tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48351473584037779722024-02-19T18:16:31.615-08:00Robin's blogRobinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04475877821055707624noreply@blogger.comBlogger148125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4835147358403777972.post-21176964181411740762012-01-02T16:26:00.000-08:002012-01-02T16:27:23.750-08:00Need some help this year?<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/P9Fyey4D5hg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04475877821055707624noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4835147358403777972.post-66176388643240514312011-12-21T11:37:00.000-08:002011-12-21T11:41:24.854-08:00Real Living with Robin Rilette<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/zRqBrtOC1xQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04475877821055707624noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4835147358403777972.post-70171002218720344102011-12-15T11:03:00.000-08:002011-12-15T11:12:39.227-08:00Ceremony of CarolsWhen I was in college I sang Benjamin Britten's <em>Ceremony of Carols</em>. It was one of the highlights of my choral career. My favorite movement is <em>This Little Babe</em>, the lyrics from a 16th century poem by <a href="http://www.luminarium.org/renlit/southwell.htm">Robert Southwell.</a> What images Southwell creates, and how well his words reflect a little understood truth that power does not always come in an expected form.<br /><br />This little Babe so few days old, <br />Is come to rifle Satan's fold; <br />All hell doth at his presence quake, <br />Though he himself for cold do shake; <br />For in this weak unarmed wise<br />The gates of hell he will surprise. <br /><br />With tears he fights and wins the field, <br />His naked breast stands for a shield; <br />His battering shot are babish cries, <br />His arrows made of weeping eyes, <br />His martial ensigns cold and need, <br />And feeble flesh his warrior's steed. <br /><br />His camp is pitched in a stall, <br />His bulwark but a broken wall; <br />The crib his trench, haystalks his stakes, <br />Of shepherds he his muster makes; <br />And thus as sure his foe to wound, <br />The Angels' trumps alarum sound. <br /><br />My soul with Christ join thou in fight, <br />Stick to the tents that he hath pight; <br />Within his crib is surest ward, <br />This little Babe will be thy guard; <br />If thou wilt foil thy foes with joy, <br />Then flit not from this heavenly boy. <br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.luminarium.org/renlit/southwell.htm"></a>Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04475877821055707624noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4835147358403777972.post-27010003763661075682011-10-12T09:24:00.000-07:002011-10-12T09:41:16.855-07:00Diamond Music<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/4vXHm8TzLzE" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />This morning I'm playing <em>Palladio</em> by Welsh composer <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karl_Jenkins">Karl Jenkins.</a> You may remember this music from a television commerical from the De Beers diamond corporation. <br /><br />The <a href="http://www.stantoninus.net/">St. Antonius Insitute</a> calls the South African corporation <a href="http://www.ewtn.com/library/business/antdebrs.htm">"the most unethical corporation in the world."</a><br /><br />Here's an article about De Beers latest <a href="http://www.debeersgroup.com/en/Media-centre/Press-releases/2011/Botswana-and-De-Beers-sign-10-year-Sales-Agreement/">sales agreement </a>with Botswana.Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04475877821055707624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4835147358403777972.post-81314314060423982712011-06-14T10:11:00.000-07:002011-06-14T10:09:49.150-07:00The Relief of Derry Symphony<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiucCJ4BZymuDveriY76NbgHu5yeQn-A7o9Mg4WxQH_PCpNSlpYhxQpOPogtTCiKdDTVT32e-6krTC5tBcUFTiX80QeE-iBxlAE2ZvQkKlfw3Ei8b9jlZe9y4noKzut1DtbeJb6fv64XkY/s1600-h/siegeBombardment.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 289px; height: 396px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiucCJ4BZymuDveriY76NbgHu5yeQn-A7o9Mg4WxQH_PCpNSlpYhxQpOPogtTCiKdDTVT32e-6krTC5tBcUFTiX80QeE-iBxlAE2ZvQkKlfw3Ei8b9jlZe9y4noKzut1DtbeJb6fv64XkY/s400/siegeBombardment.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308632534561008226" /></a> Painting by <a href="http://juliuspaintings.co.uk/cgi-bin/paint_css/siege/siegeBombardment.pl">Julius Guzy.</a><br /><br />About 12 years ago I was wandering through the folk section of Northwest Public Radio's music library when I came across a work by Irish composer <a href="http://www.shaundavey.com/">Shaun Davey</a> called "The Relief of Derry Symphony." As morning classical music host the word symphony naturally caught my eye so I took a listen. Wow! I was blown away by this amazing work. How in the world did this ever end up in the folk section? I included it in my program the very next day and the reaction was immediate and very positive. <br /><br />I hope that you enjoyed No. 49 on Northwest Public Radio's "50 Favorites!" You can find links to purchase the cd on Shaun's website under <a href="http://www.shaundavey.com/albums.htm">Albums.</a> Watch this video for more information on the seige of Derry.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/D8s_gs6kpqw&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/D8s_gs6kpqw&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><em></em><em></em><em></em><em></em><em></em><em></em><br /><br />Here's a picture of the Derry Guildhall where the symphony was recorded back in 1990.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio3eXAfuupxgZitpgjU_uR9o6JlV2LJlRLLsltngv2Pau4-NvUeRwiTYiFEiBmWcEBKTlP65wQhYji8jJ5R3BMeWMPG1AtpxBeTQwiVSHyQNOx55zp4t17dR0BcmX8piN7aIhkrpJARE0/s1600-h/DerryGuildhall.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 314px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio3eXAfuupxgZitpgjU_uR9o6JlV2LJlRLLsltngv2Pau4-NvUeRwiTYiFEiBmWcEBKTlP65wQhYji8jJ5R3BMeWMPG1AtpxBeTQwiVSHyQNOx55zp4t17dR0BcmX8piN7aIhkrpJARE0/s400/DerryGuildhall.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309862239507541074" /></a>Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04475877821055707624noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4835147358403777972.post-6423951718441508022011-05-19T09:24:00.000-07:002011-05-19T09:32:49.343-07:00Be Thou My Vision<iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/9h-bbvmu0YY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />This is one of my favorite versions of the ancient Irish folk hymn <a href="http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/b/t/btmvison.htm"><em>Be Thou My Vision</em>.</a> Van the man!Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04475877821055707624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4835147358403777972.post-45162901184038518072011-05-04T09:23:00.000-07:002011-05-04T09:28:16.719-07:00Across the Universe with Michael JohnsThis morning I'm playing an entire hour of music written by the Beatles, including a guitar version of "Across the Universe." Here's my favorite versin of that Lennon & McCartney song sung by <a href="http://michaeljohnsonline.com/">Michael Johns</a>, a former contestant on American Idol.<br /><br /><iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/hRh-N6MvG-Y" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04475877821055707624noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4835147358403777972.post-17347805072622401432011-04-18T09:39:00.000-07:002011-04-18T09:45:24.771-07:00So You Want To Write A Fugue?So you want to write a fugue.<br />You got the urge to write a fugue.<br />You got the nerve to write a fugue.<br />So go ahead, so go ahead and write a fugue.<br />Go ahead and write a fugue that we can sing. <br /><br />Pay no heed, Pay no mind.<br />Pay no heed to what we tell you,<br />Pay no mind to what we tell you.<br />Cast away all that you were told<br />And the theory that you read.<br />As we said come and write one,<br />Oh do come and write one,<br />Write a fugue that we can sing. <br /><br />Now the only way to write one<br />Is to plunge right in and write one.<br />Just forget the rules and write one,<br />Just ignore the rules and try. <br /><br />And the fun of it will get you.<br />And the joy of it will fetch you.<br />Its a pleasure that is bound to satisfy.<br />When you decide that John Sebastian must have been a very personable guy. <br /><br />Never be clever<br />for the sake of being clever,<br />for the sake of showing off. <br /><br />For a canon in inversion is a dangerous diversion, <br />And a bit of augmentation is a serious temptation,<br />While a stretto diminution is an obvious allusion. <br /><br /><br /><br />For to try to write a fugue that we can sing. <br /><br />And when you finish writing it<br />I think you will find a great joy in it. <br /><br />or so...<br />Nothing ventured, nothing gained they say<br />But still it is rather hard to start.<br /><br />Well let us try right now.<br />Now we are going to write a fugue.<br />We are going to write a good one.<br />We are going to write a fugue ... right now. <br /><br />Here is some information about <a href="http://www.glenngould.com/">Glenn Gould's </a> composition <a href="http://aix1.uottawa.ca/~weinberg/fugue.html">So You Want To Write a Fugue? </a>Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04475877821055707624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4835147358403777972.post-66928657975109628522011-03-23T10:53:00.000-07:002011-03-23T10:59:10.686-07:00Gerald Finzi's "Eclogue"<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/rIS6mmvtu2k" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />I was introduced to <a href="http://www.geraldfinzi.org/">Gerald Finzi's</a> <em>Eclogue for Piano and Strings</em> by a former colleague of mine, Ted Askew. I find this deeply heartfelt piece of music so beautiful, and thought that you might enjoy this video pairing Finzi's elegant and emotional music with photos of sunsets. <br /><br />In spite of all of our many challenges we live in a world full of beauty.Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04475877821055707624noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4835147358403777972.post-45374793312366420802011-02-08T14:26:00.000-08:002011-02-08T15:12:22.908-08:00Young Artists Concert<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH89SZNKuBkGprfqczWp8jbqZQrFCRtp49IS832OD9MqY9VrFQ0cUTaZeHkeNaX3tZGOmTTJZy04aUiBf_FKGhsooYyJDUd62dCFlupKB484HZp0VaT5G3IuYf8-XQbZwOhyphenhyphen0f5rmOPXE/s1600/WA+ID+banner.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 77px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH89SZNKuBkGprfqczWp8jbqZQrFCRtp49IS832OD9MqY9VrFQ0cUTaZeHkeNaX3tZGOmTTJZy04aUiBf_FKGhsooYyJDUd62dCFlupKB484HZp0VaT5G3IuYf8-XQbZwOhyphenhyphen0f5rmOPXE/s400/WA+ID+banner.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571450317487292578" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2VGD1wdEMyoPUj4J2AAcAx4OBl7OQkEoPTxyuk7krGZiyGSERj_wwC7g89MOYUxdOEcmogrJ7xkUxFShyphenhyphenJE5YoIHTz3qLLS9Hkp5VYTRfXZrSal2HxfCRw61wxphljS9EIDFpmflTfuQ/s1600/WA+ID+Symphony+Young+Artists+2011+011.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2VGD1wdEMyoPUj4J2AAcAx4OBl7OQkEoPTxyuk7krGZiyGSERj_wwC7g89MOYUxdOEcmogrJ7xkUxFShyphenhyphenJE5YoIHTz3qLLS9Hkp5VYTRfXZrSal2HxfCRw61wxphljS9EIDFpmflTfuQ/s400/WA+ID+Symphony+Young+Artists+2011+011.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571450036521481634" /></a><br />(Left to right: Stuart Lutzenheiser, Emily Sternfeld-Dunn, Brittany Hines-Hill, Jared Ice and Deborah Blakesley)<br /><br />On January 29th in Pullman, Jeremy Briggs Roberts conducted the <a href="http://www.washingtonidahosymphony.org/"> Washington Idaho Symphony </a> and this year's Young Artists' winners in a program that featured Pietro Mascagni's <a href="http://www.thegodfathertrilogy.com/gf3/cav.html"> <em>Cavalleria Rusticana </em></a> and the world premiere of young artist winner Johnny Stark's <em>March</em>.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtE1SaenrkV24uSm3TOmwQoNl_WVFQC9mtg_vJFe_GMmEnxmvV5guYR9jsvX207nKSVQnhfP_JTWQE895oQiGsREvhkx_d0bxjEK7-SfLL92GNisOSYBkomDsYPEWWffMYSlsTMZmfjug/s1600/WA+ID+Symphony+Young+Artists+2011+008.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtE1SaenrkV24uSm3TOmwQoNl_WVFQC9mtg_vJFe_GMmEnxmvV5guYR9jsvX207nKSVQnhfP_JTWQE895oQiGsREvhkx_d0bxjEK7-SfLL92GNisOSYBkomDsYPEWWffMYSlsTMZmfjug/s400/WA+ID+Symphony+Young+Artists+2011+008.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571456098914184722" /></a><br />(Johnny Stark)<br /><br /><br />Hannah Kwon was also featured playing music from Prokofiev's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Violin_Concerto_No._1_(Prokofiev)"> <em>Violin Concerto No. 1</em> </a>. Unfortunately I did not get a photo of Hannah, but that in no way diminished my pleasure at hearing her play a piece that is both technically and emotionally demanding.<br /><br />It was a pleasure, as always, to be a part of this concert. I applaud the Washington Idaho Symphony, and all of the symphonies in the Pacific Northwest that make a point to nurture and highlight the next generation of classical music performers.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCNSW5-LlwtesYLWznhXg0ztQaRD42VYtTFqw6hxSw3EsKYCgk8nY41d6OPXoTK9QIRAd1T-YI3ryoKpQeuREL8VF7rUefjWrgRvizYcnnjSO6LTRkgojqNoh8uvQofF1wDKgwNPBlUi8/s1600/WA+ID+Symphony+Young+Artists+2011+007.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCNSW5-LlwtesYLWznhXg0ztQaRD42VYtTFqw6hxSw3EsKYCgk8nY41d6OPXoTK9QIRAd1T-YI3ryoKpQeuREL8VF7rUefjWrgRvizYcnnjSO6LTRkgojqNoh8uvQofF1wDKgwNPBlUi8/s400/WA+ID+Symphony+Young+Artists+2011+007.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5571450164045369026" /></a><br />(Conductor Jeremy Briggs Roberts)Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04475877821055707624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4835147358403777972.post-1319465247944472842011-01-27T15:53:00.000-08:002011-01-27T16:33:17.496-08:00Eat Your Vegetables!If you attend a concert featuring faculty and/or students from the music department of <a href="http://www.cwu.edu/~music/">Central Washington University</a> prepare to be surprised! C.W.U.'s music department consistently presents fun, interesting, innovative and well-performed concerts. <br /><br />You can catch the CWU Chamber Choir this Sunday afternoon at 4:00 at <a href="http://www.theseasonsyakima.com/">The Seasons</a> in downtown Yakima. Here is a video of Gary Weidenaar leading the choir in <a href="http://www.johnmuehleisen.com/">John Muehleisen's</a> <em>Eat Your Vegetables!</em> Watch out for the carrot! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!!<br /><br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" class="youtube-player" type="text/html" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/0nQrmVpI7Ig" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen></iframe>Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04475877821055707624noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4835147358403777972.post-7973122436501009222011-01-25T15:14:00.000-08:002011-01-25T15:29:05.037-08:00The next Leonard Bernstein?An <a href="http://www.nwpr.org">NWPR</a> listener in Tacoma turned me on to this video of three year old Jonathan conducting the finale to Beethoven's <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5473894"><em>Symphony No. 5, </em></a> arguably one of the most well-known pieces of music in the world. <br /><br />Honestly, this is exactly what I feel like doing when I hear this piece. Well, everything but the judicious nose picking. <br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" class="youtube-player" type="text/html" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/0REJ-lCGiKU" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen></iframe><br /><br />Just to prove that Jonathan is not a one trick pony here he is playing the violin. I can't wait to follow his career!<br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" class="youtube-player" type="text/html" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/YdzJAzF2Sak" frameborder="0" allowFullScreen></iframe>Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04475877821055707624noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4835147358403777972.post-90871002685455440422010-12-08T14:16:00.000-08:002010-12-08T14:48:58.034-08:00Come In!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0UY-G2_a38-rqctK2aGCnXVVYje9O-FmHWYh7H_43fWELiXUGTUP83VBKn6lEC_I9_y-S82znuA90VFoS76EMGzQRUY0t3xb4QvRn8Z_eNg1CHSYPOx8SK5D-LzUcKOfuy7eUr522KMM/s1600/open+door.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 194px; height: 259px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0UY-G2_a38-rqctK2aGCnXVVYje9O-FmHWYh7H_43fWELiXUGTUP83VBKn6lEC_I9_y-S82znuA90VFoS76EMGzQRUY0t3xb4QvRn8Z_eNg1CHSYPOx8SK5D-LzUcKOfuy7eUr522KMM/s400/open+door.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548444520199353586" /></a><br />This morning I played a piece by Russian composer <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_Martynov">Vladimir Martynov </a> called <br /><em>Come In!</em> <br /><br />Here is what Martynov wrote in the liner notes, translated from the Russian by Elisabeth Konovalova.<br /><br /><strong><em>One ancient hermit said to his disciple: "Strive to enter the inner cell of your soul and there you will behold the heavenly cell. Both are one: you enter them by the same door. The staircase to Heaven is inside you: it exists secretly in your heart."<br /><br />And it is true:<br />Our whole life is but an attempt to find this miraculous entrance.<br />All our deeds are but a timid knocking on this mysterious door.<br />All our hopes are to hear, one day, perhaps, a voice that would respond: "Come in!"<br /><br />For it is said: "Knock and you will be let in."</em></strong><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-tAKRbiCu50kQMI60nLpAQknTzI_126jzqeNSyzyN3xSuDrmDqk3tk3OjZNTikkScE2X361fh3JAEvBi5jaWt31R_9A0z-apsFDpHAGdajnhkfMUbl4PGhcd9Rh6pC_MgVemB12GnrSw/s1600/door-open.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 333px; height: 333px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-tAKRbiCu50kQMI60nLpAQknTzI_126jzqeNSyzyN3xSuDrmDqk3tk3OjZNTikkScE2X361fh3JAEvBi5jaWt31R_9A0z-apsFDpHAGdajnhkfMUbl4PGhcd9Rh6pC_MgVemB12GnrSw/s400/door-open.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548446290927882642" /></a><br /><br /><br />You might be intrigued by some of the reviews on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Silencio-Arvo-Part/dp/B00004YR5P">amazon, </a> where you can also listen to samples of the work if you didn't catch it this morning. It's from a cd called Silenco featuring violinist <a href="http://www.kremerata-baltica.com/biokremer.htm">Gidon Kremer </a> and Kremerata Baltica.Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04475877821055707624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4835147358403777972.post-1848854992496515682010-11-30T09:13:00.000-08:002010-11-30T09:30:18.364-08:00The Tall Ships Suite<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii0Z2ACfHBxDdSb_opkuAeGcuWEUr5QT92M1PfJaV9qUw1DMSsqLflCXvgoKhx3_QFF84UqV3ANSp3N2rnlncbwPZLL52Rfeg9DCYuS540gKpSKSrNgfBIdJbRbsgmu7rmYvr5-xLyFoI/s1600/Picton_Castle_photo.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii0Z2ACfHBxDdSb_opkuAeGcuWEUr5QT92M1PfJaV9qUw1DMSsqLflCXvgoKhx3_QFF84UqV3ANSp3N2rnlncbwPZLL52Rfeg9DCYuS540gKpSKSrNgfBIdJbRbsgmu7rmYvr5-xLyFoI/s400/Picton_Castle_photo.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5545393652767441890" /></a><br /><br />Each year the <a href="http://www.tallshipsinternational.net/">The International Fleet of Tall Ships </a> visit ports throughout the world as roving ambassadors for their countries. One of the most ambitious <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tall_Ships'_Races">Tall Ships Races </a> ever staged, the Grand Regatta Columbus, took place in 1992 and inspired composers Dave Roylance and Bob Galvin to write <em>The Tall Ships Suite</em>.Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04475877821055707624noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4835147358403777972.post-4920423562884991802010-11-17T10:15:00.000-08:002010-11-17T10:25:12.895-08:00Random Acts of Culture<object width="640" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/wp_RHnQ-jgU&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/wp_RHnQ-jgU&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="390"></embed></object><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.knightarts.org/random-acts-of-culture">Random Acts of Culture!