Tierra brava y serena,
de bajos bosques,
de profundos ocres;
de orgullosos hombres,
de rostros amables;
nacida de la luz de Agosto,
de sudor arena y sangre.
Espana - J. Salas
One of the characteristic features of the early history of Spain is the succesive waves of different peoples who spread all over the Peninsula. The first to appear were the Iberians, a Libyan people, who came from the south. Later came the Celts, a typically Aryan people, and from the merging of the two there arose a new race, the Celtiberians, who, divided into several tribes (Cantabrians, Asturians, Lusitanians) gave their name to their respective homelands. The next to arrive, attracted by mining wealth, were the Phoenicians, who founded a number of trading posts along the coast, the most important being that of Cadiz. After this came Greek settlers, who founded several towns, including Rosas, Ampurias and Sagunto. The Phoenicians, in their struggle against the Greeks, called on the Carthaginians, who, under the orders of Hamilcar Barca, took possession of most of Spain. It was at this time that Rome raised a border dispute in defence of the areas of Greek influence, and thus began in the Peninsula the Second Punic War, which decided the fate of the world at that time. After the Roman victory, Publius Cornelius Scipio, Africanus, began the conquest of Spain, which was to be under Roman rule for six centuries. --Survey of Spanish History--
After the limousine drove out of the airport parking garage, Isabel pulled out her cell phone and placed a call, staring out the tinted windows as the car drew closer to El Dorado. "Hola, Papa," her rich voice greeted when the line was answered. "Yes, I've landed in Colorado... Si, Papa, the flight was fine... Well, there is nothing but highway now but I should be in the city soon. I'll look more after I get settled at the hotel... No, I don't think I'll make it to Spain then... Lo siento, Papa, but I've got to worry about the restaurant first. I can't get behind schedule... Alright, I will try, but no promises. Si, te amo tambien. Adios."
Isabel dropped the cell phone to the seat after disconnecting and focused her attention on the passing landscape on the drive to El Dorado. 'Location is crucial - the perfect spot between El Dorado and Clear Lake.' Various details of the restaurant's planning flitted through her mind, leaving little time for her to consider the trip back to Madrid her father wanted her to make. 'Dios mio. I didn't leave Spain just to keep going back all the time...'
Being the youngest child and only daughter of the Spanish Ambassador to the United States wasn't an easy lifestyle, despite what some might think, and Isabel desperately tried to break free from the looming shadow of Santos Montiel's celebrity. No, she would not go home. Spain was her birthplace and the noble blood of her greatest royalty and warriors flowed through Isabel's veins, but Spain was no longer home. Home was yet to be discovered.
And so to El Dorado her travels lead her...
