In 2003, San Diego CityBeat Magazine created their Fiction 101 contest, a flash fiction contest with the simple rules of forming an interesting, better than marginal snippet of creative writing under 102 words. Staying true to the implication of the title itself, most of the entries were born in the minds of amateur writers. And… Read More Fiction 101: Cherry Popped
Ana is 7 years old, and today was class photo day. So, in a sudden flurry of self-consciousness and existential panic, she painted her lips red with a permanent marker. It took her 15 minutes to wash it off. In the back, a heated conversation could be heard between another girl, clearly worried about her… Read More The Cuckoo’s Nest: My Days in a Spanish Elementary School, Part 4
The anchoas de Santoña in Cantabria are supposed to be the best in Spain. I would agree. Visiting the coast of Cantabria is another reminder of the diversity of Spain’s landscape, cultures and food. The ancient and well-preserved town of Santillana feels like a little Salamanca, although with just a few too many shops aimed solely… Read More España Verde, Part 1: San Vicente de la Barquera / Santander, Cantabria
Almería doesn’t enjoy the notoriety of Sevilla, Granada or Córdoba; it probably doesn’t want it anyway. In some ways, it doesn’t even seem to belong in Andalucía. The accent is more akin to that of Múrcia, and the coastal temperature doesn’t reach the highs of inland Andalucía. The citizens here once almost voted to govern… Read More Almería again
Casual Notebook 