Latino – Happiness Between Tails by da-AL

Flamenco Fusion by da-AL

December 15, 2018 da-AL12 Comments

“Flamenco & the Sitting Cat” is the title of the first of my soon-to-be self-published novels. The ‘Sitting Cat’ part of the title refers to the geographical shape of Iran…

Map of Iran out lined in shape of a Sitting Cat. — Map of Iran outlined in the shape of a Sitting Cat.

I grew up with only classical music — and flamenco music and dance. My father, who left Barcelona in his mid-20s, wanted it that way. Since I left home at 18, it’s a gift to watch any type of dance I like and to listen to every kind of music that comes my way.

Shahrokh Moshkin Ghalam respectfully and lovingly fuses dance cultures.

I still love classical — and flamenco! Especially fascinating to me is when flamenco is fused with the dance of Iran, where my husband was raised. Shahrokh Moshkin Ghalam is an Iranian dancer now residing in France. Flamenco is as much about individuality as it is about technique — it accommodates all cultures, all forms of beauty.

If only politics were as intent on creating a climate of ‘we’ rather than an ‘us vs. them’!

The way Ghalam (click here for his Facebook page) fuses dance styles is respectful and hypnotic…

For more flamenco, check out Part 3: Marvelous Madrid — Flamenco

What fusion art do you enjoy?

Part 4: Do Marvelous Madrid, Spain, Cats Pray? (w Video)

November 17, 2018December 4, 2022 da-AL23 Comments

It's magical how Wifi stands and waves his paws!...

The marvels of Spain, too numerous to count (after all, my soon-to-be self-published novel is called “Flamenco & the Sitting Cat”) — were rendered all the more marvelous thanks to our kind hostess Henrietta Fielden (henriettafielden@gmail.com).

Her flat in Madrid is located within a theater building that’s over a hundred years old. Everything there is gorgeous, starting with the stairwell…

…and ending with dear Henrietta herself! Starting each day at her table was a delight not merely because her breakfast spreads were feasts both eyes and tummy — she’s also fun and interesting to chat with, no matter how our sleepy bodies protested at waking early for more sighseeing …

…moreover, her little Wifi kitty could easily be a professional stand-er! According to Henrietta, he’s merited quite a few Japanese YouTube viewers since she hosted guests from there.

My husband and I are fortunate to have met WiFi’s equally handsome and charming brother. Alas, WiFi’s performance made me forget to photograph his brother who has since passed away, his life far too short.

When I uploaded this short video of WiFi to my YouTube channel, Henrietta contributed this enlightening note, “There’s my WiFi! To potential fans, I should let you know he lacks discrimination. He will do this to a bare wall sometimes, too. So perhaps it is a kind of praying…”

Both of them humored my taking many pictures of them to share with you…

In the end, it’s the kindness of the people I meet on a trip that most touch my heart.

Our trip included:

Barcelona, Spain

Huesca, Spain

Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, France

Espelette, France

French Basque Country: Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Bayonne, and Biarritz, France

San Sebastián, Spain

Bilbao, Spain

León, Spain

Madrid — Part 1 — Part 2 — Part 3 — this post (Part 4)

What magic have you experienced on a vacation?

Part 3: Marvelous Madrid, Spain — Flamenco by da-AL

November 10, 2018March 10, 2019 da-AL33 Comments

My father was from Spain, so even though I was born and mostly raised in the U.S., the music of my childhood was solely European classical and flamenco. That’s why my upcoming novel is named, “Flamenco & the Sitting Cat,” and here flamenco my marvelous visit to Madrid merits a post of its own.

When it comes to flamenco, Seville gets all of the attention. Madrid’s Casa Patas, however, was amazing!!! My photos turned out awful — instead, here’s someone else’s video from another show. Each night features different performers. As terrific as these young girls are — the adult performers were even better!!!

How I wish young girls everywhere knew that beauty has little to do with popularity, wealth, youth, and plastic surgery. If only every single one of them was encouraged to artistically express unrestrained exuberance, anger, strength, fury, humor, and passion …

The beauty of flamenco is very different from that of Hollywood…

All-time flamenco goddess, Carmen Amaya…

Flamenco star of today, Sara Baras…

Next, in Part 4, Madrid hostess par excellence Henrietta Fielden, her home, and her pets — all delightful enough to merit a separate post and a video!

