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.
The best time to see authentic and FREE flamenco performance in Jerez de la Frontera (Cadiz), for me, is in the autumn. Beginning in October (sometimes late September), two Peña Flamencas (or flamenco clubs)-- Peña Buena Gente and Peña Tio Jose de Paula--offer weekly performances from local flamencos that you do not normally get to … Continue reading What To Do and Where To See FREE Flamenco Shows in Jerez in October
Mama's at work and Tata is always home... what do we do? 😊 Our spontaneous jamming for the first time to this all-time children's favorite song, "The Lion Sleeps Tonight"., originally by the Tokens. It's fun! As full-time father I have to plan after-school activities for Karol and Kaj. I cut off TV after the one-hour limit … Continue reading The Lion Sleeps Tonight (children JAM session) 😊
So if you are gonna be in this beautiful big village of ours called Jerez de la Frontera in September, whether as your ultimate destination for your vacation or a little stopover while in Cadiz or Seville, make sure to go and see free (yes, FREE!!!) puppet shows! Oh NO! Is it gonna rain? Waiting … Continue reading Where to go and what to do with kids in Jerez… in September? Puppets! Lalki! Marionetas!
"What about your kids?," she says to me. She was a co-worker, mother of two. How will they survive in a country where they don't know the language. What about school? Naturally, for parents especially, we were asked these types of questions quite often while we were preparing to quit the job, change our family … Continue reading How to give your kids a gift of a new language for FREE. . .
So you've come to visit a city/town, hit all the need-to-see places, keep the kids engaged, and you only have a day or two. How do you do all that without losing your cool? Of course, kids get bored. We can only expect them to visit as many landmarks, museums and historical places, until they … Continue reading The best playgrounds in Jerez de la Frontera, Cadiz, Spain
"Tata, we are gypsies, right?," my then 6-year old son Karol asked me. We were looking at a map, talking about his diverse friends in school, why we have moved from the "yellow house" to the "blue house" to the "white house" in the past two years, and our future plans to move elsewhere. Well, … Continue reading New gypsies: International Romani Day, 8 April
With over 300 days of strong Andalusian sunshine here in southern Spain, you would not think that there would be snow. Think again! The Sierra Nevada, about a one-hour drive from the city of Granada, boasts the southernmost point of Europe where you can ski, sled and snowboard as late as early May. You can … Continue reading Snow this far south in Europe?
Spring has sprung! Happy Death of Winter... for now. And in the words of our brothers and sisters elsewhere, "Navruz Muborak"! Two years ago today we all woke up in Lisbon. Did you know that today is also World Down Syndrome Day? What's the connection? I'll sort of get to that below. White flowers of … Continue reading Happy Spring. World Down Syndrome Day 2019
Beach under the winter sun. It is this happy houseband's favorite babysitter. And what better place for our young boys to combine freeplay in three languages (Polish, English and Spanish) with getting some winter sun tan than here in the Costa de la Luz. Winter in the bay of Cadiz, Playa de la Puntilla In … Continue reading Winter in Cadiz, Spain
Equality! Gender equality, that is. "In this fight, education is our weapon," as the image below shows, here in Jerez de la Frontera there is also a general strike in education (Huelga General en Educacion) as part of the national strike on International Women's Day, 08 March 2019, also known as "feminist strike" or "8M". … Continue reading Happy International Women’s Day = Dia Internacional de las Mujeres
free electrons family 