</a>Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04475877821055707624noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4835147358403777972.post-38862663367682183372010-11-16T12:54:00.000-08:002010-11-16T13:54:05.637-08:00Striker, W.S.U.'s therapy horse, voted "Equine of the Year!"<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE7GpLpV12zbJvZVl8Iy2zaNmS6hR9B1UBKxqhzjT3FmvysY-Gg3ywa6t10ok73hXjcUpcW80_m0MdrSVKQ4ccOWqCq_cSWfNOuRWzX3i92yR4dT5cUjv0ZSFd0tfW-UgHywCB1fp5EII/s1600/equine-striker.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE7GpLpV12zbJvZVl8Iy2zaNmS6hR9B1UBKxqhzjT3FmvysY-Gg3ywa6t10ok73hXjcUpcW80_m0MdrSVKQ4ccOWqCq_cSWfNOuRWzX3i92yR4dT5cUjv0ZSFd0tfW-UgHywCB1fp5EII/s400/equine-striker.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540258092776346450" /></a><br />So maybe you're asking, "Robin, why is the Music Director of <a href="http://www.nwpr.org">Northwest Public Radio</a> blogging about a therapy horse affiliated with Washington State University's <a href="http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/depts-pppp/path.aspx">PATH</a> program? Well, for over 12 years I was involved with the PATH program, first as a volunteer then as a certified <em></em><a href="http://http://www.narha.org/resources-education/certifications">NARHA (North American Riding for the Handicapped Association)</a> instructor. To this day, it ranks as one of the most rewarding parts of my life on the <a href="http://www.palousescenicbyway.com/">Palouse. </a><br /><br />This year, Striker, PATH's 27 year old gelding was named NARHA'S <a href="http://www.narha.org/narha-conferences/national/awards/2010-award-winners"><em>Equine of the Year</em></a> at their national conference. I've worked with Striker since he first joined the PATH program and saw firsthand how many riders and volunteers lives he's touched. In a therapeutic riding program such as PATH having calm, patient horses, what we sometimes call "bomb-proof," is key. Striker exemplifies that kind of horse. Wind storm? No problem. Wiggly rider? Not an issue. Extremely excited and vocal rider? Bring it on!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvL7Otc9olC3DsrKWRitTYHCdE3FZoiRgUeukT87nm8eb9rbuaK2C0pwM_7I37XQSkuqugUXHN2SxtqqW0l8qSqxtJ6nRVOuBc-6dxpHiZq0bdT6IQ0XN6td7RHqcz9BwiU1X5Z9U5we4/s1600/fancy+blue.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 205px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvL7Otc9olC3DsrKWRitTYHCdE3FZoiRgUeukT87nm8eb9rbuaK2C0pwM_7I37XQSkuqugUXHN2SxtqqW0l8qSqxtJ6nRVOuBc-6dxpHiZq0bdT6IQ0XN6td7RHqcz9BwiU1X5Z9U5we4/s400/fancy+blue.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5540266968231493938" /></a><br /><em><strong>PATH's palomino mare, Fancy Blue, a favorite with many younger riders. Blonds do have more fun!</strong></em><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Check out the link above or read the article about Striker in the latest online issue of <a href="http://www.wsutoday.wsu.edu/Pages/Publications.asp?Action=Detail&PublicationID=22958&PageID=21&ReferrerCode=%2FCntrf%2FChoyvpngvbaf%2Enfc"><em>WSU Today</em></a> to hear one story of how Striker, and the PATH program, make a big difference.Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04475877821055707624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4835147358403777972.post-36528632987598199112010-07-26T10:12:00.000-07:002010-07-26T10:21:16.176-07:00Extreme cellists!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1icKoqcdHN-EXKexB2FDDx6It3d5jRKFTvAQgkOXvpheCi8xvzV3yZo1bOBkz52ncKdKM5pKaGP63DiIr7FeTNv7UbQt8w-WDuA7pAPsN-U1L3XOgouvseWZD9huogV2mAm3fqf01cBo/s1600/cellists.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1icKoqcdHN-EXKexB2FDDx6It3d5jRKFTvAQgkOXvpheCi8xvzV3yZo1bOBkz52ncKdKM5pKaGP63DiIr7FeTNv7UbQt8w-WDuA7pAPsN-U1L3XOgouvseWZD9huogV2mAm3fqf01cBo/s400/cellists.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498265488028459234" /></a> <br />Check out this article on a group of three <a href="http://www.aolnews.com/weird-news/article/extreme-cellists-hit-the-high-notes-as-they-hike-coast-to-coast-across-england/19566462">"extreme cellists"</a> hiking across northern England for charity.Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04475877821055707624noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4835147358403777972.post-14648672722579684352010-07-16T09:16:00.000-07:002010-07-16T09:40:20.704-07:00Florence Foster Jenkins<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk3-8KY0zacTRXwPQi96QTh5eUVjwBD3BFcKggo_f4n2fvylFbxSUIv1WD8eEb-eM23OLFsLWKv5gDb2EZ9UjQCdC5QXIJKV-E2rwQU0Dzbf0oxh0lc-vpKbn_FncMByyk-6k4TuH5kDo/s1600/florence_foster_jenkins.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 297px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk3-8KY0zacTRXwPQi96QTh5eUVjwBD3BFcKggo_f4n2fvylFbxSUIv1WD8eEb-eM23OLFsLWKv5gDb2EZ9UjQCdC5QXIJKV-E2rwQU0Dzbf0oxh0lc-vpKbn_FncMByyk-6k4TuH5kDo/s400/florence_foster_jenkins.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494540192461727810" /></a><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florence_Foster_Jenkins">Florence Foster Jenkins</a> was a true original, an eccentric if you will. For a number of years <a href="http://www.nwpr.org/">Northwest Public Radio</a> aired a request program once a month called <em>First Friday</em>. One month we received a request for <em>Mein Herr Marquis,</em> sung by Florence Foster Jenkins. At that time, we had an extensive LP collection so I searched the archives and found an old LP called <br /><em>The Glory of the Human Voice</em>.<br />I put the LP on the turntable and stood in stunned silence. I called fellow music host Gillian Coldsnow over to listen. I'm not sure how long it took before we realized that a musical practical joke had been played on us, but when we did we both burst into laughter! Guess what? We actually played the piece on that month's edition of <em>First Friday</em>. Guess what again? We had listener requests for more!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhspVc_R0xmX2PGJNuUODUz0ut32uWOV8YdBo_hgLNLKpN5yzmrnynzLRJ26obAbQJenYREfcZ11whdOj5UyeRXRp1iJqN4n4yWdHr_4SMfcrs1SGhrcFvTKjiFfa_jshxPCa5QfnRUpY/s1600/lp+cover.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhspVc_R0xmX2PGJNuUODUz0ut32uWOV8YdBo_hgLNLKpN5yzmrnynzLRJ26obAbQJenYREfcZ11whdOj5UyeRXRp1iJqN4n4yWdHr_4SMfcrs1SGhrcFvTKjiFfa_jshxPCa5QfnRUpY/s400/lp+cover.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5494543071571575330" /></a><br /><br /><br /> <br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/nTzblLMcneE&hl=en_US&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/nTzblLMcneE&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/HJ5uZv1pG8g&hl=en_US&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HJ5uZv1pG8g&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04475877821055707624noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4835147358403777972.post-45509104264303792312010-06-29T11:30:00.000-07:002010-06-29T11:28:23.411-07:00Generalife: Where the Sultans went to "get away from it all!"Reality tells me that I am at the Northwest Public Radio offices in Pullman, WA on the campus of Washington State University. Imagination allows me to wander again the palace and gardens of Granada's Generalife, the country estate of the Nasrid Kings.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLqJQz_scUbx6O23jPF_bQq_-y_Xa9ttsQw2QUQjDkwio38CAlfmPbploDHTWHcb2K_j7LMIXUtslj5J5_DzEAiJBIgNJo-yMkCH_j5pmPxNvEyDBmhDop53PXulFmG3tLmjbg7Wtna7M/s1600-h/Spain-Laure+051.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077899541407813730" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLqJQz_scUbx6O23jPF_bQq_-y_Xa9ttsQw2QUQjDkwio38CAlfmPbploDHTWHcb2K_j7LMIXUtslj5J5_DzEAiJBIgNJo-yMkCH_j5pmPxNvEyDBmhDop53PXulFmG3tLmjbg7Wtna7M/s400/Spain-Laure+051.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />As the crow flies, the Generalife is not that far away from the Alhambra. In this picture we're looking at the Generalife with the Alhambra about 500 yards to the right. Remember that old real estate adage, "Location, location, location!?" Well, that's certainly true of the Generalife. Geographically, it's not that far from the palaces and intriques of the court but both figuratively and literally it provided a much needed respite.<br /><br />The Generalife's location allows it to profit more fully from the breezes that come down from the Sierra Nevada and be that much cooler and shadier than the Alhambra. The fountains, shaded arcades and gardens of the Generalife provided a much needed physical and mental respite for the rulers of Granada. Here is a photo of the rooms of the Sala Regia overlooking the Patio de la Acequia, the enclosed oriental garden with a long, central pool and water jets on either side.<br /><div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6cUPOGCaIFp0nmfyf9JchjPyDZ4Y3qc2eh-EbPIGIvldMN0zzmsXnajuCgllbnNxy4o0PqAX0bNa4UXUKS-ZhZSMjqYHcbDY2tMYyJSru2Kc1ara8N1r26veY6Fxhs_M8cbdBafp3K30/s1600-h/Spain-Laure+095.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077899099026182178" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6cUPOGCaIFp0nmfyf9JchjPyDZ4Y3qc2eh-EbPIGIvldMN0zzmsXnajuCgllbnNxy4o0PqAX0bNa4UXUKS-ZhZSMjqYHcbDY2tMYyJSru2Kc1ara8N1r26veY6Fxhs_M8cbdBafp3K30/s400/Spain-Laure+095.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR1HwqXzXWVKQsimzTIlpgA5LIvIGOkwrUL_KDk1ExgSTvHY3mXYlh8N1MrZUFYmC_YCU5lp5550Y4BZ-sAItQSLmNeGBah06fEv1Pz9vHBCtkSc6Gdwgqp8DQ9xd30B-oAXKjx0CMa-I/s1600-h/Spain-Laure+102.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077898390356578242" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR1HwqXzXWVKQsimzTIlpgA5LIvIGOkwrUL_KDk1ExgSTvHY3mXYlh8N1MrZUFYmC_YCU5lp5550Y4BZ-sAItQSLmNeGBah06fEv1Pz9vHBCtkSc6Gdwgqp8DQ9xd30B-oAXKjx0CMa-I/s400/Spain-Laure+102.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3y_ir8zLh8I611Xo7iKyzV7za7s6cusPU9Bx25c_ygD0ZBFDE0yIcUYuBpih3Odv03fB5N_nmg3coZATXkfw1kzbqPB0UOB-bLGbXmZgioy_ZdZ0eZmV5CF7aaKFsicDc27_AHGj5x-M/s1600-h/Spain-Laure+106.