Article written by Carlos Jonay Suárez , co -founder and responsible for digital strategy in remote villages.

Throughout all the posts that I have written for the blog of pueblos remotos, there is a conductive thread that always remains: the experiences and the people who live them.

That thread, which right now I have very present, is what gives meaning to everything we do, what humanizes the process and what allows you to know, understand and share incredible stories, links that go far beyond the professional and Entrepreneurships that have a vital sense.

During these eleven days in Fuencaliente, we have had very beautiful experiences and we have deepened the stories of all our local actors, something that, taking their testimony, I want to convey through this post. 

Stories that deserve to be told

This post began talking on the human side, of that connection that goes beyond wifi and the Internet (how we have come to 'pervert' some terms eh! 😉) 

I speak of connection in the purest sense of the word: connection between people, connection with the environment, connection with yourself and connection with each and every one of the stories we hear .

From the beginning of humanity, transmitting stories, and with it knowledge, is one of the things that has differentiated us from the rest of mammals. Through them we have been able to evolve and maintain traditions that have endured during generations.

Here, in the middle of a place of a wild and brutal beauty, surrounded by volcanoes and an incredible light, it is where a series of stories that deserve to be told arise. 

A few months ago, in the post 'This is much more than teleworking' , I shared the story of Jordan, Juan José, Vicky and Gustavo . At that time, we had barely agreed and knew his business for what he had read and for the little he had talked to them. Therefore, I am very happy to be writing this right now, after having lived their activities and having a few days when they coincide more with them, learn more about what they do and listen to their stories with full attention.

Diego Barrera , a local leader who is joining us and that is revealing us many of his secrets and corners is added

These stories will have a special hole within our blog, because, once again, each and every one of them deserves to be told. 

What are we living? 

If I have to describe it in a single word, and I admit that doing it is a very difficult exercise, I would say magic . I really say it without pretensions and I hope that I do not sound pedantic, but I still surprise myself (and they continue to put my hair on end) every time we start an experience with remote peoples. Everything that is breathed in the air is different, the opening of the people, the desire to share, the first faces, make pineapple and live 'how they discover' the rurality connected, is something that is not paid with money.

Since we landed in Fuencaliente, we have lived without stopping emotions (and actions): desktop talks, toast to the sun, bathrooms in the sea, visits to idyllic corners, impressive sunsets or volunteer actions . But, I'm going to start at the beginning, that I mess.

On Sunday, June 5, we had our welcome ceremony, a very important and fundamental moment, since it is the 'gun' of departure and the moment in which local actors and remote workers, face. That is where the first complicities arise, where the first experiences are shared from you, some are answered by what and expectations are projected. If all this we dress with a brutal sunset and a good palm tree, magic occurs on its own. 

I cannot convey all the emotions lived and shared at that time, but in case it serves you to get an idea, I leave you here some of the photos of the moment. 

Other fundamental experiences are activities with local actors, of which we have already developed almost all. 

Gustavo Díaz 

We started the activities with Gustavo (living rust) that gave us a different vision of the environment through a small walk to his house. The learning of the road was to collect 'garbage and waste' from which we detach us too easily. With this waste, Gustavo taught us what his 'vision' of art is and to use these pieces that are in the landscape to create it. 

During the activity, we also had the luck of knowing the small corner from which he inspires and creates his 'art', appreciate the works he has generated and understand what meaning to unite unconnected pieces to create unique concepts. 

To conclude, Gustavo and Almudena, his partner, offered us a 'very Canary' banquet from their terrace, in which we could dialogue and enjoy that calm that permeates each of the corners of this municipality.

Jordan Acosta

The pastry is part of the Traditional Recipes of the Canary Islands since the time of the conquest. In the case of Jordan (Dulceía my taste) his legacy is a bit closer, but equally important, since they have rescued a traditional recipe from the Las Caletas neighborhood, in the municipality of Fuencaliente: the rye bun.

With his activity, we had a fun contest in the purest 'Master Chef' style, in which three teams participated to make the 'best' sweet: cookie, lemon cake and raisin and almond bollas. 

The result? A number of exquisite desserts, some attempt to 'bribe' to the jury that put the score and a super enjoyable time that we will always remember with a smile on the face.  

At the end, we had the opportunity to taste the dulls with a delicious Malvasia wine of Fuencaliente (courtesy of Diego), while we listened to the pastry stories that Jordan and his sister told us, Jenny.  

Vicky Torres

If I have to describe Vicky's activity (Juan Matías Torres Bodega), I could only say that it was the perfect union between the environment, passion and profession. 

Reach a place like the area of ​​'Las Machuqueras', seeing an incredible contrast of green on black (the green of the vines, with the black of the volcano) and listening to how Vicky told us about the effort, dedication and the pamper that he needs The vineyard is something you remember for a lifetime. 

In addition, he gave us a life lesson, how the passion is lived for making a product that is part of it and being clear about what he wants to get with his wine, and his cellar. 

To the opportunity to learn about one of his vineyard plots, he joined several of his wines, and to do it directly from the barrels of his cellar. To the particularity of nuances and aromas, the excellent way of transmitting Vicky was united, always in a calm and attentive way, he answered all our questions about wine and its elaboration.

To conclude, in a totally spontaneous way, he opened the doors of his house, from where we tasted local quality products, conversations flowed, shared knowledge and a new toast to continue knowing people with passion for what they do.

Juan José Santos 

Juan José is a cultural reference and living heritage in the municipality of Fuencaliente, it doesn't matter who asked. 

Being a while with him and listening to all the knowledge he has, everything he transmits and everything he has managed to preserve at the level of traditions, is simply fantastic. 

Vineyard cultivation, catalog printing and maps of La Palma, flax tissue and traditional costumes, traditional La Palmamusic, olive growing and oil production, instrument manufacturing, ecological activism ... I could continue adding things on this list and would not have enough days in this edition of pueblos remotos to describe everything it does. Literally, you could write a book with everything that it contributes, or has contributed, and sincerely, I hope someone does. 

With Juan José we have only lived half of his activity, since he was so attractive, that we have had to divide it into two parts. Within the first, we had the opportunity to visit their plots of Olivos, to know all the varieties he has planted there and why he decided to bet on this crop, and the production of oil. 

We also leave the land prepared for the second part of the activity, a pruning collection, with which to be able to make a 'borrall', a traditional way of cooking food typical of the municipality of Southern La Palma (Spoiler Alert! I will tell you with detail in the next post) 

Other activities 

If everything lived with our local actors seems little, we also live three other unique activities: 

• We carried out our first 'teambuilding' activity, through which we could work as a team, know each other a little more and end it elaborating a delicious pizza. All this happened in the restaurant 'El Fifth Pino', in the Las Indias neighborhood. ( See images of the activity )

• During the weekend we had a very special excursion, commanded by Diego Barrera, north of the island: Agromercado, Roque de los Muchos, parties in honor of San Antonio del Monte ... All this with Diego's shared knowledge about the island. Without a doubt, an experience of ten. ( See images of the activity )

• To close the week, if we seemed that we were going with little intensity, we were encouraged to participate, along with many residents of Fuencaliente, in the cleaning of the Lázaros beach. An action directed by Gustavo, through which we managed to clean more than six hundred kilos of garbage. ( See images of the activity )

And what remains ...

I have the feeling that I have explained in this post, but I really wanted to share what has lived, at least in part, and to reflect everything that can be lived in just over ten days through an experience like this. 

Within a few weeks, I will finish sharing with you everything lived in pueblos remotos, meanwhile, I will continue to enjoy the connected rurality to full performance.