John: I just ❤️❤️❤️ Granada -Introduction.

Julie has asked me to take over writing the blog while she updates Tripcast. Consequently I'm not sure how frequent these entries will be or of their literary quality, but here goes. 

I think I have come close to living every man'dream. I am living next to a bar! The photos below show our little square and our apartment in location to the bar called Las Cuevas The Caves. So called because we are living in the area where the Arabs and gypsies lived in caves when they first arrived here in Granada.

The photos below show Julie opening the door to our apartment and Michael waving shows our location in relation the bar restaurant. Just across from our balcony and bedroom is a small church which still celebrates mass. It has one of those small church bells that sort of tinkle/clanks rather than rings. Unlike Seville one of the first things that struck me about Granada was the ringing of church bells all through the day. It doesn't seem to matter where you are, a church bell of some sort and size will ring nearby.

Michael and Emma two small figures on balcony

Red tiles are front of our balcony.

Across the square are the white houses which are gated off from the general public. As you turn left and look down the hill you walk past all the small shops and cafes. As mentioned above, even though this is now very much a tourist area, the Arabic and eastern influnces are still strong. For example hookah pipes are still smoked in cafes, and my first meal in the bar below was a Moroccan tagin. This one being a kind of casserole with plums and nuts deeeelishus! All washed down with a nice refreshing glass of sangria. Sangria being a red wine with ice, chopped fruit, and other ingredients which bar men guard more jealousy than the Crown Jewels or ASIO Australia's defence secrets.

Also from our balcony, you can see behind the power cable way up on the top of a hill, Granada's famed Alhambra Palace which was built when The Moors Arabic people ruled southern Spain from around the 7th to the 10th Centuries. But more of that later.

So welcome to our little bit of Granada and our "placa poco" our little square.

In the next blog, some of our adventures.

John: The Flamenco Concert.

In the evening at the end of our first day in Barcelona we went to a Flamenco concert at the magnificent Palau de Musica. I was awake most of the night afterwards, thinking about how wonderful it had been and how could I ever get it across to you how moving and unforgettable it had been, without it sounding like some meaningless rave, or some boring Flamenco 101 tutorial. Perhaps the best way to do it is to write it in sections, so that you can read the bits that interest you. So here goes. 

SUMMARY. This was probably the best performance of flamenco, or any other music and dance concert that I have seen, or probably ever will see. There was something for everyone. Pure flamenco.(100% emotion) and modern dance and ballet using flamenco steps and gestures. 

INTELLECtTUAL, EMOTIONAL AND CREATIVE ELEMENTS. 

Danish writer Hans Christian Andersen once wrote, 

"When words end music takes over." 

This concert was a perfect example. No writer could put into words what happened at this performance. 

An equally famous tango musicIan also wrote, 

"If the tango can't express it - it doesn't exist"

In this case substitute the word flamenco.

This type of music is also referred to as "Fire music." 

At this performance both the stage and the venue almost went up in flames!

"Flamenco Fire."

PERFORMANCE PART OF IT. 

Not only do great flamenco artists draw people into their performance, they also have the ability to drop the audience into a different mood with just a few sung words, shifts in rhythm, dance steps, or a couple of strokes of the guitar. Not only should individuals be able to do this, but the company as a whole. These changes being done so seamlessly, that the audience only realise that they have been taken on an emotional roller coaster when the whole thing ends. By the end of this concert I was both exhilarated, and to use a good old Aussie term "as wrung out as a wet rag!"

STORIES AND SCENES FROM THE CONCERT? 

Although the stories are about the gypsies who developed this form of music, the stories and the emotions in them are universal. In this music all the elements are heightened and intensified. I.e 100% raw emotion. You don't get let off the hook!

Perhaps the most intense scene for me, was performed by the young female dancer dressed in black in the photo below. As her dancing became ever wilder and uninhibited, so the three male singers moved in closer like a wolf pack. There were lots of "I want, we want" in the singing, and the intentions of all parties was quite clear. I think it will be the first and only time I will ever see one woman having intense, almost violent sex with three men at once, in dance form.

Yet another scene was based on the other end of the emotional scale. The intense yearning of loneliness and jealousy. An older woman sees her former lover in the arms of a younger woman. 

