I have great faith in the resilience of the Spanish people. As I think of the major economic crisis my Spanish friends are facing today as a nation, I am reminded of one of my favorite essays: a story of perseverance and triumph despite challenging times.
I would like to share the remarkable story of my friends Pedro and Isabella Díaz, a devoted couple whom I met in Spain in 1975. Pedro is no longer with us, he died in 2006, but the life he lived with his beloved Isabella lives beyond him. Pedro and Isabella are the embodiment of the best of traditional Spain, and an example of the New Spain that has risen out of the ashes of the Civil War. Their story reflects ensuing decades of sacrifice that eventually gave birth to the stronger and healthier Spain we know today.
Our families formed a close bond that grew over the past thirty years or so. We, as parents, have grown old together – and enjoy each other's children and grandchildren. My wife Ruth and I feel especially close to one of their daughters, Olga, since for a few months she lived with us in Virginia, some twenty years ago. Later, I had the privilege of solemnizing her marriage in a medieval church in the sherry town of Jerez de la Frontera.
Pedro was the son of a shoemaker in the ancient Atlantic seaport of Cádiz – one of my favorite communities in Spain. Born in 1934, two years before the beginning of bitter Civil War, which tore the fabric of the nation, and then plunged the mourning survivors into years of famine. The 1940's and 1950's were a time of profound deprivation for the people of Spain as the shattered nation tried to piece together a cohesive life, altogether isolated by her European neighbors. Hunger stalked the land for many years. Theirs was a struggle for survival.
In 1952, when Pedro was 18 years old, he left home to join the Spanish navy, La Armada Española, and lived the life of a sailor. Like many young men his age throughout the world, he went to sea in order to find his place in life. Providentially, as a young, able-bodied seaman, he was chosen to be a member of the crew that was returning a ship to the Americans. After crossing the Atlantic to New York, the ship sailed to its new home port in San Diego.
There Pedro contracted a serious lung condition, which landed him in the Balboa Naval Hospital for several months. He was all alone in a strange country. His Spanish shipmates had to leave him behind because he was too ill to travel. But a warm and generous woman named Robin who was a volunteer nurse befriended Pedro and helped him to learn English while he was convalescing.
Pedro was an eager learner, so the student and the teacher became fast friends; he became in many ways her adopted son. Recognizing what a bright and earnest young man he was, Robin gave him some money with the provision that he return to Spain and go to school once he had recovered.
Pedro loved learning. Completing schooling in Spain, he then went on his own to Oxford for a year to perfect his English. He had no money, except for a small gift from Robin, and lived by his wits in order to complete his studies. He maintained a correspondence with his benefactor back in California for the rest of Robin's life.
After his studies in England, he returned to Andalucía briefly, only to leave for France to learn the French language. This time he was totally on his own. Finally, he returned to his family in Cádiz, several years older and wiser. There he intended to settle down to work with his father as a shoemaker. But he was always open to opportunities.
He heard a rumor that the Americans were going to establish a large naval base near the fishing village of Rota, in conjunction with the Spanish navy. So he rode a local bus for an hour or two to Rota – he was there to meet the US Navy.
The naval officers welcomed him warmly because he was one of the very few Spaniards who could speak any English. That very day the Americans put him to work to teach English to his countrymen. From that time on until he retired 40 years later Pedro was at the Naval Base teaching Spanish sailors how to speak English and American sailors how to speak Spanish!
Rota was a little far to commute from his family in Cádiz, so he looked for a room in the neighboring town of Jerez de la Frontera. A carpenter and his family living over their shop rented a room to this ingenious young man. Soon he was included at the family table, where he came to know their daughter named Isabella Buzón. At first, she was somewhat skeptical of Pedro, he was a bit too exotic for her – he dressed modishly and was not like "the boy next door." Nevertheless, Pedro had dancing brown eyes and a warm heart. They fell in love and within nine months, they were married!
The Díaz family still resides in Jerez de la Frontera, as they always have. There Pedro and Isabella raised three bright daughters: Inmaculada, Olga, and Eva. Inma is married to a Spaniard from her hometown and has a traditional Spanish family. Olga and Eva married Americans. Both sisters are teachers, following in the footsteps of their father. In fact, Olga has replaced Pedro in the classroom on the Naval Base. Just as her father translated letters for me in years past, now Olga translates my updates!
When I first came to Rota with my young family, Pedro was an invaluable partner, both personally when he helped us get settled in the Spanish culture; and professionally helping me to locate a site for a retreat ministry I had designed called CREDO / Esperanza. Because of his deep faith and close ties to his church, he opened many doors for me. You can read about this in my Christmas 2006 Flavors.
Pedro opened many doors for others as well. As he rose to become the intercultural affairs coordinator for the Commanding Officer, he worked assiduously to bring Americans and local Spaniards together so that they could work in harmony.
