A Great Pianist, RIP

Alicia de Larrocha passed away several days ago. Being in transit, I only learned of this sad fact last evening. A friend sent me some YouTube links of her in concert. Here’s one for those interested in seeing a great pianist making it look easy.

Even with those small hands, Sra. de Larrocha could play with ease, the true sign of a master. She will be missed not only in Spain, but the world over, for her beautiful music and legendary performances. As a side note, consider the magnificent tone of that Steinway in the video. Also a treat.

Alhambra Highlights

The Alhambra in Granada, Spain is worth all the hype. While planning another visit to Spain, I came across this video on YouTube, which shows many of the highlights of the palace/fortress in a computer generated animation.

The American writer Washington Irving’s Tales of the Alhambra is a great primer for anyone considering a visit. Irving is given credit for initiating the historical preservation movement thanks to this account of his travels to Spain and the Alhambra specifically. When I first toured the Alhambra, my guide made special note of Irving and went so far as to thank him for making his job possible. This sounded a bit over the top until I did some more research and discovered into what sorry shape sites such as this had deteriorated.

In earlier posts I also mentioned H.V. Morton’s A Stranger in Spain. He touches lightly on Granada but his insights into Spain in general are well worth your time. Like Irving, his account is first hand. Both of them interacted extensively with the local populace, experienced the authentic culture, and are capable writers.

Good research ahead of a trip makes it much more enjoyable and fulfilling. I’ll post more on that soon.

Castillos (con encanto)

Previous posts here at The Bent Page mentioned a few castles in Spain. In the process of planning my next stay, I rediscovered a book called Castillos con encanto, which I had purchased in Spain. This book is one of a series of books published with the con encanto tag.

This book provides plenty of useful information, not to mention dozens of great photographs. There is also a map section, which works well when doing general trip planning. You will need Spanish skills as the book is written entirely in that language. However, it is an opportunity to further your involvement in the culture as you work out your plans.

Saludos!

La Tienda, (Spain on order)

La Tienda is a web-based supplier of many things Spanish. I mean, they can supply you with everything from foodstuffs to crockery, all of it from Spain. If you enjoy Spanish food and culture the way I do, I recommend you follow this link: http://www.tienda.com/

You won’t be disappointed in the products and services at La Tienda as they have sources directly in Spain where the real stuff can be procured. I can’t wait to get back across the ocean to the Iberian Peninsula. During all my trips to Spain, I’ve never had anything other than an exceptional experience. Things have changed over the years but mostly for the better. And if you can’t make the journey, try the recipes on La Tienda’s site. It’ll give you a literal taste of Spain that is hard to match.