tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83714653814436393942024-02-28T10:11:09.666+00:00Canarybird's NestReflections from a life in Spain.Canarybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15597325686945512447noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371465381443639394.post-66281088131274675522010-03-30T19:32:00.007+01:002010-04-01T21:13:29.391+01:00John Ulbricht & Angela Von Neumann<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/Biography/Canarybirds-Nest-Blog/mjulbrichtautoretrato/823631497_s4k8G-L.jpg%20%20%20%20%20%20%20"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 371px; height: 450px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/Biography/Canarybirds-Nest-Blog/mjulbrichtautoretrato/823631497_s4k8G-L.jpg" alt="j ulbricht auto-retrato" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">John Ulbricht Self-portrait</span><br /></div><br />Chapter 37<br /><br />During these first months in Mallorca the weekends were eagerly anticipated because it was then that Mr. G., Helen and I went out exploring the island or visiting.<br />Mr. G. was acquainted with many of the English-speaking foreign residents, some whom he had met through his mother, <br /><a href="http://canarybirdtenerife.blogspot.com/2009/08/dina-moore-bowden.html">Dina Moore Bowden</a>, a patron of the arts who was born into a wealthy American family.<br /><br />At that time there were several known American artists and writers who had chosen Mallorca as their permanent home. Mr. G. was eager to introduce them to me, and at times we would appear without warning on the steps of an artist's studio home in a quiet village up in the Mallorcan hills. Not everyone had telephones in those days because it took years of waiting to have one installed. And many painters or writers had little desire to be in touch by telephone with the outside world, as they had left that convenience behind in their search for a simpler life style. A once a week trip down to the village often sufficed to replenish the pantry, catch up on local news or pick up the mail. But on occasion, we would receive a word of mouth invitation to visit someone.<br /><br />I remember one such outing to the village of <a href="http://www.mallorcaweb.com/reports/villages/galilea/">Galilea</a> where we were invited to the studio home of John Ulbricht and his wife Angela von Neumann, both of whom were painters.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/Biography/Canarybirds-Nest-Blog/A009191-his-photo/823631453_PZFJ6-L.jpg%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 374px; height: 370px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/Biography/Canarybirds-Nest-Blog/A009191-his-photo/823631453_PZFJ6-L.jpg" alt="john ulbricht" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.culturamallorca.com/shows/14-exhibitions/167-john-ulbricht%20"><br />John Ulbricht</a> was born in Cuba in 1926, and moved to America when he was six years of age. He studied in the Chicago Art Institute where he met his future wife, Angela Von Neumann, also a painter. After living in America and touring Europe they discovered Mallorca and decided to settle there in the village of Galilea in 1954.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/Biography/Canarybirds-Nest-Blog/420png/823631417_rLkc8-L.jpg%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 281px; height: 420px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/Biography/Canarybirds-Nest-Blog/420png/823631417_rLkc8-L.jpg" alt="Angela von Neumann" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Angela von Neumann</span> was the daughter of <a href="http://www.tfaoi.com/aa/7aa/7aa128.htm">Robert von Neumann</a>, 1888 - 1976, a prolific painter who came to Wisconsin from Germany and taught art in Chicago for most of his life. Angela painted nature and animals in a naif or bright folk art style. She exhibited in USA, Mexico and Barcelona, and was awarded the Ramón Llull award of merit in 1998.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/Biography/Canarybirds-Nest-Blog/879-Angela-von-Neumann-cuadro/823631427_dQxs7-M.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/Biography/Canarybirds-Nest-Blog/879-Angela-von-Neumann-cuadro/823631427_dQxs7-M.jpg" alt="crocodile" border="0" /></a> <span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Crocodile by Angela von Neumann</span><br /></div><br />I remember her as an attractive dark-haired woman who in our brief meeting impressed me with her style and grace.<br /><br />Galilea is a charming small village in the mountains of Mallorca. about 20 kms from Palma. Houses centre around the church square where a nearby bar and restaurant serves as a meeting place for neighbours and visitors.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/Biography/Canarybirds-Nest-Blog/galilea-2-from-Mallorca-web/823631460_iVcEJ-L.jpg%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 398px; height: 298px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/Biography/Canarybirds-Nest-Blog/galilea-2-from-Mallorca-web/823631460_iVcEJ-L.jpg" alt="Galilea" border="0" /></a><br />My memories of the visit we had with John and his wife are a little vague now but I do remember entering a large, bright studio and seeing paintings stacked around the walls.<br /><br />John painted large dimension head portraits in his style of pointillism, if I can call it that. His palette of soft earth tones, impressed me deeply, as did his ability to capture a likeness. He painted royals, and famous faces as well as friends on enormous canvases. I don't forget seeing his near wall-size canvas of the American writer, Anthony Bonner in the Bonner home, the first time I stepped inside with Mr. G.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/Biography/Canarybirds-Nest-Blog/Louis-Mountbatteb-Earl/823631479_8YSQz-M.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 314px; height: 450px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/Biography/Canarybirds-Nest-Blog/Louis-Mountbatteb-Earl/823631479_8YSQz-M.jpg" alt="Mountbatten" border="0" /></a> <span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Earl Mountbatten of Burma</span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">by John Ulbricht</span><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/Biography/Canarybirds-Nest-Blog/Portrait-of-Betty-Ford-1974/823631510_xxwe6-M.jpg%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 333px; height: 450px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/Biography/Canarybirds-Nest-Blog/Portrait-of-Betty-Ford-1974/823631510_xxwe6-M.jpg" alt="Betty Ford" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Betty Ford by John Ulbricht</span></div><br /><br />He also painted larger than life elements of nature, fruits, vegetables and landscapes of Mallorca. Here are some examples:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/Biography/Canarybirds-Nest-Blog/08506286-galeriagabrielvanrell/823631436_w9KXm-M.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/Biography/Canarybirds-Nest-Blog/08506286-galeriagabrielvanrell/823631436_w9KXm-M.jpg" alt="Mallorcan landscape" border="0" /></a> <span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Mallorcan Landscape</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/Biography/Canarybirds-Nest-Blog/4DPict-Bancales-con-Olivos/823631405_eLgKZ-M.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 314px; height: 400px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/Biography/Canarybirds-Nest-Blog/4DPict-Bancales-con-Olivos/823631405_eLgKZ-M.jpg" alt="Bancales con Olivos" border="0" /></a> <span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Bancales con Olivos</span><br /></div><br />And here is his painting of his wife, "Angela in Nine Fragments":<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/Biography/Canarybirds-Nest-Blog/ulbricht-angela-9-fragments/823631675_XEAwL-L.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 351px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/Biography/Canarybirds-Nest-Blog/ulbricht-angela-9-fragments/823631675_XEAwL-L.jpg" alt="Angela in 8 fragments" border="0" /></a><br />Another interesting visit will be coming soon.<br /><br />All photos were taken from the internet. Thanks and credits to the following:<br /><br />galeriagabrielvanrell.com<br />mallorcaweb.com<br />National Portrait Gallery (npg.org.uk) Portrait of Mountbatten<br />pintura.aut.org<br />Lletres.net<br />fototeca.catCanarybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15597325686945512447noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371465381443639394.post-22648625264218848322010-01-26T19:06:00.010+00:002010-12-21T19:42:05.720+00:00Cognac Gulch<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/Biography/Canarybirds-Nest-Blog/plazagomila1970-b/774065419_yNVbX-L.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 668px; height: 458px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/Biography/Canarybirds-Nest-Blog/plazagomila1970-b/774065419_yNVbX-L.jpg" alt="Plaza Gomila" border="0" /></a>Photo credit of Plaza Gomila to Salvatore at <a href="http://www.foroswebgratis.com/tema-sta_tarde_volvi_a_la_plaza_gomila-52811-1639581.htm">Il Guardiano del Faro</a><br />
</div><br />
Chapter 36<br />
<br />
While Helen and I were still living at the apartment in Son Armadams with her father, Mr. G., the three of us would sometimes go out for an evening stroll around the area. The Mediterranean summer nights were warm and scented with the exotic aromas of jasmine and <a href="http://tenerifejournal.blogspot.com/2009/04/38-lady-of-night.html">dama de noche</a>. It was such a pleasure to escape the heat and humidity of the day although the air never really cooled and one could wear sleeveless cotton summer dresses both day and night.<br />
<br />
Inevitably we would take a long walk up the street to the area known as El Terreno and join the throngs of people-watchers in the Plaza Gomila, referred to by Mr. G. as 'Cognac Gulch'.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">El Terreno</span> means 'the land' in Spanish, and the area used to be on the outskirts of Palma. It was where wealthier residents built their summer or weekend home away from the bustle of the city; a sort of country retreat of long ago.<br />
<br />
But by 1968 the distance between city and country had disappeared and El Terreno had become the nightlife centre of Palma, where bars and cafes vied for the attention of tourists and residents alike by setting up their tables and chairs outdoors in Plaza Gomila, which was a small plaza divided by a narrow road leading down to more bars and the Hotel Mediterraneo Grand.<br />
<br />
It was a place where people sat to have coffee, brandy, gin & tonics or cool drinks in the evenings while all the time watching the stream of colourful passers-by, such as those in full evening dress as they walked towards the entrance of Tito's nightclub.<br />
<br />
Tito's was the topnotch club of Palma, hosting international and national entertainment figures, where guests were served champagne and chocolates at small tables tiered around the stage. There was a dress code and if a man dared to enter without jacket and tie, he was taken aside and offered the chance to rent them. Women dressed in cocktail dresses and long gowns, and as they swished past the outdoor tables, their jewellery sparkled in the neon lights and their perfume trailed in the air, mingling with the scent of fresh coffee from the bars next door.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/Biography/Canarybirds-Nest-Blog/mexdf-1968-sara-Montiel/774065445_S9xLv-L.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 376px; height: 518px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/Biography/Canarybirds-Nest-Blog/mexdf-1968-sara-Montiel/774065445_S9xLv-L.jpg" alt="Sara Montiel" border="0" /></a> <span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Sara Montiel</span><br />
</div><br />
Sara Montiel, or Saritisima as she was often called, was a frequent performer there in Tito's. Sara was a popular Spanish singer and actress from La Mancha who became well known for some of her early screen appearances. She was a frequent visitor to Palma.<br />
<br />
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/u3WDnGCionM&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/u3WDnGCionM&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> <br />
<br />
But outside in Plaza Gomila the three of us would find ourselves a little round table, sit down and order our cafés cortado, our brandies Soberano, and pull out our black tobacco cigarettes, usually a national brand called Record which cost at the time just a few pesetas....worth pennies in other currencies.<br />
<br />
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/Biography/Canarybirds-Nest-Blog/201001264735/774065403_E5To6-M-1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 348px; height: 432px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/Biography/Canarybirds-Nest-Blog/201001264735/774065403_E5To6-M-1.jpg" alt="brandy" border="0" /></a><br />
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/Biography/Canarybirds-Nest-Blog/Soberano/774065436_KJfxC-M.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 270px; height: 450px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/Biography/Canarybirds-Nest-Blog/Soberano/774065436_KJfxC-M.jpg" alt="Soberano" border="0" /></a><br />
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/Biography/Canarybirds-Nest-Blog/P1211385-Cafe-Cortado/774065411_zXncd-M.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 581px; height: 450px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/Biography/Canarybirds-Nest-Blog/P1211385-Cafe-Cortado/774065411_zXncd-M.jpg" alt="cafe cortado" border="0" /></a><br />
We'd sit there smoking and drinking, chatting, and laughing while observing the post beatnik, hippy, international crowd. As we listening to the babel of European languages mixed with Spanish and English, we kept watch for any passing celebrities. After all, we were there in what was the most exciting and interesting spot in the Balearic Islands, or so we thought.<br />
<br />
We wondered if we might even see that new young curly-haired singer called Julio Iglesias who was becoming so popular after winning the Benidorm song festival with his own composition "La Vida Sigue Igual".<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/Biography/Canarybirds-Nest-Blog/Julio-1968-b/774065450_hmH2o-M.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 318px; height: 450px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/Biography/Canarybirds-Nest-Blog/Julio-1968-b/774065450_hmH2o-M.jpg" alt="Young Julio Iglesias" border="0" /></a> <span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Julio Iglesias</span> <br />
<br />
</div><br />
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/t4G48BqxCW8&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/t4G48BqxCW8&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> <br />
<br />
Near to Plaza Gomila was the popular Africa Bar where English people congregated and around the corner was the Loa Bar, where one could find the best spaghetti bolognese and pancakes with real maple syrup; the only place in Palma where those were seen.<br />
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/95048870.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 452px; height: 350px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/95048870.jpg" alt="spaghetti bolognese" border="0" /></a><br />
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/Biography/Canarybirds-Nest-Blog/P2280024-editredu-pancakes/774180760_4nRku-M.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 452px; height: 350px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/Biography/Canarybirds-Nest-Blog/P2280024-editredu-pancakes/774180760_4nRku-M.jpg" alt="pancakes" border="0" /></a>We thought it could have something to do with the fact that the Loa Bar was a favourite haunt for American sailors from the sixth fleet who stopped there when they were in town. <br />
Otherwise from where did the Loa bar get their real maple syrup? I asked but they would never tell!<br />
<br />
Photo credit of Julio Iglesias to <a href="http://www.todocoleccion.net/">www.todocoleccion.net</a><br />
<br />
Next: <a href=" http://canarybirdtenerife.blogspot.com/2010/03/john-ulbricht-angela-von-neumann.html ">John Ulbricht & Angela Von Neumann</a>Canarybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15597325686945512447noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371465381443639394.post-40266857446492902322009-10-22T19:00:00.012+01:002010-12-21T19:37:19.884+00:00Kristian Krekovic and Bill Lewis<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/689171260_CKg5w-M.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 315px; height: 450px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/689171260_CKg5w-M.jpg" border="0" alt="Bill Lewis as King Jaime I" /></a> Chapter 35<br />
<br />
I’m making a pause in recounting Helen’s wedding preparations to tell you about something curious that happened a couple of years before I arrived in Mallorca. <br />
<br />
You may have read in my earlier posts entitled Vancouver Flashback about <a href="http://canarybirdtenerife.blogspot.com/2009/03/vancouver-flashback-v.html">Bill Lewis</a>, my first guitar teacher who had been giving lessons and working on guitar construction and repairs for George Bowden in his Mediterranean shop in Vancouver. And how one year Bill came over to Palma de Mallorca to help out in George’s guitar factory, located at the time in the Pueblo Español. <br />
<br />
