Culture: Admiring the efforts to revive old homesteads

[Stivandrer]

If you like me find yourself stopping in your tracks along the caminos as you pass yet another cluster of houses that were once in living function of a village, now dilapidated and being in total disrepair. Ever so often I spend some time standing still, losing track of time as I try to recreate in my mind how this once looked; and then imagine how it would look tomorrow when some active boy & mind has transformed this heap of broken walls into a new fundation and function...
This Canadian has returned to his grandparents house, left for 5 decades and starts to clear the ground, clean the walls, and makes plans for new production and housing.
As I fell into this video and lost myself into this Herculean task, I am still full of admiration as to his exploits...

 

[OTH86]

@Stivandrer, you might be interested in a book I just found and am reading - Requiem for a Spanish Village by Barbara Norman, published 1972. I found a used vesion on bookfinder.com.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

I'll watch the video during my very early morning YouTube sessions. I've seen some other fascinating renovations in Spain. If you would like to see some more search YouTube for:
Kirsten Dirksen Spain

 

[C clearly]

What an excellent video!

Those who are interested in this type of project and maintaining the traditional crafts might want to look at Eugenio Monesma's videos too.

 

[naplesdon]

There is a Canadian guy who bought an old church and manse just before you reach Pamplona which he remodeled. It has been years since I visited him, so I forget his name. He had some awful stories to tell about how the locals treated him. Part of his property included a small cemetery. Even though he had negotiated the purchase on the up and up with the local church authorities, the town nearby took offense and hassled him to the point of cutting down a grove of plum trees on his property in vengeance to his presence and ownership of their ancestral grave yard.

 

[Saint Mike II]

There is a Canadian guy who bought an old church and manse just before you reach Pamplona which he remodeled. It has been years since I visited him, so I forget his name. He had some awful stories to tell about how the locals treated him. Part of his property included a small cemetery. Even though he had negotiated the purchase on the up and up with the local church authorities, the town nearby took offense and hassled him to the point of cutting down a grove of plum trees on his property in vengeance to his presence and ownership of their ancestral grave yard.

Hola Don, its most unfortunate that the locals were not prepared to get off their "fat u know whats" and do any repairs, yet when someone else comes along and takes action they turn vengeful. You could not have blamed your Canadian guy for throwing in the towel and levelling both the old church and manse. Hopefully some locals finally saw the benefit his actions.