The dark unfathom'd caves of ocean bear:
Full many a flow'r is born to blush unseen,
And waste its sweetness on the desert air.
-- English poet Thomas Gray
This is written in a hurry for the website to be created before Christmas 2002. It is in honour and admiration of Nuria Albo, noted writer, poet and songwriter who served her people as their Mayor from 1979 to June 1987. She is a denizen of La Garriga, a town in the Inland part Of Catalonia, a semi autonomous region of northeast Spain centred on Barcelona, with its own distinctive culture and language. The writer of this article wishes to state that for him, she is a gift from the Internet cosmos. She says that for her, her election to mayoralty is a miracle. In reality, for La Garriga, it was a boon and a blessing. This page briefly highlights her lasting contribution to her town.
The road cum Railway Bridge and the street under it are standing monuments to her remarkable achievements, which she accomplished against almost impossible odds and obstacles, with unflinching courage and dedication. Today the street is called Avinguda 11 de setembre (avenue named after the national feast of Catalonia). In the beginning, some villagers used to call it the blonde avenue (because of Nuria's blonde hair).
The bridge and the avenue by themselves came into being because of her other equally unforgettable contributions namely the Primary School, The Institute and Pavilion. The Government was continually ignoring her spirited pleas for the construction of subway (the avenue) and the bridge over it and conceded only when finally, out of desperation she wrote to it that she would produce before it, the body of the first child that might get run over by a passing train.
Nuria Albo is one of the first lady mayors that Spain had, after it became democratic. She will also be remembered for being the first mayor to conduct a civil wedding in all Spain.
The inpiring story of how the little girl Nuria (orphaned at the age of six), grew up under the loving care of her mother and her own dedication to writing and music and how she became the Inimitable Nuria Albo, the famous writer, novelist and song-writer is highlighted in the Spanish Writers' Website http://www.escriptors.com/autors/albon/
Please don't forget to open the the links given below to see the pictures of the accomplishments of this remarkable woman.
her admiring friend from India
