GringoCool News and Articles

Springtime in Sevilla is my favorite time of year. The air is filled with the fragrance of orange blossoms and a cool, moist, stone smell that means the spring sun is baking dry the cobblestone streets and old stone buildings. It is always an exciting time of year because the ...

The three of us were sitting on two 125cc scooters on the Island of Capri, off the southern coast of Italy.  The day was a nice, early spring day; a little cool, a slight breeze, and a little overcast with a low cloud overhang.   My wife Pia, my son Vincent and I were set on… ...

Ever wondered how Spanish artisans hand paint tile? I did. When I first arrived to Spain in 2009, I was in awe each time I entered a restaurant and saw the walls and murals. Spanish tile has an artisan look and feel to it, very different from the States, where most all the til...

There are many interesting and unique products in Spain but most do not see the light of day in the United States. There are several reasons for this but one of the most important is the cost of shipping. For a product to enter into the US market, it has to leave Spain by boat...

I have visited many pottery factories and workshops in the Andalusia and Castilla-La Mancha regions of Spain and I have enjoyed learning more about the long tradition of producing ceramics.  Many of the factories specialize in certain techniques, products and designs.  One of ...

There are several important areas in Spain that produce hand painted ceramics. Each area has specific styles, designs and methods. Talavera de la Reina refers to one such area, and the type of ceramics that are produced. The following slides show some of the traditional de...

Hey, I am a big fan of hand painted Spanish tile.  I appreciate the skill and creativity of Spanish tile artists and I enjoy watching them paint.  When I walk through places like the Plaza de España in Sevilla, it makes me humble.  The amount of work that is behind the scenes ...

To simplify things a bit, the low cost (low quality) red clay pottery is mostly made in the town of Safi. The higher quality (higher cost) white clay products are made in Fez. In this photo, the red clay products are in the foreground and the white clay in the rear. The Fez po...