we did on the 7th of August, but most of us know exactly where we were on New Year’s Eve and …
MY FIRST PISADA Andalusian grape stomping in the 21.st Century
You might have seen one of the movie history’s most-known comedy clips with Lucille Ball stepping on wine grapes. In the black and white recording from 1956, she dances around in an enormous barrel on a fictional Italian farm. But …
UBRIQUE – The White Village that became the world’s leather capital
Where are Dior’s handbags, Prada’s fashion accessories and Cartier’s leather-covered jewellery boxes made? In a sweatshop on the outskirts of Paris? In a factory in China? Or perhaps in the fashion district in Milan? No, many of the leather …
Here comes the gas man!
If you believe you have a tough job, think again. One of the most demanding occupations here in Spain must be to deliver the gas bottles to the country’s homes and businesses. I had a chat with our local bombonero…
Summer sizzle
We know it is summer in our Andalucian hometown when the only time it is liveable outside is before 9 am in the morning or after 9 pm at night. The hottest we experienced was the day we passed a …
FLIGHT ATTENDANT IN THE 1950s With Sophia Loren and the King of Sweden on board
In the early days of passenger flights, air hostesses needed to be small and slender, yet strong and steady enough to carry heavy serving trays with smoking dishes on stilettos through constant turbulence from take-off to landing.
These are some …
Words of the wise
As you read this, my husband and I are travelling around Morocco by rail to mark my 60th birthday. I am NOT sharing this news to attract felicitations (Please don’t!) or sympathy. Rather the contrary.
I usually keep very …
How Spanish have we become?
After living in Spain for a decade, it is almost unavoidable that we have begun to inherit some Spanish habits, attitudes, and even ways of being. It isn’t as if we suddenly start dancing Flamenco in the streets and speaking …
BENITO GÓMEZ Ronda’s no-nonsense Michelin-Chef
«In the end, it is about the essence and quality of the products, and the care one takes in preparing the food. There is no greater secret than that.»
This year, 289 Spanish restaurants received stars from the world-renowned French …
KRISTINA BRÅTENG Architect for the world’s ultra-VIPs
She is Norwegian. She is Basque. She is an internationally awarded Architect & Interior Designer, and she is only 33. If you haven’t heard the name Kristina Bråteng in connection with architecture and interior design, you are bound to hear …