Andalusia talk at AT&T HACEMOS; Hispanic heritage month

Andalusia  Public Photo album  Summary   

( all  photos,  My Videos   accessed only by Tushar) 

Andalusia  Powerpoint   1  

Abdulusia Powerpint 2 - More overviee  photos 

Andalusia Photo album Summary

Andalusia Public Photo -Albums

	Place	Description
General : Not a place specific
1	Andulasia Selected	Overview of Sevile, Cordoba, Jazer, Hiltown, Graada, Cost Del Sol
2	Fleminco	Flamenco , in its strictest sense, is a professionalized art-form based on the various folkloric music traditions of Southern Spain in the autonomous communities of Andalusia. lamenco has been influenced by and become associated with the Romani people in Spain,
3	People
4	on the raod
5	book references	Books, broucheres use for travel planning
Places
6	Seville selected	Seville Top Blog
8	Seville Rest	more links at the blog for sevile
9	Jerez Horse fair	See the blog video
10	JarezDelFrontera
11	White Hilltowns	Arcos de la Frontera: Gateway to the Pueblos Blancos, Grazalema: A High Mountain Village in a Natural Park, Zahara de la Sierra, The Cave Dwellings of Setenil de las Bodegas, Ronda
12	While Hilltowns rest
13	Ronda	stablished in the 9th century BC, Ronda is also one of Spain’s oldest towns. Its existing old town, La Ciuadad  (the City), largely dates to Islamic times, when it was an important cultural centre filled with mosques and palaces.
14	Granada	Blog :
15	Alhambra
16	CostaDelSol	Costa del Sol, a coastal haven in Andalucia, a southern region of Spain, has been delighting beach bums for decade
17	Cordoba	The mesmerising multiarched Mezquita. One of the world's greatest Islamic buildings, it's a symbol of the worldly and sophisticated Islamic culture that flourished here more than a millennium ago when Córdoba was the capital of Islamic Spain, and Western Europe's biggest and most cultured city.
18	Sintra Selected	Blog & Video
19	Sintra Resrt	Lisbon Sintra is Europe’s greatest example of the whimsical and colourful Romanticism style of architecture
20	Sinta MT
21	Andalusia_RPMT
22	MT
Videos
1	Cordoba Mosque
2	Jerez Horse Festival
3	End of the world
3	Fleminco

Morocco Photo album summary

Morocco Public Photo -Albums

	Place	Description
General : Not a place specific
1	Morocco_selected (144)	Overview: Casablanca , Rabat, , Mekenes, Vollubillis . Mid Atlas, Merzouga, Tondra Gorge, Ourzazate, Markeesh: see the itineary outline
2	People_Morocco (125)	Photos of People from Morocco. Images of women, men and children from Marrakesh, Chefchaouen, Atlas Mountains, Fez and Erg Chebbi Dunes in Sahara, Souks (market) The Berber people are indigenous to North Afric.
3	Morocco_onRoad (132)	pictures taken form car (few from plane) driving, billboard
4	Cusiine ; 5) Hotels (Riaz) 6) tidbits	Tradiional Moroccan cuisne, Tangine
7	Morrocco book references	Books, broucheres use for travel planning
Places
7	Casablanca,  Rabat  & Mekanas	Casablanca is a port city and commercial hub in western Morocco, fronting the Atlantic Ocean, tanding partly over the water, the enormous Hassan II Mosque, completed in 1993, has a 210m. Rabat, Morocco's capitol ,  Kasbah of the Udayas
8	Fez  Selected	Fes is referred as the cultural capitol, Fes El Bali walled medina, with medieval Marinid architecture, vibrant souks and old-world atmosphere. Tannary. Bought carpet
9	Faz _rest	Bou Inania Medersa, Kairaouine Mosque
10	Vollubillis	Volubilis is a partly excavated Berber and Roman city in Morocco situated near the city of Meknes, and commonly considered as the ancient capital of the kingdom of Mauretania.
11	Mid Atlas Mountain -Selected	Ifrane conceived as a “hill station” or colonial type of settlement. Nice campus town . Cedar Forest and monkeys,
12	Mid Atlas Mountain -Rest	. It is a resort town set high up in the mountains so that Europeans can find relief from the summer heat of tropical colonies. The British were the first to develop this type of resort in India, the best known of which is Simla in the Himalayas which served as their “summer capital.”
13	Sahara  Sunset  and  Sunrise	Merzouga is a small Moroccan town in the Sahara Desert, near the Algerian border. It’s known as a gateway to Erg Chebbi,
14	Rissani	Souk, Rissani market is considered as the most important market in the region.
15	Tondra Gorge	Todra river, oases of impressive kasbahs, valleys lined with date palms, olive terraces, pomegranate and almond and fruit trees.
16	AitBenHodau HDR	dramatic backdrop of rocks framing the slender towers of the Tamnalt Kasbahs.
17	Aiit Ben Hadaou	Skoura and admire its impressive palm groves and ruined kasbahs surrounded by palm trees.t Strong scents of of Persian roses permeating through the mountain air at  El-KelaaM’Gnou
18	Marrakesh	The medina is a densely packed, walled medieval city dating to the Berber Empire, with mazelike alleys where thriving souks (marketplaces) sell traditional textiles, pottery and jewelry.
19	Essaouira	Bright and breezy Essaouira, on Morroco's Atlantic coast, is an enchanting
20	JadMahal	With the feeling of an Indian palace, Jad Mahal is both a  restaurant and a club, Bellydance, Pyrobats
21	Guide Hosts	Sirhan, Jammal, Kamal, Mohmmed, Karim and "My Morrco family "
22	RPMT	Friends
23	Morocco_MT	24 Madhu Tushar(210)
Videos
1	Bollywood Morocco	America isn’t the only country that knows how to spin and export fantasies. India’s pop culture is huge. See the blog http://tusharinmoorsland.blogspot.com/2017/05/bollywood-in-morocco.html
	Sahara	More coming
	Fez

