THE EASE OF MOVING AROUND IN BENARRABÁ AND GREETING EVERYONE ALONG YOUR WAY: A LITTLE STORY THAT FELT ODDLY FAMILIAR

Written by Daniela Martínez

I grew up far from my extended family: grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins. But every other summer, we’d travel back to see them and spend one or two months together. I’d stay at my grandparents’ house, while my cousins lived just around the block.

Those were the happiest days: running back and forth between homes, being constantly surrounded by familiar faces, and the joy of always having someone new, a family member I hadn’t met yet, dropping by.And the saddest days? Always the ones when we had to leave and the quiet that followed.

Spending time in Benarrabá brought all that back, in a completely unexpected way. The ease of moving around, from one house to another, greeting strangers who quickly became friends, and finding familiar faces that soon felt like family. Our coliving spaces became homes, filled with warm smiles, shared meals, and intimate conversations. And before long, we weren’t just visiting each other; we were also being welcomed into the homes of the locals, chatting in the streets, and becoming part of a much wider community.

Leaving Benarrabá for the first time felt just like those childhood goodbyes: the bittersweetness of having found a place that feels like home… and having to leave it. Ironically, to a place filled with more people, but where I tend to feel more isolated.

But here’s the thing: you take some of that with you to the city.You smile more at others. You slow down enough to really notice people. And you start seeking those small moments of connection, the kind that came so effortlessly with a simple "hola" in the village. 

And best of all: I can guarantee the doors and hearts of Benarrabá are always open to welcome us back.