john maddente | midwestern clarity

John Maddente photo M y wife and I recently returned from a vacation in Spain.  I haven't posted in months and it's a pleasure to share some beauty and love that we witnessed.  Let's start with the Spanish people themselves.  They are as warm and courteous as I'd heard and quite tolerant of Americans seeking assistance.  They're also, by and large, very well dressed!  A word about our tour guide, Mr.   Federico García Barroso .  Mr. García Barroso is, and I don't often use this word to describe others -- remarkable .  He's the kind of man who can brighten lives simply by doing what he loves to do, which is sharing his knowledge of Spain's rich history and art.   An accomplished guide, Mr. García Barroso is also a lover of music and a fine tenor.  At the closing dinner for our travel group, he sang four songs.  One in French, one in Spanish, one in English and one in Ital...