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077898029579325330" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3y_ir8zLh8I611Xo7iKyzV7za7s6cusPU9Bx25c_ygD0ZBFDE0yIcUYuBpih3Odv03fB5N_nmg3coZATXkfw1kzbqPB0UOB-bLGbXmZgioy_ZdZ0eZmV5CF7aaKFsicDc27_AHGj5x-M/s400/Spain-Laure+106.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>The Patio de los Cipreses has a history of clandestine meetings between Zoraya, wife of the Sultan Abu-l-Hasan, and her lover who was the chief of the powerful Abencerrajes family. It is also known as the Patio de la Sultana for obvious reasons. While being a very beautiful place for romantic intriques it just doesn't seem all that discreet to me. Check out all of the windows and arcades which could easily hide secret observers! It's said that "love is blind" but, unfortunately, that is probably for the spied upon rather than for the spy!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077898502025727954" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0_HA0TY8N4D_I4OxuZN0JGRzjK-x8ng_ShgHzyYgJrZuoaQdWHcmXq7c7WPqHi4Bf0t0NW8eCSczMCvzOIaUgpwrc3ktkaRUwot5HOCmm691M-SdnrwDaDDNsRKNSOlCUtdN7fKB7blw/s400/Spain-Laure+101.jpg" border="0" /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Here's a view from the opposite end of the garden. It certainly is a romantic spot......</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj231bP9jnhuwG44yUC5owXWyW2-UuRsM6OgX4C7lMF-in4jPK2Vre9LGOigoY7D20ZpzoplvVeqA0yW9Yc3lirABsmg2Mi2kpHMT5jqNaX6OoRRqYuNJZH5Lm6hns8rgD815amOlsEgiQ/s1600-h/Spain-Laure+097.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077898867097948162" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj231bP9jnhuwG44yUC5owXWyW2-UuRsM6OgX4C7lMF-in4jPK2Vre9LGOigoY7D20ZpzoplvVeqA0yW9Yc3lirABsmg2Mi2kpHMT5jqNaX6OoRRqYuNJZH5Lm6hns8rgD815amOlsEgiQ/s400/Spain-Laure+097.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj231bP9jnhuwG44yUC5owXWyW2-UuRsM6OgX4C7lMF-in4jPK2Vre9LGOigoY7D20ZpzoplvVeqA0yW9Yc3lirABsmg2Mi2kpHMT5jqNaX6OoRRqYuNJZH5Lm6hns8rgD815amOlsEgiQ/s1600-h/Spain-Laure+097.jpg"></a></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj231bP9jnhuwG44yUC5owXWyW2-UuRsM6OgX4C7lMF-in4jPK2Vre9LGOigoY7D20ZpzoplvVeqA0yW9Yc3lirABsmg2Mi2kpHMT5jqNaX6OoRRqYuNJZH5Lm6hns8rgD815amOlsEgiQ/s1600-h/Spain-Laure+097.jpg"></a></div><br /><div>A door off this court leads to enclosed gardens and the Escalera del Agua. This amazing staircase is almost completely covered by trees and bushes and has water flowing gently down either sides.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrRjCixLBWehEtMA33EQfpNelage8252kxAE-CWrqnzdzbXGTMiMCfaki9Z_1CLOjBoZHGwqNIaeLbYcJscBW9MNnCA5upgc8fJf62_aP0D7IeldVvsi8C1blBo7tCE28ak03WEWQJwnI/s1600-h/Spain-Laure+100.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077898652349583330" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrRjCixLBWehEtMA33EQfpNelage8252kxAE-CWrqnzdzbXGTMiMCfaki9Z_1CLOjBoZHGwqNIaeLbYcJscBW9MNnCA5upgc8fJf62_aP0D7IeldVvsi8C1blBo7tCE28ak03WEWQJwnI/s400/Spain-Laure+100.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Again, the sound of water is found everywhere in the Generalife and adds to the feeling of coolness that pervades even on the hottest days. Our visit was on a day when the temperatures probably peaked in the mid 80's but with a nice breeze coming from the Sierra Nevada for most of the day. </div><br /><div>A few more photos from around the palace.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEierII3D2h8A632ql04LLN2sBrrOHUdBwfF9g4MW37tdJu_rl7rmKNgmXFWG7cYILjzMfSPPGu3Jo61uGbgxH-_myoA-09qo05RCcXEkUPF3bM8UX8IOHk_4ZCcRfLh5aXY_cYooNe9H3I/s1600-h/Spain-Laure+104.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077897866370568066" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEierII3D2h8A632ql04LLN2sBrrOHUdBwfF9g4MW37tdJu_rl7rmKNgmXFWG7cYILjzMfSPPGu3Jo61uGbgxH-_myoA-09qo05RCcXEkUPF3bM8UX8IOHk_4ZCcRfLh5aXY_cYooNe9H3I/s400/Spain-Laure+104.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMhorNauFlw4NnaYNVhAGlxU6tbNrh1LTf-Cz7rU-5hnYzmAlXsTOlatXTenvzWBuTxKJu3VCRS0Y5PgVZWzh-DCcuuQhiZyTv08aBAewJjJSsFqaYqijIf70NmwdNpMYvJt1-stRsZQQ/s1600-h/Spain-Laure+096.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077909278098673778" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMhorNauFlw4NnaYNVhAGlxU6tbNrh1LTf-Cz7rU-5hnYzmAlXsTOlatXTenvzWBuTxKJu3VCRS0Y5PgVZWzh-DCcuuQhiZyTv08aBAewJjJSsFqaYqijIf70NmwdNpMYvJt1-stRsZQQ/s400/Spain-Laure+096.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ICQ5fdSyBnlRGtJUDaCnDj1lhEVqOSVpbQKxgpyia7tG-wx_7v8sGMm5xqSvJVagFBkahMmWYv5O_fWiunPOq-jtRZ3vYGtgFvz71nmtd5pDmILhlrVj1SI_s_WDm4xzX1nBvz3oPs8/s1600-h/Spain-Laure+103.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077898287277363122" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ICQ5fdSyBnlRGtJUDaCnDj1lhEVqOSVpbQKxgpyia7tG-wx_7v8sGMm5xqSvJVagFBkahMmWYv5O_fWiunPOq-jtRZ3vYGtgFvz71nmtd5pDmILhlrVj1SI_s_WDm4xzX1nBvz3oPs8/s400/Spain-Laure+103.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcnGAhbqhSbHKUq-OBLS0FKn3yN7oOP6snIaX41vDZAYWpAT841dnFIO5PeZWDiM9n3a9zcaP-1LWMtdoNnOZXhmfYa9IGrC2rdNOLQzrATWBsSG-IsZt__r_wu1KabkGX5uGiGYQhGOQ/s1600-h/Spain-Laure+099.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077898755428798450" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcnGAhbqhSbHKUq-OBLS0FKn3yN7oOP6snIaX41vDZAYWpAT841dnFIO5PeZWDiM9n3a9zcaP-1LWMtdoNnOZXhmfYa9IGrC2rdNOLQzrATWBsSG-IsZt__r_wu1KabkGX5uGiGYQhGOQ/s400/Spain-Laure+099.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />A view of the Alhambra and of the Albaicin, the old neighborhood at the bottom of the Darro ravine north of the Alhambra<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVi9adwobVQYR8KUCcNQOe5Clhiy6rHqh1s3BYyI8gn7DRQpMochbLf-joqd51FP4NRC8O96ErBy3J-g806dS03-r_QNmV7K7HipamjKNQZoaVhpHTWSXV9aB2wmyKxvnphMO7kjqSygk/s1600-h/Spain-Laure+105.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077898149838409634" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVi9adwobVQYR8KUCcNQOe5Clhiy6rHqh1s3BYyI8gn7DRQpMochbLf-joqd51FP4NRC8O96ErBy3J-g806dS03-r_QNmV7K7HipamjKNQZoaVhpHTWSXV9aB2wmyKxvnphMO7kjqSygk/s400/Spain-Laure+105.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077899408263827538" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV3_ateE1J_ILdI-8EXFN2VuFlQKR3wJkvHOO1wDHAzo2j7tiH0Zfl4Hp4lgcLmPdrPaQaBp-Unf8EGN_I7_qHgGnuKvGIBGb40B-75ItjdLJBPA0pU4zEzlvckjQRTdz7k4t7xzPNDUU/s400/Spain-Laure+098.jpg" border="0" /> </div><div></div><div>Gorgeous gardens surround much of the Generalife. One of the translations of Generalife is "the garden of lofty paradise." "Back in the day" in the 13th century the gardens also had orchards and pastures. Here's what they look like today.<br /><br /></div><div><div><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-YsA3NI9JmC76x6V9lAkTVsHrVq6jv-koIII2SBfEnGSLJD1bLSeIsHYAhFHVqDhUyKal4IjihLtePXq0ojruOuLLafAlXv2mAXK4Y2sX5G6J3VpsOlfsN57VbLOspcgn5asR0bOs66E/s1600-h/Spain-Laure+107.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077897608672530274" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-YsA3NI9JmC76x6V9lAkTVsHrVq6jv-koIII2SBfEnGSLJD1bLSeIsHYAhFHVqDhUyKal4IjihLtePXq0ojruOuLLafAlXv2mAXK4Y2sX5G6J3VpsOlfsN57VbLOspcgn5asR0bOs66E/s400/Spain-Laure+107.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDUGLzFBlhUpV_nhp3CwZoPAQa7Vvp9augKGUa8XRrcaEFN8pWa6KNPPIMlNvdi9CEC1-XGDjY_vo2Wu5DvBBkZBjYZeAIPmE1zQWLrrC8aXkA9ILCpOZhfjFwLWHbVQzdM7dLiidAP1c/s1600-h/Spain-Laure+108.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077897462643642194" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDUGLzFBlhUpV_nhp3CwZoPAQa7Vvp9augKGUa8XRrcaEFN8pWa6KNPPIMlNvdi9CEC1-XGDjY_vo2Wu5DvBBkZBjYZeAIPmE1zQWLrrC8aXkA9ILCpOZhfjFwLWHbVQzdM7dLiidAP1c/s400/Spain-Laure+108.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL-V132cvICe-9EXeCO55zXX9oAZZT5XBZv9vbfdALyxiwgBp-nsIoTCOkjgE-LXJmGjQ1_kaemmZ5POiJ3yQKH4MJRCsKZMuEST8ELT4A4meXSi14xboeL13lJ2W8uTttPuRxjGPiLII/s1600-h/Spain-Laure+109.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077897359564427074" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL-V132cvICe-9EXeCO55zXX9oAZZT5XBZv9vbfdALyxiwgBp-nsIoTCOkjgE-LXJmGjQ1_kaemmZ5POiJ3yQKH4MJRCsKZMuEST8ELT4A4meXSi14xboeL13lJ2W8uTttPuRxjGPiLII/s400/Spain-Laure+109.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5rhyZB7ISOk7Fi7TpV0UOTmCSD2DunpQld01LWhaQLcDsc0xDRwwXUS-3-Tg0gHE44aJq0yvIqCqg1ZeIJKI6gsiqiHRJOOpRLbYvqF0JZw7NnjnwbAO_wTrLc-kUksMNIr8slYGPV5k/s1600-h/Spain-Laure+110.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077897252190244658" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5rhyZB7ISOk7Fi7TpV0UOTmCSD2DunpQld01LWhaQLcDsc0xDRwwXUS-3-Tg0gHE44aJq0yvIqCqg1ZeIJKI6gsiqiHRJOOpRLbYvqF0JZw7NnjnwbAO_wTrLc-kUksMNIr8slYGPV5k/s400/Spain-Laure+110.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLmNB41Zud9SnuiH7KH0ht5Ucpffr9cwyah-w71CG4zlXbh-BxtIWZE4VJWSWTDnRghZXtdV1znB_4o6RvMWZSeNW_ZPojPx17XP8pPofVMKWjEVHcPq4dq4a_qlcHNtoO7-Owytfyuig/s1600-h/Spain-Laure+111.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077897106161356578" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLmNB41Zud9SnuiH7KH0ht5Ucpffr9cwyah-w71CG4zlXbh-BxtIWZE4VJWSWTDnRghZXtdV1znB_4o6RvMWZSeNW_ZPojPx17XP8pPofVMKWjEVHcPq4dq4a_qlcHNtoO7-Owytfyuig/s400/Spain-Laure+111.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><div><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4hQi7TMTLgdBDQxsBX5KaiD7yCEkSRGpsgUiuF7X92GAzrjipaa-2IIOt_2u8HVygu5MYujZE2MDG4J1Y6A6X2J1jcfaAaj81HIOa_rK8GqMY4HrzyfHuhy3NPlymNtnECChohZ2c7iw/s1600-h/Spain-Laure+112.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077896960132468498" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4hQi7TMTLgdBDQxsBX5KaiD7yCEkSRGpsgUiuF7X92GAzrjipaa-2IIOt_2u8HVygu5MYujZE2MDG4J1Y6A6X2J1jcfaAaj81HIOa_rK8GqMY4HrzyfHuhy3NPlymNtnECChohZ2c7iw/s400/Spain-Laure+112.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />I'm sure that Freud would have a field day with my penchant for hiding behind or peeking through leafy objects when having my photo taken! Let's not go there.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZVU8PTOTetRA6FGmtV-6oHAlUzM2cGCw1YysXhD-SelCnfW3Y8OODjJfUe-e2ozpuy9NWzhMMZZtDX3sTHOoclmYqVkIqdXM-8Qp1Is-JZ7nAiw6tVTc4eH1wYSxoZsTjEs4uVTAWBwI/s1600-h/Spain-Laure+114.