During that time, Bill was introduced to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kristian_Krekovic">Kristian Krekovic,</a> the Croatian portrait painter.<br />
<br />
Krekovic was born in Bosnia in 1901 and after studying in both Vienna and Paris and living for a time with his wife in Peru, he settled in 1960 in Mallorca and became interested in Spanish art. <br />
<br />
There he set about painting a large work depicting <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_I_of_Aragon">King Jaime I </a>(James I) of Aragón (The Conqueror) showing his landing in Mallorca at Santa Ponsa in 1229, where together with his fleet of 155 ships he conquered the island, driving out the Moors.<br />
<br />
As Krekovic was primarily a portrait painter he needed a model with strong facial features, preferably bearded, to represent King Jaime seated on a rock as he gazed out to sea. <br />
<br />
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/110134777.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 315px; height: 450px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/110134777.jpg" border="0" alt="Bill Lewis" /></a><br />
I don’t know how they met, but Bill Lewis, Canadian, was the model and became the face of King Jaime I of Aragón. <br />
<br />
Here he is in this now famous painting, with the artist standing beside it.<br />
<br />
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href=" http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/689158439_reLu2-M.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 592px; height: 450px;" src=" http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/689158439_reLu2-M.jpg" border="0" alt="painting of Jaime I by Krekovic" /></a><br />
For a long time the painting hung in the Palma city hall – the <span style="font-style:italic;">Ayuntamiento</span>, where I was to see it after my arrival in Mallorca but I believe it has been moved to the Hotel Marina Rey Don Jaime in Santa Ponsa (Mallorca).<br />
<br />
There is now a city park and <a href="http://www.balearsculturaltour.es/fichaequipamiento.php?idioma=en&id=144&pag=4 ">a museum</a> devoted to Kristian Krekovic, who passed away in 1985 in Palma de Mallorca.<br />
<br />
Here is another of Krekovic's paintings depicting Mallorquin women in their native costumes:<br />
<br />
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/689167362_WWakp-M.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 548px; height: 450px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/689167362_WWakp-M.jpg" border="0" alt="Mallorquin women in costume - Krekovic" /></a><br />
Photo credits of Krekovic's works go to:<br />
<a href="http://www.croatianhistory.net/etf/kreks.html">The Croatian History Net.</a><br />
Photo of Bill Lewis thanks to his daughter, Lyra Lewis, to whom I am most grateful.<br />
<br />
Next: <a href="http://canarybirdtenerife.blogspot.com/2010/01/cognac-gulch.html ">Cognac Gulch</a>Canarybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15597325686945512447noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371465381443639394.post-57466714914362040452009-10-01T23:03:00.014+01:002010-12-21T19:34:57.832+00:00Barcelona & Antoni Gaudí<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/666791285_e8Fgm-M.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 600px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/666791285_e8Fgm-M.jpg" border="0" alt="Sharon & Ruth" /></a><center> With Helen in Barcelona 1968 </center><br />
Chapter 34<br />
<br />
After our overnight trip on the boat from Palma, Helen and I disembarked in the early morning hours and took a taxi to our hotel, located within viewing distance of the <a href="http://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/gaudi/sagrada-familia.html">Temple of the Sagrada Familia</a>, the amazing and still unfinished creation of the Catalan architect, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antoni_Gaud%C3%AD">Antoni Gaudí.</a> By leaning out our hotel window we could see the tall spires pointing skyward far down the avenue.<br />
<br />
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/666791253_k4Qf3-M.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 309px; height: 450px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/666791253_k4Qf3-M.jpg" border="0" alt="view from hotel" /></a>We were to meet with José who was free for the day and would take us around the city to see the sights, visiting the <span style="font-style:italic;">Barri Gòtic</span>...the Gothic quarter, the <span style="font-style:italic;">Parc de la Ciutadella</span>...the large city park and of course, the Temple of the Sagrada Familia. <br />
<br />
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/666791148_MPrdG-M.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 435px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/666791148_MPrdG-M.jpg" border="0" alt="Los Novios" /></a>Helen with José walking in the Gothic quarter<br />
<br />
I was so wide-eyed at being in Barcelona and to be seeing all these sights. We passed by the famous Ramblas, that beautiful treed avenue where people were sitting at outdoor cafes.<br />
<br />
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/666791189_NboVy-M.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 397px; height: 450px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/666791189_NboVy-M.jpg" border="0" alt="The Ramblas" /></a> <br />
We visited the Parc de la Ciutadella...<br />
<br />
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/666791234_NTiRs-M.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/666791234_NTiRs-M.jpg" border="0" alt="Park" /></a><br />
The statue known as La Cascada:<br />
<br />
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/666791228_uK75b-M.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 309px; height: 450px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/666791228_uK75b-M.jpg" border="0" alt="La Cascada" /></a><br />
Through the Barri Gòtic to the magnificent Barcelona cathedral, known as <a href="http://www.sacred-destinations.com/spain/barcelona-cathedral-la-seu">La Seu.</a><br />
<br />
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/666791105_BCRDa-M.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 306px; height: 450px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/666791105_BCRDa-M.jpg" border="0" alt="La Seu" /></a><br />
<br />
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/666791134_zAzuK-M.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 306px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/666791134_zAzuK-M.jpg" border="0" alt="La Seu" /></a><br />
We passed through narrow streets in the Gothic quarter and famous landmarks such as Gaudí's Art Nouveau restoration of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casa_Batll%C3%B3">Casa Batlló</a>.<br />
<br />
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/666804427_W5PgA-M.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 330px; height: 450px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/666804427_W5PgA-M.jpg" border="0" alt="Casa Batlló" /></a><br />
<br />
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/666791123_NK6kh-M.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 343px; height: 450px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/666791123_NK6kh-M.jpg" border="0" alt="Barcelona street" /></a><br />
<br />
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/666791137_fMzVY-M.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 350px; height: 450px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/666791137_fMzVY-M.jpg" border="0" alt="Barcelona street" /></a><br />
And finally arriving at the enormous and awe-inspiring Roman Catholic Temple of the Sagrada Familia, whose construction began in 1882 and is still not finished. It must be seen to be believed and this was how it looked in 1968 as we walked around taking in as much as we could of the intricate carved facade.<br />
<br />
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/666804498_6GqBA-M.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 318px; height: 450px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/666804498_6GqBA-M.jpg" border="0" alt="Sagrada Familia" /></a><br />
<br />
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/666804450_PrELr-M.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 332px; height: 450px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/666804450_PrELr-M.jpg" border="0" alt="Sagrada Familia" /></a><br />
<br />
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/666804556_pDkZL-M.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 332px; height: 450px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/666804556_pDkZL-M.jpg" border="0" alt="Sagrada Familia" /></a><br />
We stopped for something to eat after which they dropped me at the hotel where I wanted to have a long siesta and rest my feet after such an exciting day. Helen and José were to meet with his parents and then go to a movie.....without their chaperone. I had developed a rather bad headache and so I fell into bed and was immediately asleep. I guess I hadn't slept so well the night before on that boat trip after all. But it had been a wonderful day that I would always remember!<br />
<br />
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/666791279_8ecY8-M.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 318px; height: 450px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/666791279_8ecY8-M.jpg" border="0" alt="patio" /></a><br />
<a href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/swfpopup.mg?AlbumID=9815864&AlbumKey=Mq2g7">Here is a slideshow</a> of these photos enlarged and a few more of our day in Barcelona. They are the original slides I took in 1968, and although they are not in perfect shape I do treasure them. I hope you will also enjoy seeing them. Hasta pronto!<br />
<br />
Next: <a href="http://canarybirdtenerife.blogspot.com/2009/10/kristian-krekovic-and-bill-lewis.html ">Kristian Krekovic and Bill Lewis</a>Canarybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15597325686945512447noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371465381443639394.post-46407345139869109222009-09-23T23:10:00.016+01:002010-12-21T19:31:33.863+00:00Night Boat to Barcelona<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/658560195_F66sk-M.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400x; height: 341px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/658560195_F66sk-M.jpg" border="0" alt="night boat to Barcelona" /></a>Chapter 33<br />
<br />
As Helen's wedding preparations were under way, it became necessary for her to make a trip to Barcelona in order to finalize the guest list and other details of this important event with José and his family who lived near Barcelona's city centre in a residential apartment or <span style="font-style:italic;">piso. </span><br />
<br />
Since it wasn't considered proper for Helen to travel alone she was to have a chaperone. I was elected. And of course I was delighted to be offered a paid trip to Barcelona when my only task would be to accompany Helen and her fiancé around the city and visit his parents. <br />
<br />
We would travel on the overnight ferry of the Trasmediterránea Line from Palma and stay in a hotel. <br />
<br />
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/658914639_k3YfT-S.jpg "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 341px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/658914639_k3YfT-S.jpg " border="0" alt="logo Trasmediterranea" /></a><br />
As I didn't have a small overnight bag, I prepared my pink and green striped plastic suitcase that had served for my trip from Vancouver to Spain. Not much to put in there except the black and white flowered cotton dress I'd made before leaving Canada, one pair of shoes, nightdress, housecoat and slippers.<br />
<br />
I made sure to bring my camera, an old German Voigtländer 35mm film camera that my father had given me on my 21st birthday. As I didn't have enough money to pay for colour film, I used black and white or slide film for which, in later years, I was thankful, since the photo quality lasted fairly well over the years, certainly better than could be expected of coloured prints of that time. <br />
<br />
We also brought what was the standard snack food to take on picnics or journeys: the famous Inca biscuits of Mallorca. No picnic or venture away from home could be undertaken without a bag of these <span style="font-style:italic;">galletas de Inca</span> which were first elaborated in the 19th century at the request of shipping companies which needed a sturdy biscuit suitable for taking on long voyages. The name comes from the original factory in the town of Inca, Mallorca.<br />
<br />
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/658914590_wQpxt-L.jpg "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 341px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/658914590_wQpxt-L.jpg " border="0" alt="Inca biscuits" /></a><br />
Hard, oval, thick crackers, with a slight centre indentation, packaged in a transparent plastic bag and which, when squeezed a certain way on the sides with both hands would split perfectly in half horizontally, making them easy to top with a drop of olive oil, a small piece of cheese or ham. When you pressed too hard, or the wrong way they would crumble and you'd have to eat the little dry pieces from your lap.<br />
<br />
Another indispensable snack for travelling was a bag of Galletas Maria.<br />
<br />
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/658914617_JvEA6-L.jpg "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 341px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/658914617_JvEA6-L.jpg" border="0" alt="Galletas Maria" /></a><br />
Thin, flat and round, these were slightly sweet biscuits which would hardly have been popular in Canada I thought, as they were so plain. However in Spain at that time when there was little else available, one became accustomed to them, even learning to enjoy dipping them in coffee for breakfast.<br />
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/658914650_xuaQn-S.jpg "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 108px; height: 85px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/658914650_xuaQn-S.jpg" border="0" alt="flag of trasmed" /></a>The boat was to leave the Palma dock late at night and would arrive early the next morning in Barcelona. The sleeping accomodation at that time was in segregated (women or men only) windowless four-berth cabins, consisting of two sets of bunk beds with a wash basin in between and a bathroom down the corridor. This photo from <a href="http://www.norwayheritage.com">www.norwayheritage.com</a> shows a cabin similar to ours on a different ship, except that we were in a four-berth room with no window. But ours was as basic as the one in this photo.<br />
<br />
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/658914630_9PEhf-L.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 321px; height: 488px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/658914630_9PEhf-L.jpg" border="0" alt="two berth cabin" /></a>As we didn’t as yet have cabin companions, we left our cases in the room, closed the door and went up on deck to the bow of the ship. There was a full moon and the air was warm. As we stood in the evening breeze in our summer dresses, the boat began to move away from the dock and I marvelled at the mild Mediterranean air. Even as the ship picked up speed, the breeze was balmy. <br />
<br />
I recalled such evening boat trips from Vancouver to Vancouver Island, where out on deck on an early summer evening we would be warmly wrapped in pullovers or jackets. When the lights of Palma harbour were far in the distance we went back downstairs to our cabin. We had company. <br />
<br />
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/658560199_mZHXx-L.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 500px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/658560199_mZHXx-L.jpg" border="0" alt="Gypsy Mother" /></a>Gypsy Mother - Painting by Robert Henri 1906<br />
<br />
There was a middle aged Spanish lady arranging her belongings in the opposite top berth and a young gypsy mother with a baby sitting on the bottom berth.<br />
The young mother looked like a child herself. Her baby was cranky and whining and I wondered if they had eaten that day. After we exchanged greetings, Helen and I prepared for bed. I took the upper bunk.<br />
As there were no lockers in the room, we had to sleep with our suitcases and handbags at the end of the berth, by our feet. I wondered if I would get any rest that night, since I was so excited over this venture. But the motion of the boat soon put me into a sound sleep.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately the gypsy mother was seasick and spent the night vomiting into the washbasin. We weren’t aware of it until early morning when we woke and discovered her plight. The baby was crying out ‘pa…pa…pa’ which I couldn’t understand but was told by Helen that he was saying ‘pan’ - bread.<br />
<br />
The child was hungry and they didn’t have anything to eat. So we gave them the Galletas Maria which would have to do until they reunited with the male members of their family who were sleeping in another part of the ship.<br />
<br />
After Helen and I had each taken a breakfast of cafe con leche and a hard breakfast <span style="font-style:italic;">bocadillo</span> (small baguette sandwich) with cheese in the cafeteria we went out on deck to watch the arrival in Barcelona as the sun was rising.<br />
It was a beautiful beginning to our day.<br />
<br />
