"Do you have 'October Yellow'?" I asked at the paint store on Hortaleza Street. They didn't have that exact shade. If you truly know that yellow, you know that Claude Monet's was a poor substitute (and he knew it too). All you need are ripe, sun-yellow quinces. Slowly remove the fuzz, then chop the hard … Continue reading Monet yellow
Minerals of the Cabezo Negro de Albatera. Los Serranos Quarry
Mineral collectors have a sixth sense for detecting any human activity that exposes what lies beneath the earth: trenches for sanitation and drainage, cuts in road widening, slope failures, various excavations, or different types of mining operations that have been resumed, removed, or altered. Taking a walk and inspecting what the machines have unearthed often … Continue reading Minerals of the Cabezo Negro de Albatera. Los Serranos Quarry
The beginnings of archaeology in Spain
Archaeology, the scientific discipline dedicated to understanding the past through the study of material remains, found its roots in Spain during a period of great intellectual and social transformation. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, a growing interest in the past, coupled with the influence of movements like Romanticism, sparked curiosity about the … Continue reading The beginnings of archaeology in Spain
Poplar mushrooms, (Cyclocybe cylindracea)
I couldn't have been more than 12 when a teacher and family friend introduced me to Quique, a classmate: 'Dani, this is Enrique. As you can see, he's as tall and skinny as you, but he's tanned and loves fishing.' Finding a friend at that age who shared my interests and insecurities was like discovering … Continue reading Poplar mushrooms, (Cyclocybe cylindracea)
Jonas’s fish
It is possible that it was a great grouper (Epinephelus marginatus), one of those giant and mythical groupers, that swallowed the doubtful prophet without chewing: "The Lord had prepared a great fish to swallow Jonah; and Jonah was in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights" (1:17). At that time, nets, … Continue reading Jonas’s fish
Saltworks in the Gentle Valleys of the Iberian System
The Salt of the Triassic The Gentle Valleys of the Iberian System in Spain, whether located in the provinces of Guadalajara, Cuenca, Valencia or Teruel, are characterized by a low-elevation relief, with rounded profiles and are defined by those characteristic reddish and greenish colors that give the marls and clays of the Keuper (Upper Triassic). … Continue reading Saltworks in the Gentle Valleys of the Iberian System
Mines of Nuestra Señora de la Celia. Jumilla
Entering an abandoned mine and seeing the walls, full of Hematite, shine under our lamps is like returning to the adventures of childhood, dreamed and read. Of all Julio Verne's novels, one that impressed me the most and that I reread many times as a child, and even as an adult, was "Journey to the … Continue reading Mines of Nuestra Señora de la Celia. Jumilla
Limnology: The scientific study of inland waters
It's common for a lack of knowledge about a subject to lead to an underestimation of its importance. The obscurity of something often also results in a loss of protection, whether at a personal, institutional, or both levels. In the science of aquatic ecology, limnology, or the ecology of continental aquatic systems (rivers, lakes, wetlands, … Continue reading Limnology: The scientific study of inland waters
Valleys of the High Atlas
In the High Atlas of Morocco lies the famous Mount Toubkal, which, at over 4,100 meters in height, is the highest mountain in North Africa. Its proximity to Marrakech and the relative ease of its ascent have led thousands of mountaineers, and even tourists with little or no mountain experience, to visit this region each … Continue reading Valleys of the High Atlas
Graellsia isabelae, the most beautiful lepidopteran in Europe
The Butterfly This is a univoltine butterfly, meaning it has only one generation per year. The Isabelina butterfly (Graellsia isabelae) is a species of diurnal lepidopteran from the Saturniidae family, with a wingspan ranging from 45 mm to 10 cm. It is the only species in the genus Graellsia. Its coloration is predominantly green with … Continue reading Graellsia isabelae, the most beautiful lepidopteran in Europe