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077896745384103682" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZVU8PTOTetRA6FGmtV-6oHAlUzM2cGCw1YysXhD-SelCnfW3Y8OODjJfUe-e2ozpuy9NWzhMMZZtDX3sTHOoclmYqVkIqdXM-8Qp1Is-JZ7nAiw6tVTc4eH1wYSxoZsTjEs4uVTAWBwI/s400/Spain-Laure+114.jpg" border="0" /></a> No garden on this hill or "pile" as Washington Irving pronounced it would be complete without fountains, flowers and the sound and sight of water.</div><div></div><div>When I become filthy rich and spread my largesse far and wide in attempts to improve the human condition, I will set aside a few million to rent the Alhambra for a week and invite my friends to share this spectacular retreat with me. </div><div></div><div>My jealousy of the aforementioned Irving knows no bounds! I've been reading his "The Alhambra" and am sometimes struck, almost literally, by a feeling of envy so strong as to almost be sickening.</div><div></div><div>He had much of this "glorious pile" to himself, and those that he shared it with were not carrying cameras, audio guides or escorting throngs of teenagers.<br /><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDNarZ9HpA_iUMMvMQO_fP8b0hYj6WbG2Hvktg7OP0ooSCwDYPdquJCsQva_LS45k0YtGopccGr1Gt-twyZuefi2AVztZhGvpyDHwlsH_2OXJGrngRnovf8PqIj0GuL0oJfNQfrKQVTKc/s1600-h/Spain-Laure+115.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077896642304888562" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDNarZ9HpA_iUMMvMQO_fP8b0hYj6WbG2Hvktg7OP0ooSCwDYPdquJCsQva_LS45k0YtGopccGr1Gt-twyZuefi2AVztZhGvpyDHwlsH_2OXJGrngRnovf8PqIj0GuL0oJfNQfrKQVTKc/s400/Spain-Laure+115.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Can't you just see yourself strolling along here with the sounds of guitars drifting up from the town below? For a much better description read "Tales of the Alhambra" by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington_Irving">Washington Irving.</a> Try to get a copy with pictures because then, like me, you can sway in your hammock while reading, and with an occasional glance at the pictures, pretend that you are there.<br /></div><div><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuTg6mkIliTJmrgtaYMOIbyCdiOzssJr8MiPdm8HdoIYEajlfEiOZWBFSPJrwZbTvfmF5N20W9_H74qyo8Dt_vHnjUQzy7cZaQNLfQIJzJoT9neOSK69vmyKwxzmF9T5m8Tr7i2dREQzk/s1600-h/Spain-Laure+116.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077896363132014306" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuTg6mkIliTJmrgtaYMOIbyCdiOzssJr8MiPdm8HdoIYEajlfEiOZWBFSPJrwZbTvfmF5N20W9_H74qyo8Dt_vHnjUQzy7cZaQNLfQIJzJoT9neOSK69vmyKwxzmF9T5m8Tr7i2dREQzk/s400/Spain-Laure+116.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7N-d5Y-p3Ppy6ktiaseyNCyeXr7Fw8D1JYtZZnq9GeeIUFUi_ijscDRDGy-JLldKkoau-YXaE6jbZqACFIbqd_rjieICS_rmLV2-HmqsVBwZ61SrTm1Jp_EJMbR5zwOcpDd7kgR3q9PQ/s1600-h/Spain-Laure+118.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077896242872930002" style="margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px; float: left;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7N-d5Y-p3Ppy6ktiaseyNCyeXr7Fw8D1JYtZZnq9GeeIUFUi_ijscDRDGy-JLldKkoau-YXaE6jbZqACFIbqd_rjieICS_rmLV2-HmqsVBwZ61SrTm1Jp_EJMbR5zwOcpDd7kgR3q9PQ/s400/Spain-Laure+118.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_DTR3Wt3EGEj-UCEwCZgYXRw5nT_xn9dk5XKFl-kG08nYy387HNekdsvOSyviIMdhgOq7noP2MxmjCo5DOFIm1uAAcZ3ANfI9889shR3spHfmwTP3uWvaYFIbkSElI8V1mEtXIw42yyA/s1600-h/Spain-Laure+119.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077896144088682178" style="margin: 0px 0px 10px 10px; float: right;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_DTR3Wt3EGEj-UCEwCZgYXRw5nT_xn9dk5XKFl-kG08nYy387HNekdsvOSyviIMdhgOq7noP2MxmjCo5DOFIm1uAAcZ3ANfI9889shR3spHfmwTP3uWvaYFIbkSElI8V1mEtXIw42yyA/s400/Spain-Laure+119.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgttrQMrn6Wv2xBNCMJUaFOix00E5PXxp4tY_kT_zs71EfBw94ADp52dBDX6PSWDDNLPgD5Zvejp075eS_sx-GiyVyS4mIVzcy8pTwaWO2wAAIHtwaYYRApV87u99o4OmAnNKeftwR-VyY/s1600-h/Spain-Laure+124.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077896028124565170" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgttrQMrn6Wv2xBNCMJUaFOix00E5PXxp4tY_kT_zs71EfBw94ADp52dBDX6PSWDDNLPgD5Zvejp075eS_sx-GiyVyS4mIVzcy8pTwaWO2wAAIHtwaYYRApV87u99o4OmAnNKeftwR-VyY/s400/Spain-Laure+124.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWIoSJVP320XnuQglvrL1tc38JVUSg0u2BeokISXbxg7Bpagl5InZ4p0kwzjcrzT7QWbdTlUU4g0WuHfeAKPHuJygkFKFnCTEGwdx68cYxLe3e8j3Ugxym-3OVuTfwkGZV0Yr_3_B5gbU/s1600-h/Spain-Laure+125.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5077895843440971426" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWIoSJVP320XnuQglvrL1tc38JVUSg0u2BeokISXbxg7Bpagl5InZ4p0kwzjcrzT7QWbdTlUU4g0WuHfeAKPHuJygkFKFnCTEGwdx68cYxLe3e8j3Ugxym-3OVuTfwkGZV0Yr_3_B5gbU/s400/Spain-Laure+125.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Well, back to reality!</div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04475877821055707624noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4835147358403777972.post-78036142110843429062010-06-29T11:27:00.000-07:002010-06-29T11:25:17.313-07:00The Alhambra: Nasrid Palace<em><strong>Enchant</strong></em><strong>.</strong><br /><br /><div>Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary defines it as, "to attract and move deeply: rouse to ecstatic admiration." What an utterly apt description of my experience at the Alhambra. It was a revelation to me. Light, space, water and natural materials combine to create a style of architecture that speaks to me deeply.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5073807081819818498" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNu_kgCGipujX2cS049DDK6qNND1oN0uiTZhbZbV0HiVsdCCNaQSR5lN_i-36cinx-wnvWoF3cE-tI1xF-8N50GNFc257iOH3JrpT3PSh0dXfy5mpqlMY8rwN4zfayKxhXhdydEcTFBjo/s400/Spain-Laure+053.jpg" border="0" /><br /><div>My poor photos cannot do this wonderful place justice, even with the beautiful, snow covered mountains of the Sierra Nevada in the background. This view is from the opposite hill in the Albaicin, where narrow streets, cobbled alleys and villas with beautiful gardens cling to the hillside. Here are a few more photos of the Alhambra from Albaicin.<br /><br /><div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivIzIfkKPQVkgWE2nheLhzQ3K6ecoCKcrgND_eKkVoRvtXRjFeTuQ0qc7sFcwt02yJ-vOln34N7I8WDfXVnworzH-jGwjs4htx_DJ18Pgyyb8EP6Hbw54yfWbiE0UsjTSAvI4uAe8b5hU/s1600-h/Spain-Robin+181.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5073809461231700498" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivIzIfkKPQVkgWE2nheLhzQ3K6ecoCKcrgND_eKkVoRvtXRjFeTuQ0qc7sFcwt02yJ-vOln34N7I8WDfXVnworzH-jGwjs4htx_DJ18Pgyyb8EP6Hbw54yfWbiE0UsjTSAvI4uAe8b5hU/s400/Spain-Robin+181.jpg" border="0" /></a> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5073809706044836386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkNgLAsGsZatHPObeymx3ClKAMqbCOW_nionLPqLpfUbhgOw-r_dNuRAXzX9N9HfecrzjdcukQ-nMSM6E4IePiHiPX6ShmcnHA06OLQcjg4d57lfYcMca9n5ZHXbHnnymBuzGhvUcuJO4/s400/Spain-Robin+189.jpg" border="0" /></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBU1E6v48qIcwF3QgZIIflbfaA9SQ0DdkqrA9lXR5pkoqPmaMgIhERG2pp3BXfn24tnej-xEUbVwKiAcvQs_9Lzde8cGqrNvPlPIVVLww2JuU5ZhlbOC-RfSqpj6Utwgta6ooNpNQivL0/s1600-h/Spain-Robin+188.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5073810230030846514" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBU1E6v48qIcwF3QgZIIflbfaA9SQ0DdkqrA9lXR5pkoqPmaMgIhERG2pp3BXfn24tnej-xEUbVwKiAcvQs_9Lzde8cGqrNvPlPIVVLww2JuU5ZhlbOC-RfSqpj6Utwgta6ooNpNQivL0/s400/Spain-Robin+188.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3dE5WgmCBhi1WIeWS6xkUEW31zXIW_cX4riMzv0uS_99m5YtrjwbK414n6NxLI3R9CIDcydMaqyIWzx4H6IHa2stWguIyf4iJCDC2ZqMT_flW4-1m8QK3iu_LjAydhM2I18Na-Ly6lsU/s1600-h/Spain-Laure+054.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5073811346722343522" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3dE5WgmCBhi1WIeWS6xkUEW31zXIW_cX4riMzv0uS_99m5YtrjwbK414n6NxLI3R9CIDcydMaqyIWzx4H6IHa2stWguIyf4iJCDC2ZqMT_flW4-1m8QK3iu_LjAydhM2I18Na-Ly6lsU/s400/Spain-Laure+054.jpg" border="0" /></a> We arrived in Granada in the late afternoon and had some time to explore Albaicin because our first visit to the Alhambra was not until later that night at 10:00. Seeing the Alhambra from the hill of Albaicin whetted my appetite. It's one of the most stunning views that I've ever seen.</div><br /><br />The Alhambra's Nasrid Palace is open for nighttime visitors five days a week. Night visits to the Nasrid Palace have become so popular that Laure had to reserve our tickets in advance. We still had to wait in line for a half hour to pick them up. With so many people in line my heart began to sink. In general, I do not enjoy crowds of people, particularly large groups of tourists all bunched together and all seemingly flashing their cameras at exactly the same time.<br /><br />To my surprise and delight, Laure and I managed to find ourselves virtually alone on the long, beautifully illuminated path to the Nasrid Palace. Imagine, if you can, a long cobblestone path lined with large cypress trees, some of them pruned in the shape of arches that give you glimpses of pools and gardens. A soft, early nighttime breeze wafts over you bringing with it the scents of jasmine and orange blossom. This captivating fragrance is accompanied by the chirping of frogs. The city of Granada surrounds you on three sides but you are hardly aware of its presence until later in the evening when you see and hear a fireworks display.<br /><br />That walk will stay in my memory forever. It was as magical and wonderful as anything that I could have imagined. I only wish that I had pictures to share with you, although I really don't think that they could even begin to capture the magic of that walk. Still, here's a picture taken of the Alhambra at sunset. It's not the same as that dusky walk but perhaps it evokes at least a bit of the magical feel of the place.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075653277806972114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiX6dq60dHbIrYAFCqmTIQryzUTYkVE3Q7le9rDwsnODjGMiOE_kZQBc5OM7qmwp569MyEJDPiR1pHnzPWV5qQIBrr-6vbk0v3kvbZu4oobdpS_zAW4Clo_UeujC52b0-JAOVHu0dvttQ/s400/33985-The-Alhambra-Palace-at-sunset-0.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><div>I do have a few pictures taken inside the Nasrid Palace and although most of them are very blurry I share them with you to try and give you even a small sense of the amazing feel of the palace. </div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM8_TIodZeRb1p2JVk4B4ArjF7xXE4OKL1_VQ0zTotlOXIEmpheUzsQ7MeyGEXJG4UEZu8seG7I4AofFMqNBe8nlQL-Y5e2CrERZpJS64iiNKkSBDynTTmP8TLQ0WDkSC3LF-PjmWmN94/s1600-h/Spain-Laure+075.