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigZTohFyyDQGPMo6hbdSxCaE_fBo-iyWd0yhea0bHLycNi4Rt5zf8GQEy5BVUjKk5aC5PX6MadBb_UzSqsnsRagB3lVVOWFgC5_cdgo1wFWiXNNvXLs42cJHVYAsEXD6Po7xwq2ac7hvk/s1600-h/snap1215.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigZTohFyyDQGPMo6hbdSxCaE_fBo-iyWd0yhea0bHLycNi4Rt5zf8GQEy5BVUjKk5aC5PX6MadBb_UzSqsnsRagB3lVVOWFgC5_cdgo1wFWiXNNvXLs42cJHVYAsEXD6Po7xwq2ac7hvk/s200/snap1215.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384806133969009250" /></a>Photo credit Barcelona Sunrise to Louise Huot on Webshots<br />
<br />
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/659008352_wNPeF-S.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 165px; height: 179px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/659008352_wNPeF-S.jpg" border="0" alt="escudo trasned" /></a><br />
Next: <a href="http://canarybirdtenerife.blogspot.com/2009/10/barcelona-antoni-gaudi.html">Gaudi and the Gothic Quarter</a><br />
Go back to Chapter 32 <a href="http://canarybirdtenerife.blogspot.com/2009/09/brides-hand.html">The Bride's Hand</a>Canarybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15597325686945512447noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371465381443639394.post-39626229130969202832009-09-15T21:42:00.015+01:002009-09-24T12:26:14.507+01:00The Bride's Hand<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/650674047_DMmGx-M.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 354px; height: 450px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/650674047_DMmGx-M.jpg" alt="The Marriage Proposal" border="0" /></a> The Marriage Proposal<br />Frederic Soulacroix 1858 - 1933<br /><br />Chapter 32<br /><br />In Spain it is customary for the families of a future bride and groom ...<span style="font-style:italic;">los novios</span>...to meet for a friendly luncheon, tea or dinner in the prenuptial event called "the asking of the hand"...<span style="font-style: italic;">la petición de mano</span>.<br /><br />Whereas in former days the groom may have made a formal request to the bride's father for her hand in marriage, the custom was gradually disappearing. The bride and groom had by this time decided to marry and the <span style="font-style: italic;">petición de mano</span> became more of an engagement party where the two families would have the opportunity to meet, perhaps for the first time. <br /><br />At this time the engagement ring is presented to the bride by her future husband, while she customarily presents him with a watch or engraved cuff links.<br /><br />Since Helen's future inlaws lived in Barcelona, they took a hotel room in Palma for their short visit to the island. Helen and her father would be hosting the casual coffee afternoon in the apartment in which I was a guest. Vases were filled with flowers. Coffee and light refreshments were prepared.<br /><br />Finally the three arrived...the handsome groom, José, dressed in a dark suit, his mother, dressed in black and his father also dressed in a dark suit. It was customary at that time for Spanish women to wear black for most important occasions, whether or not they were in mourning (de luto) for a deceased family member, which under Catholic Church customs kept them wearing black for most of their senior years.<br /><br /> However on this occasion the dark clothing was for the significance of the event. Mr. G. also wore a dark suit and tie, while Helen and I wore printed summer dresses. I was not long in Spain, having recently arrived from Canada, so I found all this to be most unusual and interesting. <br /><br />After the coffee, the pleasantries and exchange of gifts, we all went out for dinner to a lovely restaurant. Here in this photo below, you see from left to right, the groom's parents, Helen (pseudonym) the bride, José the groom, and George Bowden...Mr. G.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/650634606_7HscR-L.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/650634606_7HscR-L.jpg" alt="peticion de mano family" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Here below are some more transparency photos I made in El Pueblo Español, the Spanish Village, located in Palma de Mallorca during this time, shortly after my arrival in 1968.<br /><br />La Guitarreria - the entrance to Mr. G's guitar factory:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/650634638_yACEn-L.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 550px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/650634638_yACEn-L.jpg" alt="La Guitarreria" border="0" /></a> The Basket Maker:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/650634658_72Evu-L.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 550px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/650634658_72Evu-L.jpg" border="0" alt="the basket maker" /></a> In Pueblo Español:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/650634682_MdVXA-L.jpg "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 550px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/650634682_MdVXA-L.jpg " border="0" alt="pueblo español" /></a> Reproduction of La Alhambra:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/650634705_KJB48-L.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 550px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/650634705_KJB48-L.jpg" border="0" alt="la alhambra" /></a> Vancouver Chuck with José Ferrer - guitar maker:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/650634720_R7sdz-L.jpg "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 550px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/650634720_R7sdz-L.jpg " border="0" alt="Chuck with José Ferrer" /></a> Pueblo Español:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/650634797_GooWt-L.jpg "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 550px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/650634797_GooWt-L.jpg " border="0" alt="Pueblo Español" /></a><br />Continue on to Chapter 33 <a href="http://canarybirdtenerife.blogspot.com/2009/09/night-boat-to-barcelona.html">Night Boat to Barcelona</a><br />Go back to Chapter 31 <a href="http://canarybirdtenerife.blogspot.com/2009/09/living-in-palma.html">Living in Palma</a>Canarybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15597325686945512447noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371465381443639394.post-59624079112432411792009-09-09T00:19:00.016+01:002009-09-24T12:27:34.396+01:00Living in Palma<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/643317784_XCRQH-L.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/643317784_XCRQH-L.jpg" border="0" alt="kitchen" /></a>Back from Santa Catalina Market in Palma<br /><br />Chapter 31<br />(click to enlarge photos)<br /><br />In the late 1960s I was staying in Palma de Mallorca at the apartment of Mr. G and his daughter Helen (not her real name) until I could establish myself in my new job teaching music and find my own accommodation. Helen and I shopped weekly at the Santa Catalina market where we bought the vegetable and meat supplies for the next days. All was carried in one or two mesh shopping bags or my big straw basket which we took with us.<br /><br /> I was happy to find this above photo, taken as a slide with my old film camera. It shows part of the apartment's tiny kitchen. Here is another one:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/643363501_HfqrX-L.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 600px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/643363501_HfqrX-L.jpg" border="0" alt="palma kitchen" /></a> The water heater was suspended from the ceiling, the double sink was low and small and there was little counter space. What you see in both photos is the total work space for preparing meals. <br /><br />Downtown we would walk along the Paseo del Borne and around to the Via Roma, which I believe has since been renamed. This was the avenue of the flower sellers where the central paved boulevard housed the many stalls where flowers were sold. When one wanted to buy a bouquet for a special occasion or just a few flowers for the house, the Via Roma was the place to go.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/643363599_33CqG-L.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/643363599_33CqG-L.jpg" border="0" alt="flower stalls 1" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/643363718_VKjnw-L.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/643363718_VKjnw-L.jpg" border="0" alt="flower stalls 2" /></a><br />On our Sunday outings in the Citroen deux chevaux we would often drive to the picturesque terraced slopes of Banyalbufar on Mallorca's west coast:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/643363742_kz6h5-L.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 422px; height: 600px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/643363742_kz6h5-L.jpg" border="0" alt="banyalbufar 1" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/643363780_YcRC9-L.jpg"><img javascript:void(0)style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 415px; height: 600px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/643363780_YcRC9-L.jpg" border="0" alt="banyalbufar 2" /></a><br /><br />As Helen was engaged to be married to her Spanish <span style="font-style:italic;">novio</span>, her fiancé José, she was preparing her trousseau as was customary with young women then. She was concerned that her future mother-in-law might feel that since her son was going to marry an <span style="font-style:italic;">estranjera</span> (a foreigner) rather than a Spanish girl, she might not have the premarriage custom of hand embroidering their linen, such as bed sheets and pillow cases with the initials of the couple. <br /><br />Since young women then spent hours sewing linens in preparation for a future marriage, Helen wanted to make sure that she did her part by embroidering and adding lace edging to sheets and pillowcases. I remember being so amazed at this detail that I asked Helen's permission to lay out some of her work for a photograph, which now unfortunately seems to have deteriorated more than some of the other photos.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/643396187_EEzri-L.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/643396187_EEzri-L.jpg" border="0" alt="embroidered sheets" /></a><br />Two big events were coming up. The <span style="font-style:italic;">petición de mano</span>, or the asking of the hand by the <span style="font-style:italic;">novio</span> José, and the trip to Barcelona, where I was to go with Helen as her chaperone, or <span style="font-style:italic;">carabina.</span><br /><br />The asking of the hand is often the first time that the future in-laws meet. The occasion is a friendly reunion of the two families, where in fact the future husband does not actually have to make a formal request to the bride's father for her hand. Rather they meet for a luncheon or afternoon tea, the engaged couple exchanges gifts, usually the engagement ring for her and a watch, cufflinks or other sentimental piece of jewellery for him. Photos are taken and some wedding plans may at that time be discussed. The groom's parents would be travelling to Palma for this event.<br /><br />And the trip to Barcelona was going to be an exciting time. Helen and I would go by overnight boat to Barcelona where we would meet again with his family to finalize wedding plans, see the city and stay in a hotel, all the time while I was to chaperone the engaged couple! That was a trip to which I was looking forward with excitement.<br /><br />Continue on to Chapter 32 <a href="http://canarybirdtenerife.blogspot.com/2009/09/brides-hand.html">The Bride's Hand</a><br />Go back to Chapter 30 <a href="http://canarybirdtenerife.blogspot.com/2009/08/dina-moore-bowden.html">Dina Moore Bowden</a>Canarybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15597325686945512447noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371465381443639394.post-1271385026161371212009-08-24T10:39:00.011+01:002009-09-24T12:23:58.357+01:00Dina Moore Bowden<span style="font-weight:bold;">Chapter 30</span><br /><br />Please excuse the long summer break. It's now nearing end of August and it's time to return to my memories of Mallorca and set them down here with photos of those days.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/628731660_Bs99S-M.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 308px; height: 421px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/628731660_Bs99S-M.jpg" border="0" alt="dina moorebowden B" /></a><br />I have been wanting to write a short bio about Dina Moore Bowden, the lovely lady who was the mistress of Spindrift. But I found a complete account of her life in the <a href="https://www.sandiegohistory.org/journal/81summer/memoriam.htm">Journal of San Diego History</a>, written in memoriam on her passing in May of 1981 by Sylvia Arden, archivist of the San Diego Historical Society. It is also with interest that I discovered that a geographical point in Calvià, near Portals Nous, has been named after her:<br /> 'Sa Punta de Na Dina'.<br /><br />So I will insert...with thanks to the SDHS... Sylvia Arden's biography here with the accompanying photos and the above link to the original page.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/628701498_Fcgy4-Th.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 99px; height: 150px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/628701498_Fcgy4-Th.jpg" border="0" alt="sfhs logo" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Born in northern California, Dina was taken as a three-month-old infant to the Hawaiian Islands, where she lived with her family on a sugar plantation until she was twelve. Returning to California, she became a student of violin, and after graduating high school continued her musical studies in violin and voice in Vienna.<br /><br /> After her marriage to Englishman George Bowden, a voice coach and writer, they lived in New York where their son George, Jr. was born. The Bowdens spent every summer with Dina's family in California.<br /><br /> In the course of travels in 1932, following years of intense work in the life of musical New York, the Bowden trio arrived in Mallorca. They were enthralled when they first learned that Father Junípero Serra was born in Petra, Mallorca. Dina wrote to her family in California, "The realization that we Californians were now on an Island from which this civilization emerged was a tantalizing subject for thought. It aroused a keen awareness of the significance of everything we saw in Mallorca in relation to California."<br /><br /> The Bowdens quickly succumbed to the charm of Mallorca, and decided to settle there. They had a house built at Portals Nous in the Mallorcan architectural style they admired. Dina soon devoted her life to renewing and strengthening the age-old links with her home state of California. She helped organize, and became president of the Amigos de Mallorca, and was largely responsible for the building of the beautiful Museum and Center of Studies in Petra, near the little house where Father Serra was born. Official ambassador for California, Dina greeted and escorted visitors from California to Petra, and hosted many celebrations at the Bowden home at Portals Nous.<br /><br /> In 1948-49 Dina brought an Exhibition of Mallorca Artes and Crafts to libraries and museums throughout California to acquaint people with the culture and history of the Island. Included was an exhibit at the Serra Museum. This was the beginning of a long, close friendship with the San Diego Historical Society. Dina paid the Society a second visit in 1962.<br /><br /> In 1978 and again in 1980, I was privileged to represent the San Diego Historical Society on official visits to Mallorca with David McKenzie Smith, chairman of the Library and Archives Committee and Board member. The Society's plans to reinterpret the Serra Museum with more emphasis on Father Serra and his birthplace excited Dina, and she crammed our suitcases with antique costumes, fabric and exhibit pieces. Dina decided that the Society should also receive her library of rare books on Father Serra, and the albums carefully detailing her active life in Mallorca. She devoted most of her time the past three years organizing the collections to send to us. Shortly before her death, she wrote telling us that the collections were on their way, and how thrilled she was to learn that a room in the Serra Museum, exhibiting her donations, will be named after her.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/628736002_reLnG-M.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/628736002_reLnG-M.jpg" border="0" alt="dina moore bowden 2B" /></a><span style="font-style:italic;">Dina Moore Bowden involved in her favorite activity—working on an exhibit to commemorate Father Serra. </span><br /><br /> The San Diego Historical Society has lost a great friend. But all Californians will be forever enriched by Dina Bowden's contributions to us for they have strengthened our cultural links with Mallorca—the native land of our state's founding "Father"—Junípero Serra.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/628701502_tNv5X-Th.