July 29, 2007

• Flamenco-Ole!

  Returning to my travels through spain, from madrid, we journeyed to the city of granada. Granada is best known for the Alhambra, but if you know me, you know the best known aspect of a city is never the first part I explore. One of the lesser known draws of southern spain, and particularly granada is the flamenco dancing

  Flamenco is a traditional dance often performed by gypsies, or the romany, as they call themselves. Though gypsies are known for roaming, several of them reside rather permanently in caves high in the hills of granada. And so, fresh from the train, our first introduction to andalusia was the sounds and rhythms of flamenco dancing

  
  As you can see, the caves stretch back quite a ways, and are decorated with all sorts of odds and ends. But dont let this so called primitive interior fool you

  
  Living in a cave doesnt mean you have to deprive yourself of modern luxuries like swimming pools, apparently

  
  Thus began the flamenco show. Each group consisted of a family type unit, though whether they were truly related, who can say?

  
  The patriarch, or singer, led the chorus and musicians in the beats the others danced too

  Now in addition to the singer, each group consisted of 4 dancers. Let’s call them, the mother, the maid, the crone, and the heir. First to dance was always the mother, to show a balance of beauty and experience

  
  She was followed by the crone, showing the wisdom and technique only age can provide
  
  The crone was followed by the maid, with the innocence and excitement of youth that lends an entirely different nuance to the flamenco
  
  Yep, she’s a cutie. However, she shant be a maid for long, for following her came the heir
  
  look at the pimp cane…do you know how smooth he was?
  

  yeah, that smooth. And becauce women love a man who can dance
  they coupled up and did a joint dance.

  Now you might be saying to yourself, that does sound exciting josh, but why didn’t YOU get up and try to do this flamenco thing? And if you said that, well then, you truly are my loyal followers, and know me well
  

  Okay, okay, so i still got some work to do…but there you go ladies…that is another dancing style i have under my belt. Impressed yet? 
  
  I see you baby. shakin that ass.
  
  And as we left the cave, we thanked the gypsies for sharing their culture with us, and showing everyone a rollicking good time
  
  And we looked across the hills of southern spain, to see our next destination…
  

  …The Alhambra

  -J

  • 10:50 pm
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