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5073819034713803378" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM8_TIodZeRb1p2JVk4B4ArjF7xXE4OKL1_VQ0zTotlOXIEmpheUzsQ7MeyGEXJG4UEZu8seG7I4AofFMqNBe8nlQL-Y5e2CrERZpJS64iiNKkSBDynTTmP8TLQ0WDkSC3LF-PjmWmN94/s400/Spain-Laure+075.jpg" border="0" /></a></div><br /><br /><div>Oddly enough, even though the exposure is off I think this is a cool picture. <div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5073819975311641250" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLNOSgn5EWzCZwi2g9k7zzLtC9D9RHzDX335qViLsArvAS3rsoaKKvpB3Ui-UTKOzvG8LAKLBNORVpwnNjG6aWLYtW3mIuv8bMnCLUmniPkKW9poaW8erDCW7XD97F9EwOQMWAVEcn6ec/s400/Spain-Laure+082.jpg" border="0" /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE5lZAOJ0yi2C8DR1xmdrYYA0VadBrLU-rTL6Ee_WgSvGUoZvdhUAYjDkD7yRxLAWpQT3MVIFU3RcCgJ8Jaeo6REh-KyPd7pdSutwwWRrgB9_iDX21lzwt-QzhsTM24h13QghEqOnbkik/s1600-h/Spain-Laure+079.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5073820275959351986" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE5lZAOJ0yi2C8DR1xmdrYYA0VadBrLU-rTL6Ee_WgSvGUoZvdhUAYjDkD7yRxLAWpQT3MVIFU3RcCgJ8Jaeo6REh-KyPd7pdSutwwWRrgB9_iDX21lzwt-QzhsTM24h13QghEqOnbkik/s400/Spain-Laure+079.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5073820692571179714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg128X_JZE32DE9ixq0PL4PzsxPtyaBxnC_EsQhjoaNCdDTKzY2prdGlXNJoQwTheCZw4y4HED63fQ6iS4ifVtMwej2SegW_-815jrLVxJJ-ghdl96ts5DxIMDCqr6FpnbSzvp3xR300Jc/s400/Ayahs+Basru+%3D+Alhambra.jpg" border="0" /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzQ5XyvA3fyIeWXZPfQ349lqLMArtJFe8bwWhnqo5zvXoFfZMfGXj3GLHrKoDH2wrfnC9LVqb5o3VJyowwKr8ux79Ne486W7CUzsniUvG1lZg-SdzUEGzmzgPMSa0__1Z0qQP6cP6u_I8/s1600-h/Honeycomb+arch.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5073821036168563410" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzQ5XyvA3fyIeWXZPfQ349lqLMArtJFe8bwWhnqo5zvXoFfZMfGXj3GLHrKoDH2wrfnC9LVqb5o3VJyowwKr8ux79Ne486W7CUzsniUvG1lZg-SdzUEGzmzgPMSa0__1Z0qQP6cP6u_I8/s400/Honeycomb+arch.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div></div>On the Internet I found these two pictures by Ayahs Bahru, who visited the Nasrid Palace, about three weeks after we did. The photos are beautiful! Way to go Ayahs! These begin to capture some of the magic of the place, and the intricacy and detail of the work.<br /><br /><div>What I so appreciate about this style of architecture is that the materials used are very modest. Plaster, timber and tiles are predominant. But what they do with those materials is astonishing. This particular type of arch is called a "honeycomb" arch.<br /><br /><div>Here's a picture that I took the next day that makes some of the details of the arch easier to see.</div><br /><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbgBpazFjIUa9gf10NuSdLeR-hhcn7F3mR4mCbYmii328ICQFpiwkS474Raj-txgrPcHs3xG8L7St7QinFYruw3iTWRGM1Z-OEL_7sgUI9BSpnEHSR1t83yph1P5qMoBNdOVJynwiMLoY/s1600-h/Spain-Laure+198.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075312858699090898" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbgBpazFjIUa9gf10NuSdLeR-hhcn7F3mR4mCbYmii328ICQFpiwkS474Raj-txgrPcHs3xG8L7St7QinFYruw3iTWRGM1Z-OEL_7sgUI9BSpnEHSR1t83yph1P5qMoBNdOVJynwiMLoY/s400/Spain-Laure+198.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is the ceiling of the Sala de los Abencerrajes. This just hints at the exquisite and elaborate detail in the stucco work that makes up this domed ceiling.<br /><br /><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__8R3WahQ_O0/RmnW-7SuI/AAAAAAAAAKM/CNJzQ4OUp2k/s1600-h/Spain-Laure+086.jpg"></a><br /><br />You can catch a faint glimpse of the blue color. Imagine what the colors would have looked like around 1354 when most of the work in the palace was complete. It must have been stunning!<br /><br /><div>Below are more pictures of the palace taken the next day.</div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMaeKz-X6-oSTA5xrhVQxH1CVrhP6sXxHu4H6uuuzsD-Uv1MQ5OhgpeW3E5NyO5zJsY7xTBZP2-1hME8Ydf0WIj1sGWSaBAXMqNp6EH6WMnCjddM5wkb5Q9Ylcfl1V6svSUOzJ1oYeg_k/s1600-h/Spain-Laure+073.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074953979821771506" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMaeKz-X6-oSTA5xrhVQxH1CVrhP6sXxHu4H6uuuzsD-Uv1MQ5OhgpeW3E5NyO5zJsY7xTBZP2-1hME8Ydf0WIj1sGWSaBAXMqNp6EH6WMnCjddM5wkb5Q9Ylcfl1V6svSUOzJ1oYeg_k/s400/Spain-Laure+073.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK6kChJj6SDU-P2sDgO4ktHUuiMwN5Y2F_hJLcTaAQ1W3er_WGd46JZ129mQyKPCKHPbPqmgrUjFs5H0pr8BU2obepUsv5zBSDtLHl_2kEwDGuu2eEZ5Ragv3JG_DUrSueNLAQiVLDHGA/s1600-h/Spain-Laure+173.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074956281924242194" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK6kChJj6SDU-P2sDgO4ktHUuiMwN5Y2F_hJLcTaAQ1W3er_WGd46JZ129mQyKPCKHPbPqmgrUjFs5H0pr8BU2obepUsv5zBSDtLHl_2kEwDGuu2eEZ5Ragv3JG_DUrSueNLAQiVLDHGA/s400/Spain-Laure+173.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is a side view of the Patio de Arrayanes. The Moors used a lot of reflective water in their architecture to create a greater feeling of space and light, which is reflected from the pool into the surrounding halls.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW_FOzaG4J_vo9lNP6AXXHVsOnN9Fcco22KmiDAXKn0f9-KKmUt2Ax3jjxu_ssS4acZ_3N7gWsVYbwahEnXN5XdgytlQXlNSHhKpr98_dDROY74Le2oQ5sKc1W4Wd-zYpfQOJyKPwPaJk/s1600-h/Spain-Laure+178.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074956728600840994" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW_FOzaG4J_vo9lNP6AXXHVsOnN9Fcco22KmiDAXKn0f9-KKmUt2Ax3jjxu_ssS4acZ_3N7gWsVYbwahEnXN5XdgytlQXlNSHhKpr98_dDROY74Le2oQ5sKc1W4Wd-zYpfQOJyKPwPaJk/s400/Spain-Laure+178.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><div>Completed in 1365, The Patio del Mexuar was a council chamber where the sultan du jour held meetings with his ministers and listened to the petitions of his subjects.<br /><br />The picture below shows the detail of the tile between the two entrances. The Sultan's throne would be placed there. The patio has a fountain in the center so the sound of water would have always been present. In addition, the light came from behind the patio so that the light would have been in the eyes of the Sultan's ministers and subjects. There's nothing like being in the power position, both literally and figuratively!</div><br />Hollywood had nothing on the Sultans of the Alhambra for knowing the importance of good lighting!</div><br /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074957987026258754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7zIt4AQgeLEBkumqgyGPjy1YlIKy1vZgphn5tMPdy2jn_ldRrAV26AdZObMEMNb_jItYulB9s7W-DWVNbwavsnO2JKqNZKkW3kmnZyCktT62hrbWuXSVqhYmU_3pT44IJ0RxgpbqkRXg/s400/Spain-Laure+176.jpg" border="0" /></div><br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFo5m3kMQnu_apf9gbh_UkHGE0bTOEhSfHspEr3xQLu4R8ttWrvIY6cAuJZZ31qXSEAyPvR22vPdSbxMnvABAODDd_tyt0-7zFcffQyOHS5WCRqj96-ybVE547U2SlN-awRg8nICP4lIs/s1600-h/Spain-Laure+179.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074958519602203474" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFo5m3kMQnu_apf9gbh_UkHGE0bTOEhSfHspEr3xQLu4R8ttWrvIY6cAuJZZ31qXSEAyPvR22vPdSbxMnvABAODDd_tyt0-7zFcffQyOHS5WCRqj96-ybVE547U2SlN-awRg8nICP4lIs/s400/Spain-Laure+179.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><br /><br />The craftsmanship in the Alhambra is really amazing and is found elsewhere throughout Andalusia where the Moors has the most influence.<br /><br />Check out this workmanship! It's all in details....<br /><br /><p>This beautiful work is found in and around the Patio de Arrayanes. Remember that they are using wood, plaster and tiles; all natural materials.</p><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4WXdQiNBYYEGOGkcmbzVDXBZKsNHGziNfU82T2jBvpLpLuHx-sjYH-VSI8P13J7BKI7UbjFEhg3kIlqP0J0wjAdlOXy67m2tiumNgzZ4vwF5hD73L041R62u0_9r5yGboUCKI8CMMHn4/s1600-h/Spain-Laure+180.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074959095127821154" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4WXdQiNBYYEGOGkcmbzVDXBZKsNHGziNfU82T2jBvpLpLuHx-sjYH-VSI8P13J7BKI7UbjFEhg3kIlqP0J0wjAdlOXy67m2tiumNgzZ4vwF5hD73L041R62u0_9r5yGboUCKI8CMMHn4/s400/Spain-Laure+180.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3FukvC5rxEAA1XQ-8i6Z4RJb1oBxtesMSf-tWP_xXHcY_j20R1O66PHLRnWCRvoFBCZY06Efi4w9u6_n50g1zBteaPSQe7E3sWTzAE22FFOBIz6CPGl1wK_NwdY8z4KXV0PIwcVz9A1w/s1600-h/Spain-Laure+182.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074959400070499186" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3FukvC5rxEAA1XQ-8i6Z4RJb1oBxtesMSf-tWP_xXHcY_j20R1O66PHLRnWCRvoFBCZY06Efi4w9u6_n50g1zBteaPSQe7E3sWTzAE22FFOBIz6CPGl1wK_NwdY8z4KXV0PIwcVz9A1w/s400/Spain-Laure+182.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQAe-9m8t0TLB9rgtLSt1ArcwhHgCmAP-evu58ihdpPAESc47KgGaGisp6lIjyMFVAljohx_T4BfrNmNW27rovLpDkI0A4UoIYwQ-bkJ7VoIePJlShYHC6ua7u_aJr2-27B2OPLWhyphenhyphenjI/s1600-h/Spain-Laure+185.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5074959705013177218" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNQAe-9m8t0TLB9rgtLSt1ArcwhHgCmAP-evu58ihdpPAESc47KgGaGisp6lIjyMFVAljohx_T4BfrNmNW27rovLpDkI0A4UoIYwQ-bkJ7VoIePJlShYHC6ua7u_aJr2-27B2OPLWhyphenhyphenjI/s400/Spain-Laure+185.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075310913078905762" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0B_s_gZEbYO0gLRSDDoLT3zIsVEyB4CnP-UoP79wEyI_gwVkse6kUNuEPJpNwJDiHbKtOEjIRe0VW7-cPSC5Bvfqx4zk_WG5MIx4UesX20COEZ_qURgIiikT_rlUuIKJ3pOkWMXCgTLs/s400/Spain-Laure+186.jpg" border="0" /></p><br /><br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0IAYLeAuLlN2cqYn9KWdoMIQH0eHtV93ImFQIkHmSMD_bGfSyiUapBkxCerNbF7_XyjbIPVS_kBrCT48dE-Dfno01XZLrm4oxod74m6XcMSzsq-V4Pg0TmuBsjGLokUGKwHWJTmXXnX8/s1600-h/Spain-Laure+184.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075311540144130994" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0IAYLeAuLlN2cqYn9KWdoMIQH0eHtV93ImFQIkHmSMD_bGfSyiUapBkxCerNbF7_XyjbIPVS_kBrCT48dE-Dfno01XZLrm4oxod74m6XcMSzsq-V4Pg0TmuBsjGLokUGKwHWJTmXXnX8/s400/Spain-Laure+184.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><br />Here's Patio de Arraynes with the reflecting pool and the fortress that containes the Salon de Embajadores (throne room) in the background.