After years of wandering as a young man, Pedro found a spiritual anchor in his beloved Isabella who was always by his side. She is a pious woman, practicing her traditional age-old faith. With members of her ladies group at the parish she has attended many pilgrimages, including the famous El Rocío, across the Guadalquivir River in the province of Huelva. Isabella remains a spiritual anchor today. As a mother and grandmother, she continues to lend her loving and faithful support to her extended family.
Old Spain and new: steeped in tradition, yet always eager to integrate the changing times. That is the story of the shoemaker's son and the carpenter's daughter. To my mind, people such as this devoted couple are the bedrock of Spain and an inspiration to all of us.
My best to you and to those whom you love,
Don
Resilience and Hope
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Spain Celebrates Victory Together
Americans have experienced some epic sporting victories over the years, from the “Miracle on Ice” hockey victory over Russia in 1980 to the Dream Team basketball victory in 1992 and the historic Women’s World Cup victory in 1999. And American fans celebrated with parades and parties. But those celebrations pale in comparison to the gatherings in Spain after the 2026 world soccer victory!
In Madrid alone, over 2 million ecstatic fans filled the streets, giving a hero’s welcome to the returning champions. We were astonished to see videos of a vast sea of fans at La Plaza de Cibeles, singing together in one voice, faces glowing with the joy of victory. In a country that often experiences regional tensions, it was incredible to see the entire population coming together with national pride.
Fútbol (soccer) is bordering on a national religion in Spain, with teams participating in intense rivalries between clubs. Some matches are so legendary they even have names, like El Clásico or El Derby. But when the national team played in the big tournament, these rivalries disappeared. On the national team, members of the legendary clubs of La Liga, like FC Barcelona and Atlético Madrid, played side by side.
We talked with a friend in Valencia who told us the streets were empty during the matches, as families and friends gathered in bars and homes to cheer on La Roja. The crowds shouted in unified passion, bonding with strangers as they celebrated goals or commiserated about bad calls.
We were able to experience some of Spain’s communal joy with a watch party that we organized at the Virginia Beer Company in our hometown of Williamsburg, VA. We shared a free spread of simple tapas with the crowd, from Marcona almonds and picos breadsticks to anchovy stuffed olives and quicos crunchy corn. We even hand-sliced a Jamón Ibérico, with hungry fans devouring the ham faster than we could slice.
The crowd grew to over a hundred people, and we were excited to see a group of a dozen Spanish fans leading the cheers. They were young adults working at Busch Gardens for the summer, and their enthusiasm was infectious. They even inspired the Williamsburg locals to sing “¡OLÉ, OLÉ OLÉ OLÉ!” at full volume. The excellent glasses of beer did not hurt the enthusiasm!
As the final whistle blew in overtime, the entire crowd exploded, led by the Spanish fans. They waved huge red and yellow flags, sang victory songs and literally jumped for joy as a group! One guy ran over and grabbed what was left of the jamón, holding it high in the air like it was a religious icon, then kissed it to celebrate the victory. Another fan grabbed a porrón pitcher that we’d brought and poured a long stream of beer in his mouth. For a moment, it felt like we were at a bar in Madrid or Sevilla, sharing the thrill of victory with the people of Spain.
In life, stereotypes are sometimes positive and real. Spaniards do love jamón with an intensity bordering on obsession. They do come together and connect, creating community wherever they are. It was thrilling to share their passion and excitement; it was an event that we’ll always remember.
¡Hola! I'm Jonathan Harris, one of the owners of La Tienda. I love sharing insights about Spain's amazing food culture. Learn more >
30th Anniversary Spotlight: "Don Don" and His Love of Spain
Our father Don Harris was affectionately called "Don Don" (Mr. Don) by some of our Spanish friends. Such a familiar honorific was so perfect for dad, a man who created so many warm personal bonds with his Spanish friends that he naturally earned their love and respect.
From the day we founded La Tienda 30 years ago, Don valued relationships above all else, more than great food or business success. He was energized by the strong connection he created with our Spanish partners, from Abel Rodriguez, the Cordoban purveyor of Ibérico ham, to Carmen Gutiérrez-Colosía, a generous and welcoming sherry wine maker.
Don loved Spain for its sense of community, a culture where family, and especially children, are treasured. He was by no means a gourmand, preferring simpler pleasures: a great loaf of bread, a slice of tortilla de patatas, and his favorite, a plate of piping hot croquetas de jamón. Don passed peacefully in 2024, but his legacy of welcoming and connection lives on through La Tienda.
Here are a few of Don's very favorite foods from Spain, I hope you enjoy them too!
Jonathan - La Tienda
What Are Real Spanish Tapas?
America is in love with tapas. Or at least the word tapas is used at all kinds of restaurants across the country. In the U.S., this usually means sharing a variety of small plates with fellow diners around a restaurant table so everyone gets to try each dish. While I personally love dining this way, it can be pretty far from the true Spanish tapas tradition.