Granada, Alhambra

;The Alhambra is Granada’s – and Europe’s – love letter to Moorish culture, a place where fountains trickle, leaves rustle, and ancient spirits seem to mysteriously linger. Part palace, part fort, part World Heritage site, part lesson in medieval architecture, the Alhambra has long enchanted a never-ending line of expectant visitors. As a historic monument, it is unlikely it will ever be surpassed – at least not in the lifetime of anyone reading this.

Like Agra, India, and the Taj Mahal, the Andalusian city of Granada in southern Spain is so well known for a single monument — the Alhambra, a walled fortress housing magnificent 13th- to 15th-century Moorish palaces and gardens — that the city itself is sometimes overlooked. With more than two million visitors descending on the Alhambra, a Unesco World Heritage site,.

Splendid Nasrid Palaces , the lush Generalife gardens, views at Sunset in backdrop of  the snow-peaked sierra mountain,  are  simply awe-inspiring.


Alhambra      Photos album


Video 




Granada 


The Sacromonte district is home to Granada's thriving Roma community..Both the English word "Gypsy" and its Spanish counterpart, gitano, come from the word "Egypt" — where Europeans used to think these nomadic people originated. Today, as we've come to understand that "Gypsies" actually came from India — and as the term "Gypsy" has acquired negative connotations — the preferred term is "Roma." After migrating from India in the 14th century, the Roma people settled mostly in the Muslim-occupied lands in the south (such as the Balkan Peninsula, then controlled by the Ottoman Turks). Under the Muslims, the Roma enjoyed relative tolerance. They were traditionally good with crafts and animals.


Fleminco dance   Slideshow

Fleminco Videos 


CostaDelSol  Neerja,  Marbella , Malga 

Flamenco ;Spain's iconic cultural form History, root

There are seveal origins  and  fustion that led to the  modern day falamenco Gypsies from Rajasthan who emigrated to Europe centuries ago brought with them their traditions, culture and music, and this music evolved in Spain into what is now flamenco.

Flamenco: Spain’s Iconic Cultural Form Pays Tribute To Its Indian Origins

Flemenco  My Photo album 
Flemenco Video 1 :  Street dance,  Show at Gypsy dance club at Triana, Seville



Flamenco (Spanish pronunciation: [flaˈmeŋko]), in its strictest sense, is a professionalized art-form based on the various folkloric music traditions of Southern Spain in the autonomous communities of Andalusia. In a wider sense, it refers to these musical traditions and more modern musical styles which have themselves  been deeply influenced by and become blurred with the development of flamenco over the past two centuries.   It includes cante (singing), toque (guitar playing), baile (dance), jaleo (vocalizations), palmas (handclapping)  and pitos (finger snapping)

Flemwnco  Video2 : Sacromonte, Granada, cabe theater show


 Hailing from southern Spain's outcast populations, flamenco dance and music drew early influences from Greek and Roman and later from Indian,  Moorish, and Jewish cultures.Centuries of cultural melding later, what ironically began in caves as a form of personal expression by gypsies
 and other oppressed ethnicities has evolved into the flashy flamenco dance and music that has taken the world by storm.

