F is for...

...Franco & Flip flops

One cannot venture a visit to Spain without the imposing figure of Francisco Franco making its way into the conversation. Let me give you the shortened version of a very long and complex history about one of Spain's most notorious figures. 

Where to begin? The leader of the Nationalist forces, General Franco, headed the authoritarian regime that came to power in the aftermath of the Civil War. Until his death in November 1975, Franco ruled Spain as 

"Caudillo by the grace of God". In addition to being generalissimo of the armed forces, he was both chief of state and head of government, 

 the ultimate source of legitimate authority. He retained the power to appoint and dismiss ministers and other decision makers. Even after he grew old, began to lose his health, and became less actively involved in policy making, Franco still had the final word on every political decision (http://countriestudies.us/spain/22.htm). 

An interesting thing that we learned upon arrival was that every baby that was born under Franco's regime could only have a name that was already on a pre-approved list. As well, the impact that Franco had on the Spanish artists of the era is fascinating. As you may or may not know, Pablo Picasso is Spanish and painted the famous work entitled the Guernica. Which is his depiction of the time when Franco hired Hitler's army to air bomb the northern Basque town of Guernica on April 26th, 1937 causing widespread death and destruction during the Spanish Civil War. 

  

After painting this anti-war piece from Paris, Picasso vowed never to return to his home country while Franco was still in power. And as it happened, Picasso died a mere 2 years before Franco did, thus never setting foot on Spanish soil again. The painting now hangs in the Reina-Sofia, the modern art museum here in Madrid and is quite a sight to behold. A definite must see for any visitor to Spain. 

Lastly, in 1969 Franco appointed Prince Juan Carlos de Borbón as his successor, fully expecting him to step in and pick up where Franco left off. This was not the case. Once Franco had finally passed on, instead of assuming the role of dictator, Prince Juan Carlos used his newfound authority to declare Spain a democracy. Which it continues to be to this day.

On a lighter note, the topic of flip flops. Yes, flip flops. Thousands of people wear them in the summer months as a way of keeping their feet cool in the sweltering heat. Despite that same heat found in Spain, nary a flip flop is to be found. At least not in public. In the recent weeks of warmer weather that we've been having, I have on occasion, worn my trusty pair of Old Navy $4 flip flops for brief ventures to the grocery store and have gotten strange looks every time! Nevertheless, I will continue to wear them as they definitely get the job done!