First of all, tapas are by definition always Spanish food. There is no such thing as Asian or Mexican tapas, just as there is no Spanish sushi or burritos. The world has other great small plates traditions, from Middle Eastern mezze to Chinese dim sum and Italian aperitivo. There's no reason to use the word tapas for these other admittedly delicious styles of eating. Plus, Spain has a wealth of delectable foods, from Galician seafood to Andalucian jamón, and there's no need to add flavors from far afield.
Secondly, tapas is just as much an activity as an eating style. Barcelona and Madrid have streets lined with dozens of tapas bars, each specializing in a particular tapa. My friends and I love stopping by a tapas bar, ordering a drink and enjoying their signature tapa while standing around a tall table. We could order grilled mushrooms topped with shrimp and a small beer in one place, then a pincho moruno pork skewer and a cup of wine in the next, never staying longer than fifteen or twenty minutes at each location. All the while, each of the bars is filled with patrons talking, sharing stories and enjoying each other's company.
This casual camaraderie and connection over tasty bites of food is the third signature of Spanish tapas. Unlike a restaurant meal, a tapas crawl is full of surprises, unexpected flavors and impromptu conversations with friends and strangers along the way. An evening of tapas has a loose informality that encourages new discoveries and shared experiences.
So, enjoy that "tapa" of a Thai spring roll or an Angus slider at a U.S. restaurant. But remember that true Spanish tapas is a whole experience, a time of camaraderie and adventure while enjoying delicious bites of Spain's incredible foods at each stop along the way.
¡Hola! I'm Jonathan Harris, one of the owners of La Tienda. I love sharing insights about Spain's amazing food culture. Learn more >
15 Comments
As usual Don, you have shared an inspiring story of yet another beloved Spaniard…what an amazing tribute to Pedro and Isabella! Thank you for sharing your memories and helping to educate the general public about the warmth, intelligence and hospitality of the Spanish people! Con abrazos muy fuerte, Gabriella
Response:
Dear Gabriella,
It is the warmth and generosity of the Spanish people which is an intangible property. I have been trying to capture its essence for years – even to the point of writing a book, The Heart of Spain, but I guess you need to experience this kind of relationship to understand what it is! Not that they are perfect, by any mean, but there is nobility that’s “in the air.” Tu amigo, Don
Don, What a great story you have shared. As someone who so many years ago, spent two years living as a young boy on Rota’s Naval Air Station (66-68), I really love to read these stories. I can remember how we relied on our early Spanish lessons from people like Pedro. If I recall correctly my lessons were from a older gentlemen named Señor Moniz who used to wheel around a reel to reel tape recorder in an old shopping cart. It was people like him (and Pedro Diaz) who cultivated my affinity for Spain, her language and her people. I have been fortunate over the years to have developed some lifelong friendships with a number of Spaniards who I met through my association with the Iale/Elians school out of Valencia. Again thanks for sharing such a great story…All the best…Mike Gray
Response:
Hi Mike,
Thanks for your reminiscences. Pedro and others were the embodiment of a unique culture of warmth and acceptance. I keep returning to be refreshed by their culture. They are a wonderful people who accept people as they are — sacred beings of worth. Abrazos, Don
I was born in Gibraltar, so everything related to Spain brings back wonderful memories. I enjoyed reading the beautiful story. God bless. Trinidad.
Response:
How nice to hear from you. Has it been a long time since you returned to Spain? It is worth the visit. I am glad I brought you some good memories.
Tu amigo, Don
What a beautiful tribute! Having lived in Rota from 1997-2001, and having noticed how all of the Spaniards spoke English, it is remarkable that Pedro was primarily to thank for that! I miss the base, I miss the people… I miss Spain! Thank you for sharing!
Response:
Yes, Pedro did a lot. He was always thinking of new ways to get the Americans and Spaniards to do things together. He even accompanied me on retreats in Chipiona with the young sailors. He was quite the man — with a big heart.
Don
What a lovely story! I, too, have memories of this sort. My mother, Pilar Espejo Lavilla, was born amidst the Spanish Civil War in 1939. Her father, my grandfather, was a Guardia Civil during those years of war, famine and tragedy. In his later years he worked for the American Embassy in Madrid, and with luck that was where my mother first found work at the age of 18. A year later she went to work as a secretary at Torrejon AFB in Madrid, and shortly after met an a young man in the US Air Force. Two years later they were married in Madrid, and the rest is history. Years later, she too, was the glue that held the Spanish Military and American Forces together at Torrejon AFB. My time growing up in Spain (1964 through 1980) were the best years of my life. The strong family ties and traditions will forever be with me, as will the stories told by my grandparents (and mother of course!) of the perseverance of the Spanish people. The rich heritage is in my blood, and I am so proud to be a part of it! Viva Espana!
Response:
Dear Laura,
What a moving and insightful note. Thank you so much! You are blessed to have this experience of Spanish solidarity in your life.
Next month I intend to write some more about the modern day economic crisis and how they are responding. Especially how they can count on their families who are their lifeblood.
My best to you and your family.
Don