</div><br /><br /></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075313202296474594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAMxz00ZPzrBtHWM8bTyjez1krTTCZPlKdoxMwNQ9O7mI1apD15WuKMz-0P2v9X3iL4tEIrOk2yfzUfT0eEm5gRscji6ImOv0uf1O__NU-7rj1Z436U-CQ5STbvxCM65V0Q3e_tsgtS4g/s400/Spain-Laure+183.jpg" border="0" /> </div></div><br /><br /><div>In another part of the palace lies the Patio de los Leones, built by Muhammad V and known for its central fountain featuring 12 lions, who were, unfortunately absent at the time due to an appointment with the resident restorer. It's a shame because it's a great space and that ugly big box protecting the fountain's base does not really add to the beauty of the filigreed arcades and the marble columns.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9PIcVRZbBYfHV7ChK3BspfjYhYjgKprZfpLkyKEBn13sUaIxuvrgmEr8rAhMOEQQ7zu4WLyIIExgOVHGfTendwSIBRkLbjN5iJMH06TIcjyzHLiq66m8RowE6j3JiWCvaSpaVVPjCrZ4/s1600-h/Spain-Laure+189.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075315616068094978" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9PIcVRZbBYfHV7ChK3BspfjYhYjgKprZfpLkyKEBn13sUaIxuvrgmEr8rAhMOEQQ7zu4WLyIIExgOVHGfTendwSIBRkLbjN5iJMH06TIcjyzHLiq66m8RowE6j3JiWCvaSpaVVPjCrZ4/s400/Spain-Laure+189.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div><br /><br /><div>These pictures show the Patio with the lions still in residence. The small culverts you see lead to other smaller fountains hidden under the arches that surround the patio. This patio is one of the most photographed places in the Alhambra and with good reason. There are four buildings surrounding the patio that make up the heart of the Harem, where the sultan lived with his closest family members. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075636007743474706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihOJynGC5F8H7h5ZL_EyIKkmDsRKq1v3V-59AvSzmvRdTiJfB_JleKj8cApWrRJjalSC3Sy1bUdYPFkowKR3D-4b2jcBC8cF6ovfUUhzlJ-eIx5YM0Xlsp5ahoLAVItuSE1msm2ucvzQE/s400/patio_lions2.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF9AdVysuZdJzH8RZ-weo8ZLCYkYjGio3EVYXrVzH5TkwpGfxsHAx3yBpPeMmwK8302uYNWqBkXrnbYP4s2Zlx7_hOx9XBYZgKKMgS9RTRs0YTN6TLVWMbZGkTTglWtwU0d3hH0FnqDDM/s1600-h/patio-leones-alhambra.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075636282621381666" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF9AdVysuZdJzH8RZ-weo8ZLCYkYjGio3EVYXrVzH5TkwpGfxsHAx3yBpPeMmwK8302uYNWqBkXrnbYP4s2Zlx7_hOx9XBYZgKKMgS9RTRs0YTN6TLVWMbZGkTTglWtwU0d3hH0FnqDDM/s400/patio-leones-alhambra.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div>One of the spaces off this patio is the Sala de los Abencerrajes. There is a sad history to this hall. It is named after a noble family who lived there during the reign of last Sultan of Granada, Boabdil. The Abencerrajes were rivals of Boabdil and the legend goes that he had them all massacred while attending a banquet in this hall. There is a fountain in the center of the floor. Around the fountain you can see some dark stains and the legend also says that these stains are the blood of the Abencerrajes. The geometrical ceiling of the room is spectacular and inspired by Pythagoras' theorem.</div><br /><br /><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9YphUWEqdZCexlxzs9GSsjZxTsAf-g5v_3EO0RXF4UVyfnSvqf8OaBYoQJacOuY_PO2ht2I9gicryhH-rRhKAUyb46hQvPDXO_UwDv3dC6Sj8AQE2iL7r7O1_3MauxE-cpj7yOWBopyk/s1600-h/Spain-Laure+194.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075641299143183442" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9YphUWEqdZCexlxzs9GSsjZxTsAf-g5v_3EO0RXF4UVyfnSvqf8OaBYoQJacOuY_PO2ht2I9gicryhH-rRhKAUyb46hQvPDXO_UwDv3dC6Sj8AQE2iL7r7O1_3MauxE-cpj7yOWBopyk/s400/Spain-Laure+194.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div></div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075640087962405938" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6BuU3zWNi5XNbfkVauRUwH3eUqs2EcQzlUbmAlQ3hpVrTqLkx0c-uIHP5KDTJHDC4CjHyY-mfW0nzuQaYRim2mmETSoJNaQ463rTD58ZS4LHlfcSIID0B79uUaBuCocg_SbI4CRqn9FM/s400/Abencerrajes+ceiling.jpg" border="0" /><br />More photos in the Nasrid Palace. These are of Lindaraxa's garden, one of the most photographed and painted parts of the Alhambra.</div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjToNrg3aGzC0FHh7n8XGkQdaVk41SMURj_8FT7vC4ESdXh1mltB1sXpU8D4P4KBlshp06aa5OB9ZsKp3os7-a0tmbuVK0ai3tDgCetE90Wi8-4MzK-v4Cr4K9B4Mee4DrAluH5a-LZbbk/s1600-h/Spain-Laure+216.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075647569795435714" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjToNrg3aGzC0FHh7n8XGkQdaVk41SMURj_8FT7vC4ESdXh1mltB1sXpU8D4P4KBlshp06aa5OB9ZsKp3os7-a0tmbuVK0ai3tDgCetE90Wi8-4MzK-v4Cr4K9B4Mee4DrAluH5a-LZbbk/s400/Spain-Laure+216.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here's what Washington Irving wrote about Lindaraxa and her garden in "Tales of the Alhambra." <br /><br />"One window of the royal sleeping-room commanded a prospect of the Generalife and its embowered terraces; another looked out into the little secluded garden I have mentioned, which was decidedly Moorish in its character, and also had its history. It was in fact the garden of Lindaraxa, so often mentioned in descriptions of the Alhambra, but who this Lindaraxa was I had never heard explained. A little research gave me the few particulars known about her. She was a Moorish beauty who flourished in the court of Mohamed the Left-Handed, and was the daughter of his loyal adherent, the governor of Malaga, who sheltered him in his city when driven from the throne. On regaining his crown, the governor was rewarded for his fidelity. His daughter had her apartment in the Alhambra, and was given by the king in marriage to Nasar, a young prince descended from Aben Hud the Just. <br /><br />Four centuries had elapsed since the fair Lindaraxa passed away, yet how much of the fragile beauty of the scenes she inhabited remained! The garden still bloomed [66] in which she delighted; the fountain still presented the crystal mirror in which her charms may once have been reflected; the alabaster, it is true, had lost its whiteness; the basin beneath, overrun with weeds, had become the lurking-place of the lizard, but there was something in the very decay that enhanced the interest of the scene, speaking as it did of that mutability, the irrevocable lot of man and all his works." <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMgig7vZQqo7JVI7BXc763Cj3bQuaQ-xtR18FFcwzqCtOLS8nKlCm4o6MqxeIuBNDxtGSFeRJubjbA314Uj-rrqd5B1l45jAaZuCjALKPUMCrABlHaSYfVbuw0ZnliNYxbO0i30O0n_8E/s1600-h/Spain-Laure+218.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075647393701776562" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMgig7vZQqo7JVI7BXc763Cj3bQuaQ-xtR18FFcwzqCtOLS8nKlCm4o6MqxeIuBNDxtGSFeRJubjbA314Uj-rrqd5B1l45jAaZuCjALKPUMCrABlHaSYfVbuw0ZnliNYxbO0i30O0n_8E/s400/Spain-Laure+218.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwPTJUHlJ0DI_kQvSH2GZLMuPHW2EXcGSkexWtvf7SiPqyMQ6vz_tEOwnVsrVl5uTfeR-Or1L_8bDBfhDhZWp_Jzu5UGq_-HGqSZ-0fEz7nrCNyCfdNk3lNj0FywkWwyhFS0MupZ5Xi6U/s1600-h/Spain-Laure+208.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075647200428248226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwPTJUHlJ0DI_kQvSH2GZLMuPHW2EXcGSkexWtvf7SiPqyMQ6vz_tEOwnVsrVl5uTfeR-Or1L_8bDBfhDhZWp_Jzu5UGq_-HGqSZ-0fEz7nrCNyCfdNk3lNj0FywkWwyhFS0MupZ5Xi6U/s400/Spain-Laure+208.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5SWttt98tX-0pSdeoc57GYqvAKLUY0NiMDOmmEp5G7vZMBjo2tJltzFf4DnC_ZJULyriLpu1js9e9EsswTbkx6XAPjfvUJIKqaEhlUvdwnlZAtN1qPQraqmGr3URqHJTy0lHOynNMB28/s1600-h/Spain-Laure+203.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075647050104392850" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5SWttt98tX-0pSdeoc57GYqvAKLUY0NiMDOmmEp5G7vZMBjo2tJltzFf4DnC_ZJULyriLpu1js9e9EsswTbkx6XAPjfvUJIKqaEhlUvdwnlZAtN1qPQraqmGr3URqHJTy0lHOynNMB28/s400/Spain-Laure+203.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNLorBb4Vk4PnSWhiQxVzFN6KlL1rZVESqQAcdkALoUF8FuIAO4aRAIColLZCWlIGBlJfyVWfpMWhO_P-kZmoNWVMiuD6zkJSb4T0XdaVfiQR29K41gmjZUyWfapulB8UHGO1POdMUzCE/s1600-h/Spain-Laure+201.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075646637787532402" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNLorBb4Vk4PnSWhiQxVzFN6KlL1rZVESqQAcdkALoUF8FuIAO4aRAIColLZCWlIGBlJfyVWfpMWhO_P-kZmoNWVMiuD6zkJSb4T0XdaVfiQR29K41gmjZUyWfapulB8UHGO1POdMUzCE/s400/Spain-Laure+201.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-2VxOQTbHeVvgguUFHcWyvmwRylq-Dd47-9O6rAPC83fGbXad4LVSIWSIqfOIk-pilFA_ptP91q8lvR1mN3oWmhrKuAPS1mj_HVNiwS6IDGQhR3Ib423AYvIO3N-h_nRuCZv_CYBRCrM/s1600-h/Spain-Laure+207.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5075646848240929922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-2VxOQTbHeVvgguUFHcWyvmwRylq-Dd47-9O6rAPC83fGbXad4LVSIWSIqfOIk-pilFA_ptP91q8lvR1mN3oWmhrKuAPS1mj_HVNiwS6IDGQhR3Ib423AYvIO3N-h_nRuCZv_CYBRCrM/s400/Spain-Laure+207.jpg" border="0" /></a> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04475877821055707624noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4835147358403777972.post-68485026700258561632010-06-08T09:44:00.001-07:002010-06-08T10:44:00.829-07:00200th Birth Anniversary of Robert Schumann<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVwixPtbgO0UFIRDbPY3j-FYuMRyDvosjAW2CeqkkKv3yXKIqecT0mffYeldN_w2Fs_Vc9ZSP1laysKaZSzVKDkXtO7SiBtqUMzYm1-wV6uXidH7TnlU3c2CKfwaDTEixSkpwvRKUXpVY/s1600/schumann-02.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 356px; height: 378px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVwixPtbgO0UFIRDbPY3j-FYuMRyDvosjAW2CeqkkKv3yXKIqecT0mffYeldN_w2Fs_Vc9ZSP1laysKaZSzVKDkXtO7SiBtqUMzYm1-wV6uXidH7TnlU3c2CKfwaDTEixSkpwvRKUXpVY/s400/schumann-02.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480448014056484658" /></a><br /><strong>Robert and Clara Schumann</strong><br /><br />Today is the 200th birth anniversary of <a href="http://www.classical.net/music/comp.lst/schumann.php">Robert Schumann,</a> one of the great composers of the <a href="http://cnx.org/content/m11606/latest/">romantic era.</a> Today, <a href="http://www.nwpr.org">Northwest Public Radio</a> is featuring the music of Schumann. If you missed "Morning Edition" today <br />here's a link to a <a href="http://www.npr.org/search/index.php?searchinput=robert+schumann">NPR</a> page with stories of Schumann, in particular the interview this morning on Morning Edition with commentator Miles Hoffman.