Today I look at the beautiful ‘Tree of Life’ of José Saramago with the eloquent quote: “Lanzarote no es mi tierra, pero es tierra mia.” We bought it as a memento of our trip to Lanzarote in February 2019 where we visited the house and library of this exiled Portuguese writer.
Why this ‘Tree of life’? The guide told us that when José Saramago settled in Tias on the island in 1993, he planted several trees from his native region, including olive trees next to the palm trees, fig trees and the garob.
For him it meant an anchoring in this volcano island. He lived there with his wife, Maria del Pilar del Rio, a Spanish journalist and writer, now also chairman of the José Saramago Foundation.
When we entered the place, his portrait and the little elephant welcomed us. Why the elephant? We got the answer on our journey through the house and especially in the library.
We, however, first visited “la casa”. Through a brightly lit hall we entered José Saramago’s study.
There we discovered numerous objects that he had cherished: his pens, his inkwells,…
…and photos of important moments in his life, including the awarding ceremony of his Nobel Prize in 1998.
From his office he had a beautiful view of his planted garden and the vast ocean.
In the living room we could admire the beautiful paintings and art objects. Then the guide took us to the cozy kitchen where stylish cups were waiting for us, which we were then eager to drink on the terrace from which we could enter the garden.
We imagined ourselves being Saramago as we settled in his seat overlooking the ocean, peering into the distance, but also enjoying the coolness of his favorite trees. A pure pleasure!
Then the mental journey took place through the beautiful library in which the spirit of Saramago travels through his own writings, but also through the numerous works of great writers across different languages and cultures. It was a true revelation! A true aesthetic pleasure!
When leaving, we passed the souvenir shop where we bought an elephant, among other things, but where we also received as a commemoration, the 2019 agenda, the “Cuaderno de A Casa”, with statements from his diaries, Cuadernos de Lanzarote: An incentive for us to post our memories!
At the presentation in February 2007 of his work My little memories (2007), Saramago expressed the following advice: “If you lose the spirit of César Manrique, this island dies”. Next episode: introduction to César Manrique and his life purpose.
Martine de Clercq
