What a lovely read! I am including this in my Reading Club list. Our reading club consists of about 10 'middle-aged' to 'merely old' women who have been meeting every Monday for the last 15 years to read poems, essays and short stories. You are one of our favourites: we've read 'Being Indian in English' and ' I Would Rather be Born a Wonan in China' which we enjoyed hugely. Again, thank you!
Hola Pallavi, desde Laredo Texas. I am one of the ladies in the Reading Club. Your piece brought back warm memories of our trip to España, mainly Andalusia, Extremadura and the Basque county. Loved your descriptions of life in Spain, what is remarkable for me is how as a society they choose to fiercely support a welfare state. I saw a country that does not have to carry the stress that comes form worrying about healthcare, affordable housing, and expensive education. This may explain the vibe in los cafes.
Did you know that storks mate for life and return to the same home every year (In fact, they pass down their nest from generation to generation)? You, spanish stork, will be returning.
What a beautiful essay to read first thing in the morning sitting here in Kolkata. Sharing it with friends who have recently travelled in Spain - this essay makes me want to travel too. If I do not I know this landscape thanks to your very evocative humane essay. The section on the storks is lyrical and moving. Wishing you and your family all the very best for the move to China.
A thoroughly delightful article. It made me love Spain even more now, than I did in March 2020, when we visited as covid hit - we were there March 7-17. Had a wonderful time and would definitely visit again or maybe even settle there.
PS. Trying to write a comment on your substack page is painful, with way too many hurdles.
As a Spaniard, I couldn't identify more with the description of all those distinctive and unique aspects of our culture. It's amazing how you've managed to understand Spain so deeply and authentically. You are part of it, just as this country is already part of you. I agree with the metaphor of the storks. You will be back. "Volver" is your destiny, and I promise you that when it happens we will dance Gardel's tango to celebrate it.
Me encanta, Pallavi! What a beautiful homage to Madrid! Thanks for putting into words what I’ve been feeling all these years. Madrid feels kind and human. My eyes teared up reading this: "A city, which has somehow retained a sense of decency in an increasingly indecent world." And continuing with the list: The fact that people greet you with a "hello" or "good afternoon" whenever you enter a place, whether it's an elevator or a sauna. I adore the humanity behind the "templada/caliente" choice! Awww! Besos.
What a lovely read! I am including this in my Reading Club list. Our reading club consists of about 10 'middle-aged' to 'merely old' women who have been meeting every Monday for the last 15 years to read poems, essays and short stories. You are one of our favourites: we've read 'Being Indian in English' and ' I Would Rather be Born a Wonan in China' which we enjoyed hugely. Again, thank you!
Wow! That is just lovely to know about. Please say a warm hola from me to the reading club ladies.
Hola Pallavi, desde Laredo Texas. I am one of the ladies in the Reading Club. Your piece brought back warm memories of our trip to España, mainly Andalusia, Extremadura and the Basque county. Loved your descriptions of life in Spain, what is remarkable for me is how as a society they choose to fiercely support a welfare state. I saw a country that does not have to carry the stress that comes form worrying about healthcare, affordable housing, and expensive education. This may explain the vibe in los cafes.
¡Qué delicia descriptiva! En breve nos vemos para darte kisses y compartir un café con leche templada en una larga sobremesa. ¡Un abrazo! 😊
Besos
I giggled my way through this.
Did you know that storks mate for life and return to the same home every year (In fact, they pass down their nest from generation to generation)? You, spanish stork, will be returning.
What a beautiful essay to read first thing in the morning sitting here in Kolkata. Sharing it with friends who have recently travelled in Spain - this essay makes me want to travel too. If I do not I know this landscape thanks to your very evocative humane essay. The section on the storks is lyrical and moving. Wishing you and your family all the very best for the move to China.
A thoroughly delightful article. It made me love Spain even more now, than I did in March 2020, when we visited as covid hit - we were there March 7-17. Had a wonderful time and would definitely visit again or maybe even settle there.
PS. Trying to write a comment on your substack page is painful, with way too many hurdles.
Thank you so much! What are the hurdles to commenting? Substack controls the user experience...but I can give them feedback.
They need a code for security and then more steps to go through before I could leave my comment. It was quite annoying.
Thanks for letting me know. Not quite sure why this was the case.
Makes me want to live in Spain for a few years, already! What a beautiful post, Pallavi!
You really make your words enact visual for the reader.
Loved the spain u described
As a Spaniard, I couldn't identify more with the description of all those distinctive and unique aspects of our culture. It's amazing how you've managed to understand Spain so deeply and authentically. You are part of it, just as this country is already part of you. I agree with the metaphor of the storks. You will be back. "Volver" is your destiny, and I promise you that when it happens we will dance Gardel's tango to celebrate it.
There is probably a reason you have not mentioned that lunch usually starts with the words “una cerveza por favor”! Besos!
Me encanta, Pallavi! What a beautiful homage to Madrid! Thanks for putting into words what I’ve been feeling all these years. Madrid feels kind and human. My eyes teared up reading this: "A city, which has somehow retained a sense of decency in an increasingly indecent world." And continuing with the list: The fact that people greet you with a "hello" or "good afternoon" whenever you enter a place, whether it's an elevator or a sauna. I adore the humanity behind the "templada/caliente" choice! Awww! Besos.