Driving Over Lemons: An Optimist in Andalucia

Meet Chris Stewart, the eternal optimist. A man who flies to Spain, sees a peasant farm on the wrong side of the river and, with scarcely a second thought, hands over a cash deposit. And then finds he has acquired not just the farm, but the farmer, too, who has no intention of leaving. Not to mention the lack of running water, electricity or even a bridge.

It would be enough to send most people straight back home. But Chris and his wife Ana are made of stronger stuff - and besides, they have...