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 84px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/628701502_tNv5X-Th.gif" border="0" alt="logo" /></a>Sylvia Arden Head<br /> Librarian Librarian/Archivist<br /> San Diego Historical Society<br /><br />Continue on to Chapter 31 <a href="http://canarybirdtenerife.blogspot.com/2009/09/living-in-palma.html">Living in Palma</a><br />Go back to Chapter 29 <a href="http://canarybirdtenerife.blogspot.com/2009/06/house-at-spindrift.html">The House at Spindrift</a>Canarybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15597325686945512447noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371465381443639394.post-88321105019955522362009-06-24T21:41:00.013+01:002009-08-24T11:49:04.556+01:00The House at Spindrift<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/114233769.jpg "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/114233769.jpg " border="0" alt="the house at spindrft" /></a> The main house - (Click to enlarge photos)<br /><br />Chapter 29<br /><br />I was so pleased last night when I discovered some coloured slides I had taken in 1968 of the Spindrift estate to complement my black and white photos. For me it was like finding a small treasure in these few transparencies. Unfortunately I don't yet have a slide scanner for uploading them to my computer but for the time being these images will suffice, even though they were reproduced in a low tech manner by using a strong light and a close camera on macro. The above photo shows the main house located at the back of the property at Portals Nous.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/114233771.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/114233771.jpg" border="0" alt="portals beach 1968" /></a> The Beach at Portals Nous 1968<br /><br />My story of Dina Moore and the Bowdens will continue after showing these photos of their beautiful old Mediterranean house and garden.<br /><br /> Ajoining the outer street wall by the entrance was the small house of the Mallorquin couple Catalina and Juan who were the estate caretakers. Catalina cooked and looked after the house while Juan tended the garden and did repairs.<br /><br /> I remember the kitchen of the main house being fitted with old-style double stone sinks with tiny drainholes, used in the manner which I still use today for dishwashing...left side filled with hot, soapy water for washing, right side filled with cold water for rinsing. It was an interesting house although I didn't see all the inside rooms. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/114233876.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 335px; height: 400px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/114233876.jpg" border="0" alt="flowerpot" /></a>The large dining room table was frequently covered with books, newspapers and cuttings which Dina Moore was preparing to save or send to friends who could be interested in news items she had found. I often received envelopes of clippings from her with handwritten notes on her stationery adorned with the image of the Spindrift seahorse informing me of some upcoming musical event in Palma, or a writeup about The Guitar Centre or the Juventudes Musicales, an organization dedicated to furthering young peoples' interest in music.<br /><br />Here is again the photo print of me in that yellow dress I made before leaving Vancouver. I realized later that this was taken in the garden at Spindrift, not in Palma as I had previously thought. Part of the house is visible behind.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/114233774.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 375px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/114233774.jpg" border="0" alt="sharon at spindrift" /></a>Here is a view across the small cove as seen while standing in the garden.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/114233772.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/114233772.jpg" border="0" alt="garden at spindrift" /></a> In the centre of the garden, up a narrow winding path was a small one room stone cottage built in the Mediterranean style, with tiled roof and windows looking over the garden and sea. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/114233770.jpg "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/114233770.jpg " border="0" alt="cottage at spindrift" /></a> The Cottage Studio<br /><br />It was fitted out as a small library with books, a table and comfortable sofa. Dina Moore Bowden kindly invited me to come and spend time in this quiet studio to practice my guitar and read her books. It was a lovely retreat, where I sat alone reading for the first time <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Sand">George Sand's</a> book "A Winter in Mallorca". I read it there, albeit slowly, in the original French as "Un Hiver à Majorque". The name George Sand was the pseudonym of the French novelist Amandine Aurore Lucile Dupin who spent a miserable and cold winter of 1838 - 1839 with Frédéric Chopin in the Carthusian monastery in Valldemossa.<br /><br />That was the first time I had heard that it could be very chilly in Mallorca in winter time. I had brought no coat with me from Canada, thinking Spain was the land of sunshine, every day of the year!<br /><br />Here I am by the gate, wearing again my straw basket, my one blouse and skirt.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/114233852.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/114233852.jpg" border="0" alt="sharon at gate" /></a> Why is it that as we get older we start to carry more baggage when we travel? At least I do. As a young woman I was content to move to a strange land with one small suitcase, one blouse, two homemade dresses, almost no money and a head full of dreams. Perhaps it's having the dreams and expectations of a wonderful life ahead that makes carrying an extra pair of shoes or warm sweater seem unnecessary.<br /><br />Continue on to Chapter 30 <a href="http://canarybirdtenerife.blogspot.com/2009/08/dina-moore-bowden.html">Dina Moore Bowden</a><br />Go back to Chapter 28 <a href="http://canarybirdtenerife.blogspot.com/2009/06/spindrift.html">Spindrift</a>Canarybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15597325686945512447noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371465381443639394.post-83141235280516791072009-06-14T15:28:00.015+01:002009-06-24T23:34:22.289+01:00SpindriftChapter 28<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/113750641.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 500px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/113750641.jpg" border="0" alt="seahorse" /></a>(Click to enlarge photos)<br /><br />Imagine the story of a musical California socialite who falls in love with her voice professor, who marries him, gives birth to a son and eventually settles with her family in 1932 on a beautiful Mediterranean island, where they build a house on a rocky promontory overlooking a small bay, naming it Spindrift. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/113750646.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/113750646.jpg" border="0" alt=" view towards finca" /></a>Foto credit to <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g580309-d535199-r30940843-Viva_Costa_Portals-Portals_Nous_Majorca_Balearic_Islands.html">Trip Advisor</a> Dizzyo6<br />The Spindrift promontory in background<br /><br />This is the true story of a very special lady, Dina Moore Bowden, who became a legend both in her native California and on the island of Mallorca.<br />But for the moment, I will only outline the setting for this family tale, with which I was privileged to have a fleeting encounter during my years in Mallorca.<br /><br />Dina Moore Bowden was the mother of George Moore Bowden, the Mr. G. mentioned in my memoir. I will tell more of her history later, but for now I want to describe my brief but memorable visits to Spindrift.<br /><br />The <span style="font-style:italic;">finca</span> or estate was built beside what was then a sleepy little beach cove called Portals Nous, at only a few kilometers from Palma, the capital city. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/113750645.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 200px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/113750645.jpg" border="0" alt="beach portals " /></a>Foto credit to <a href=" http://www.mallorcafact.com/links/portals_bendinat/aquamarin_photo.htm">Mallorca Fact</a><br />Small cove beach at Portals Nous<br /><br />Dina had chosen the image of a seahorse to represent Spindrift, to be repeated in ironwork, in decor and on the letterhead of her stationery. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/113750642.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 375px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/113750642.jpg" border="0" alt="Antoni Mir's photo" /></a>Photo above from Antoni Mir's book 'Els Tres Bowden'<br /><br />The land was surrounded by rock walls and at one end was the high cliff which overlooked the sea. There was a manhole built into the ground which, when raised, uncovered a secret iron ladder leading down to a small cave-like hole in the cliff wall from where one could swim. Another small ladder went into the water so one could climb down into the sea.<br /><br />Following are my original black & white photos taken in 1968.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/97768207.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/97768207.jpg" border="0" alt="the point" /></a><br />At the top of the promontory was a stone covered patio with an old millstone mounted as a table, with folding green-painted wooden chairs as well as concrete benches around the edges. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/113709731.jpg "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/113709731.jpg" border="0" alt="the point" /></a><br />Small pine trees gave shade overhead while dry desert yuccas and succulents edged the pathways. The scent of warm pine needles was everywhere.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/113709734.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/113709734.jpg" border="0" alt="chair" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/113709739.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/113709739.jpg" border="0" alt="stone bench" /></a><br />On one side of the patio was a wrought iron gate leading to the rough ground outside the edge of the estate. The seahorse image was at the centre.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/113750644.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 309px; height: 375px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/113750644.jpg" border="0" alt="zoom of gate" /></a> My photo of gate from 1968<br /><br /> Once Mr. G., his daughter Helen and I were having a small picnic, consisting of sandwiches we had brought from the apartment while seated around the round table. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/113709736.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/113709736.jpg" border="0" alt="thatched pole" /></a> <br />When Dina walked up to see how we were doing, she looked with some disapproval at our meager meal, saying that it wasn't really sufficient and that we should have something better than that. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/113709738.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/113709738.jpg" border="0" alt="stairs in garden" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/113709740.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/113709740.jpg" border="0" alt="garden" /></a><br />I imagine that since I had recently arrived from Canada, where a picnic consisted of sandwiches, that I couldn't think of anything else to bring. However some time later, a basket arrived filled with hot and cold goodies prepared by Dina's Mallorquin cook, Catalina. I learned then that the midday meal, no matter where it was taken, should be a substantial one!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/113752493.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/113752493.jpg" border="0" alt="Antoni Mir's book" /></a><br />I was recently given a copy of a book written in Mallorquin by Antoni Mir I Marquès entitled 'Els Tres Bowden' (The Three Bowdens) in which he tells the story of Mr. George Charles Bowden (the father), his wife Dina Moore and their son George Moore Bowden. Although I have not a full domination of the Mallorquin language, (similar to Catalàn), I have managed to read and understand nearly all and have found background material which fills out my knowledge of the family. It is a most interesting book and I hope one day that Antoni will also publish it in English and Castellano.<br /><br />Here is <a href="http://laguitarrabalear.blogspot.com">Antoni Mir's website.</a> "La Guitarra Balear", written in Spanish.<br /><br />I will be continuing in following entries with this story of my contacts with the Bowden family in Mallorca.<br /><br />Continue on to Chapter 29 <a href="http://canarybirdtenerife.blogspot.com/2009/06/house-at-spindrift.html">The House at Spindrift</a><br /><br />Go back to Chapter 27 <a href="http://canarybirdtenerife.blogspot.com/2009/06/spanish-omelette.html">Spanish Omelette</a>Canarybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15597325686945512447noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371465381443639394.post-3833011214947398122009-06-09T23:44:00.012+01:002009-06-15T00:02:25.812+01:00Spanish OmeletteChapter 27<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/559458917_KH6Dw-X3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 307px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/559458917_KH6Dw-X3.jpg" border="0" alt="Spanish Omelette" /></a>(Click to enlarge)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">La Tortilla Española</span><br /><br />Although this is not a recipe blog I do like to occasionally show how to prepare the dishes which I learned to love after arriving in Spain. I was introduced to several by the Bowden family's Mallorquin cook, Catalina, and by Helen who showed me how she cooked Spanish style in her tiny kitchen. <br />Many times when we went on outings in the Citröen, whirring and jouncing across back country roads, we had a tortilla packed somewhere in a picnic basket, along with some <span style="font-style:italic;">nisperos</span> (loquats), sobrasada, <a href="http://books.google.es/books?id=Gd9agp33HKIC&pg=PA74&lpg=PA74&dq=Inca+biscuits&source=bl&ots=OtA9W98YYu&sig=lY7NzzFfCdqDuZMKlMa4DFt2qKo&hl=en&ei=SewuSt2EBcrRjAfyl_iGCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1#PPA74,M1">Inca biscuits</a> and a bottle of wine.<br /><br />The Spanish potato, egg and onion omelette is such a popular addition to a summer meal, or as a picnic item, since it holds up well being transported in warm weather. It's also common as a tapa, being served with a slice or two of crusty baguette bread and a small glass of vino.<br /><br />Here's how I make it:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Spanish Omelette</span><br /><br />Ingredients for 4 servings:<br />3 medium potatoes<br />3 large eggs<br />1 onion<br />salt 1/2 teasp & pepper to taste<br />olive oil<br />Italian parsley, chopped (optional)<br /><br />I use a 7-inch non-stick pan as it's easy to fill, making a nice high and rounded tortilla which is easy to flip over. <br /><br />1. Slice potatoes lengthwise once, then slice both pieces thinly into half moons. Chop onions into 1/4 rings.<br /><br />2. Coat the bottom of the pan with oil and when hot add potatoes. Keep turning so they do not burn or go brown.<br /> When golden, remove from pan and set aside in large bowl.<br /><br />NOTE: Some folks prefer to gently boil or steam the potatoes for 5 - 10 minutes rather than fry them. I've seen it done both ways and I also like to do this.<br /><br />3. Put chopped onion in pan, if necessary add a little more oil and sauté until soft, without being dark brown. Remove from pan and add to potatoes in bowl.<br /><br />4. Beat the eggs in a small bowl, add salt & pepper and chopped parsley, and pour over potato & onion mixture in bowl. Turn gently to coat all.<br /><br />5. Add 2 TBS oil to pan and when hot, pour in the egg, potato and onion mixture. Run the edge of a sharp knife or spatula around the rim of the pan while the egg is <br />setting to loosen the edges. I also poke it several times in the middle to let some of the runny egg seep down to the pan. Don't let it get too dark or burn.<br /> <br />6. When the edges are set and the middle is still half runny hold a plate over the top and flip pan and all over on to the plate and gently slide it back into the pan. <br /> Don't overcook as the centre should still be juicy.<br /><br />7. Let cook a minute or two more on that side, then slide it out onto a plate.<br /><br />8. Cut into wedges as a luncheon dish, or into small squares with toothpicks to be served on a buffet or as a tapa. Or keep it whole to take on a picnic.<br /><br />The edges should be fat and firmly rounded. If you've never tried making one before, start with a small non-stick pan and when you're an expert move up to a larger pan. A small 7 inch pan will make a nice luncheon omelette for two.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/559458894_inbx4-X3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/559458894_inbx4-M.jpg" border="0" alt="whole omelette" /></a><br />Once you've made a tortilla and have mastered the knack of flipping it over, I'm sure you will find it a welcome addition to your picnics, luncheons or tapas menus.<br />I hope you like it!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/561128500_MqmPt-L.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/561128500_MqmPt-L.jpg" border="0" alt="tortilla for one" /></a>Tortilla for One<br /><br />Continue on to Chapter 28 <a href="http://canarybirdtenerife.blogspot.com/2009/06/spindrift.html">Spindrift</a><br />Go back to Chapter 26 <a href="http://canarybirdtenerife.blogspot.com/2009/05/driving-island.html">Driving the Island</a>Canarybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15597325686945512447noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371465381443639394.post-26017155909013876782009-05-27T14:18:00.012+01:002013-08-30T13:43:42.380+01:00Driving the IslandChapter 26<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/Biography/Canarybirds-Nest-Blog/Mallorca-1968/1133677524_XmtdF-M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="419" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/Biography/Canarybirds-Nest-Blog/Mallorca-1968/1133677524_XmtdF-M.jpg" width="600" /></a></div>
