_{She lives in the tiny, almost forgotten village of Villar del Ala, which is nestled in the hills of Soria, Spain. The village is composed of about 50 or so inhabitants, most of whom have lived there their entire lives -just like the woman in this picture.
My great grandmother spent her childhood years with this woman until she (my grandmother) took a ship to Uruguay after both her parents and grandparents had died. As mentioned, the woman in this picture has remained in the village ever since.
Time has had its own way of stopping, yet simultaneously taking its gradual effect on Villar Del Ala. The old cemetery lay in the midst of wildflowers, with the names of generations of family members engraved on its stone. The faded schoolhouse still remained fully in tact, yet renovated and with a new purpose. Flowers stood on impeccable patios as animals grazed in open fields.
I truly enjoyed walking the narrow streets with her, as she shared her stories. She told us about her childhood, her time spent with my great grandmother and their happy days of youth. I loved observing her features, and understanding her simple way of life. I appreciated the way this little town was such a huge part of her heart -the way she knew it like the backs of her own, worn hands.
This photograph was taken on a spot overlooking the green, undulating valley below and the calm river that runs through it. For some reason, I preferred this picture of her talking in mid sentence.
I still perfectly remember the sound of her soft spoken voice as she proudly spoke of Villar del Ala: Villar del Ala and that precious fragment of history that only she has grown to know.}


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© Antonio Ysursa