The AWAI Workshop, Granada, by Jerry Newsome (Part 2)

The statue of Washington Irving in Granada

One of the main travelers and writers who popularized Alahambra during the 19th century was Washington Irving. (1783-1859). A commemorative plaque also adorns the wall of the room where Irving lived and wrote when he stayed as a guest in 1829. When Irving first arrived in Granada he is reported to have said, "...a most picturesque and beautiful city, situated in one of the loveliest landscapes that I have ever seen." (Jones,Brian Jay. Washington Irving: An American Original. NY 2008 ISBN 978-1-55970-836-4.) Irving also served as ambassador to Spain (1842-46) He was the first American author to achieve international literary recognition and to live from the proceeds of his writings while introducing the site to Western audiences. (Tales of the Alhambra) A statue of Irving is on the walkway out side the walls of the fortification on the way leading from the town Plaza Neuva to the Alhambra complex.

Me, sitting on a bench near the statue of Irving, 

and the waterfall shown in part one of this blog

The area is made for walking (or not). Benches are abudant on the walkways and within the complex. The bench on which I am sitting is near the waterfall and the statue of Irving. Efrain, Brent, and Simone loved to walk everywhere. Lynnia, Jackie and myself would ride the bus up the steep hills to the destinations but everyone would walk back down through the twisting passage ways. When the workshop was over I stayed an extra two days touring the city and photographing the narrow streets with their shops, the cathederals, and nightlife. One would have to spend many days or weeks photographing it all.

 

  A bull-fight in Seville

 

Following Grenada, I returned to Seville for two additional days. I wanted to attend and photograph one bullfight along with other sights I missed the first four days. The bull fight was very colorful and much more ritualized than I had expected. One bull fight turned into six bullfights in little over two hours. There was a large crowd that cheered loudly. An earlier photograph in Elizabeth's blog shows the arena where the spectacle took place.

 A female matador

No longer are matadors (killer of the bull) only men but now a few women have taken up the cape. A female matador did her part on this day. Seville is an ancient city with much history and many old landmarks to photograph. The bull fight will not be for everyone but as an American I wanted to see what it was like along with other controversial subjects.

The matador entices the bull

A picador, ready for action

Following the bullfight I found the "mushroom", the derisive nickname given to an ultra modern structure near the Alamada De Hercules. The "mushroom" is unlike anything else in Seville, I spoke to many locals and none of them liked that structure but it is a major and popular meeting place. Many young people were camped out there and held rallies during the Spanish elections which took place while I was there.  

The ultra modern structure near the Alamada De Hercules