Galera, Spain
I spent a few days in the Spanish 'outback' at a town called Galera, in the southern province of Andalusia. It's in a very rugged and wild landscape. It very much reminded me of parts of Australia, except in a land that has a European style history going back thousands of years. Galera itself is a very traditional style pueblo, with the difference being the hills on the edge of town are full of cave houses.
Ten years ago most of these were unreformed, but there is a lot more interest in the area these days so the number of cave houses that are completed and inhabited is quite high. Yet this area is so quiet compared to the 'tourist ghettos' of the coast (I read this description in a book about Spain recently, and it is quite apt).
Town houses overlooking the town square in Galera
Where I am living now has so much going for it, but it isn't the traditional or typical Spain. It's more like little England, with pockets of other European nationalities here. You actually could live here without knowing, or speaking, any Spanish. That doesn't interest me.
View from the Hotel in Galera
I loved being in Galera. So quiet, peaceful, and traditional. And the local Spanish are very friendly. The fact that my wife speaks enough Spanish to converse certainly helps. If they see you making an effort then they welcome you like friends. I can greet people in Spanish, and say a few other basic things, but that is about it. I will be getting back into Spanish lessons asap.
Two views of the different styles of cave houses in Galera. The beauty of these type of houses is that temperature inside is always a consistent 20 -22 degrees Celsius all year round.
One thing that I have noticed about the Spanish people and their culture that really intrigues me - and I noticed this last time I was here also - is how they handle emotions. They can seem abrupt, loud, passionate and expressive. That is them speaking their mind. Yet once it is expressed they move on. There is no bottling up, or suppressing of emotions. It has got me wondering about the percentage of Spanish people that suffer serious illnesses like cancer. I know one of my core issues is bottled up and unexpressed emotions. It's a very Anglo culture thing. And all that does is breed resentment. So I will try to be more Spanish in that regard. Express, move on. No ill feelings. Not as easy as it sounds.
I read that the Spanish never resort to fist fights to settle things, such as road rage. They certainly have road rage - horns, swearing, and the like. But that is it. Express, move on. Where I am from it often turns to fights, weapons, etc. It breeds resentments, leads to a feeling of needing to 'settle the score', and other unhealthy emotional states.
Overlooking Galera, with the mountains in the background.
There is an expression here that I hear a lot - tranquillo. Literally be calm or quiet. Chill out, in other words. From the word tranquil. As well as the expression no pase nada which literally translates as nothing happens, but in most contexts is more like no problem, or - very similarly to the Australian expression - no worries. It's often abbreviated to nada.
All images are my own.
Thank you for taking the time to read this. If you liked it then please like, comment, and follow.
Short Fiction:
Bang Bang You're Dead
I Have No Name and I Must Scream
The Last Book Store
The Judge
The Man In The Mirror
The End of the World [Part 1] [Part 2]
The Locked Room
The Gods of Love and War [Part 1] [Part 2] [Part 3]
Blasphemous
Jonathan and the Dance of the Leaves
Songlines - Short stories inspired by songs.
When the Levee Breaks
Crossroads
Heart's a Mess
It's So Easy