The trip around Andalusia was far better than what I have expected – see some photos. I have experienced quite a bit of the world already, but Andalusia surprised me with a rather unique symbiosis of two cultures that shaped it through the history; Muslim and Latino. The beauty of it all was for me to see these two cultures not existing side by side, but somehow melted into something new – at least this is how it seemed to me, as an ignorant visitor.
So, if you want a hot flamenco night, here it is.
And if you want to chill out in an Arabic tea house, with a pipe, no problem.
Or, if you perhaps prefer to go relax in a Hamam, but would love to go there with your spouse and enjoy it together and not separated, than this is the right place to do it. Though, with the latino temperament all around you should not expect quite the same level of meditative atmosphere as in Arabic countries.
And it is all genuine; this is not a Las Vegas approach to the World cultural heritage, you know.
Anyway, the main reason for the trip was the participation at the congress of interculturalists in Granada, and with all the topics discussed about the cross-cultural differences and communications, I couldn’t not stop wondering why is it so difficult to think a bit wider, to go beyond ethnicity and culture and see us all as Earthlings. Same culture, same species… Killing each other over petty meaningless differences.
I :heart: Ebony and Ivory!
It’s good to know that organizations like that exist. Sometimes I watch what is happening with the world and wonder if I am the only one who thinks it is crazy.
Comment by Hayden Tompkins — November 3, 2008 @ 10:15 pm
Nice post and I really like the second photo.
Poor old Muslims, they get such bad press because of a few extremists.
If only Hitler didn’t ever exist and Israel wasn’t created as a result of his racist genocide. Hitler is still having such wide ranging effects even after 60 years. Hitler and other people with small minds like him are a disaster for all of us.
Comment by razzbuffnik — November 4, 2008 @ 1:01 am
nice post. keep up
Comment by rualz — November 5, 2008 @ 12:16 pm
Hayden – well, I guess there are a lot of very constructive, wise and proactive organizations and groups around the world. The sad thing just seem to be the fact that the real power to influence and change is where the money is, and it is so difficult to compete with this monster…
Razz – yeah, I totally agree. One of the most beautiful experiences I have ever had with people were in Islamic countries, be it in Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Sudan… Yet, when you mention Islam, people just get this extremely negative associations – never even questioning the reasons that have brought the world to extremism… Hitler – well, I do not think the problem was in his existence, but in the fact that people followed him to such a tragic degree. Fromm analyses this very wisely in The Fear Of Freedom.
Rualz – welcome
Comment by Robert — November 5, 2008 @ 12:50 pm
Hoahh what a great shoot, I like the shadows on the wall !, Whats the name and place of that Flamenco night??, I would like to visit when I am in Andalusia next, I have watched some pure flamenco in Cadiz and Sevilla ( Seville ), but I have not been anywhere else. Thanks
Comment by Flamenco dancer — December 11, 2008 @ 4:45 pm
Flamenco dancer – welcome. I am happy you like the shot. This Flamenco night actually did take place in Sevilla, but I cannot remember the name of the place, no way. I just remember it was not a typical tourist place, we got to know about it in a cd-shop with some local guys telling us about it and so off we went. And it was really great and magical.
Comment by Robert — December 13, 2008 @ 1:44 am
Dear
We are from a Brazilian magazine speciallized in Persian culture, and we would like to use some of your pictures we found at internet.
Would you grant us permission to use those images? You’ll be credited, of course.
Thank you very much for your attention.
Best Regards
Miriam Kampf
Comment by Miriam — May 15, 2012 @ 6:08 pm