In Seville we went to see a flamenco show. As rap music is rhythmic talking, this is rhythmic stamping. The fundamental difference between the two is that anyone with a voice box can do rap but not everyone with feet can do flamenco. The only person I have seen stamp their feet faster than these people is my 3 year old granddaughter. It’s Riverdance with army boots and much more sweat. And attitude. Imagine being married to a flamenco dancer. The conversation would go like this:
She – We are going to have an argument.
He (cutting his losses) – You win.
I like to think that there is a difference between being a cultural philistine and not particularly liking various aspects of culture. So whilst I would put flamenco in with opera and ballet as pursuits I would not actively pursue, I do appreciate the talent and hard work that goes into achieving excellence in each of them. This was sheeted home to me when, having assumed Slash had more natural guitar playing ability than me, I read that he actually practised 12 hours a day for years which kind of accentuated the chasm-like divide in our respective abilities. So you need commitment as well.
As I mentioned in the previous post, Córdoba has a cathedral which was built inside an 8th century mosque. The mosque was converted to a church after the Moors were ejected from Córdoba in the 13th century. The cathedral was inserted into the mosque after the Moors were finally driven out of Spain in 1492. Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand were so chuffed with themselves for doing this they adopted the view that if today they had taken back Spain then tomorrow it’s the world and promptly sent Christopher Columbus off to find the western route to India and the rest, they say, is history. And that’s a big part of why the child bride and I come to Europe.
The local Muslims occasionally ask the local catholic authorities if they can have their mosque back and the local bishop with the backing of the Vatican routinely says no. If only the argument over the Temple Mount could be resolved as efficiently and painlessly.
Not so long ago it was decreed by the Supreme High Council of Feminist Justice that the word “bossy” could no longer be used to describe a woman. Our female tour guide in Córdoba was bossy. In the nicest possible way, you understand. That attempt at mollification will count for nothing when the Femonazi Inquisition comes knocking. Not to worry. Let’s press on.
When you are told you have no right to photograph a religious icon or a piece of medieval architecture until you fully understand its history and significance, that’s bossy. She was extremely knowledgeable and very protective of her patch and obviously wanted us to share it with her. I’m hoping to finish the 5000 word assignment she set by Friday.