Sacromonte  area  Granda has  a biggee population of Gitano and  cave  dwelling  reminiscent of how they used to live,


 Duets, performed by a man and a woman, are often the most vivid flamenco dances. The dancers keep their eyes firmly locked each other,   constantly and aggressively building off one another in what becomes competition of passion, sexual tension, and emotion.


References

1. FLAMENCO INDIA - FLAMENCO DANCE, INDIAN GYPST Folk Dance 
2. Simulteneous Flamenco dance and Indian Dance  
3. Spanish gypsies' Thar connection
4. Dance comparison between Kathak from India and Flamenco from Spain
5. Spanish flamenco romances Indian Kathak
6. Simulteneous Indian Kathak and  Fleminco on street 
7. Bollywood's popular fusion song : Senorita   - Zindagi Na Milegi 
8. Dobarahttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flamenco

Cordoba Symbol of Religious Tolerance

My  Pictures of Cordoba

“Wherever you go becomes a part of you somehow.” “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.”  I found this more truth strongly  reiterated  at Cordoba  again.


I found the Cordoba Mezquita (http://www.mezquitadecordoba.org/en/)  is the most stunning master piece of the Islamic architecture in the  Moorsland.  It is impossible to overempasize the  beauty of Cordoba's great Mosque with  remarkably peaceful and spacious interior.  The Mezquita  hints, with all its lustrous decorations, at a lavish and  refined  age whem Muslims, Jews and Christians  lived  side by side with their diverse and Vibrant cultures.

Here is the  video clip  with   translated subtitles  from the  great Poet Isqbal    (Lyrics in Urdu translated in subtitles)

Many   may not know that  the “Cordoba House,” the name initially given to the projected Islamic cultural center in downtown New York in the vicinity of Ground Zero, has receded into the background and been replaced by “Park51,” a name derived from the address of the location. The name “Cordoba” had been chosen because it recalls the culture of pluralism and mutual tolerance that is thought to have reigned among Muslims, Jews, and Christians in medieval Spain. Apparently the project organizers came to feel that the name “Cordoba” was too contentious.

In the Islamic capital of Córdoba — the grand and much-admired city, with its beautiful mosques and highly developed urban landscape — Jews and Christians experienced substantial security and economic prosperity

White hill towns, Andalusia; Parque Natural Sierta de Grazalema

SIERRA DE GRAZALEMA NATURAL PARK

1) Designated a Unesco Biosphere reserve in 1977, the Sierra de Grazalema was declared the first natural park in Andalucia in 1984 and is one of Spain's most ecologically outstanding areas. This is one of the beautiful parts of Andalusia missed  by the most  tourists in the conducted tours or the package deal. Best way to see is drive  your self. 

The rugged zahara set around Frazalema npountains hums with Moorish mystery. For over 150 years in 14th and 15th centuries , it stoold on old medieval frontier facing off against Christian faces. Sill  reminiscent of mosque, nbue tiled mosaic, hamam are visible at these classic white hill towns (pueblo blanco) 

Dotted around the sierra are attractive pueblos blancos (white villages), the one in the most dramatic setting being Grazalema, which nestles between the two rugged peaks of Pico del Reloj and the Pico de San Cristóbal. Other picturesque pueblos blancos include Cortes de la Frontera, El Bosque and Zahara de la Sierra.  we hiked the Zahara de la  Sierra.

2) Perched on an inland plateau riven by the 100m fissure of El Tajo gorge, Ronda is Málaga province’s most spectacular town. It has a superbly dramatic location, and owes its name (‘surrounded’ by mountains), to the encircling Serranía de Ronda.

Established in the 9th century BC, Ronda is also one of Spain’s oldest towns. Its existing old town, La Ciudad (the City), largely dates to Islamic times, when it was an important cultural centre filled with mosques and palaces. Its wealth as a trading depot made it an attractive prospect for bandits and profiteers, and the town has a colourful and romantic past in Spanish folklore.

