On 10th August, Pedro Bernadás celebrated his 109th birthday. He describes himself as “half Catalan, half Argentine, and a Canarian by choice”. At 109 years old, he is one of the oldest men in Tenerife. Born in Barcelona in 1916, he dedicated his life to medicine, but his most vivid memories are from the Spanish Civil War, when he served as a doctor for the Republican side at Cerro de Hita – located in Guadalajara, Castilla-La Mancha. “I had to treat quite a few people,” he reminisces.
Despite his age, he still has a smile on his face. In a small but well-equipped home, he has a room with a modular bed and his own bathroom. Photographs from his youth adorn the walls alongside his FC Barcelona pillow, a team he supports. He claims to feel “a bit older, but very happy“. Health has been a constant companion throughout his professional life: “I never took sick leave from work because I’ve always felt very well.”
Throughout his long life, Bernadás has followed a recipe that he believes has helped him reach such an advanced age. “Smoke and drink little, and fall in love with just one woman,” he states with a laugh. That woman was Rosa María, his partner for half a century. Although she passed away in 1999, Bernadás fondly remembers her as his great love. Consequently, despite the years spent apart, Rosa María remains very much alive in his memory.
The Catalan doctor served as a medic for the Republican side in Guadalajara during the Civil War
His life changed dramatically after her loss. Bernadás lived alone for a time, but painful sciatica made him unable to continue in solitude. It was then that Mirtha, a Bolivian woman, entered his life and has been much more than just his caregiver for nearly two decades.
However, when it comes to calculating the years they have been together, they disagree. ‘The doctor’ – as she affectionately calls him – claims they have lived together for 17 years. She insists it has been 20. Regardless, the bond they have created transcends mere employment. For ‘the doctor’, Mirtha is family. For Mirtha, Bernadás is already family, a “half father, half son.” Their connection is so deep that to this day, the only voice Bernadás perfectly recognises is that of his caregiver.
His connection with Tenerife began during a holiday. He used to travel from Barcelona with Rosa María to spend time in Puerto de la Cruz, a city he fell in love with from the very first visit. After retirement, both made the island their winter refuge, staying at the Hotel Masaru in La Paz, where they celebrated Christmas enjoying the climate and tranquillity, two qualities that ultimately led Bernadás to decide that his stay in Tenerife should become permanent. “First, we came for two months of holiday; then, for ten, and now we’ve been here for years,” he summarises with a smile.
Years after retiring, he decided to move in with his caregiver for a more relaxed life
Today, they reside in Toscal-Longuera (Los Realejos), alongside Vicente, Mirtha’s husband. Despite his age, the doctor retains his independence, moving around the house with the aid of a walker. “When we go out, we take him in a wheelchair for his comfort,” explains Mirtha.
Though 109 years weigh heavily, Pedro Bernadás’s mind remains sharp. His appetite, however, is beginning to reflect his age. “He eats little, but there’s always room for dessert,” adds Mirtha, as she offers him a caramel-filled chocolate that the elderly man pops into his mouth almost absent-mindedly.
Subscribe to continue reading
