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

Throughout all the posts I have written for the Pueblos Remotos blog, there is a common thread that always remains: the experiences and the people who live them.

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

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

Stories that deserve to be told

I started this post talking about the human side, about that connection that goes beyond WiFi and the internet (how we've managed to 'pervert' some terms, huh! 😉) 

I'm talking about connection in the purest sense of the word: connection between people, connection with the environment, connection with yourself, and connection with each and every story we hear .

Since the dawn of humanity, transmitting stories, and with them knowledge, has been one of the things that has set us apart from other mammals. Through these stories, we have been able to evolve and maintain traditions that have endured for generations.

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

A few months ago, in the post 'This is much more than working from home,' I briefly shared the story of Jordan, Juan José, Vicky, and Gustavo . At that time, we had barely met, and I only knew of their businesses from what I had read and from the few conversations I had had with them. That's why I'm so happy to be writing this now, after having experienced their work firsthand and having spent a few days with them, learning more about what they do and listening attentively to their stories.

In addition to the immense work they are doing, there is the 'cherry on top' provided by Diego Barrera , a local leader who is connecting us to Fuencaliente and revealing many of its secrets and hidden corners.

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

What are we experiencing? 

If I had to describe it in a single word—and I admit that's a very difficult task—I'd say magic . I truly mean it without pretension, and I hope it doesn't sound pretentious, but I'm still amazed (and get goosebumps) every time we embark on an experience with Pueblos Remotos. Everything in the air is different: the openness of the people, their eagerness to share, the first faces, the sense of community, and experiencing how they discover connected rural life—it's something money can't buy.

Since we landed in Fuencaliente, we've experienced a non-stop whirlwind of emotions (and activities): after-dinner conversations, toasts to the sun, swims in the sea, visits to idyllic spots, breathtaking sunsets, and volunteer work . But let me start from the beginning, because I tend to ramble.

On Sunday, June 5th, we held our welcome event, a crucial and fundamental moment, as it marks the starting gun and the moment when local stakeholders and remote workers meet face-to-face. It's where the first connections are forged, where initial experiences are shared directly, questions are answered, and expectations are discussed. Add to that a breathtaking sunset and a fine wine from La Palma, and the magic happens all on its own. 

I can't convey all the emotions I experienced and shared at that moment, but if it helps you get an idea, here are some photos from that time. 

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

Gustavo Díaz 

We began our activities with Gustavo (Herrumbre Vivo), who gave us a different perspective on the environment through a short walk to his home. The lesson along the way was to collect the 'trash and waste' that we so easily discard. With this waste, Gustavo showed us his vision of art and how to use these elements found in the landscape to create it. 

During the activity, we were also lucky enough to visit the small corner from which he finds inspiration and creates his 'art', appreciate the works he has generated, and understand what meaning he gives to joining unrelated pieces to create unique concepts. 

To conclude, Gustavo and Almudena, his partner, offered us a 'very Canarian' banquet on their terrace, where we were able to talk and enjoy the calm that permeates every corner of this municipality.

Jordan Acosta

Pastry-making has been part of the traditional Canarian recipe book since the time of the conquest. In the case of Jordan (Dulcería Mi Gusto), his legacy is a little more recent, but just as important, as they have revived a traditional recipe from the Las Caletas neighborhood in the municipality of Fuencaliente: the rye bun.

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

The result? A number of exquisite desserts, a few attempts to 'bribe' the jury that was giving them the scores, and a super enjoyable time that we will always remember with a smile on our faces.  

At the end, we had the opportunity to taste the sweets paired with a delicious Malvasia wine from Fuencaliente (courtesy of Diego), while listening to the pastry stories told to us by Jordan and his sister, Jenny.  

Vicky Torres

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

Arriving at a place like the 'Las Machuqueras' area, seeing an incredible contrast of green on black (the green of the vines, with the black of the volcano) and listening to Vicky talk to us about the effort, dedication and care that the vineyard needs, is something you remember for a lifetime. 

Furthermore, she gave us a life lesson, about how to live the passion for making a product that is part of her and about being clear about what she wants to achieve with her wine and her winery. 

The opportunity to visit one of their vineyard plots was complemented by the chance to taste several of their wines, directly from the barrels in their cellar. Adding to the unique nuances and aromas was Vicky's excellent communication skills; always calm and attentive, she answered all our questions about the wine and its production.

To conclude, in a completely spontaneous way, she opened the doors of her home to us, where we tasted quality local products, conversations flowed, knowledge was shared and a new toast was made to continue meeting people with passion for what they do.

Juan José Santos 

Juan José is a cultural icon and living heritage in the municipality of Fuencaliente, no matter who you ask. 

Spending time with him and listening to all the knowledge he has, everything he transmits, and everything he has managed to preserve in terms of traditions, is simply fantastic. 

Vineyard cultivation, printing catalogs and maps of La Palma, linen weaving and traditional costume making, traditional music of La Palma, olive cultivation and oil production, instrument making, environmental activism… I could go on adding to this list and I wouldn't have enough days in this edition of Pueblos Remotos to describe everything he does. Literally, a book could be written about everything he contributes, or has contributed, and I sincerely hope someone does. 

With Juan José, we only experienced half of his work, as it was so captivating that we had to divide it into two parts. In the first part, we had the opportunity to visit his olive groves, learn about all the varieties he has planted there, and understand why he decided to invest in this crop and in olive oil production. 

We also prepared the ground for the second part of the activity, a collection of pruning waste, with which we could make a 'borrallera', a traditional way of cooking food typical of the southern municipality of La Palma (spoiler alert! I will tell you about this in detail in the next post) 

Otras actividades 

If you think everything we experienced with our local actors wasn't enough, we also enjoyed three other unique activities: 

• We held our first team-building activity, where we worked together, got to know each other better, and finished by making a delicious pizza. It all took place at the 'El Quinto Pino' restaurant in the Las Indias neighborhood. ( See photos of the activity )

• Over the weekend, we had a very special excursion, led by Diego Barrera, to the north of the island: a farmers' market, Roque de Los Muchachos, the festivities in honor of San Antonio del Monte… All of this enhanced by Diego's knowledge of the island. Without a doubt, a fantastic experience. ( See photos of the activity )

• To wrap up the week, if it seemed like we weren't doing much, we decided to join many of our Fuencaliente neighbors in cleaning Los Lázaros Beach. This initiative, led by Gustavo, resulted in us removing over 600 kilos of trash. ( See photos of the activity )

And what remains…

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

In a few weeks, I will finish sharing with you everything I experienced in Pueblos Remotos Fuencaliente, meanwhile, I will continue to enjoy rural life connected to full capacity.