<br />
Driving around Mallorca with Mr. G and Helen was a great treat on weekends when we would climb into the Citroën deux chevaux and join the other <span style="font-style: italic;">domingueros</span> ....Sunday drivers...for excursions around the island. There were so many wonderful places to discover and so many little villages with restaurants that served delicious Mallorcan country cuisine. Other times we would pack a picnic lunch of tortilla, sobrasada, baguettes, cheese, olives and wine.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/152089598/large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="492" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/152089598/large.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Mallorcan Sobrasada Sausage<br />
Photo courtesy of <a href="http://www.illesbalearsqualitat.cat/ibqfront/main?lang=uk">gastrotourspain</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/113038065.jpghttp://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/113038065.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="farmhouse from road" border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/113038065.jpghttp://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/113038065.jpg" style="display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>(click photos to enlarge)<br />
<br />
I had a little German Voigtländer 35mm camera at the time and as I couldn't afford colour film (thank heavens, I say now) I limited myself then to black and white photography, which now has a nostalgic appeal. One of the villages we visited was Bunyola, situated at about 14 kms from Palma, in the Sierra Tramuntana mountains. The name of the town used to be spelled in Castellano as Buñola (as on my photos) but it is written nowadays the Mallorquin way as Bunyola.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/113038063.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="panorama bunyola" border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/113038063.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>Here are some photos I took as we walked through Bunyola in 1968.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/113038049.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="doorway" border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/113038049.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/113038055.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="Bunyola woman & child" border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/113038055.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/113038061.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="bunyola 3" border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/113038061.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/113038066.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="Bunyola 4" border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/113038066.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a> Sometimes we would go to a beach where we would pass by a farmyard. Here George Bowden greets a friendly burro.<br />
<a href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/113038052.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="G.Bowden & burro" border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/113038052.jpg " style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a> Oh where did he go?<br />
<a href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/113038060.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="burro" border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/113038060.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a>Here's a view of a Mallorcan vineyard.<br />
Image courtesy of Mallorca Wine Express:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/152090523.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/152090523.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<a href="http://www.illesbalearsqualitat.cat/ibqfront/galeria?idGalsub=5&idGalcat=1&lang=uk#imagen"><br /></a><br />
<br />
Here I am standing in the <a href="http://www.jardinesdealfabia.com/english/alfabia-the-history.htm">Gardens of Alfabia</a> on another outing:<br />
<a href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/97768180.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="Sharon in Alfabia" border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/97768180.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a> I bought that poncho when I arrived and wore it everywhere. I didn't bring an overcoat as I thought it was never chilly in Spain!<br />
<br />
Continue on to Chapter 27 <a href="http://canarybirdtenerife.blogspot.com/2009/06/spanish-omelette.html">Spanish Omelette</a><br />
<br />
Go back to Chapter 25......<a href="http://canarybirdtenerife.blogspot.com/2009/05/sopas-mallorquinas.html">Sopas Mallorquinas</a>Canarybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15597325686945512447noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371465381443639394.post-55646444555160224052009-05-20T00:52:00.012+01:002009-11-06T09:52:59.764+00:00Sopas MallorquinasChapter 25<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/540886265_GeD9z-X2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 600px; height: 450px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/540886265_GeD9z-X2.jpg" border="0" alt="sopas mallorquinas" /></a> (click to enlarge)<br /><br />Sopas Mallorquinas - Vegetable and bread stew from Mallorca<br /><br />This is a much loved hearty meatless peasant dish from the Balearic island of Mallorca. Although called 'sopas' or soup, it is actually a stew-like combination of available winter vegetables such as chard, cabbage and cauliflower cooked in water, oil, garlic, paprika and salt, which is then poured over thinly-shaven slices of dry salt-free country bread - called <span style="font-style:italic;">sopas</span> - which are a day or two old. These thin bread slices are available in nearly every corner '<span style="font-style:italic;">colmado</span>' - as the small neighbourhood grocery stores are called. Those who have grown up with sopas Mallorquinas on the table will probably look forward to having it many times more. You can prepare this dish and have it ready in less than an hour.<br /><br />Ingredients for 4 persons:<br /><br />1/2 lb (200 grams) of thinly shaven slices of country bread<br /> A dense country-style bread is needed for this and it should be stale, dry and sliced paper thin.<br /><br />approx. 8 young leaves & stems of <a href="http://www.worldcommunitycookbook.org/season/guide/sw_chard.html">Swiss chard</a> roughly chopped<br />small cabbage - roughly chopped<br />1 onion cut in julienne<br />handful of <a href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/49946042.jpg">flatleaf Italian parsley</a> roughly chopped<br />cauliflower - a few florets broken in pieces<br />1 ripe tomato, peeled and diced <br />2 teasp sweet paprika powder<br />4 TBS olive oil<br />2 green peppers - cut in large dice<br />2 to 3 cups water <br />optional: chicken stock cube <br />salt<br />fresh ground black pepper<br />4 cloves of garlic, peeled and crushed<br /><br />1) Put the oil in a shallow flame-proof earthenware or ceramic casserole. When oil is hot, add the onion, green pepper and garlic. Sauté without browning.<br /><br />2) Add the tomato and the large diced vegetables. Sweat the vegetables and blend in the paprika powder. Season with salt & fresh ground pepper.<br /><br />3) Add the water and let simmer gently for about 15 - 20 minutes, then taste to check seasoning. (Note: After pouring in the water I added a Knorr or Spanish Avecrem chicken stock cube, broken up and scattered over top.)<br /><br />4) Once vegetables are tender, turn off stove, remove them from the pot with a slotted spoon and transfer them to a warm bowl, leaving the broth in the casserole dish. There should be about an inch of broth.<br /><br />5) Arrange the thin shaven slices of dry bread over the bottom of the casserole dish so the broth is totally absorbed, and put the vegetables back in the casserole on top of the bread. Let rest for at least 15 minutes before serving at the table.<br /><br />6) Serve at the table in the same earthenware casserole dish.<br /><br />NOTES: The bread used in this recipe is typical to Mallorca and is a simple bread made of unbleached partially whole wheat flour, water and yeast. It is therefore dense and able to absorb the broth without becoming mushy.<br /><br />There are many variations of 'sopas mallorquinas' as the ingredients depend on what is available in the garden at the time. However those listed above are the main ones used and will give the true flavour of this dish.<br /><br />Continue on to Chapter 26......<a href="http://canarybirdtenerife.blogspot.com/2009/05/driving-island.html">Driving the Island</a><br /><br />Go back to Chapter 24......<a href="http://canarybirdtenerife.blogspot.com/2009/05/cayetano-gypsy.html">Cayetano, The Gypsy</a>Canarybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15597325686945512447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371465381443639394.post-78706041781702867922009-05-12T12:34:00.011+01:002009-05-23T02:48:10.741+01:00Cayetano, The GypsyChapter 24<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/110569867.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 252px; height: 400px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/110569867.jpg" border="0" alt="gypsy dance" /></a>Image adapted from:<a href="http://www.deflamenco.com/">DeFlamenco.com</a><br />(Click to enlarge photos)<br /><br />Cayetano was a flamenco guitar player ....de raza gitana....of gypsy race...who was a good friend of Mr. George Bowden and his family.<br />Cayetano performed some evenings at The Guitar Centre in Palma and although he wasn't the best of flamenco guitarists, he could be counted on to arrive and perform on time. Tall, slim and with collar-length black hair, he had the strong facial features of his race. With his black eyes and swarthy skin his appearance attracted admiring glances, and when he appeared in his black suit with white shirt open at the neck, his hair slicked down with brilliantine, he looked all the part of a flamenco guitar player....de raza gitana. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/107534727.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/107534727.jpg" border="0" alt="alhambra-Palma" /></a> He sold bolts of cloth in the market and was married with young children. He was quite poor and often didn't manage to have enough to eat. I remember one time when Cayetano and José Cobos, another flamenco guitarist, were up at the apartment with Mr. G. and Helen after a performance, Cayetano mentioned that he hadn't eaten in two days. Without a hesitation, Helen went to the kitchen and in no time prepared him a meal of hamburger patties, peas and chips. He was very hungry and ate quickly. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/505237104_9skxn-M-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 450px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/505237104_9skxn-M-1.jpg" border="0" alt="G.Bowden" /></a>George Bowden with one of his guitars<br /><br />While I was teaching guitar at the Guitar Centre I was for a time also trying out a flamenco guitar<br />loaned to me by Mr. George Bowden, from his factory in the Pueblo Español. Flamenco models have a lighter construction and thinner body in order to give the brilliant sound needed for flamenco playing, as opposed to the deeper, more mellow sound of the classical guitar.<br /> Mr. G. would sometimes take one of his flamenco guitars to Cayetano and ask him to try it out for sound.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/505237700_N6vHf-M-1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/505237700_N6vHf-M-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Guitar centre" /></a>At the Palma Guitar Centre Studio<br /><br />I never really learned how to play flamenco properly and I believe the rhythms and melodies are instilled as a heritage from early childhood. But I had been practising a few simple versions of Soleares and Bulerias shown me by Bill Lewis when I lived in Vancouver. The music had been arranged by the maestro Bartolomé Calatayud, the beloved Mallorquin guitarist, composer and teacher.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/112435358.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250x; height: 400px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/112435358.jpg" border="0" alt="music book" /></a>I was very much attracted to the sounds and rhythms of flamenco and when I met Cayetano we agreed that he would give me a few lessons. He came to the makeshift music studio in the guitar centre that I had been using, where an internal door led to the small one room home of Jeremy, the scuba diving instructor. <br /><br /> As I mentioned earlier, Jeremy would sometimes appear in the middle of a lesson with his flippers, tanks and diving gear to disappear into his cubbyhole residence. I enjoyed learning from Cayetano although at that point in time I could barely speak Spanish. I communicated with my own Spanish pupils by hand gestures and the few words I had written down which covered the parts of the guitar and basic instructions.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/505237328_QLjwr-M-1.jpg "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/505237328_QLjwr-M-1.jpg " border="0" alt="guitar label" /></a>So I was very pleased when, one day after I had taken a few lessons from Cayetano he got up from his chair and started to dance to my playing. Oh yes that was thrilling, although I was hardly able to keep up with him, he paid me the compliment of affecting that with my attempts at playing Bulerias I could stir his gypsy temperament into dancing. <br />Dear Cayetano, I hope life has been good to you since then.<br /><br />Here is an amazing video of a little gypsy girl dancing Bulerías to the sound of many olés and with all the spirit of a grown woman.<br /><br /><object width="400" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/SHIDh1GP1tE&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/SHIDh1GP1tE&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="350"></embed></object><br /><br />And here is another video of Bulerías danced in an authentic setting:<br /><br /><object width="400" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/IyT6An7Gu_I&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/IyT6An7Gu_I&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="350"></embed></object><br /><br />Continue on to Chapter 25......<a href="http://canarybirdtenerife.blogspot.com/2009/05/sopas-mallorquinas.html">Sopas Mallorquinas</a><br /><br />Go back to Chapter 23......<a href="http://canarybirdtenerife.blogspot.com/2009/04/night-in-tagomago.html">A Night in Tagomago</a>Canarybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15597325686945512447noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371465381443639394.post-49050034687139629392009-04-29T15:36:00.011+01:002009-05-23T02:45:36.445+01:00A Night in TagomagoChapter 23<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/524147480_VJswa-L.jpg%20"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 275px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/524147480_VJswa-L.jpg" alt="club scene" border="0" /></a> This is a photo collage. (click photos to enlarge)<br /><br />Loli and I were still working as extras in the movie being made in Palma de Mallorca.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/524147475_8HRRT-L.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 331px; height: 455px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/524147475_8HRRT-L.jpg" alt="movie camera" border="0" /></a>One evening we were taken to a popular nightclub called Tagomago, which was run by Los Valldemosa, a musical group at the time consisting of three young Mallorquin men, Rafael, Bernat, Tomeu and a pretty blonde American girl, Genia.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/524147485_y4sHi-L.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/524147485_y4sHi-L.jpg" alt="Genia" border="0" /></a>The men were from the village of <a href="http://www.virtourist.com/europe/mallorca/25.htm">Valldemosa</a>, a lovely place in the mountains where Chopin and his mistress, George Sand (her pen name) spent a rather chilly winter in the monastery, <span style="font-style: italic;">la cartuja,</span> years ago. The group was popular in the Balearic Isles, had travelled and performed worldwide and had made several records for the Belter Discos company. They did a good rendition of "The Banks of The Ohio" as well as everyone's favourite, played over and over again in parties and barbecues for tourists "Na Catalina de Plaça", in which the audience joined in for the chorus of Cua - Cua- Cua.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/524147516_WCf3t-L.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/524147516_WCf3t-L.jpg" alt="record cover" border="0" /></a> Along with Los Valldemosa, was Salomé, the singer with whom we had been performing in previous days in both the bullring and the Pueblo Español. She would also be singing for us in Tagomago.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/524147509_TXU8k-L.