She wails "Just kiss me once, and we will be happy again. I will make you more happy than she ever can."

The gypsies also used flamenco music as religious music. In prayer and religious songs, God is addressed as "Senor" the same Spanish word for "Sir" If you ever get to hear the Credo from "The Missa Flamenco" you will hear what I mean. 

In this performance the male singers gave a moving example of this. 

 

TO SUM UP. 

A wonderful, exhilarating, exhausting night. Both performers and audience were very, VERY happy! at the end of it.

The next day we arrived in Granada, where the great poet Frederico Garcia Lorca put all this Andulusian passion and torment into poetry and drama forms. When  I catch up a bit more with this blog I might settle down with a nice bottle of Rioja (red wine), and read one of his plays. Ah me, life just gets better!

John : Catch Up Blog About Barcelona

First of all apologies for my lateness in writing a second blog. However as Jullie has kept you up to date, I might just add a few bits and pieces that I know some of you like to read.

So, Barcelona. I wrote that we stayed in our usual hotel in Bruc Street (or as a it is now known by its Australian name, Bruce Street). 

The photo above shows Bruc the drummer boy. Bruc was/is a hero of Barcelona and Catalunya because of his inspired use of psychological warfare against Napoloean and his invading army. Bruc marched around the mountains that surround Barcelona beating his drum. Because the mountains echoed so much Napolean's army believed that the Catalunya army was huge because they only heard the drum beats echoing and rolling around the mountains. 

There is quite a recent film of this true story simply called "Bruc" which turns up on SBS every now and again, it's a nice way to pass an hour or so. 

The Cuban and Catalunya flags were still out, just as they were the last time we were here.The Cuban national flag is the one with the star and the blue and white stripes. The Catalunya independence movement simply borrowed the Cuban flag, and changed the stripes colours to red and yellow which are the national colours of Catalunya. So now it has become a flag for independence. Much like the Australian Southern Cross flag has become the flag for the independence for far north Queensand movement. 

Julie has told you about her gallant the resultant injuries. She said it was an accident but really it was a diva temper tantrum tactic, just to become the centre of attention. Presently her bruises are going a sort of black deep purple colour. It looks as if she has been a rather brutal State Of Origin Game.

The Festival Of Mercy parade that we ran into is an annual parade held in Barcelona. It is to celebrate and give thanks, that by praying to the Madonna, the city was freed from a pestilence in the year sixteen hundred and something or other

The photos above show how big they are. I surprised to read that these big figures are made of paper mache. 

In the evening of the second day, we went to flamenco concert which I will write about next.

Julie: off to Granada

We managed to make our way out of Barcelona's Festival of Mercy, in time for our Vueling plane to Granada.  The plane was half an hour late due to late arrival from Athens but apart from that all went quite well.

Unfortunately Emma and Stuart's plane was held up in London and they really only caught their connecting flight Madrid to Granada by running from one plane to the next.  Their luggage didn't follow them. It is still waiting in Madrid and may ( or may not ) turn up tomorrow- after failing to have it appear today as promised at 11.30pm last night.
We've had better sorts of days....but improvements must be just round the corner....

I can't blame people for giving me a different stare at my rather colourful eye work ( from my tripping over and checking out the concrete).  Thankfully, my ankle seems to be ok now.

When we arrived at Granada late at night, we found that the taxi could only go so far and the we had to walk the rest - as it was residential access only / no cars.  Up the hill, pulling the bags along the cobblestones seemed almost an impossible task.  J and Michael very kindly took over these duties while I "gave up".  Then we had to wait for our host to arrive as my internet roaming was not working.

Walking down to the end of the hill seems easier

We have to walk up the street to the white church, turn left to our Airbnb

Today it was 33 degrees! Just as well we didn't come in summer.  Most places are closer on Sunday but we walked - OMG - did we walk, searching for various things.  This afternoon, J, Michael and I hot caught up in another parade.  This was another Catholic one - something like special intentions.  People with lighted candles followed a band of a beating drum ( and some devotion held high) and walked for their own special intention.  Remember this was in 33 degree heat..  there were thousand of people taking part.  They had some seats along the March route and I thought that perhaps anyone could seit ther.  So I encouraged J&M to join me.  After about 5 mins a lady canme in front of me and was waving a book of tickets at me.  I asked if they were raffle tickets?  But no, if you wanted to sit at the kerb on the chair you needed to pay €7 per seat.  We decided the seats weren't wort it.

