Living in Spain

I sat down the other day to have a serious conversation with my godson about his career prospects.
“I’ve been giving the matter consideration over recent months, and I’ve finally reached a decision. I want to do nothing useful in life,” he said.
“Why not take a more positive approach towards your future?” I advised. “Why not [...]

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Easter Week in the Andalusian village I lived in for two decades, and I think immediately of Pepe, either leading the procession in a way only he could, or organising the marchers from behind, in a way only he could.
Heading down to the square for a cup of coffee or a [...]

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The signs are subtle but unmistakable. A new and unfamiliar whine, an alarming rattle, a slight tremor in the steering, a certain looseness on the bends, doors that don’t close without kicking them hard on the outside, rain pouring in from the dashboard, bits of rusted metal falling off the chassis and pedestrians running for [...]

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Teenage houseguests, I’ve noticed, come these days with cables attached. Wires drip from their ear-holes like strands of spaghetti from the moment they arrive. Their suitcases are packed with electronic gadgetry into which other cables are inserted, along with a host of batteries sprouting more cables to be stuck into every available electrical socket in [...]

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A shiver ran down my spine when I read of the inauguration of the new metro system in Seville last week. I wondered if the trains will run on time.
My trauma dates back to a ticket office in Holland some years ago, when the clerk informed me that the next [...]

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