I always feel a certain contained emotion before every dive. This time it was the Atlantic, in the area where continental Europe ends, the end of the earth: Finisterre. The underwater landscapes of Spain are as diverse as its terrestrial ones. The color, clarity, or murkiness of its waters, the light that filters to the … Continue reading Diving in Finisterre: where the land ends
Blue Thistles. Palencia
The existence of living beings is directly related to the presence of water and an appropriate atmospheric condition such as temperature. The ranges in which most species survive are slightly above their freezing point of 0 degrees Celsius, up to a maximum temperature of approximately 50 degrees Celsius, well below the boiling point of water. … Continue reading Blue Thistles. Palencia
Cástulo, when stones speak of civilizations
A visit to the archaeological site of a settlement that hasn’t been turned into a museum can be disappointing: piles of stones, remains of walls, vestiges of what were once streets and buildings… But we would be mistaken if we only saw this; we must complete our gaze with imagination, allowing our internal references and … Continue reading Cástulo, when stones speak of civilizations
Rock Art in the Els Ports-Maestrat Region, Castellón
The rugged and broken terrain that characterizes the interior of the Els Ports – Maestrat region in Castellón province provides this territory with numerous sites that are rarely visited or studied due to their difficult access. This circumstance—though attractive for curious hikers like myself—means that many areas remain scarcely researched in several fields, including archaeology. … Continue reading Rock Art in the Els Ports-Maestrat Region, Castellón
Shepherd’s hut
We are on the southern slope of the Sierra de Gredos. We have climbed very high to visit the area where the Cuartos Gorge originates. A canal from an old mini hydroelectric plant—about whose construction I still wonder whether it was built in the name of progress or for private benefit—helps us ascend in an … Continue reading Shepherd’s hut
Mine Estrella. Pardos, Guadalajara
The Province of Guadalajara has a great diversity of geological landscapes, such as the slates, quartzites, and gneisses of the Sierra Norte, the large tectonized basin of the Iberian System filled with Mesozoic sandy, marly, and limestone materials, the Tertiary karstified limestones of La Alcarria, and the Quaternary fluvial valley and terraces of the Henares—all … Continue reading Mine Estrella. Pardos, Guadalajara
Here I go flying
We have all dreamed of flying. Losing our connection to the ground and feeling weightless usually gives us such a profound, dreamlike pleasure that these dreams remain etched in our memory along with the pleasant sensation they produce. The Greek myth of Icarus is one of the earliest references to the human longing to soar … Continue reading Here I go flying
Current functions and challenges in wetlands
Wetlands are one of the most valuable and, at the same time, most threatened ecosystems. These environments act as true natural sponges, absorbing excess water during periods of heavy rainfall and releasing it during droughts, which helps prevent floods and recharge underground aquifers. Additionally, their vegetation and microorganisms filter and purify the water, improving its … Continue reading Current functions and challenges in wetlands
Small creatures
From great masters, I have learned to observe the small: the value it hides, the crucial nature of its existence, the astonishing path of its evolutionary journey. It is common for our attention to be easily drawn to what is most flashy, the largest and most imposing. Without depriving ourselves of the delight of all … Continue reading Small creatures
Our Visigothic Past
The Visigoths, a western branch of the Gothic people, were a Germanic people whose presence left a profound mark on the Iberian Peninsula. Although their exact origin is a matter of debate, historical and archaeological tradition places their roots in the Baltic Sea region, in areas corresponding today to southern Sweden and the island of … Continue reading Our Visigothic Past










