Patricia Harris and David Lyon began visiting Spain in the decade following the death of Francisco Franco. They have been privileged to watch the country emerge from a repressive dictatorship to become a world leader in art, gastronomy, energy, transportation, and environmental stewardship. They have spent time in all but one of Spain's 17 Autonomous Regions, literally from the Pyrenees to the Strait of Gibraltar, from the Picos de Europa to the sun-blasted Balearic Islands. They have driven almost every twisting mountain road and had such unforgettable experiences as fishing for angulas with a Michelin-starred Basque chef, following the Holy Week processions through Valencia, and joining in the saffron harvest festival in Castilla-La Mancha.
Harris's junior high school Spanish laguage class opened her eyes to the country's history and culture and she continued her study in high school and college. She holds a bachelor's degree from Harvard University. She has a personal interest in exploring and celebrating women's achievements and is the sole author of 100 Places in Spain Every Woman Should Go (Travelers' Tales.)
Lyon's mother's family hails from Andalucía and Catalunya. His fascination with Spain was nurtured by his great uncle's stories of fighting in the Lincoln Brigade during the Spanish Civil War. A singer-songwriter as well as a writer, he commissioned a Spanish guitar from master luthier Paulino Bernabé in Madrid. He holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Maine and a masters in fine arts from the University of Massachusetts.
Harris and Lyon are authors of several previous Spain guidebooks for Frommer's, a Thomas Cook guide to Andalucía (which they also photographed), as well as thirty other books on travel, art, popular culture, and food. Gastronomy has been a continuing focus in their writing. They are game to try a new or unusual dish but don't turn up their noses at an honest plate of patatas bravas or a cazuela of albóndigas. They wrote the Spanish section for Ultimate Food Journeys (Dorling Kindersley). Founders of HungryTravelers.com, they always have saffron, smoked paprika, and Bomba rice on hand in their home kitchen.
