Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Poem about Juzcar, Andalucia, Spain

David Stuntz wrote these 2 lovely poems during one of our walking holidays in Andalucia, based in Júzcar, and kindly emailed them to us so we could post them here.

The first poem is about the andalucian white village of Júzcar and its predominant mountain Almola and depicts vividly the area and its people.

The second is about.... me! So touching! Thank you so much David! I hope you will enjoy reading them.

David also added a fabulous poetic touch to this walking holiday by reading to us all poems from Jimenez, during our lunches in some of the lovely andalucian restaurants we walked to. Thank you very much David for sharing Jimenez poems and your own poems with us!

A Drama In One Act
Júzcar, Andalucia, May, 2009

The curtain opens to the sight of
las casas of Júzcar clinging to steep slopes,
like natural outcroppings.
The sheer limestone face of la Montaña Almola
frowns overhead, angered by centuries of pillage,
its rock quarried for walls and white-wash.

It is late afternoon and siesta is over. Long shadows
accentuate the stark whiteness of the village.
Young school girls, slim in their tight jeans,
flirt with boys, pretending not to.
Boys as lithe as matadors,
eyes intense as Flamenco dancers.

Up the narrow, winding spotless streets,
old women and grandfathers, like El Greco portraits,
gossip in doorways, beneath balconies
where wrought iron railings
support roses in full bloom.

Tension mounts as the play begins.

~
To Sandrine
So Much More Than Our Guide
Andalucia, May 2009

I recall a Booted Eagle floating
in lazy circles, hardly moving
its graceful wings, so at one with
its environment; so aware of every inch
of its terrain. Like Sandrine.
Forget the predatory aspect for the moment.

I recall three dogs, herding
a flock of goats to fresh pasture.
One Mastiff, two Spanish Water Dogs.
With broad smiles, they came to greet us,
then quickly returned to their task.
Leading and protecting. Like Sandrine.

I recall the white Asphodel, standing
tall and alone, but somehow belonging there
amongst the May bloom of Andalucia.
A seed from some foreign land, transported
by a frivolous breeze, a wandering bird.
Like Sandrine.


David Stuntz
Júzcar, Andalucia, Spain,
May 3-14, 2009

Friday, May 22, 2009

Photo gallery of our wonderful walking group, early May 2009

With fond memories, we are posting some of the photos we took of the wonderful walking group we had the immense pleasure to welcome and guide in the Alto Genal, Andalucia, Spain. We enjoyed fantastic weather, beautiful walks, a great flamenco show in Ronda and we were blessed with a myrial of wild flowers... Thank you Barbara, Bruce, David, Helen and Margaret for such a lovely week!


































Monday, May 18, 2009

Gaelic workshop and Ceilihd in Júzcar!

Never in a million years would you imagine a Gaelic language workshop and Ceilihd happening in Júzcar, Southern Andalucia! Well it did happen and we had the pleasure to be involved in it with a late afternoon guided walk starting from above Alpandeire down to Júzcar along the dramatic limestone outcrop of Los Riscos.
This leisurely walk offered the group a very informal way of learning more Gaelic. Fiona MacKenzie and Gillebride MacMillan, prize winners and famed Gaelic singers, organised this event at the Hotel Bandolero which had become Gaelic for the occasion with Scottish flags flapping lightly under the Andalucian sun and little posters stuck everywhere showing the names of everything in Gaelic!
We had a fantastic time with Fiona and Gillebride as well as Christine from the Isle of Lewis, Ian and Mary from the UK and Josepe from Catalonia who did so well mixing Gaelic, English and Spanish! To round up the event, Fiona and Gillebride organised a Ceilihd to which we went with some friends! One of our friends, Kate McHardy, impressed us with an off the cuff Gaelic song she sang beautifully as well as a solo dance! We had the privilege to enjoy Fiona and Gillebride singing and there was plenty a dancing and singing (Gaelic as well as Spanish!), ending fantastically this Gaelic workshop.