Written by Carlos Jonay Suárez , co-founder of Pueblos Remotos.

I was wondering where to start writing this post, so without further ado, I'm going to take the plunge and start from the beginning. 

A few days ago, while Elsa (co-founder of Pueblos Remotos, and a regular contributor to this blog) and I were having a conversation, the topic of 'whether we were giving too much weight to teleworking' within the communication of Pueblos Remotos came up.

That made me think, and reconsider, that perhaps we were putting too much effort into that part, and although connected rurality, as we have already told you on more occasions, is about the combination of teleworking and rural environment, I think that sometimes I can be guilty of focusing too much on the former.

But, nothing could be further from the truth, this, Pueblos Remotos, is more than just teleworking and breathtaking landscapes, it's also about rural life and, above all, about the people who live within it.

Don't call it 'storytelling', call it history

Within the world of digital communication, Anglicisms are commonplace (I don't know what's wrong with me today and proverbs, to be honest) and there is one that stands out above all others: 'storytelling', or, translated into 'Spanish': telling a story (about your brand, product, service, etc.)

When you work in digital strategy and want to achieve different results in the communication aspect, you always have to research, investigate and ask (as if there were no tomorrow) to obtain the necessary elements with which to build that 'storytelling' that will make your product 'unique', that which differentiates it from all the others.

However, now that I consider this with any of the editions we've done, and therefore with Pueblos Remotos Fuencaliente, that exercise is almost unnecessary. Why? Because here the stories are about people, and that storytelling is already built on their own reasons: for having continued a family tradition, for having broken with everything, returned to their roots and started anew from the place where they were born, or for getting lost, only to find themselves in a place where they can live a new life.

What better storytelling is there than your own story?

This is about people… and their stories 

Yes, you caught me, I've used the phrase, 'this is about people,' before, it's true. But, in my defense, I'll say that it's the reality we've always considered. Pueblos Remotos (Pueblos Remotos) emerged to unite people, to create situations where they can interact, get to know each other, stop, talk, listen, dialogue, and create. 

This is about seizing opportunities and building human relationships; otherwise, why would you go away for twenty-one days to work remotely with other people and connect with local stakeholders? That human-centric approach that is so often discussed in business is our main premise at Pueblos Remotos.

For this reason, I want to introduce you to our four local actors from Fuencaliente in a different way, since they all have a story behind them and a reality ahead of them, and in one way or another, they are all already part of our project.

Jordan Acosta 

Jordan is a young entrepreneur from Fuencaliente, and his story is linked to the traditional pastry-making of the island of La Palma , and more specifically, to that of this municipality. He represents the third generation that has committed to a family business, one based on human production and close to the people who consume its products. 

The business that Jordan represents, Dulcería Mi Gusto, is not just a pastry shop, it is a corner that tells a story that has been passed down from mothers to children, and that keeps alive a part of the essence of this municipality on La Palma. 

Vicky Torres

Vicky also represents a family business and on this occasion, the fifth generation to 'get their hands dirty' and produce a wine that delights those who taste it.

Furthermore, she is the first woman in charge of Bodega Juan Matías Torres, a fact that has given it a distinct character and a different way of doing things. Therefore, when you think of her winery, don't just think of a wine that can delight your palate; think of the history those vines tell, the conversations that have arisen around them, and the effort that has been made to maintain them through all those generations.

Gustavo Díaz 

Gustavo adds a unique and deliberate touch, from an artistic perspective. Craftsmanship, so essential in all its forms for keeping stories and traditions alive, is an art form that is dying out in many towns and corners of Spain. Keeping it alive is, therefore, a responsibility.

Herrumbre Vivo, Gustavo's project, works with recycled iron, a material that tells countless stories. Thanks to his talent and skill, he reveals new narratives with each sculpture he creates. Therefore, when you think of Herrumbre Vivo, also consider the concept, its sustainability, and the story each material tells.

Juan José Santos

Juan José brings a touch of sanity to the table, highlighting a reality that is increasingly present in our daily lives: the ability to produce our own food. In an interview I read with him, he very aptly stated that we need to start promoting self-sufficiency, not as a temporary solution, but as a viable option and a way of thinking for the future. 

With Palma Oliva Almazara, Juan José not only represents the introduction of a new, distinctive product to the municipality of Fuencaliente, but also embodies transformation and change after tragedy. Palma Oliva emerged after Juan José lost all his vineyards in a fire in 2009, so when you think about this project, don't just think about the oil or the olives; think about the effort, the vision, and the meaning he gives to it every day.

A common story

All these stories share a common thread: a landscape and environment that also has its own history. A history of a town forged among volcanoes, a town that has grown (literally) and rebuilt itself countless times.

For these reasons, and some more that we have already shared with you, don't you think that Pueblos Remotos Fuencaliente could be a destination for you to build a new story?