About
This is a little blog that I keep up to lessen the gap between me and my friends and family in the United States. As such, they are my main audience. Other people are welcome to read and comment as well, though.
I moved to England in December, 2001, and lived and worked there for three and a half years. I moved to northern Spain in June, 2005, and have quickly adjusted to the lifestyle.
The image at the top of the blog is a picture of Colindres (the town where I live) and the surrounding area, including the Cantabrian Sea in the distance.
I live here:
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Hi Eric,
Yahoo had a front page link about the ’swimming dinosaur found in the Cameros Basin in La Rioja.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20070524/sc_afp/sciencepalaeontologydinosaurs_070524165815;_ylt=Ar3AzmjUyqPyQSH2wuigIeuROrgF
The Cameros Basin is supposedly a hot bed for walking theropods. That would be something like a T-Rex or an allosaur. Just think Jurassic Park.
If you ever get the chance - could you scout out the dino scene in the area?
Also, can you find out why the town of Mondragon is called Mondragon? My Dragon? My Dinosaur?
Just taking wild leaps here.
Thanks ever!
Betty Lou Who
Well, translating from the Wikipedia page,
I had heard the story on my very first visit to Mondragón, but the part about it being made up after the fact is news to me. Thanks for forcing me to educate myself on that.
Eric: I was searching for something in Santander and ran across you site. Good luck on your wedding.
Randy Hampton
Comillas
(Former Manhattan Beach resident overseas now about 12 years with work in Balkans, Africa, Afgh and Iraq)
Hi Erik
My name is Heather, and I was googling COlindres and came across your webpage, you can’t even imagine my excitement!
My family and I lived in Colindres between 93-95, and I loved it so, it still is a huge part of me, and even though I haven’t been able to return, I hope to someday!
Congrats on your upcoming nuptials, please eat lots of tortilla y croquetas y mejillones for me, ok?
And do me one HUGE favor, go over to the taxi station there and tell BOTH Leopoldo’s that there are 2 americanas de colorado that have NEVER forgotten them, and we think and talk of them often!
Thanks!
Hi Erik,
I am will JS-Kit and we make some pretty cool widgets for blogs (http://js-kit.com). I saw your Widgetize Anything code and beleive that it would make installing our widgets in WordPress blogs very easy.
Would you be open to our distributing your code to bloggers that use WordPress? We would leave intact your name and any licensing preferences.
At fate would have it, I will be in Bilbao next week!
Maybe we can meet in person!
Best,
Khris
Sure, Khris, you may use my code under those conditions.
As you may have noticed from my sidebar, I’ve got an impending event that will be occupying my time next week. Have fun in Bilbao, though!
Hi there! I am the editor for The Wedding Guide España - an online site for English speakers getting married in Spain. We are looking for Real Life weddings to feature, and I wondered if we could put some of your images online, a few words about your experience? You can reach me on angel@theweddingguide.eu
Warm Regards, and belated congratulations!
Angel
Hi Erik, I was googling for practical information on Arrasate/Mondragon and found your page! Now, from your blog I can see that you’re not actually living in Modragon but may I still ask you for some help/info on that area? I might be moving there soon from Germany and I was wondering about many things, e.g. living expenses… are rents high? how about food and other everyday things? Is it easy to find an appartment? Do I need a car to get around? unfortunately I know very little about the Basque country but I have to decide soon if I want to accept that job offer and live in Mondragon or not… I’d be very grateful about any information… best regards, Kika.
Hi Eric, Was poking around the web trying to figure out how to make the Flickr badge “bigger”, and ran across your site. I lived in southern Spain for four and a half years, a great experience! I look to return one day - know of any good work in the software development world there!?
Be well…
Kevin
Sorry, Kevin. I work in software development, but I telecommute to the US from Spain, so I don’t have any insights into the industry in Spain.
Hey there Eric,
Just stumbled across your blog… my wife and I and our children (6yr and 4yr) are traveling to Spain via a home exchange program this July (1 - 22). The home we are staying in is in Molledo, southwest of Colindres.
We already have plans to enjoy San Fermin (we are going to ditch the kids with our visiting in-laws) … do you have any other tips on local festivals? Any that the children might enjoy? Any other suggestions for Northern Spain? We have a car and can drive anywhere thats within a 5 hr radius or so.
We are really trying to capture as much of the Spanish experience while we are there and give our children some exposure to other cultures.
Thanks for any input you can provide.
All the best!
Asher
Asher: Well, you’re coming during a good time for festivals. I can’t think of any other July festivals off the top of my head, but there are bound to be some, even in the small mountain towns around Molledo. If I were you, I’d head for the local tourism office as soon as you arrive and start planning your days then.
San Fermin is a blast. Good work ditching the little ones.
Have a nice vacation!
Hi Erik, I found your website randomly and really enjoy it. I spent some time living in Spain so its fun to hear about other people’s experiences in Spain.
I have 2 questions, what kind of work are you doing now in Spain? And what kind of work did you do when you moved to the UK? I am curious because I am exploring ways to work abroad and am interested in learning about others people’s experiences, ways, means, etc.
You can email me if you wish
[email redacted]
Scott
Hey Scott. I am a web developer, or informático as they call me here. I’m actually a transatlantic telecommuter, so I work from home for a company in the US. As far as I know, the only way to accomplish this is to start your own company, become integral to its operation, and then move abroad. I did work for a couple years in the UK doing webdev work. I’m lucky to be in a profession that is still in very high demand. The worst part is getting paid in dollars and spending euros. Oops.
I’m glad that you enjoyed my site. Stick around if you’d like.
Hi Erik
I found your blog some time ago and have been meaning to get in contact. I’m an aussie married to a guy from here, and I live in Mondragón, which I see is where your wife’s family lives and that you do the occasional visit here… So maybe you’d like to catch up sometime when you’re in town?! You’ve got my email address, or alternatively if you’d like to find out more about me you can check out my blog, just to make sure i’m not some kind of internet stalker
… Loved the timelapse photography post by the way!
Hallo Erik,
I1m a hungarian girl and speak not soo good english, only german. I found your site because I will travel to Treto in Spain for a longer time. Can you write me about the town and the people? You are living near Treto if I understood it good
thanks for your answer!!
Dora