Introduction
When I look back on the large number and great variety of environments I have experienced during my life I am overcome by a deeply felt happiness, satisfaction and contentment. I feel I have used my life well.
One of the great experiences of my earlier years were my five summers I spent as a Geological student in Spain during the period 1956-61, three of which I spent in Galicia where I collected the data for my Doctorandus Thesis (MSc).

As a young boy I grew up on the land, in the Dutch Achterhoek region, counting amongst my closest friends farm boys, bricklayers, carpenters and the like with whom I all felt a close affinity. This experience served me well later in Spain, where I too lived and worked amongst simple yet extraordinary people in tiny villages in the rough countryside or by the sea, making many friends. Here follow some of my memories from those days.