Tomorrow is Spain’s version of Independence Day. What this means for me is that I made a mistake by waiting until the last minute to book tours in Segovia. I made a feeble attempt this morning. It’s not going to happen. All the guides are booked and I am not. My paradores in Segovia is…

In Spain the government owns small inns all over the country. In Portugal they are called posadas. They are often old monasteries. And they are magnificent. I got to Ávila today on my early train and this town is very small. What was I going to do here for three full days? I already decided…

The Museum of Evolution in Burgos defies my attempt to describe this museum. I have said “wow” more times that I can count. PipIt makes sense that the museum is in this part of Spain. The archeological dig in Altapuerca is only 30 miles from Burgos. The site has revealed fossils that are hundreds of…

In Spain many of the people smoke and drinking is okay at 11 in the morning if that makes you happy. Here’s what else they do….life long and relatively healthy lives. Why? First, the diet is based on regional and fresh ingredients. None of them are processed beyond what needs to happen to make the…

My mother is the direct descendant of peasant farmers. Her mother did not marry until she was 31 years old. She was helping her father manage the family farm near Muskegon, Michigan. My paternal grandfather emigrated to the US from Norway as a two year old. He was one of 11 children. He fought as…