Snowfields in Almeria

Book excerpt: Loreta is a young woman with Swiss and Spanish blood in her veins. Still as a child after the divorce of her parents she went with her mother back to live in Switzerland, where she grew up, reached adolescence and frst youth. After a disappointment in love, she decided to travel to Spain to fnd her father, whom she has not seen for a long time, and with whom she has maintained only sporadic contact through the years. She packed her belongings into her small car and headed for Almeria. Upon arrival, she could not fnd her father immediately, and on a hot summer afternoon she got lost between the greenhouses of St. Augustin. Momey, who had been studying informatics in Algeria, was forced to quit his studies due to the severe illness of his mother. He thus had to look for a job to help his family, because their economic reserves were all needed for medical treatments and hospital bills. As there were no suitable jobs available, his father heeded the advice of his own brother - who later turned out to be a human tracker - and decided to send Momey along with Momey’s younger brother to Spain, to fnd success there. For this they have to cross the Mediterranean in a dilapidated boat together with 38 other men coming from Africa. A tragic accident occurs during this crossing. On that afternoon, when Loreta is lost between the greenhouses, Momey who by then heads a group of workers there, fnds her unconscious and helps her to fnd the way out of the labyrinth of plantations under plastic. Loreta fnds her father just when he is handcuffed, arrested on suspicion of murder. Father and daughter exchange some words under tears. She stays with her paternal grandmother, and despite the terrible events, begins to think that she wants to start a new life there in Andalusia. She plans to open her own business. She believes in her father ́s innocence, and provides him with support so that he can overcome the difcult moments he is going through. Te father, who for many years led a disorderly and aimless life, fnds in jail a cellmate, who motivates and initiates him in flamenco singing, as an infallible method to leave behind his bad life and depressions. Te two new friends work voluntarily in jail, and start a passionate singing project together. Loreta and Momey, who come from different cultures, begin to cultivate a beautiful friendship. Tere are obstacles that will momentarily prevent that friendship from ending in love. But as it cannot be otherwise in Andalusia, all difculties are solved, and love triumphs in the end.