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 399px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/524147509_TXU8k-L.jpg" border="0" alt="Salome" /></a>Loli had informed me that for this shoot we would have to wear something suitable for a nightclub outing. At that time, nightclubs were very popular, since there was yet no colour television to keep people sitting at home. It was customary to go out to the open bars and patio cafes, to drink coffee and liqueurs while watching people go by. Otherwise one went to a dance hall or on special occasions, to a nightclub which at that time were were quite civilized. Guests sat at tables, usually with a drink, while watching the show and applauding the artists. During intermission, they danced to recorded music in a small centre dance floor.<br /><br />So after I borrowed a dress to wear, we arrived at Tagomago and were ushered to our seats near the stage and given a soft drink, made to look like a cocktail with a pretty straw and cherry.<br /> There were few choices in soft drinks in those years.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/524147495_hwAkh-L.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 350px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/524147495_hwAkh-L.jpg" border="0" alt="Tri-Naranjus" /></a>There was Coca-Cola and Tri-Naranjus and that was about all. One didn't ask for a 'Coke' because that was an expression unknown over here. One requested it by the full name...'Coca-Cola' and it came in a very small bottle. The other drink available was Tri-Naranjus, which was a watery, non-carbonated orange drink, which after I'd tried it for a few months, became quite palatable to my taste. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/524147497_ZqsmX-L.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 266px; height: 261px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/524147497_ZqsmX-L.jpg" border="0" alt="tri-na" /></a> Those who lived there at the time will remember how a large bottle of Tri-Na was always included in our straw baskets for a trip to the beach.<br /><br />Anyway, we had a good evening at Tagomago, sipping orange, applauding, smiling and listening to Salomé and Los Valldemosa while the cameras rolled.<br /><br />Here is a retro recording of Los Valldemosa performing in Tagomago. Unfortunately the sound is not too good, so you have to use your imagination to hear it Hi-Fi (smile).<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/l3-YdRDHrtw&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/l3-YdRDHrtw&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Continue on to Chapter 24......<a href="http://canarybirdtenerife.blogspot.com/2009/05/cayetano-gypsy.html">Cayetano, The Gypsy</a><br /><br />Go back to Chapter 22......<a href="http://canarybirdtenerife.blogspot.com/2009/04/making-movie.html">Making The Movie</a>Canarybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15597325686945512447noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371465381443639394.post-74741033922982673912009-04-21T15:36:00.011+01:002009-05-23T02:42:49.729+01:00Making The MovieChapter 22<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/517652348_7ADoX-L.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/517652348_7ADoX-L.jpg" border="0" alt="movie camera man" /></a> (click to enlarge photos)<br /><br />My guitar playing friend Loli had invited me to sign up with her as an extra in a movie being made by a German film company in Palma . I never did see that picture and still have no idea what it was called, but it seemed to be a promotional film for Mallorca, Los Valldemosa, a local singing group from the village of Valldemosa and Salomé, another popular singer who would represent Spain the following year in the Eurovision song contest. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/517652311_mHo7u-L.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/517652311_mHo7u-L.jpg" border="0" alt="Salomé" /></a>This was quite an entertaining venture, since at that time there was no internet, no video cameras or colour television. The apartment I stayed in with friends didn't have even a black and white television but that was quite normal. So to see even promotional movies, one went to the cinema, watched the NO-DO black and white news followed by a movie short and then a main feature movie. That's the way things were in Palma de Mallorca in 1968. And so we were going to be working with this crew and I was looking forward to it.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/517652341_mMmic-L.jpg "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 390px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/517652341_mMmic-L.jpg" border="0" alt="Los Valldemosa" /></a>Our first day we were taken in buses to the bullring, where Salomé would be standing down in the centre (no bulls were there, luckily) with a few red carnations at her feet. We were arranged in the stands and given a white square of cloth which we were to wave at her. In a bullfight, the waving of white handkerchiefs by the spectators indicates that the matador has pleased the crowd. So we waved our hankies at Salomé and it was filmed.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/517652320_S8L9c-L.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/517652320_S8L9c-L.jpg" border="0" alt="bullring" /></a><br />Another scene for the movie was taken at the entry gates of the Pueblo Español, the walled enclosure where the guitar factory was located among the replicas of Spanish buildings. We were all given balloons with long strings and were told to stand on either side of the door just outside the gates. Salomé would then come running out the door with arms outstretched, grabbing some of the balloon strings from our hands.<br /><br />So we did what we were told to do. She did what she was told to do and it was filmed. At the end of each day we lined up at a table and were paid our daily salary. I was thrilled to be earning money as a movie extra, even though it wasn't very much.<br />That was quite an entertaining day!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/517652350_g2EYL-L.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 254px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/517652350_g2EYL-L.jpg" border="0" alt="balloons in the Pueblo Español" /></a><br /><br />Continue on to Chapter 23......<a href="http://canarybirdtenerife.blogspot.com/2009/04/night-in-tagomago.html">A Night in Tagomago</a><br /><br />Go back to Chapter 21......<a href="http://canarybirdtenerife.blogspot.com/2009/04/loli.html">Loli</a>Canarybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15597325686945512447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371465381443639394.post-54995564635295903842009-04-06T13:46:00.021+01:002009-05-23T02:40:01.162+01:00LoliChapter 21<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/506563728_k4WBE-M.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 366px; height: 450px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/506563728_k4WBE-M.jpg" border="0" alt="La Joueuse de Luth" /></a> "La Joueuse de Luth" - Andrea Solari 16thC<br /><br />One day Mr. G. introduced me to Loli, a German lady residing in Palma who played classical guitar. She lived in a rooftop apartment in the Ramblas, accessible by the use of a creaky iron cage elevator which shuddered as it slowly ascended to her floor. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/506593622_gnTQA-L.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 329px; height: 450px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/506593622_gnTQA-L.jpg" border="0" alt="Gaudi elevator" /></a>(click to enlarge photos)<br /><br />A sign on the wall informed all that the elevator could be used only for going upwards. Anyone wishing to return to the ground floor was obliged to use the stairs.<br /><br />She had a spacious roof terrace which afforded a magnificent view over the tiled rooftops of Palma. Potted geraniums and bougainvillae bordered the walls and a shaded recliner chair gave evidence that this was her private world where she dozed, read and listened to the sounds of the city.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/506859812_gnDhw-L.jpg "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 247px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/506859812_gnDhw-L.jpg " border="0" alt="Loli's roof" /></a>A child's plastic wading pool filled with water lay on the terrace in the sun and when I asked if she had grandchildren, she answered no...the pool was for her alone, when she felt she needed a splash to cool off from the Mediterranean sun.<br /><br />Loli and I practised duets together on our guitars in her apartment.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/506564430_MczSS-M.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 311px; height: 450px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/506564430_MczSS-M.jpg" border="0" alt="concert de femmes" /></a>"Concert de Femmes" - Anon Netherlands 16thC<br /><br />At times we would play together with <br /><a href="http://www.classicalguitar.nl/calatayud_bartolom%C3%A9.aspx">Bartolomé Calatayud,</a> a native Mallorquin classical guitarist, composer and teacher. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/506611800_Ztjzj-L.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 248px; height: 400px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/506611800_Ztjzj-L.jpg" border="0" alt="calatayud" /></a>We met several times in his studio to play and practise some of his compositions. I will return later to elaborate more on this maestro, much loved by the people of Mallorca.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/506566461_kyaAS-L.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 336px; height: 450px;" src="http://canarybird.smugmug.com/photos/506566461_kyaAS-L.jpg" border="0" alt="stairs in Palma" /></a>Stairs in central Palma<br /><br />One day Loli informed me that a German movie company was going to do some filming in Palma and needed extras for the shoots. She had already registered and asked if I would like to join her in what could be not only a novel experience, but also a chance to earn a little extra money. I eagerly accepted the offer.<br /><br />Continue on to Chapter 22......<a href="http://canarybirdtenerife.blogspot.com/2009/04/making-movie.html">Making The Movie</a><br /><br />Go back to Chapter 20......<a href="http://canarybirdtenerife.blogspot.com/2009/03/mallorcan-countryside.html">Mallorcan Countryside</a>Canarybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15597325686945512447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371465381443639394.post-36212471950978703772009-03-31T14:30:00.006+01:002013-08-30T13:09:08.688+01:00Mallorcan CountrysideChapter 20<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/110806762.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="sheep & lamp" border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/110806762.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>(Click photos to enlarge)<br />
<br />
Going for a drive in the country was a favourite pastime for many in those days when country roads were quiet, save for the occasional flock of sheep, horse and cart or neighbours passing on their bicycles.<br />
<br />
Mr. G. enjoyed a Sunday drive out into the Mallorcan countryside, where once out of Palma city one could notice the scents of olive wood smoke, freshly turned soil and wild thyme growing on hillsides.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/110806795.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="shapherd" border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/110806795.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 334px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>We would go with Helen in the Citroen deux cheveaux to join the <span style="font-style: italic;">domingueros</span> or Sunday drivers as they exited the city to take in the warm Mallorcan sunshine by perching on a hillside under a pine tree, or by spending the day on a beach with a picnic basket. Some families would scout the woods for wild asparagus after a spring rain. Others could be seen unloading a carload of equipment for not just a simple picnic, but a full cooked meal in the woods, with camp stove or bonfire, tables, chairs and cooking pots brought for boiling the Sunday dinner al fresco. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/110806729.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="shepherd leaving" border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/110806729.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 400px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 300px;" /></a> Mallorca was an island full of stones. Stone walls, stone castles, stone fences and <span style="font-style: italic;">fincas</span>, or country estates were constructed from native stone.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/110806842.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="women on bikes" border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/110806842.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<a href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/110808443.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="countryside g" border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/110808443.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a>I had been accustomed to the rainforest greenery of Vancouver Island and so this Mediterranean island was a sharp environmental change. Pine trees lined mountain ridges, their rounded crowns like soft green puffs painted on a gentle landscape.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/152089474.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/152089474.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Photo of Deià by Adrian Pingstone<br />
<br />
<br />
I felt sorry for the poor dogs tied to the back of horse-drawn carts who were expected to keep walking even when tired. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/110806781.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="cart and dog" border="0" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/110806781.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 300px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" /></a><br />
<br />
Continue on to Chapter 21......<a href="http://canarybirdtenerife.blogspot.com/2009/04/loli.html">Loli</a><br />
<br />
Go back to Chapter 19......<a href="http://canarybirdtenerife.blogspot.com/2009/03/eurovision-1968.html">Eurovision 1968</a>Canarybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15597325686945512447noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371465381443639394.post-46202489348574949412009-03-24T21:42:00.019+00:002010-12-21T20:10:41.281+00:00Eurovision 1968Chapter 19<br />
<br />
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/110584992.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 298px; height: 372px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/110584992.jpg" border="0" alt="Massiel" /></a> (Click photos to enlarge)<br />
<br />
My arrival in Palma (Chapter 1) was a turning point for me. So now I'll leave Vancouver Flashback and continue with Memories of Mallorca where I left off in Chapter 12.<br />
<br />
While walking around any street in Palma during the summer of 1968, one could hear music emanating from cafes and bars, and it seemed to be always the same song. Not the strains of a flamenco 'cante jondo', or a stirring pasodoble , but rather it was the voice of Massiel who had recently won the Eurovision song contest for Spain with the tune La La La. Having never heard of the Eurovision song contest I was surprised at how ubiquitous this one piece of music could be, but its popularity was probably due to Spanish pride that their candidate had won over England's Cliff Richard with his song Congratulations. In later years it was rumoured there had been some questionable negotiations in the voting process.<br />
<br />
<object width="400" height="325"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/J4g5QYJOFzQ?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/J4g5QYJOFzQ?fs=1&hl=en_US&rel=0&color1=0x402061&color2=0x9461ca" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="325"></embed></object> <br />
<br />
I was more interested in continuing with my guitar, teaching and learning to speak Spanish. Somehow I managed to communicate with my Spanish music students but I needed to increase my vocabulary. Helen was a great help as she had been back and forth to Mallorca from England and Canada so she spoke the language well and did her best to teach me. She suggested that I practise learning to roll the double rr by saying the word 'arriba' (up) over and over again, so I set myself to the task.<br />
I'd heard the expression 'Arriba España' often on the radio at the end of speeches so I practised saying that too.<br />
<br />
It didn't take long for me to start enjoying the life of downtown Palma. The Borne was the social centre of town, a place to meet friends and stroll under the immense, leafy plane trees. There one could see young couples followed by mama, older sister or aunt acting as chaperone. It was frowned upon for respectable señoritas to be seen walking alone with a young man without the vigilant eye of a close relative watching over them.<br />
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/110569372.jpg "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/110569372.jpg" border="0" alt="The Borne" /></a> Businessmen were seen in hot weather wearing 'guayaberas' the Cuban-style men's dress shirts worn loosely over trousers in place of a suit jacket, often clutching a leather 'carpeta' or thin briefcase under their arm as they walked to and from their offices.<br />
<br />
