So here's an update since last time:
Lots of running, especially with The Hobbler, but also another marathon with Russell.
Lots of music, especially with Alexis in Alphah
Lots of recording, especially the Marais Ensemble.
Most recently, a trip to Spain...
Granada.
The best city.
I went on Thursday night, arriving Malaga at midnight. I hired a car, stayed the night in a hotel in Malaga and drove on to Granada on Friday morning.
On arrival I checked in to the Melia in the centre, wandered and had a siesta. I went to the cathedral and the Capilla Real, where Fernando and Isabella are buried al;ong with Philip the Handsome and Juana la Loca. Beautiful. I only took my iPhone, so the pictures are terrible, but here are a couple...
Then, one of the highlights, I went to my flamenco guitar lesson. I had booked this in advance at the Carmen de las Cuevas school. I took the shuttle bus up to the Albayzin, wandered around, as I was early and then went in. I spoke to Marilyn on reception who told me I had a lesson with no other than Emilio Maya. I'm ashamed to say I didn't know who he was.. I since do.
I went into the cave.... there are many houses / bars etc carved into the hillside and this was one. Whitewashed, roughly-hewn, full of atmosphere. I was directed into a dance studio to tune the guitar I had hired (for 3 euros!) and warm up. Emilio then came in and gave me a lesson. What a chump I felt!!! He was amazing and instead of fingers on my hands I had 10 thumbs. The hour went so quickly and in the end I could just abotu play what he had been trying to teach me.
I stayed behind and practiced some more (for another half an hour) and then, sadly, took he guitar back to Marilyn.
Here are soem shots around Carmen de las Cuevas
I asked Marilyn if there were any authentic Flamenco shows on that weekend, and she very helpfully marked three places on my tourist map.
I wandered up into the Albayzin and found a bar close to where she had said to go, taking in some beautiful views of the Alhambra on the way...
In the Plaza Larga, I sat in a bar, drank some beer, ate some tapas and waited. Eventually, at about 11:00, the music started. After speeches that bored, soundchecks that dragged on we were treated to loud flamenco, enhanced by the presence of Estrella Morente and Enrique Morente.
I meandered back down the Albayzin to my hotel, through streets too narrow to imagine. What an amazing, amazing day.
