PODCAST TRANSCRIPT

Aroa: Hi, I’m Aroa

Alex: And I’m Alex.

Aroa: How are you?

Alex: I’m fine, thanks, and you?

Aroa: I’m fine too. Well, today we are going to talk about Elisa Patiño Meléndez.

Alex: Elisa was born in 1890, in Pontevedra, and she was recognised as a pioneer in Galician aviation.

Aroa: She was living in Sanxenxo in summer with her family and in the alameda of Pontevedra the rest of the year along her childhood. I know that now the Alameda is one of the most important spaces in the city. But back in the day, it used to be a huge orchard, when their medieval city wall still existed. When the avenue was built, the trees were placed in lines to divide the space in independent rows to keep the social classes separated: nannies and servants walked near the building; the artisans and middle class used the second row and the third row, where now you can see the Cafetín, was for the rich.

Alex: Later she installed her first airfield in Sanxenxo too. I was searching but I didn't find any film or series about her. Sad, isn’t it? She had a very interesting life… However, it is very important to remember her because she was a pioneer in as a Galician pilot and in her time, it was very difficult and more if you are a woman, and I think she was an example of pursuing your dreams, that the harder you try, the more you will achieve them.

Aroa: That’s incredible! She was very brave to get on a plane as unsafe as they were at the time. In fact, in case you didn't know, she had to sit on the wing of the plane as it was a one-seater.

Álex: That’s amazing! She had other talents too: she was very good at drawing and acting, she sang and played the piano and the violin. Do you know more interesting information about her?

Aroa: Yes! I know that her friend José Piñeiro took off for the first time in 1913 in Baltar beach, Sanxenxo. He was going to fly over the coast in front of many astonished people on the beach. I think her friend influenced her dream of becoming an aviator. A personal fact about her was that she had no desire to marry or have children, but had an intrepid and adventurous character that would change the course of her life.

Alex: Yes, I agree with you. Maybe her friend told her stories about his adventures in the sky and that's where she got the idea to be a pilot. And, about her decisions of not having kids or getting married, I think that she was completely free to decide this.

Aroa: Yes! And did you know that she loved to cycle between her home and the beach in the summer, but several politicians tried to ban women's cycling? And that she obtained her aviator's certificate after 50 hours of flight time at the early age of 23?!

Alex: Yes, I know! And I think this is unjust, because it is not fair that just because she is a woman, she had more complications than a man in achieving her dreams.

Aroa: I agree with you, the sad part is she died at the age of 28, because of the Spanish flu pandemic. Like us right now with the covid!

Alex: I think that is the sad part too. She died very young.

Aroa: Yes, she did not deserve that. Another fact about her is that she was very involved in social causes: she donated money many times and she volunteered as a nurse to help injured people who came back from World War I. They arrived in Galicia by boat.

Alex: I think it's a great idea! Caring for people should be seen more in the streets.

Aroa: I agree. Well, that’s all for today, we hope you all enjoyed that, good bye and see you another day!

Alex: Goodbye you all!