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/110586239.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300x; height: 400px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/110586239.jpg" border="0" alt="guayabera" /></a>Guayabera photo from cuban market website<br />
<br />
The streets of Palma were beautiful.<br />
It was customary for many ex-pats to pick up a copy of The Mallorca Daily Bulletin at a kiosk and have a coffee and ensaimada on the patio of the <br />
<a href="http://photo.net/photodb/photo?photo_id=7067036&size=lg">Bar Bosch</a> (Link to photo by Francisco Diaz on Photo.Net.) That was one of several places where the waiters were older gentlemen dressed in white shirts and black waistcoats, who wore long white aprons down to their ankles and carried small white towels over one arm as they maneuvered their round trays of coffee through the narrow doorway.<br />
<br />
Bootblacks, 'limpiabotas' were to be found along <br />
The Borne shining the shoes of businessmen as they sat and read their newspapers.<br />
<br />
<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/110588472.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 375x;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/110588472.jpg" border="0" alt="El Limpiabotas" /></a> Ivan Petrovszky "El Limpiabotas"<br />
<br />
Continue on to Chapter 20...... <a href="http://canarybirdtenerife.blogspot.com/2009/03/mallorcan-countryside.html">Mallorcan Countryside</a><br />
<br />
Go back to Chapter 18......<a href="http://canarybirdtenerife.blogspot.com/2009/03/off-to-mallorca.html">Off to Mallorca </a>Canarybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15597325686945512447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371465381443639394.post-61523885426514758242009-03-19T10:34:00.006+00:002009-05-23T02:31:41.609+01:00Off To MallorcaChapter 18<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/110384877.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 398px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/110384877.jpg" border="0" alt="Girl With Guitar" /></a> Girl With Guitar - Richard Emil Miller USA 1926<br />(click photos to enlarge)<br /><br />I needed a life change and yearned to visit Europe for the first time, especially after hearing of Bill Lewis' experiences in Mallorca. So after learning from George Bowden that there was an opening for teaching classical guitar in the guitar centre in Palma de Mallorca, on the Spanish Balearic Islands, I decided to save up the plane fare and leave Vancouver. Bill Lewis had talked about The Pueblo Español and the Bowden guitar factory, “Los Guitarreros de Mallorca”, as well as the life style on that Mediterranean island and I was keen to experience it myself.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/110384673.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 335px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/110384673.jpg" border="0" alt="Spain map" /></a> My daughters would stay for an extended holiday with my parents while I tried out life in a foreign land, calculating whether or not I could survive there, while my husband, by mutual agreement, would be going his separate way. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/110384942.jpg "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 270px; height: 392px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/110384942.jpg " border="0" alt="Pueblo Espanol" /></a> Alhambra replica in Pueblo Español, Mallorca.<br /><br />After moving furniture and packing my music library, selling my beautiful guitar and kissing my children goodbye, I left on an Air Canada flight non-stop to Lisbon and on to Palma de Mallorca. Would this be just a holiday or was I on the threshold of a whole new life?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/110384989.jpg "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 275px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/110384989.jpg" border="0" alt="plaza de la reina" /></a> Plaza de La Reina circa 1970<br /><br />Continue on to Chapter 19.....<a href="http://canarybirdtenerife.blogspot.com/2009/03/eurovision-1968.html">Eurovision 1968</a><br /><br />Go back to Chapter 17......<a href="http://canarybirdtenerife.blogspot.com/2009/03/vancouver-flashback-v.html">Vancouver Flashback V - Bill Lewis</a>Canarybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15597325686945512447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371465381443639394.post-52911000606036789562009-03-08T13:04:00.019+00:002009-05-23T02:28:13.308+01:00Vancouver Flashback VChapter 17<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Bill Lewis</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/110134395.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 348px; height: 400px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/110134395.jpg" border="0" alt="Bill Lewis" /></a> (click to enlarge photos)<br /><br />Bill Lewis was my first guitar teacher and a good friend. I met him when he returned to the Mediterranean Shop after taking master classes with Andres Segovia in California in 1964. Bill was then working as a guitar teacher in the shop owned by George Bowden. He also did repairs and adjustment to guitars in the workshop located in the back of the store on tenth avenue. As I mentioned back in Chapter 13, I came to the Mediterranean shop quite by accident and decided to take lessons in classical guitar. Bill was to be my teacher.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/109613191.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/109613191.jpg" border="0" alt="shop front" /></a> Renovated first shop exterior (click to enlarge)<br /><br />He was a fairly tall man with an appearance and demeanor that was quite disarming. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/110134132.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 355px; height: 400px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/110134132.jpg" border="0" alt="Bill Lewis" /></a> He spoke in a frank, self assured and friendly manner that gave confidence to beginning students while impressing them with his knowledge.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/110134777.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 284px; height: 400px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/110134777.jpg" border="0" alt="Bill Lewis" /></a> He was kind, helpful and always inspiring, quick to laugh and soft-voiced when serious.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/109613227.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/109613227.jpg" border="0" alt="shop interior" /></a> Renovated first shop interior<br /><br />After I had been taking lessons for some months, George Bowden sent Bill to his Spanish guitar factory, Los Guitarreros de Mallorca, in Palma de Mallorca, where Bill was to learn more about guitar construction from the factory's expert, known as <span style="font-style:italic;">el maestro</span>, José Ortí. Some months later, after Bill had returned to Vancouver, George sent Michael Dunn to Spain to replace him in the factory and to learn construction methods. By this time I was also teaching guitar to beginners and intermediate students.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/109613277.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/109613277.jpg" border="0" alt="shop interior" /></a>Interior<br /><br />Fast forwarding into time, George Bowden returned to the Mallorca factory and left the Mediterranean Shop in the hands of his son. Bill Lewis decided to start up his own shop 'Bill Lewis Music' on Broadway near Dunbar St. (Vancouver). Many of his friends and teachers from the Mediterranean shop, including myself, followed him and took part in setting up his business. I remember helping to paint the walls of the new shop. Bill, in mock seriousness, sent me up a tall ladder to paint part of the ceiling, handing me a large brush and paint can.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/110134259.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 260px; height: 400px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/110134259.jpg" border="0" alt="Bill Lewis" /></a> As I was gullible, I headed up the ladder determined to get to the top until halfway there, when my knees started to shake, I glanced down to see Bill laughing and motioning for me to come back down. He had a sense of humour and knew that I was easy prey for a joke. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/109613315.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/109613315.jpg" border="0" alt="interior" /></a> Later, after I had moved to Spain and was teaching in Palma de Mallorca, I received a letter from Bill with photos of his renovated shop, a new exterior and an interior full of merchandise, as well as pictures of his workshop. By then Bill was a recognized figure in the Vancouver guitar scene.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/110134216.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 289px; height: 400px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/110134216.jpg" border="0" alt="Bill working" /></a> Together with his brother Jack he was building electric guitars that were unique in their construction. Lewis Guitars were played by known performers and were treasured by those lucky enough to own one. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/109613338.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/109613338.jpg" border="0" alt="Bill's workbench" /></a> Bill's workbench<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/109613341.jpg "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/109613341.jpg " border="0" alt="Bill's note 1" /></a>Bill's note re above photo<br /><br />Bill later moved his business to new premises on the corner of Dunbar and Broadway St. My photos here are of the first location, after it was renovated. <br /><br />More history of Bill Lewis and photos of his guitars can be seen on the web at these links:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.gilmourish.com/?page_id=89">Gilmourish.com</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.raincoast.bc.ca/lewisguitar.htm">Raincoast B.C.</a><br /><br />After some time Bill turned over the shop to his brother Jack, and formed Lewis Luthiers' Supply, providing woods and materials for guitar builders. During Bill's time working for George Bowden, he had been responsible for shipping western red cedar logs to the Mallorca factory in Spain for use as guitar tops. So together with his brother, he had paved the way for supplying wood for his own business.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/110134173.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 336px; height: 400px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/110134173.jpg" border="0" alt="Bill Lewis" /></a> Bill put together a cataloque of his materials which included information and tips on guitar building. He was later to sell out Lewis Luthiers' Supplies to Luthiers' Mercantile, a company in California. <br /><br />Bill passed away in 1996 at an early age, leaving wonderful memories in the hearts of people who knew him. Those of us who were a part of the scene at both The Mediterranean Shop and Bill Lewis Music will never forget the warmth and camaraderie we shared.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/109967628.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/109967628.jpg" border="0" alt="workshop" /></a> Main workshop<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/109967633.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 200px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/109967633.jpg" border="0" alt="his note" /></a> Bill's note re above<br /><br />There isn't much to see on the web about Bill Lewis, nor do I find any photos of him, all of which surprises me since he made such impressive contributions to Canadian guitar construction and innovation. I give my heartfelt thanks to Bill's daughter, Lyra Lewis, who was kind enough to send me copies of these beautiful photos of her father. Thanks Lyra, I'm so happy to be able to include them here.<br /><br />And I must further point out the moving comment left here below by Ship, a former student, who was so influenced by the music and ambiance at both the Mediterranean Shop and Bill Lewis' Music. Thanks Ship for such a sincere and lovely postscript to my tribute to Bill Lewis. It's very rare that we hear from former students who come back many years later and say thank you.<br /><br />Continue on to Chapter 18......<a href="http://canarybirdtenerife.blogspot.com/2009/03/off-to-mallorca.html">Off to Mallorca</a><br /><br />Go back to Chapter 16 - <a href="http://canarybirdtenerife.blogspot.com/2009/02/vancouver-flashback-iv.html">Vancouver Flashback IV - Robert C. Jordan & Barry Hall</a>Canarybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15597325686945512447noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371465381443639394.post-37705302717550336992009-02-22T13:22:00.013+00:002009-05-23T02:24:03.657+01:00Vancouver Flashback IVChapter 16<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Robert Chris Jordan</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/109164280.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/109164280.jpg" border="0" alt="Robert C. Jordan" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.beesolutions.com/rjordan/">Robert C. Jordan</a>, or Chris Jordan as we knew him then, came onto the Vancouver classical guitar scene around 1965 and became a familiar face to all those lovers of classical guitar who were around the Mediterranean shop and elsewhere in the city.<br /><br />He had previously played violin with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and was a truly professional musician who had performed widely. He studied guitar with Eduardo Sainz de la Maza in Barcelona and later worked with Julian Bream in Stratford, Ontario. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/109442924.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/109442924.jpg" border="0" alt="etudes" /></a><a href="http://www.classicalguitarmidi.com/subivic/Carcassi_Etude_No9_Op60.mid "><span style="font-weight:bold;">Click to listen to Etude No.9 in MIDI format.</span></a><br />Sequenced by Dmitri Bachovich<br /><br />I was interested in his rather unusual right hand finger technique, learned from Sainz de la Maza and so took some lessons with him for a while. He introduced me to the Matteo Carcassi Intermediate Etudes Op.60 arranged by Karl Scheit, which I found to be very good and later passed on to a couple of my own more advanced students.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/109445166.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 350px; height: 400px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/109445166.jpg" border="0" alt="decamp" /></a><span style="font-weight:bold;">The Guitar Player - Joseph De Camp 1908</span><br /><br />Chris Jordan played often at guitar meetings in my old rented house on west 27th Ave. and was one of the founding members of The Vancouver Classical Guitar Society. I remember going with Chris and Bill Lewis in Chris' Volkswagen beetle driving one evening from Vancouver down to Seattle to see a concert by Julian Bream. I believe we drove back to Vancouver again the same night. We were all very enthusiastic...and younger...in those times.<br /> <a href="http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=U1ARTU0001788 ">Here is more</a> about Robert Chris Jordan.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Barry Hall</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/109443328.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 260px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/109443328.jpg" border="0" alt="Barry Hall" /></a><br />Barry was a popular and talented folk musician who played both guitar and five-string banjo. He was a performer in and around Vancouver who came to teach both guitar and banjo in the Mediterranean shop. As a teenager, he made a record for Folkways Records called The Virtuoso Five-String Banjo.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/109443382.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/109443382.jpg" border="0" alt="5 string banjo" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><a href="http://www.folkways.si.edu/listen2.aspx?type=preview&trackid=5458">Here is a clip</a> of Barry performing Little Maggie.</span><br /><br />Barry later left the Mediterranean shop to teach in Bill Lewis' Music studio.<a href="http://www.thefestival.bc.ca/archive/index.php?perID=917"> Here is a writeup </a> from that time.<br /><br />As far as I know at present, Robert C. Jordan is still teaching classical guitar in Vancouver and Barry Hall is still performing there on the folk music scenario.<br />I have fond memories of both of them from those past times.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/109446383.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/109446383.jpg" border="0" alt="2 guitars" /></a> <span style="font-weight:bold;">Les Deux Guitars - Suzanne Delbays</span><br /><br />Continue on to Chapter 17...... <a href="http://canarybirdtenerife.blogspot.com/2009/03/vancouver-flashback-v.html">Vancouver Flashback V - Bill Lewis</a><br /><br />Go back to Chapter 15......