 3) Near Andalucía’s stunning cliff-top town of Ronda (which is worth a trip on its own), travelers will find Setenil de las Bodegas, a small and curious village built beneath the overhang of a massive bluff. Setenil de las Bodegas also forms part of Andalucía’s famous White Villages route, a trail through the irresistibly charming white-washed villages that dot the hills between Cadiz and Malaga.  The way living at the top of the mountain was strategic for the defense,  living in the cave was  strategic for the defense .It took long time for the marching catholic armies to conquer  Setenil de las Bodegas

1) White hill towns, Andalusia  selected 

2) Ronda

3) White hill town rest 

Jerez Horse Fair (Feria de Caballo)

Jerez May Horse Fair 

My Photo album 



My video of   Horse  fair and my taking pictures 

Feria de Caballo Jerez; 13th to 20th May 2017

Jerez Horse Fair (Feria de Caballo) This  was a festival and event sightseeing  similar to La Tomatina held in the Valencian town of Buñol ( seen in Bollywood film Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara.   Very festive with colorful consumes, dance , somewhat  reminiscent of Navaratri in Guajrat, Sacred Relic of the tooth of Buddha in Srilanaka or  carnival inn Rio de Janeiero 

The Jerez Horse Fair (Feria de Caballo) which is traditionally the first week in May is an exciting and lively event that brings the entire city to the   Fairgrounds, which cover 52,000 square metres, giving ample space for the finest horses of Jerez as synonymous with the city as sherry and flamenco, to show off their moves to the crowds who flock to the two hundred or so Casetas (private tents)  which, unlike Seville's, are mainly open to the public, and other attractions.

The history of the Jerez Horse Fair goes back over 500 years, to the commercial livestock fairs that were established in April and September, in the time when Jerez was just a small town back during the reign of Alfonso X El Sabio (the Wise).
An official agreement was signed by various participating merchants in 1491. The event slowly gained momentum as a form of entertainment with the local wine producers setting up stands and then a children’s amusement park added and so on until the fair took on its present day form.The recinto was opened in 1903, and in the same year it was agreed that individuals and societies could build their own casetas.

Look at the costumes of the  ladies and festivities  and the spirit in the air ( as well at Casetas :-))

Seville

 Seville,  Highlights

Here  are links to my  four photo albums of the city and  few tidbits

1)  City  Highlights  (34 pictures) 

2) Seville city    (134 pictures) 

3) Alcazar ( the Moorish palace , 106 pictures  ) 

4)  Cathedral and  Giralda tower   (82 pictures)

( Fleminco dance, street events, Triana, people and us   as well  as the videos to be  added later) 

Seville , the  capitol of Andalusia, was  founded  by  Romans, did not really  flower  until the Moorish Almoravid   period   which began in 1085. Calif  Yacub Yusuf built the great mosque where Seville Cathedral stands now. That is the largest cathedral in world with the Gothic architecture.   Alcazar the palace(above) is another  grand  structure of the Moorish period.  We  parked the car outside the city  and lived in  B&B  based apartment next to the Cathedral for three days.  Being at the epicenter of  major tourist  attraction and life of the city did add a lot the travel experience. All  walking  made fitbit cross 20,000+  steps  

In 1492, when Columbus  discovered  America, the city bloomed to its golden age. The city had  exclusive monopoly on the trade  and soon became world's one of the richest and  fastest growing cosmopolitan city. In 1649  city got the setback when half the population of the city was  wiped out in plague. inn 17th century  river Guadalquivir became more silted and less navigable and commerce was  officially transferred to the port city of Cadiz  That ended the golden era of the city. 

 Plaza de Espana – Plaza de Espana (below)  is filled with government offices, statues, and opportunities to learn about some of Seville’s history.  There are murals and paintings here that depict the various regions of Spain. This is next to  Parque de Maria Luisa – This park offers the opportunity for a wonderful day filled with gardens, patios and sculptures. 

• 
•  
• Visiting the Cathedral of Sevilla  , Alcazar, Plaza de Espana, walking  tours of the city,  Triana (Gypsy neighborhood), Fleminco dance were  highlights.   Walked inside the cathedral to view its impressive architecture and intricate design. It is also where Christopher Columbus is buried. The bell tower also offers a panoramic view of the city.
• Walk through the historic Jewish Quarter – This area of town is located around the old Cathedral. (Ironic!) It is filled with small winding streets and is generally regarded as the most charming part of the city, but it is also fairly touristy. You’ll find a lot of crowds here but you can still escape them by trying to get lost in this maze of streets.  This is next to  Metropol Parasol,  futurist, modern  structure built in 2012
• Visited  Europe’s oldest residential palace – The Alcázar is the oldest residential palace in Europe that is still in use. It serves as a royal residence when the monarchs of Spain come to visit Seville. The palace is a beautiful example of Moorish architecture, and is a recognized UNESCO site. Long lines  made  it mandatory  to pay premium to take  help from the tour operator.
•  
• Learn about Spain’s colonial history – The General Archives of the Indies is a 16th century building that contains an incredibly valuable collection of documents and artifacts related to Spain’s colonization of the New World. It has  80 million pages of  documnets  Highlights include the personal diary of Columbus and the Treaty of Tordesillas, which divided the New World between Spain and Portugal. Could not find time to see this and many other  art museums  

