Hoy por Hoy – “La última y nos vamos | Pueblos que enamoran”

Host: Àngels Barceló, SER Podcast
Date: November 3, 2025

Overview

In this episode, Àngels Barceló and her collaborators reflect on the allure and unique character of small Spanish villages. Through personal anecdotes and light-hearted banter, the team explores the contrast between urban and rural life, highlighting the profound affection “urbanitas” often develop for these tight-knit communities. The episode balances humor and nostalgia before shifting briefly to a poignant discussion with Rosa Álvarez from the Association of Victims of the Dana tragedy, offering a multifaceted portrait of Spanish society.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. La magia de los pueblos pequeños

• Personal Rituals and Rural Discovery:

  • Two collaborators, Sergio’s friend and Eva, recount recent weekend trips to tiny villages. Despite being apart, both pursued similar rural escapes.
    • “Hemos hecho el mismo plan sin estar juntos, cosa que da un poquito de pena…” (Sergio’s Partner, 00:35)
  • Sergio’s friend describes visiting Casares de Arbás (bordering Asturias), a village with just seven inhabitants and “muchísimas más vacas que personas” (01:50).
    • “Como buena urbanita de Madrid, me quedé fascinada con las vacas y los caballos.” (Sergio’s Partner, 01:18)
    • Engaged in rural activities—greeting cattle, stepping in mud, and being lovingly chided for city habits.

• Experiencing Traditions in Prado Segar:

  • Eva visits her familiar village (60 inhabitants), celebrates Halloween disguised as Jim Carrey’s “La Máscara,” drawing smiles and anecdotes.
    • “Fue llegar al... imbuirme en una necesidad de cambiar y me transformé y fui la máscara durante toda la noche.” (Eva, 02:35)
  • She shares quirky local stories, like how “el toro que daba lo suyo” when gone, led to a breeding space becoming a civic center—an example of rural adaptation and humor.
    • “Cuando desapareció, convirtieron el lugar donde el toro hacía lo suyo en un gran centro cultural. La buena política.” (Eva, 02:55)

• Other Rural Escapes:

  • Another participant mentions weekends at La Vega de Chinchón, a string of houses more than a true village, noting the joy of seeing horses without the chore of caring for them. (03:15)
    • “Tenemos lo bonito de ir a ver a los caballos sin tener que cuidar de los caballos.” (Guest, 03:27)
    • “Pulgas también tenemos.” (Guest, 03:33) adds humor about rural challenges.

2. Urbanitas y la España vacía

• Charming Contradictions:

  • The hosts ponder city dwellers’ often romantic but at times oblivious relationship with rural life.
    • “La España vacía es la España de las vacas.” (Main Host, 02:00)
  • Hosts highlight tensions: urbanites sometimes complain about cowbells’ noise upon moving to the countryside.
    • “Han llegado a protestar por los cencerros de las vacas, que les molesta la gente.” (Main Host, 03:46)

• Participating in Village Rituals:

  • Sergio’s friend recalls ringing the village bell—a privilege and thrill in a community of just seven, drawing a comic parallel to the stock market bell in Wall Street.
    • “Toqué la campana del pueblo, chicos, me lo acabáis de recordar.” (Sergio’s Partner, 03:55)
    • “Me ha recordado a esos famosos que en Wall Street, cuando entra en bolsa la empresa... se abre la sesión.” (Eva, 04:13)

3. Community Belonging and Nostalgia

• Yearning to Return:
  • The guests all express a desire to repeat the experience, acknowledging the lasting allure of these enclaves.
    • “Ay, yo quiero volver ya. Si me pierdo, me vais a encontrar en Casares.” (Sergio’s Partner, 04:29)

4. Actualidad política y social

• Closing the Program – A Shift to Seriousness:

  • The host comments on a week of extended coverage and follows up with a segment on Valencia political news and a striking interview with Rosa Álvarez regarding the Dana disaster.
    • “Hemos seguido en directo la comparecencia de Carlos Mazón y las reacciones a esta... Rosa Álvarez, presidenta de la Asociación de Víctimas Mortales de la Dana...” (Main Host, 05:13)

• Emotional Quote – Rosa Álvarez

  • “No puede ser más indigna las declaraciones que ha hecho. Mira, es que estoy... Las familias le hemos llamado asesino, homicida... Ha infravalorado el dolor de las víctimas...” (Rosa Álvarez, 05:37)

Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes

• On discovering rural life:
  • “[Casares de Arbás] es un pueblo súper pequeñito, que tiene ahora 7 habitantes... me quedé fascinada con las vacas y los caballos.” (Sergio’s Partner, 01:18)
• On rural adaptation:
  • “Cuando desapareció [el toro], convirtieron el lugar donde el toro hacía lo suyo en un gran centro cultural. La buena política.” (Eva, 02:55)
• On urbanites’ relationship with the countryside:
  • “La España vacía es la España de las vacas.” (Main Host, 02:00)
  • “Han llegado a protestar por los cencerros de las vacas, que les molesta la gente.” (Main Host, 03:46)
• On participating in village life:
  • “Toqué la campana del pueblo, chicos, me lo acabáis de recordar.” (Sergio’s Partner, 03:55)
• On the emotional toll of tragedy:
  • “Ha infravalorado el dolor de las víctimas y por eso se ha visto en esa situación.” (Rosa Álvarez, 05:37)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:35 – Shared rural plans and introductions
• 01:18 – Anecdote about Casares de Arbás' rural charms
• 02:35 – Eva’s Halloween story in Prado Segar
• 03:27 – Joys and realities of rural weekends
• 03:55 – The thrill of ringing the village bell
• 05:13 – Transition to political/social topics
• 05:37 – Interview fragment with Rosa Álvarez

Tone & Atmosphere

The tone is relaxed, humorous, and fondly nostalgic when discussing village life, shifting to gravity and raw emotion during Rosa Álvarez’s intervention. The banter is peppered with self-deprecating humor about urban perspectives on rural life, and the episode invites the listener both to reflect and to smile.

In Summary

This episode of “Hoy por Hoy” crafts a warm, relatable exploration of Spain’s rural gems through delightful personal stories, underscored by awareness of the wider social context. It ends with a moving call for empathy from those affected by tragedy, grounding the sense of community explored throughout.