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Watching it now on BBC4.Just watched documentary on a dark era in Spain,s history brilliant. Recommend a watch.
"The Silence of Others" is the title.
Without commentary, and IIRC, there is a stone monument to the aforementioned International Brigades smack in the middle of the old Roman road (Via Romana) on the alternative Camino Frances route from Calzada del Coto to Calzadilla De Los Hermanillos. (Stage 18 in Brierely, after Sahagun - green dots).
Back in 2014, i recall taking a photo of the monument, as the artifacts left there by families to commemorate their loved ones, were poignant. It really is a beautiful way to walk.
Hope this helps.
Yes agree that the Camino is a great way to take your mind off other things. Paul Preston's book about Spanish history called The Spanish Holocaust is a real eye opener and might help to explain why in some villages you pass through on the Camino, half the people never speak to the other half.....
History is just history. It is simply the story of the past.
Very true and IMO a long conversion in fluent English will instantly become a "don't understand" the moment you mention Franco - so that is advice for any pilgrim on any Camino at any time. And IMO it's for them to decide not us.NOT a subject of discussion with Spanish people in any way, shape or form
Blimey there's a blast from the past. My love affair with Spain - which has resulted in me doing 4 1/2 Caminos on foot or bicycle and working for a fortnight in Santiago issuing compostelas - began after reading The Drifters by Michener and in the early seventies (when Franco was alive and kicking) I hitchhiked across Spain into Portugal and Morocco specifically to visit the towns he mentioned. It was a sort of pilgrimage I suppose. Now I'm going to dig out that book and read it. So, thanks @t2andreo for that.the American author James Michener
...I see an assumption here!who were on our side
Yes, I enjoyed this book - the actual title is "Ghosts of Spain: Travels through Spain and its silent past." I found that I needed to read it rather slowly in order to retain anything. The history is so complicated that I would otherwise lose the connections, even though he writes in a very accessible way.I particularly enjoyed reading 'Travels through Spain and its silent past' by the British historian and (Guardian) correspondent Giles Tremlett.
This is still very recent history. Lots of the people who lived through it are still alive.
NOT a subject of discussion with Spanish people in any way, shape or form (imo).
Yes. I've not watched The Silence of Others, just the beginning with the old woman pointing out and talking about where the remains of her mother lie and it nearly makes me cry each time I try to watch it.If things were only so simple...
The sleeping moderators only ever awaken when the rules are broken, that is why I often say "read the rules before posting" Ignoring is is forgivable in a new member who might not have seen the rules button but not forgivable for veteran members who should know better and in some cases wear their interactions with the mods as a badge of honour. We are here to try and make this a safe forum for everyone.Hence, I recommend leaving at that, otherwise, the moderators might awaken...
If you want my list of books, send me a PM. I prefer not to post them here for all. so as to not run the risk of being accused of becoming political.
Absolutely. Unless they bring it up themselves. Which is unlikely, but it once happened to me while walking the San Olav. I was so used to extreme silence about the subject that at first I couldn't process what I was being told. And then the penny dropped. I just listened, slightly stunned, as the mayor of a small town described how there were places in the hills above the town where 'many' bodies had been buried. I am still haunted by adjective. It was a small place. 'Many' people killed would have left the place decimated - I couldn't help but extrapolate to the entire country. It really hit home, the horror of that time, and what it must have done to everyone.NOT a subject of discussion with Spanish people in any way, shape or form (imo).
The sleeping moderators only ever awaken when the rules are broken, that is why I often say "read the rules before posting" Ignoring is is forgivable in a new member who might not have seen the rules button but not forgivable for veteran members who should know better and in some cases wear their interactions with the mods as a badge of honour. We are here to try and make this a safe forum for everyone.
And again....read the rules before posting especially in a very sensitive thread such as this one.