<a href="http://canarybirdtenerife.blogspot.com/2009/02/vancouver-flashback-iii.html">Vancouver Flashback III - Mike Dunn & Ray Nurse</a>Canarybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15597325686945512447noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371465381443639394.post-27050807031849932992009-02-15T01:53:00.013+00:002009-05-23T02:19:46.002+01:00Vancouver Flashback IIIChapter 15<br /><br />Teaching guitar was enjoyable and I looked forward to my evenings at the Mediterranean Shop, as well as those nights when I gave beginner's folk accompaniment at the YMCA in downtown Vancouver. Before leaving for Spain, Bill Lewis had suggested I take classes in advanced theory and harmony from a retired European university music professor friend of his who lived in east Vancouver, so that was added to my agenda. Those hours were good for me, as they nurtured the spaces inside that needed filling. I loved to study so it was rewarding to have a new challenge.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/109183917.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 250px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/109183917.jpg" border="0" alt="varsity grill" /></a><br />On evenings when there was a lull in lessons at the shop, some of us would go a few doors up the street for a quick Chinese dinner at The Varsity Grill, where generous quantities of the best Chinese food in memory could be bought by hungry students at a weekly or monthly rate. It was owned and run by Bing, a friendly oriental man with an incredible memory for names and faces. Together with family members he operated one of the first home delivery services, which I made use of many times.<br /><br />Here are some of the people who were active in and around the Mediterranean Shop or in the guitar circle at that time:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Michael Dunn:</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/109195757.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/109195757.jpg" border="0" alt="Michael Dunn" /></a> Photo by Victor Smith<br /><br />Mike started working on guitar repairs for George Bowden during the time Bill Lewis was in Spain. He played flamenco guitar and was an admirer of the gypsy-jazz style of Django Reinhardt. A familiar face around the shop, Mike was also present at some of the gatherings and guitar socials in the old house on west 27th Ave.<br /><br />After Bill Lewis returned from the guitar factory in Mallorca, Mike went over to Spain for a couple of years to study the methods of guitar construction from the Spanish luthiers Jose Orti and Jose Ferrer in George Bowden's factory. Upon returning to Vancouver he worked together with Ray Nurse to build lutes and with Edward Turner to build harpsichords. <br />More is written about Mike Dunn <a href="http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=U1ARTU0001059">on this link.</a> <br /><br />Mike has been making music in a band, lecturing and building custom art guitars in his Vancouver workshop. He is recognized as one of Canada's top instrument builders and one of the world’s leading luthiers in the Maccaferri and Selmer style. <br /><a href="http://theguitarwall.com/wso/dunn/">Here is another link</a> from Michael with photos of guitars he has made. And <a href="http://www.civilization.ca/cmc/exhibitions/arts/opus/opus240e.shtml">yet another link</a> from the Canadian Museum of Civilization. <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Ray Nurse:</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/109196504.jpg "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 345px; height: 407px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/109196504.jpg " border="0" alt="Ray Nurse" /></a><br />Ray Nurse was another highly talented performer and luthier who was present in the days of The Mediterranean Shop, working with George Bowden and Mike Dunn.<br /><br />The following text from article by The Lute Society of America:<br />He has performed throughout North America, Europe and Asia, and appeared on many broadcasts and recordings. His research has led him to museums and libraries around the world and he is in constant demand as a teacher at workshops. A versatile performing musician, instrument maker and researcher in historical music, Nurse was a founding member of Early Music Vancouver, The New World Consort, the Vancouver Chamber Choir and Pacific Baroque Orchestra.<br /><br />He originally studied voice and musicology at the Department of Music at the University of British Columbia and in 1972 he won the Vancouver Met auditions. During the 1970s he took a break from singing to pursue other interests, studying lute performance and lute-making. Since the 1980s he has concentrated on early music performance and research, with special interest in early singing and opera, and directing The New World Consort (1982-1989), which toured extensively in Europe and North America.<br /> <br />He currently co-directs the Baroque Vocal Programme in the Vancouver Early Music Programme at U.B.C., coaches early music for the U.B.C. Dept of Music, is professionally active as a lutenist, accompanist, and continuo player, and continues to build instruments for selected customers.<br />More about Ray Nurse <a href="http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=U1ARTU0002605 ">on this link.</a><br /><br />Continue on to Chapter 16...... <a href="http://canarybirdtenerife.blogspot.com/2009/02/vancouver-flashback-iv.html">Vancouver Flashback IV - Robert C. Jordan & Barry Hall</a><br /><br />Go back to Chapter 14......<a href="http://canarybirdtenerife.blogspot.com/2009/02/vancouver-flashback-ii.html">Vancouver Flashback II - My Students & Edward R. Turner</a>Canarybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15597325686945512447noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371465381443639394.post-44922067848264420572009-02-07T18:36:00.005+00:002009-05-23T02:14:49.246+01:00Vancouver Flashback - IIChapter 14<br /><br />Those first weeks learning to play went by quickly. Since George Bowden had loaned me one of his new guitar models to try out I practised for hours every day, enjoying the mellow sound of a real Spanish-made instrument. After I'd been studying for three months Bill Lewis asked me if I would come in and start teaching the youngest of the beginner students. It was a great compliment and I was eager to try. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/108962944.jpg "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 385px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/108962944.jpg" border="0" alt="Renoir jeune espagnole" /></a><span style="font-weight:bold;">Jeune Espagnole Avec Une Guitare - Renoir</span><br /><br />At that time folk music was in a peak and many young people wanted to emulate Bob Dylan, Joan Baez or The Beatles and become popular as the one who could play and sing for their friends. Old guitars were being taken down from walls to be handed over to the youngster of the family and both were brought into the guitar shop in the hope that lessons would help their child learn the basics enough to at least play simple tunes, and hopefully go further.<br /><br />Unfortunately many of those basement room wall guitars should have just stayed on the wall as a decoration since they were unplayable, and had warped necks which raised the strings an impossible distance above the fingerboard so that tiny fingers would not be able to press them down. I had to communicate this to the parents in the hope that they could afford to buy a minimum quality student guitar. As is true for most musical instruments, they must have a certain level in order to be playable, and produce a sound decent enough that a student feels encouraged by his efforts.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/108962949.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/108962949.jpg" border="0" alt="renoir - La joueuse" /></a> <span style="font-weight:bold;"> La Joueuse - Renoir</span><br /><br />I started teaching both classical technique and folk accompaniment to my young students and was careful to start them off with correct body and hand positions, making sure they established good habits which didn't have to be undone later when they attempted to play more difficult pieces. It was challenging but I enjoyed teaching immensely and was soon taking on older students and adults.<br /><br />The Mediterranean Shop was a happy place, filled with interesting people coming in to visit or take lessons as well as attracting an increasing number of experienced guitarists who were willing to give lessons or were interested in new instruments. Bill Lewis and George Bowden had a workshop set up in a back room where guitars were repaired and adjusted. I loved the smell of the wood and breathed deeply of that familiar aroma whenever I entered the guitar shop. Then Mr. G.(Bowden) decided to send Bill Lewis to Spain, to his factory in Palma de Mallorca in order to better learn the guitar building techniques used there. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/108962954.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/108962954.jpg" border="0" alt="Matisse la musique" /></a> <span style="font-weight:bold;">La Musique - Henri Matisse</span><br /><br />Meanwhile many of the classical guitarists as well as those who played flamenco or jazz were congregating around the Mediterranean shop and visiting the large old rented house that my husband and I had up in the Dunbar area of Vancouver on west 27th Avenue. We wanted to establish a Classical Guitar Society so we started having meetings there about once a month. The classical guitarists would congregate on the main floor, the flamencos in the attic and the folk players and jazz aficionados were in the basement. Those were fun times and more than once the remains of my Sunday roast ended up as roast beef and pickle sandwiches to feed a hungry group at the end of our meetings. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/108960960.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/108960960.jpg" border="0" alt="Turner Organistrum" /></a><br />The Turner Organistrum - photo from the Canadian Museum of Civilization<br /><br />At that time my husband started a little factory in the basement, producing 5-string banjos. We also had a basement room which we rented out for a period of time to our friend Ted Turner, (Edward R. Turner) who had studied at the École des Beaux Arts de Montreal and in later years became world famous as a graphic artist, lecturer, builder of harpsichords and replicas of early stringed instruments, such as the organistrum. He also produced reproductions of historic aircraft and designed sailboats. (Ted I'm glad to hear you survived my rather inexperienced cooking from those days when you shared our table, and so happy to hear of your success.) <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/108960947.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/108960947.jpg" border="0" alt="Edward R.Turner" /></a><br />Photo from the Canadian Museum of Civilization<br /><br /><a href="http://www.civilization.ca/cmc/exhibitions/arts/opus/opus210e.shtml#Edward%20Turner">Here is a link</a> from the Canadian Museum of Civilization about Edward R. Turner, and <a href="http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=U1ARTU0003500">another link</a> about him from the Canadian Encyclopedia of Music in Canada.<br /><br />There are more interesting people from this group of friends who have gone on to add their talent to Canada's musical heritage. I will write about them in the next pages.<br /><br />And one day, after much writing and rewriting of our constitution and charter, over coffees and sandwiches in that old house on west 27th Avenue, we officially became The Vancouver Classical Guitar Society. <br /><br />Continue on to Chapter 15...... <a href="http://canarybirdtenerife.blogspot.com/2009/02/vancouver-flashback-iii.html">Vancouver Flashback III - Mike Dunn & Ray Nurse</a><br /><br />Go back to Chapter 13......<a href="http://canarybirdtenerife.blogspot.com/2009/01/vancouver-flashback-i.html">Vancouver Flashback I - The Mediterranean Shop</a>Canarybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15597325686945512447noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8371465381443639394.post-40873204435755536412009-01-31T18:26:00.016+00:002009-05-23T02:09:46.434+01:00Vancouver Flashback - IChapter 13<br /><br />Sometimes a small step off the main road can lead to a life change. A detour from one’s customary path can at times be the passageway to another existence. So it was with me one day in Vancouver, when walking along Tenth Avenue in the early 1960s. I saw a store that I hadn't noticed before. 'The Mediterranean Shop' was written over the doorway and I was intrigued, so I walked in. <br />And there my life changed.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/108716579.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/108716579.jpg" border="0" alt="Mediterranean Shop" /></a><br />At the time, I was a young wife and mother of two little girls and I was searching for a creative outlet. My husband was just finishing university and we had no money for paints or art equipment.<br />My Vancouver Regional Library card was well worn but just reading wasn't enough. I had heard Andres Segovia playing classical guitar and was captivated by the special sound of that instrument.<br /><br />So that day when I saw guitars hanging in The Mediterranean Shop I was drawn inside where I was greeted by a tall, grey-haired man who spoke with a slight British accent. He told me the guitars on the wall were made in his own factory in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. His name was George Moore Bowden and his guitar factory in Spain was called Los Guitarreros de Mallorca. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/108716592.jpg "><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 275px; height: 485px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/108716592.jpg " border="0" alt="George Bowden" /></a><br />When I realized that here were Spanish-made guitars I enquired about lessons.....was there a teacher near? He responded that he had a good teacher named Bill Lewis who was at that time taking master classes in California with Andres Segovia but he would be returning soon to teach in the shop. Although I had no money for lessons, I signed up. I knew from where I could borrow an old nylon stringed guitar and that would have to do. (We were so poor that we reused teabags, stringing them up on a rail in the kitchen with clothespegs to dry until the next day.)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/108716597.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 325px; height: 450px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/108716597.jpg" border="0" alt="stanley park" /></a> With my girls and my beehive hairdo in Stanley Park, Vancouver.<br /><br />I was excited to start taking lessons from Bill Lewis. He was a man who played classical well and could impress me and others with his flamenco rasgueado, although that wasn't going to be my genre.<br /><br /> <a href=" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OPDSAeR7j7g ">YouTube~rasgueado</a> (Caution...it's very loud!)<br /><br /> I would be taking the Aaron Shearer Classic Guitar method. It was a surprise to learn that I’d be using a little footstool for my left foot. I hadn't noticed that classical guitarists didn't usually play with their guitar slung horizontally over one knee.<br /><br />I took to the instrument with a passion. Since I’d had piano lessons and choir experience in the past, I could read music and had a knowledge of theory and harmony. After a few weeks I could also tune the guitar myself with the help of the little pitch pipe that was used for this.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/108716640.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 275px; height: 350px;" src="http://www.pbase.com/canarybird/image/108716640.jpg" border="0" alt="Aaron Shearer vol 1" /></a>Volume One of Aaron Shearer was my introduction to Classical Guitar and the book I was later to use for my beginner students. It was very well written and easy to follow.<br /><br />At the time I’d also heard Julian Bream playing J.S. Bach’s Chaconne, written originally for violin in D minor,but heard first by me played on classical guitar.<br /><br /> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lm1q3gadv50">Yehudi Menuhin plays Part one on You Tube.</a> <br /><br />Part two is on the same page.<br /><br /> Although we had only an old and very large tape recorder and no record player, I played that piece over and over again. Every day found me practicing scales, arpeggios and the first little studies of Aaron Shearer, in between caring for the small apartment and children. It was thrilling to be able to produce such sounds even from a simple and old guitar.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PNXlslzL8EY">Chaconne - Part One</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRhorozjEEg"> Chaconne - Part Two</a><br /><br />Parts One and Two of the Chaconne by J.S. Bach played by Andres Segovia on guitar. (YouTube)<br /><br />Then Mr. G. loaned me one of his Spanish made guitars. It was a model with a slightly longer neck, and I would have an even harder reach with the left hand fingers. He said he would like me to try it out as it was a bit different from his other models. I was finally able to start playing a real guitar that had been made in Spain. It sounded beautiful and I was in heaven!<br /><br />Continue on to Chapter 14......<a href="http://canarybirdtenerife.blogspot.com/2009/02/vancouver-flashback-ii.html">Vancouver Flashback II - My Students and Edward R. Turner</a> <br /><br />Go back to Chapter 12......<a href="http://canarybirdtenerife.blogspot.com/2009/01/guitar-factory.html">The Guitar Factory</a><br /><br />Photo credit of G.Bowden to "Classical Guitar",<br /> Newcastle - 1994, article by Ivor Mairants.Canarybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15597325686945512447noreply@blogger.com3