Valencia is one of my favorite Spanish cities. I know this because, despite the fact that I was on crutches (muletas, if you were wondering) the entire time, I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I hobbled my way through museums, horchata cafes, through the market, in the park to the Ciudad de Artes y Ciencias…you get the picture. I was slow but, like a good American, I wanted to see the sights! Here are 36 Hours in Valencia from the New York Times.
Ojos de Brujo disbanded about two years ago, but that doesn’t mean that their fan base has weakened. Known for blending traditional Spanish flamenco with the modern sounds of hip-hop, pop, Indian music, and more, this group is beloved and has brought music to new levels through the years. Now there is a remix of their music out from Danish DJ Al Lindrum. Follow this link for a free download from the album: http://bit.ly/N2WZEP
Giles Tremlett, Madrid correspondent for The Guardian and a longtime resident of Spain, has published a new book about Catherine of Aragon. “Catherine of Aragon: The Spanish Queen of Henry VIII” chronicles the rise and fall of a queen who was known for her judgement under pressure and leadership in the 16th century.
For information about Tremlett’s book about Spanish history and culture, “The Ghosts of Spain,” see this post.
Have been dreaming of Mallorca this week….
10. März 2012 / Port de Sóller (mit besonders herzlichen Grüßen an’s Sabinsche!)
The TAPAS Society has announced their grand wine tasting for this year. Tickets for the event in June in San Francisco are now on sale! TAPAS stands for “Tempranillo Advocates Producers and Amigos Society.” Their mission is to educate the public about varietals from the Iberian Peninsula that are being grown here on the West Coast….particularly tempranillo. Check out my post from last year about this fun event!
SF has been getting beautiful spring weather that gives energy and lightness to my days…so I was inspired to share this song from Azúcar Moreno, a perfect good-weather number! The video is totally classic. Love the guy with the white MC-Hammer pants.
I couldn’t rush through this itinerary even if you paid me, but here it is…10 Hours in Southern Spain. Condé Nast Traveler has a new article called “7 Perfect Days in Seven Popular Ports.” Making a stop at the port in Málaga, Spain? The recommendation here is to make a beeline to Granada and the Alhambra. They include some big-ticket ideas such as the Alhambra and the Albaicín…plus a visit to nearby 14th-century baths (which, selfishly, I wish were kept secret :). All good suggestions. However, what about Málaga? Picasso’s childhood home? The fortress with beautiful surrounding palms? A walk down one if the city’s wide boulevards or a seafood haunt? If you want to take the slow way, check out www.malagaweb.com.
Diez Mil Excusas is a really beautiful collection of original photos taken in Spain. This blog gives me inspiration for my artwork and my life.