Julie: last day in Barcelona

Firstly we went to see another Gaudi house La Pedera - not as impressive as another we have seen but still good fun:

See yellow hat.  Who could that be?

After Gaudi visit, we moved to the Gothic area - the intention being for a general wander.  Silly us, we "forgot" it was a public holiday and procession/ parade  for the Festival  of Mercy.  This meant right in the Gothic area where we went, so did most of Barcelona.  

We were trapped in the little narrow streets and alleys that were closed off for the parade.

Parade figures - Festival of Mercy

Add caption

Julie: last night in Barcelona

Three years ago when planning our first trip to Europe, I discovered a site
/www.classictic.com/en/ that lists classic events on at various cities in Europe.
Using this site, I've been fortunate to find classic performances in Barcelona each three times we have visited.  This time, Michael, Jonathan and I went to the Gran Festival Flamenco de Barcelona at the fine Palau de la Musica.  It was 80 minutes of pure Spanish Flamenco starting at the very Spanish time of 9pm Friday.  Michael looked very elegant at the concert.

 

 
 Inside the beautiful building

Other One: End of transit day, beginning of a beautiful friendship?

Yesterday when I wrote that the day had even fairly uneventful, it wasn't exactly true.

In the taxi on the way to the airport Julie whacked me in the eye with her elbow. (She said it was an accident?). The Qantas flight attendant spilt wine all over me. The British Airways flight attendant showered me with chips. To cap it off I spent 30 minutes or so in Heathrow Airport's terminal three, an experience I will always remember. It was a delightful round trip of the terminal. It really was literally 'a round trip!" In one door, out the other. What a wonderful way to see England.

However when we got to Barcelona, things changed for the better. I met a very nice non English speaking taxi driver. Despite his lack of English and my doubtful Spanish we got along quite well. Unlike a previous encounter I had with a taxi driver who only spoke Spanish, this one didn't try to kidnap me, then keep me as a hostage by driving me around and around a roundabout. 

So at the end of the day I concluded that I really like Spain - I feel safe here!

Julie: La Sagrada

Undeterred by my tripping around, we made it to La Sagrada. Michael had an earlier entry time as he had opted to " climb one of the towers".  While up at the top, he looked for us in the crowd - identifiable by our yellow hats.

Michael - at great heights

The Gaudi cathedral continues to inspire. When Kath & Paul saw it on 4 Sept 2012 and sent us photos (4 Sept being a certain sister Shell's birthday), little did we imagine we would end up seeing it ourselves with Emma one year later.

Here are some of our photos from today from La Sagrada with Michael:

Julie: Checked out the paving...

I didn't  mean to give the roadworks at Barcelona a detailed look but somehow, as we were walking along, I stood on the side of the gutter and went head first into the paving.  No fainting but a bit of a bump on the old forehead, a twist of the left ankle, a bruise on the shoulder and little finger on the right hand in need of a band aid.  For someone who doesn't like being the centre of attention, I'm not going around it the right way.  Anyway, Michael has his first aid certificate and has applied his knowledge to good use.  He and J have looked after me so attentively.  I will try not to do an "Act 3"!

Julie: I lost La Rambla.....

This was our  first day at Barcelona and we were showing Michael around as he hasn't been here before.  You can tell I'm not quite "with it" as I "lost" the main tourist strip ( La Rambla) - that I don't even like!  I took Michael down a little street 2 blocks away.  You can see by the attached photo that it is a big avenue that one can't really miss!

The other one: in transit report

I'm writing this about couple of hours before we are due to arrive in London.

Well the day began by Qantas  informing us that the flight time had changed from 11:00pm to 1:30 am the next morning. But that was okay.

