Blog #1: Introduction

This past summer, from August 11 to September 2, 2017, my daughter Nadia and I set foot in Europe for the first time ever. The Old Continent made a huge impression, impacting us at many levels in unanticipated ways. The Countries we visited, Spain and France, uniquely spoke to our hearts.

Spain cast its Latin spell on us from the start, delighting us with its natural and varied scenery, its glorious plazas and monuments, its magnificent architecture and its cultural abundance. In two short weeks we covered a lot of ground: Madrid, Avila (Puerta de Gredos), Cáceres, Córdoba, Sevilla, Ronda, Torremolinos in Costa del Sol, Granada and Toledo; and last but not least, the glamorous Barcelona, which at the time was mourning the loss of innocent lives of locals and tourists due to the unspeakable terror attack that took place at the popular and touristy Las Ramblas. Nadia and I witnessed Spain’s solidarity as they mourned and stood united against any form of terror. One week after the tragedy we were standing in Las Ramblas' street memorial, and found it impossible to process the aftermath of evil and how a handful of haters can cause unprecedented devastation to the masses. The outpour of love and support from thousands of by-passers was heart-wrenching.

Having grown up in Mexico, I felt a deep connection to the Spanish culture and language. What impacted me the most was setting foot in several “Paths of Sepharad” and becoming an eyewitness of what once were vibrant Jewish Quarters in Spain’s numerous “Juderías.” Remnants of the lost Jewish presence are still standing in Cáceres, Córdoba (Maimonides’ birthplace), Sevilla, Toledo and Barcelona, the cities we visited, although there are many others spread out in other Spanish cities. This experience lit my soul from within connecting me to my Sephardic roots and affording me ghostly images of my ancestors, which I heard from through the voice of my maternal grandmother, who I am named after, whose tales of the old world came to life in context.

France also spoke to our hearts, more so for Nadia given that Lyon is the birthplace of her father, also of Sephardic origin, whose family moved from France to Mexico for the centuries-old reason: "Let's go wherever we can be Jews,  feel safe and live peacefully."

In Toulouse, France we danced at the wedding of a close friend from home, and on our last day, even under the rain, we climbed all 700 steps to reach the second floor of La Tour Eiffel, where we met Paris for the first time from a high place, recognizing some landmarks such as the Champs Elysées. We certainly wished we had more time in the most romantic city of the world.

Unquestionably, our 21-day journey was filled with meaningful experiences, human connections, worth-sharing adventures and overwhelming admiration and inspiration. We witnessed unprecedented beauty, ranging from natural scenery and monumental architecture to historical landmarks that bear witness to the three major world religions.

Upon our return, I reflected on the trilogy of our trip which accentuated our collective identities. In three weeks, we sailed through cultural boundaries speaking three languages and felt a sense of connection and belonging in all three cultures. In week one we wore English teaching hats, in week two we toured, socialized and mingled in Spanish and in week three we unleashed our French tongues to live it up “en Français.” At the end of our journey, this was surely a gift to acknowledge, savour and celebrate.

Perhaps the best way to crown our journey is by stating that we covered two countries, and twelve cities, and set foot in eight (or more) UNESCO World Heritage sites: 

–Avila’s Medieval Walls and Monuments
–Cáceres Historic Center
–Cordoba’s Historic Center (Jewish Quarter)
–Sevilla’s Historic Center
–Ronda, the City of Dreams
–Granada's "La Alhambra" and Palacio de Generalife
–Toledo's cultural and monumental heritage
–Barcelona’s multiple architectural masterpieces

Overall, the trip was a total success, and the memories will be lifelong lasting.