Home Hosted Visit
Village of Salinas, Spain
From the first moment I learned of the “Home Hosted Visit” on the tour's itinerary I was intrigued. As the title suggests, this event gives a group the opportunity to be served a home cooked meal, prepared by a local lady, in her actual home.
So often I am blown away by the sheer beauty of the places I visit. I look up at the windows lit up at night of the local apartment buildings and wonder about those who live there. I see the quaint cottages or homes so very different from the type of home where I live, set in such incredibly beautiful locations and I imagine – who would not? - what it might be like to live there. The side streets, the neighbourhood churches, even the local grocery stores and markets frequented by residents are of deep interest to the travellers of the world.
Yes, yes, of course I realize that 'home is best', surrounded by friends and family and the familiar. And that is right and how it should be. Nevertheless, travel provides me with endless dreams of, if not actually living permanently in some of the outstandingly beautiful places in this world, then winning a lottery and having the ability to spend an extended time in the best of the best of them. And so many places of Spain, without question, falls into that category.
So, how wonderful it was to have the opportunity to catch a wee glimpse of the homes of real Spanish people. And we were blessed with not just one home, but two – the first having the honour (truly) of visiting the home of and saying a (shy) “Hola” to Antonio's parents (yes!), and then sitting down and having a meal with our hostess Loli a short walk away.
And we were doubly blessed (or I guess that would be triple blessed) with having among our group “T.J.” who speaks fluent Spanish. (Thank you again T.J. for your skills, not to mention your good humour and patience with translating our questions.)
What to say? Loli was lovely and the meal was one of the best we had while in Spain. And Loli loves growing tomatoes in her yard just like me! Common interests with a soul across the Atlantic.
En route we stopped at a local woodworking craft business. It was started by the local priest (the Fr. that married Antonio, I believe) to help get the young men away from drugs and boredom. It is now a thriving operation with wonderful in-laid wood products to purchase and cherish. Very happy to support local Spanish economy, a thought, I think, that is shared by Antonio. He was instrumental in getting home hosted visits a common addition to the tour itinerary of Grand Circle Travel. Well done Antonio!
So often I am blown away by the sheer beauty of the places I visit. I look up at the windows lit up at night of the local apartment buildings and wonder about those who live there. I see the quaint cottages or homes so very different from the type of home where I live, set in such incredibly beautiful locations and I imagine – who would not? - what it might be like to live there. The side streets, the neighbourhood churches, even the local grocery stores and markets frequented by residents are of deep interest to the travellers of the world.
Yes, yes, of course I realize that 'home is best', surrounded by friends and family and the familiar. And that is right and how it should be. Nevertheless, travel provides me with endless dreams of, if not actually living permanently in some of the outstandingly beautiful places in this world, then winning a lottery and having the ability to spend an extended time in the best of the best of them. And so many places of Spain, without question, falls into that category.
So, how wonderful it was to have the opportunity to catch a wee glimpse of the homes of real Spanish people. And we were blessed with not just one home, but two – the first having the honour (truly) of visiting the home of and saying a (shy) “Hola” to Antonio's parents (yes!), and then sitting down and having a meal with our hostess Loli a short walk away.
And we were doubly blessed (or I guess that would be triple blessed) with having among our group “T.J.” who speaks fluent Spanish. (Thank you again T.J. for your skills, not to mention your good humour and patience with translating our questions.)
What to say? Loli was lovely and the meal was one of the best we had while in Spain. And Loli loves growing tomatoes in her yard just like me! Common interests with a soul across the Atlantic.
En route we stopped at a local woodworking craft business. It was started by the local priest (the Fr. that married Antonio, I believe) to help get the young men away from drugs and boredom. It is now a thriving operation with wonderful in-laid wood products to purchase and cherish. Very happy to support local Spanish economy, a thought, I think, that is shared by Antonio. He was instrumental in getting home hosted visits a common addition to the tour itinerary of Grand Circle Travel. Well done Antonio!