Qantas gave each of us a little present as an apology.  A $20 voucher which we could spend in selected airport terminal eateries. Michael and I weren't particularly interested, but to one of nature's shoppers like Jule it was an opportunity too good to miss. She bravely volunteered to take all three vouchers to see if she could find "something". The original plan was to buy as many Aussie things to take over to Emma, and to hell with the practicalities.  Chicko Rolls,  4x 20 pies could have been options I suppose. However she came back with $60 of chocolates.  That is $60 cost at the airport; value probably around $30 maximum elsewhere. It was  like The Boxing Day Sales. A MEGA box of Malteesers and  all the other goodies have somehow been stashed into our carry on luggage. I just hope that England or Spain's Border Security staff don't want us to empty our bags, otherwise there will have to be a lot of explaining to do, as well as a lot of throwing away of chocolate. I can tell you now, once all that chocolate has been tipped out of the bags, there is NO WAY we will ever work out how to put it all back again!  Aside from this the chocolate will probably all melt in the Spanish heat but one can't let a bargain go to waste without trying.

The flight over has been fairly uneventful except for Julie passing out!  This was a few hours out of Melbourne.  Because she's not so 'crash hot' I'm penning this entry.  Julie thinks it may be something to do with a stomach bug and interaction with her regular medication. When it happened she was sitting down on the plane, and was very quickly surrounded by cabin crew carrying water and supplying her with oxygen through an oxygen mask. We got off at Dubai without problem and there was no issue with us getting on the the next flight to London. 

Well folks I might sign off now, as it's time for me to check out where we are by getting out the inflight computer screen and watching the little aeroplane inch its way across a map of Europe, which I know is one of Christine K's favourite ways of passing the time ..... NOT!

Next blog will be coming to you live from Spain!!!!!! Cheers 'til then John -The other one.

JOHN (The other one): Before the trip.

ONLY ONE AND  A HALF MORE SLEEPS TO GO.

I am writing this at 3:29am on Tuesday morning, which means there are only one and a half more sleeps to go before taking off on the big trip.

They say the hardest person to be critical of, is yourself. For an old bloke like me (I admit it - I am getting old!) who is getting even more set in his ways, this trip is a bit scarier than it was the last time yet still exciting. My eosophobia has returned. (For those of you who can't remember the last blog this particular phobia relates to an irrational dislike of dawn and the early hours) except now "the early hours" seem to extend out to about 10:00am ! But I put this down to: a particularly cold and wet Melbourne winter, a very warm and comfortable bed, and sheer laziness. Also if I didn't have to go through the "endless hassle" of packing and the long air flight (really neither is "endless") life would be so much easier, or should that be lazier. However, if I can keep remembering Michael's wise words all will be well.

A while ago Michael reminded me that these onerous chores are just a means to an end, not the end themselves. The end being the trip and all the wonderful things we will see and do there. For example, I will be able to listen to my new CD, Music Of The Medicis  whilst actually looking out over Florence! Also I'll be able to marvel again at The Alhambra in Granada whilst this time literally staying down the road from it. It's kind of awe inspiring to have a Palace over a thousand years old as a next door neighbour.

Also this trip will be even better. There will be no people in tour groups that I have to get along with, and perhaps best of all, Julie and I will have family actually physically with us to share this trip with us as it happens. 

So all in all it's shaping up quite well. So stick with us, I'm sure we will have lots to tell you about and share with you. .... Can't wait!

List of things to do

The other one's organised packing!

Julie:Where to my lovelies?

Magical Mystery Tour is coming to take us away - again!

For this (our third) fantastic Magical Mystery Tour (MMT), we are leaving late on 21 Sept for Spain (Barcelona and Granada) followed by Italy (Naples and Florence).  Paris will be our next destination and then Berlin, Amsterdam and London.  Along the way, we will be joined by wonderful family.

So hop on board our blog and share our ride with us - the very lucky J & J!

Julie: Before we start- a look back in time....

Australia's ABC Playschool celebrated its 50th birthday this year and we feel we had a special part in it.

In 1988, while we were living in Sydney, our family had a stint on Playschool. These rather grainy 'grabs' taken from our home video are evidence of the first "gig" by the terrific three - Jonathan, Emma and "still a baby" Michael.  ( Fortunately I was at work at the time.)

Notable items:

• J's very "in" short green pants; 
• Michael's apparent contentment with things- even though he was seated in his "very basic" pram; and
• Emma's happiness and delight to be bouncing around in front of the cameras.

This is my Terrific Trio!