Category: Life in Spain

About a family’s life in southern Spain (Andalucia) and integration into local culture after moving to Jerez de la Frontera–the land of Sherry, flamenco and dancing horses–for a family gap “year” that has now turned into 4 years and counting.

Father and Sons Bonding Time 🎵 Making Music+Video with Kids 🎅Jingle Bells-Dulce Navidad Mix👍

by free electrons family, posted in Life in Spain, Music and Videos

Happy New Year! Here's a music video (on YouTube) of a new and refreshing family-friendly version of the popular Christmas song "Jingle Bells" with lyrics mixed with the Spanish version "Dulce Navidad" con letra. It is an acoustic guitar-driven style, sung by kids, mixed with Villancicos Navideños (Spanish Christmas carols), in English and Spanish, performed in the style of Zambomba (Christmas songs done in festive flamenco style as uniquely done in Jerez de la Frontera, Andalucia, Spain). ¡Olé! My two young kids and I recorded it in our our old-but-professional home recording studio in December.

Father and Sons JAM Session With Kids (a Lullaby) 😊 Family Video

by free electrons family, posted in Life in Spain, Music and Videos

An improvised music activity with my children playing musical instruments was the follow-up to our first-time jamming, first to the all-time children's favorite song "The Lion Sleeps Tonight". As a full-time father and a happy houseband (aka house husband) I have to find activities to keep the kids off the "screen" as much as possible. … Continue reading Father and Sons JAM Session With Kids (a Lullaby) 😊 Family Video

Joy to the world (New) Villancicos – Christmas Songs Kids – Mix Spanish-English – Family Video

by free electrons family, posted in Flamenco, Life in Spain, Music and Videos

In the spirit of the season, here's the first of our own version of Christmas songs by kids performed in festive Jerezano flamenco style called "Zambomba". This one is (hopefully) a refreshing, family-friendly take on "Joy to the World" in English and in the style of Rumba Flamenca on the guitar, mixed with popular Villancicos … Continue reading Joy to the world (New) Villancicos – Christmas Songs Kids – Mix Spanish-English – Family Video

Advent in Spain † Religious Procession 🎵 Marching Band – Video

by free electrons family, posted in Jerez de la Frontera, Life in Spain, Music and Videos

Are you religious or culturally curious?  Here is a 6-minute video of an interesting religious procession on the first day of advent in Spain. . . Church bells ring and the procession begins with a heavy statue of Mary on a float at the lead of a full marching band.  There are about 50-penitent men … Continue reading Advent in Spain † Religious Procession 🎵 Marching Band – Video

Jerez in November: Where to See FREE Flamenco Shows

by free electrons family, posted in Flamenco, Jerez de la Frontera, Life in Spain

The best time to visit Jerez, whether you are a flamenco die-hard or culturally curious, is in autumn, specifically in the month of November. Not only is November 16th the International Day of Flamenco, this month is FULL of authentic FREE FLAMENCO PURO (for the flamenco purists) in Barrios San Miguel, Santiago and San Mateo--neighborhoods … Continue reading Jerez in November: Where to See FREE Flamenco Shows

Happy Halloween! March of Death in Jerez

by free electrons family, posted in Jerez de la Frontera, Life in Spain, Music and Videos

In Jerez, even Death needs to wait. Happy Halloween! Death waits to cross and marches on, in the streets of Jerez de la Frontera, Cadiz, Spain. https://youtu.be/cxQTczRRzHM Happy Halloween! Death in the streets of Barrio Santiago, Jerez de la Frontera, Cadiz, Spain. En Jerez, incluso la muerte necesita esperar. ¡Feliz Halloween! La Muerte espera para … Continue reading Happy Halloween! March of Death in Jerez

November Month of the Dead in Jerez; Here’s what to do with kids for Halloween Festivities and Beyond

by free electrons family, posted in Jerez de la Frontera, Life in Spain

"Noviembre es el mes de los muertos en España," my Spanish teacher writes. . . And the day of the dead: "Happy Halloween" has crept into this little-big village of ours, Jerez de la Frontera. It doesn't happen everywhere in the city. But it's there nonetheless. So don't be shocked if you see children (and … Continue reading November Month of the Dead in Jerez; Here’s what to do with kids for Halloween Festivities and Beyond

Jerez in November: What To Do and Where to See FREE Flamenco Shows

by free electrons family, posted in Flamenco, Jerez de la Frontera, Life in Spain

The best time to see FREE and authentic flamenco performance in Jerez de la Frontera (Cadiz), for me, is in the fall. Why? Simply, it's not as hot as in the summer and not as heavily populated by flamenco-tourists as other times, as I wrote in What to Do and Where to See FREE Flamenco … Continue reading Jerez in November: What To Do and Where to See FREE Flamenco Shows

Flamenco in Jerez for Foreigners: Manuel de la Tomasa

by free electrons family, posted in Flamenco, Jerez de la Frontera, Life in Spain

Bombastic. In one word, that was Manuel de la Tomasa's outstanding performance at Peña Flamenca (PF) Tio Jose de Paula on the second Saturday of its 35th Otono Flamenco--of FREE authentic flamenco (puro) recitals in October in Jerez de la Frontera. This year's shows are dedicated to Don Antonio Chacón García who was born 150 … Continue reading Flamenco in Jerez for Foreigners: Manuel de la Tomasa

What to do in Jerez with children and family. . . in October? XERA World Music International Festival

by free electrons family, posted in Jerez de la Frontera, Life in Spain

What to do in Jerez with children and family. . . in October? Check out the FREE, 3-day, family-friendly festival of music from all over the world--the XERA World Music International Festival. Welcome to kid-friendly Jerez with activities for the entire family.