Short stories of a long journey

Category: Vol. I In the land of volcanoes

  • Baptizing the celebrities

    Chapter III:  Baptizing the celebrities Grandfather was baptised in a small town called El Viejo, which literally means The Old Town. The old church had a well-known baptismal font, and it was quite famous as a matter of fact, as it dated back to the year 1560. The beautiful font’s antique base had been completely…

  • The Chinandegan Magpies

    Chapter IV   The Chinandegan Magpies “When I was a child, I learned an important lesson, and I believe it’s helpful still. I discovered that we all need our own personal space, to be alone with our thoughts, our feelings, and with ourselves. The bicycle ride, to the port, in the mornings was my personal space.…

  • Of poor lovesick poets

    Chapter V:     Of poor lovesick poets Grandfather was about to become twelve years old, and in those days, he was considered young but of age. As it happened, don Ernesto, his grandfather on the maternal side, was not growing any younger, and, more to the point, his health was slowly failing. For that…

  • Manuela and eternal love

    Chapter VI:  Manuela and eternal love It could, or not, be said, that in the life of every great man, there is a great woman to be found at his side. In a few words, Grandmother Manuela was certainly an extraordinary woman, and Grandfather Jairo was also a great man. Her sweet disposition and the…

  • About the trenches and the multiplication tables

    Chapter VII:  About the trenches and the multiplication tables A few years after their marriage, Grandfather Jairo bought the stately and colonial mansion from his mother. She had inherited the house from her parents after her own marriage. The house was in the historic center of the old colonial city of León, and it was…

  • When older brothers marry

    Chapter VIII:  When older brothers marry Talking about large families, my father was the apple that fell close to the tree; or if you prefer: like father, like son, as you will. My name is Francisca Díaz, and I am the eldest of five brothers and four sisters. Ten siblings may sound numerous, but my…

  • The little girl and the mango tree

    Chapter IX  The little girl and the mango tree At the time I lived in León, and I happened to be at home with Grandmother. We were both outside on the beautiful southern patio of the house. Though the day had been unbearably hot, it was cool in the shade, amongst its many trees. Some…

  • About coffee and after-dinner digestives

    Chapter X:  About coffee and after-dinner digestives Beyond any shadow of doubt, among his many grandchildren, I was Grandfather´s favourite. Since I was a little girl, we would spend so much time together. In his own way, he was trying to prepare me for life. Whenever he noticed I was feeling unwell, or when I…

  • About volcanoes and their ashes

    Chapter XI:     About volcanoes and their ashes “Back then my dear, it hadn’t only rained ashes, it actually down-poured ashes as well. The ashes began to stack up on the streets and wear down the car’s tires as you drove. It was tremendously difficult to get around by car. Walking was close to…

  • The Atlantic Coast and its Caribbean pirates

    Chapter XII:   The Atlantic Coast and its Caribbean pirates Of the many adventures that ultimately describe our lives, looking back it seems that some have led to remarkable achievements, others facilitated the discovery of promising new lands and places; but perhaps the most cherished and treasured of all, are those shared, with an extraordinary…