Nestled into the Sierra Nevada mountains in southern Spain, I’ve found many an excuse to return to Granada. At first to study, later to work, once to raise awareness about olive oil, often to witness a particularly good sunset. I regularly day dream about the memories I've made here and feel comforted knowing I'll always return for more.
Growing up my friends thought my grandmother’s first name was Abuela. As the granddaughter of the first Cuban refugee in Cleveland, Ohio (true story!), I grew up on stories of the Malecón at sunset, the vibrant night life of Havana in the 50s, Alicia Alonso's ballet, relatives I had never met, and black beans and white rice. My grandmother, my Abuela, returned to Cuba for the first time 50 years and I had the great privilege of visiting the island with her.
When living in Madrid, I met a lifelong friend, Alba. She introduced me to the 100 square mile island she grew up on, El Hierro, the smallest of the Canary Islands and the southernmost point in Europe.
There are certainly easier places to get to in the world, but good luck finding wilder landscapes, the awe-inspiring experience of being in 5 different climates within a span of 15 minutes, a fresher fish, or a deeper sense of community. I once lost my passport for a period of days while on El Hierro, rendering me unable to leave. And for that, I am so grateful.
In the spring of 2017 I went for a nice long walk. It began in San Jean Pied de Port, France and ended 500 miles, 28 days, many friendships, and glasses of vino later in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. It was a buen camino.
The experience I've found to be true when speaking with other 'pilgrims' who have done the Camino, is they all felt an unmistakeable call to do it. If you're feeling that call, let this be your sign. It's never a bad idea to go for a walk.
Having spent her career working for the airlines, my grandmother (Abuela) is granted one free airline ticket a year with one travel companion. I’m lucky enough to be selected as that travel companion. Here are some of our adventures in Granada and London in recent years. If you can't tell by the pictures, she's about as fun as a travel companion gets.
La Oliva is a small olive oil and wine shop tucked into a corner of Granada, Spain. I had the pleasure of working for the shop owner, Francisco, to help in any way I could with tastings, translations, and marketing. He was both my employer and mentor. Most signficantly, he was my friend.
Francisco possesses an unrivaled passion for the gastronomy and culture of Andalusia. My mouth instantly waters when I think about the food and when thinking about the man it is virtually impossible not to crack a smile.
We’re all familiar with that fundamental sense of vulnerability that comes with being in a country that is not your own. That feeling swiftly vanishes when you walk through the doors of La Oliva. Francisco's hospitality and very real desire to share a memorable experience engulfs the visitor into the ultimate comfort zone. Whether the brief moments you spend in his shop are but a small stint away to purchase a souvenir, or hours shared enjoying dish after dish, you can’t help but feel completely at ease.
And it's clear that is his magic recipe. Honesty, hospitality, and a genuine interest in cultivating an authentic and warm experience. Plus, the food is exceptional.
La Oliva held the number one restaurant in Granada on Trip Advisor for many years. I asked Francisco about his success and was left with another lesson:
“No hablo solo del éxito económico (que por supuesto es totalmente necesario). Hablo de tener una vida de éxito, donde con tu trabajo (que te gusta) consigues dar satisfacción a personas que además de pagarte, te muestran su respeto y su agradecimiento porque tu has hecho unas horas de su vida se conviertan en un magnífico recuerdo para toda su vida.”
“I’m not just talking about economic success (which of course is totally necessary). I’m talking about having a successful life, a life in which you enjoy your work and you are able to bring joy to people that not only pay you, but also show you their respect and gratitude. Because you have shared hours of your life with them that eventually change into a magnificent memory that they can keep for all of their life.”
My partner is a high school photography teacher and he loves to play around with different photo techniques. These photos were taken on a particularly lovely weekend doing some of the little things we enjoy most -- a bicycle ride, a beach walk, a slow visit to our local coffee shop, simple time spent together playing around with expired film.
More expired film (with a different result!) along the Côte des Basques, my favorite place to be with my partner, Dylan.
A little bit of everything from everywhere, shot on film.