<br /><br />My exposure to classical music began early, through my mother Sue, who was a wonderful pianist and vocalist. Mom went to C.W.U. on a music scholarship but had to quit when her father died during her freshman year. Music was always a part of my life, and mom's love of a wide variety of music was passed down to me.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifU6JsF77ZvW6QdHv4FfPHSPY1tEE1zdERvgvQMZRkwZBPwihTX5_25XAE7GM0BXpzoBbxF_igSobaTabkPV8aBI2zDBExnUZBgqxGC3-2_Yit5RR1Fazz2NdlOzqxtnNS44s2ZeHaYTI/s1600/silver-flute-in-case.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 229px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifU6JsF77ZvW6QdHv4FfPHSPY1tEE1zdERvgvQMZRkwZBPwihTX5_25XAE7GM0BXpzoBbxF_igSobaTabkPV8aBI2zDBExnUZBgqxGC3-2_Yit5RR1Fazz2NdlOzqxtnNS44s2ZeHaYTI/s400/silver-flute-in-case.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480457016566576626" /></a><br /><br />As a child, my sister Kim and I took piano lessons. All of these years later I don't remember everything that I played but I know there was J.S. Bach, Clementi and Beethoven. In grade school I took up the flute and played for a number of years. I was actually quite good but quit in high school for reasons too ridiculous to want to relate. I did continue to sing and so still had some exposure to classical music.<br /><br />My interest in classical music waned until sometime in my early 20's when I started taking note of classical music used in films. I would stay through the credits, quickly write down the information in the dark and then immediately go and buy the album. I share this today because Schumann was one of the composers whose name I wrote down in a darkened theatre in Portland. The piece? The <em>andante cantabile</em> from his <em>Piano Quartet in Eb, Op. 47.</em> The movie? <a href="http://www.filmreference.com/Films-My-No/My-Brilliant-Career.html"><em>My Brillant Career</em></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL8hAceUJqfhuuvJ6ABnldswtl6qbGjkq3rRyakmXizfh5DV2ETV2ZvFw6n_-nqdEEjrteVyE-f4R_PxUL0KDxsn9sjdSx7XOUkqBxiuAt-wHP67UOfvtMwkLfebj1MlkN5uEq6f1jefs/s1600/my-brilliant-career1.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL8hAceUJqfhuuvJ6ABnldswtl6qbGjkq3rRyakmXizfh5DV2ETV2ZvFw6n_-nqdEEjrteVyE-f4R_PxUL0KDxsn9sjdSx7XOUkqBxiuAt-wHP67UOfvtMwkLfebj1MlkN5uEq6f1jefs/s400/my-brilliant-career1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480458621654566082" /></a><br /><strong>Sam Neill as Harry Beecham (yum!) and Judy Davis as Syblla Melvyn.</strong>Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04475877821055707624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4835147358403777972.post-43332492917260817412010-05-28T14:50:00.000-07:002010-05-28T15:04:22.392-07:00Sand Drawing<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/vOhf3OvRXKg&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/vOhf3OvRXKg&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />This video shows the winner of 2009's "Ukraine's Got Talent", <a href="http://www.kseniyasimonova.com/">Kseniya Simonova,</a> 24, drawing a series of pictures on an illuminated sand table showing how ordinary people were affected by the German invasion during World War II. The images, projected onto a large screen, moved many in the audience to tears and she won the top prize of about $75,000.<br /><br />She begins by creating a scene showing a couple sitting holding hands on a bench under a starry sky, but then warplanes appear and the happy scene is obliterated.<br /><br />It is replaced by a woman's face crying, but then a baby arrives and the woman smiles again. Once again war returns and Miss Simonova throws the sand into chaos from which a young woman's face appears.<br /><br />She quickly becomes an old widow, her face wrinkled and sad, before the image turns into a monument to an Unknown Soldier.<br /><br />This outdoor scene becomes framed by a window as if the viewer is looking out on the monument from within a house.<br /><br />In the final scene, a mother and child appear inside and a man standing outside, with his hands pressed against the glass, saying goodbye. <br /><br /><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastern_Front_(World_War_II)">The Great Patriotic War, </a> as it is called in Ukraine, resulted in one in four of the population being killed with eight to 11 million deaths out of a population of 42 million. <br /><br />And here is an <a href="http://www.uofaweb.ualberta.ca/expressnews_template/article.cfm?id=6616">article</a> on the subject from Canadian history professor David Marples onRobinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04475877821055707624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4835147358403777972.post-75777654509878222112010-05-05T11:28:00.000-07:002010-05-05T11:37:54.660-07:00The Archlute<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP1LYL0pDDCQyEtFznhpDrzsKpkPB3zd4YbMzw5DoWCfQ6XDbp5Fsq3HLZ4n4FTiQ6BMgjo5woB0ZaQu7iooDaTKsXATfJGldhZjHZyzVbgcpe9qp44oQwdzL2U0JNKomr150Bqj49W-0/s1600/archlute.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 260px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP1LYL0pDDCQyEtFznhpDrzsKpkPB3zd4YbMzw5DoWCfQ6XDbp5Fsq3HLZ4n4FTiQ6BMgjo5woB0ZaQu7iooDaTKsXATfJGldhZjHZyzVbgcpe9qp44oQwdzL2U0JNKomr150Bqj49W-0/s400/archlute.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467855059278639634" /></a><br />This morning I played a piece featuring the mandolin and the <a href="http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/33052/archlute">archlute</a> and thought that you might enjoy a picture and some information.<br /><br />Here's an interesting article about the <a href="http://www.cumpiano.com/Home/BeckerCump/Archlute/archlseq1.htm">restoration of an archlute.</a>Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04475877821055707624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4835147358403777972.post-13145123120667563662010-04-30T14:22:00.000-07:002010-04-30T14:50:15.783-07:00Walla Walla Choral Society<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfxxPWbwJZ0L3MPrO4VoBTi5Dv2ghjgdU1ibmsdEwpTE-2ucgYw0YJIvJWwMOd_DtBxUeGW2TtovLPmjbB2sATlNnErfj_Q0PtHpuW1lBl22rzc91DNN4E8sbL3S69tOVyjvtZZTkZioA/s1600/Foster+5+group+shot+from+side.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfxxPWbwJZ0L3MPrO4VoBTi5Dv2ghjgdU1ibmsdEwpTE-2ucgYw0YJIvJWwMOd_DtBxUeGW2TtovLPmjbB2sATlNnErfj_Q0PtHpuW1lBl22rzc91DNN4E8sbL3S69tOVyjvtZZTkZioA/s400/Foster+5+group+shot+from+side.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466047374047958114" /></a><br />Hoop skirts, bonnets and frock coats take the stage Sunday afternoon as the <a href="http://wwchoralsociety.org/">Walla Walla Choral Society</a> presents “A Taste of Americana,” the music of <a href="http://bobjanuary.com/foster/sfhome.htm">Stephen Foster.</a> In period costumes the choral members sing Foster favorites such as <em>Beautiful Dreamer</em>, <em>Old Folks at Home </em>and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camptown_Races"><em>Camptown Races</em>.</a><br />The concert is Sunday, May 2nd at 3:00 at Walla Walla University's <em></em><a href="http://www.iamaonline.com/Bio/West.htm">Melvin K. West Fine Arts Center Auditorium.<br /></a>Can you imagine the work that went into this beautiful dress?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg6N0A5kXKLvzu5Pus5W8hvWZoS5mbvVfLarMb4Ec1gWm1ZklQD_DWYDaiVLCZ_9BWdRqqb_NcLKEdGxvFSZ7WhN6zZnmZYaKpW7NSq7RiuKQVwtAs4VrhCmxY8sUPJM3dqZzilsWkvmM/s1600/Foster+4+beautiful+dress.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg6N0A5kXKLvzu5Pus5W8hvWZoS5mbvVfLarMb4Ec1gWm1ZklQD_DWYDaiVLCZ_9BWdRqqb_NcLKEdGxvFSZ7WhN6zZnmZYaKpW7NSq7RiuKQVwtAs4VrhCmxY8sUPJM3dqZzilsWkvmM/s400/Foster+4+beautiful+dress.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466045196523518050" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcqqd-vKCuc9KH37ByTP6BMKzv79H6aJVa8-kJdaPNltGg50tgBHcIsA1dwtHno9xM1sr2OB5ifBfKbLECaPM9NDyDu6TX2qfrJkXelrMkHkHN8qN9PbFzJYonoS98YL96GORNDEvA_ew/s1600/Foster+1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcqqd-vKCuc9KH37ByTP6BMKzv79H6aJVa8-kJdaPNltGg50tgBHcIsA1dwtHno9xM1sr2OB5ifBfKbLECaPM9NDyDu6TX2qfrJkXelrMkHkHN8qN9PbFzJYonoS98YL96GORNDEvA_ew/s400/Foster+1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466045112422804290" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPp1Sp99lULQbxxdyVrs-BBPlE3sYUoQ4_xzp-o6lX98Apt-dYnHs-VilkdjeUs6Hf64zFOW6Rw3GDa8JHo7iQpqo4rXcl74LnN4y3mjCZSLdD2DoxdaPhj3_j1XIp5D_OofXemliKCKo/s1600/Foster+2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPp1Sp99lULQbxxdyVrs-BBPlE3sYUoQ4_xzp-o6lX98Apt-dYnHs-VilkdjeUs6Hf64zFOW6Rw3GDa8JHo7iQpqo4rXcl74LnN4y3mjCZSLdD2DoxdaPhj3_j1XIp5D_OofXemliKCKo/s400/Foster+2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466045033361396402" /></a>Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04475877821055707624noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4835147358403777972.post-68897912323655957412010-04-19T13:05:00.000-07:002010-04-19T13:12:43.244-07:00Paying it Forward with Andy Mackie<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNYkFaarNzFgMYSnDmsBA6ggY-7awE1ROV3ywRpJig8v-PeEbVbjvjbKEufZwrCtk9HdaWBnM_X9yNMXV2cJD12RcWW1ufPX5HKnJtGDxiKFmcGvZnjerJx37V2V_kFdY3xg8h4k7Em6c/s1600/Andy_Mackie_CBS.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 244px; height: 183px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNYkFaarNzFgMYSnDmsBA6ggY-7awE1ROV3ywRpJig8v-PeEbVbjvjbKEufZwrCtk9HdaWBnM_X9yNMXV2cJD12RcWW1ufPX5HKnJtGDxiKFmcGvZnjerJx37V2V_kFdY3xg8h4k7Em6c/s400/Andy_Mackie_CBS.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5461942771818380690" /></a><br /><br />A listener sent me a video about this remarkable man named <a href="http://andymackiemusic.org/index.html">Andy Mackie.</a> I so appreciate how he is sharing his love of music with the next generation. A man who plays the harmonica and trains horses? Why that's just about the perfect man! <br /><br /><object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/XTZ1VUO5_xM&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/XTZ1VUO5_xM&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>Robinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04475877821055707624noreply@blogger.com0