My   customized  walking &  Driving map 

36 hours in Seville ( Ny Times,  Restaurants)  

Restaurants, Flemingo shows 

36 hours in Seville ( Ny Times,  Restaurants)  

THE DETAILS
1. Metropol Parasol.
2. Red House Art & Food, Amor de Dios 7; redhousespace.com. Wabi Sabi, Viriato 9; wabisabigallery.com.
3. Casa Morales, Garcia de Vinuesa 11; 34- 954-22-12-42.  Bodeguita Romero, Harinas 10;  bodeguita-romero.com. Las Columnas, Alameda de Hércules 19; 34-954-388-106.
4. El Garlochi, Calle Boteros 26.
5. Palace of the Marquis of la Algaba.
6. Feria Market.
7. La Despensa Ecológica, Regina 24; 34-954-221-593. Verde Moscú, Regina 17; verdemoscu.eu. Un Gato en Bicicleta, Regina 8; ungatoenbicicleta.com.
8. La Azotea, Mateos Gago 8; laazoteasevilla.es.
9. Casa Anselma, Calle Pagés del Corro 49; 34-606-162-502.
10. Convento de San Leandro, Plaza de San Leandro; 34-954-224-195. Convento de Santa Ana, Calle Santa Ana 34; 34-954-380-603. Convento de Santa Paula, Calle Santa Paula 11; 34-954-536-330.
11. Past View, Metropol Parasol; pastview.es.

 

Bollywood in Morocco

Romantic landscapes. Enchanting souks. Affable people. Bollywood. This blog takes a magical, mystery tour of Morocco. That is the fascination of Bollywood  films  and music.

In other past trips  to other countries  found  occasional bar or restaurant playing Bollywood music.  However none can  match the penetration of  Bollywood  as it is seen  in  Morocco.  In Morocco, we did not see even one Indian origin tourist,  not even one form UK or USA based Indian . However irony and surprise  is  that Bollywood films and music is very popular in Morocco.

Street vendors, shopkeepers and  strangers often greet us with “namaste” call  me Shah Rukh khan,. At  Essaouria, the beach town, at fisherman’s whorf, several vendors started inviting us for lunch and competing among themselves. Finally we decide to pick one based who sings the best Bollywood song.


Most Moroccans speak Berber, though Arabic is the official langauge. So they have no big natural  linguistic advantage in singing  Hindi songs.   But they do have  special attraction of  Bollywood. 

They just knew we were from India. Moroccans, who devour Bollywood films with a bigger appetite than the Russians, want you to be an Indian even if you are a Pakistani. Hey lady, this is special for you because of Shah Rukh," a salesman says to sale his merchandise. When Aamir khan, Amitabh Bachhan visited Morocco, they were treated like king

Here is  a  2.5min video clip of that.  You may see the faces of the "artist" at the photo-album pf  Essouria 
 

 

 Recent Bollywood film  Raees  was  supposed to be shot in Gujarat. The Right wing  in India did  not allow Pakistani actress  Mahira to come to India.  Shah Rukh Khan and Mahira visited Morocco to shoot two Raees songs. Per our guide  Kamaal in Marrkech , Shah Rukh Khan is  personal friend of the king and  stays in palace.

When I see  Netfilx or even Amazon Prime , they have  very  limited stock of the Bollywood films. When  Vinod Khanna passed away ,I wanted to see some of  his old classic  film. Netflex, Amazon prime had no choice.  If the see the  global popularity of Bollywood , they will fix their act. 


There are also few  fascinating circles of the history at Morocco. 
Tangier, like Mumbai, was a Portuguese colony. And both were given to the British as dowry for Portuguese queen Catherine Braganza who married British king Charles II.
 Morocco was first to recognize  USA when it got independence from UK.
Raees  to be shot in  Gujarat ended  up  being shot in Morocco.