Brígida Camacho Camacho, about to turn 86 years old, more than represents the strength of the working woman of the municipality of Yaiza, and like her, many neighbors have, with their perseverance, helped the progress of southern Lanzarote in various productive sectors, in her case, nothing less than to tourism, totally dedicated body and soul to catering and hospitality, running family bar and guesthouse businesses alongside her husband Cristóbal Santana (R.I.P.). They raised their five children working day and night, achieving the well-being that today allows Brígida to enjoy a quiet retirement without financial worries.
On the occasion of International Women's Day, the City Council chaired by Óscar Noda highlights the trajectory of this cheerful resident of Playa Blanca “for embodying the value of perseverance and struggle in entrepreneurship and active and supportive participation in community life”.
From her words, the passion and commitment of a lifetime with work and customer service emerge: “I liked my bar so much that I was in the kitchen and I would peek out to solve problems and talk to people.” From a very young age, she had to alternate domestic chores with caring for her eight siblings, acting as head of the household: “I don't know how we managed to get by because my father died and with my mother we took care of all my siblings.”
When Brígida was 9 years old, the family moved from Las Breñas to Playa Blanca, and there began her great journey in the fishing town. Her father was a sailor, he went fishing and she stayed to look after her siblings, having to walk long hours in search of food provisions, so she had little time left to go to school. As an anecdote, Brígida Camacho was the first woman who enrolled in the Adult School in Playa Blanca where she managed to learn to read and write well.
She met her life partner, Cristóbal, and together they embarked on the bar adventure. Brígida salted fish at home and her husband brought crabs and limpets, among other sea delicacies. That's how it all began, from the conviction and union of work 'Casa Brígida' was born. While she served from her kitchen window in Playa Blanca, Cristóbal spent long days in search of seafood. The business gradually gained popularity.
The small bar that served construction workers from the Playa Blanca pier and the first southern hotel, the Lanzarote Princess, gradually became a restaurant, in her house, where she lived with her children. The house's patio was characterized by enormous ferns that hung from the ceiling, it was the dining room, surrounded by family rooms.
‘Casa Brígida’ was no longer just the workers' canteen; over time, it was visited by diners from other municipalities who went for a stroll on weekends to Playa Blanca to enjoy paellas, seafood, and fresh fish hand-picked by the customers. The children grew up, so Brígida, Cristóbal, and their five children consolidated as a work team, some in the dining room and others in the kitchen.
And as new opportunities arise from needs, there were clients who not only demanded food, but a comfortable place to stay overnight. To the bar then joined the adventure of building rooms to respond to the clientele, and from ‘Casa Brígida’, ‘Apartamentos Brígida’ was born. Already by that time, foreigners spent long seasons, to the point that French and Belgians came to feel part of the Santana Camacho family.
The toughness of the work never blurred Brígida's cheerful face, declared a natural party-goer and an unstoppable carnival enthusiast. A tenacious, brave, supportive, and tremendously affectionate woman, she extended a hand to whoever needed it. And since the person who works also has the right to rest, in the year 2005, she and her husband decided to leave their businesses to travel and enjoy with their children and grandchildren. From all that trajectory, friendly clients also remained, with whom they also traveled the world. An example of life, work, and overcoming, which Yaiza wishes to make visible.