Other posts about our memorable vacation:

Barcelona, Spain

Huesca, Spain

Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, France

Espelette, France

French Basque Country: Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Bayonne, and Biarritz

San Sebastián, Spain

Bilbao, Spain

León, Spain

Madrid, Spain — Part 1 — Part 2 — this post (Part 3) — Part 4

Have you ever been enchanted by a country’s special dance?

Part 2: Marvelous Madrid, Spain — Parks, Prado, and Sofia by da-AL

November 7, 2018March 10, 2019 da-AL10 Comments

Madrid is such a jam-packed marvel that it deserves more than one post. Spacious parks abound. Here I posed at one that displayed Don Quixote and his devoted Sancho Panza…

da-AL stands beside statues of Don Quixote and Sancho Panza at park in Madrid

We could have spent way more than just a day at the Prado Museum, regarded as among world’s finest art museums. Outside in front of it, a bronze statue of painter Diego Velázquez made by Aniceto Marinas in 1899 greets visitors…

Even the gardens surrounding the Prado are amazing — my eyes were too busy taking it all in for my brain to remind me to take photos. No worries, dear readers. This short video offers a sampling of the collection …

We also visited the National Museum Art Centre Queen Sofia, which is best for housing Picasso’s Guernica painting…

Such is my love of Spain and Flamenco (after all, my novel-in-progress is titled, “Flamenco & the Sitting Cat) that here I include this endearing small pen and ink pen drawing, “Bailaora (Flamenco Dancer)” 1945 by Enrique Herreros that was also there…

Flamenco deserves its own post — visit soon to read Part 3: Marvelous Madrid, Spain.

Our trip’s itinerary in posts:

1. Beautiful Barcelona

2. Wonderful Huesca

3. Pretty Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port

4. Enchanting Espelette

5. Phenomenal French Basque Country

6. Delicious food and seaside dogs in San Sebastián

7. Breathtaking Bilbao

8. Lovely León

9. Marvelous Madrid — Part 1 — this post (Part 2) — Part 3 — Part 4

Are you planning a vacation?

Part 1: Marvelous Madrid, Spain — Graffiti and Royal Palace by da-AL

October 26, 2018November 17, 2018 da-AL31 Comments

da-AL and her husband on the balcony of the Royal Palace of Madrid.

Our three-week Spain/France adventure ended with four nights in Madrid — a city that needs far more time than that to fully appreciate all of its marvelousness — museums, architecture, public art, food (including the world’s oldest restaurant), parks (among them centuries-old gardens), nightlife, and on and on. So much so that this part of our vacation is split into more than one post!

“Flamenco & the Sitting Cat,” my novel-in-progress, is titled for my love of Spain and multi-culturalism. My husband and I arrived tired and late. Driving from León took longer than we planned, and rain made finding our accommodations extra troublesome.

The next morning we slept in, and then took a leisurely stroll that quickly revealed tons of political graffiti, much of it for gender equality, amid the big city hustle-bustle…

Political graffiti in Madrid, Spain.

After a stop for lunch, we started to feel ourselves again, so we ventured further to where the king and his family stay when they’re in town.

The Royal Palace of Madrid was built in 1764. From floors to ceilings, it’s packed with non-stop gorgeous art…

Ceiling art at the Royal Palace of Madrid.

Check out Marvelous Madrid, Spain, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4.

In the meantime, if you’d like to know about the rest of our trip…

It started with a weekend in beautiful Barcelona …

where we rented a car and stopped in wonderful Huesca …

Then crossed into France to pretty saint-jean-pied-de-port …

and the next day spent an afternoon in enchanting Espelette …

For several days in phenomenal French Basque Country, we enjoyed Saint-Jean-de-Luz, Bayonne, and Biarritz …

Back in Spain, we enjoyed delicious food and seaside dogs in San Sebastián …

followed by the breathtaking city of Bilbao …

Before we got to Madrid, there was lovely León!

What’s the longest you’ve taken on a vacation?

Tango Elegante Video: “El Día Que Me Quieras” by da-AL

September 30, 2018March 10, 2019 da-AL47 Comments

Each year, a dear friend opens her home to her dance-loving friends. We share great food and either perform or just enjoy watching.

My love of dance is great — that’s why one of my upcoming novels is titled, “Flamenco & the Sitting Cat”! The style of Argentine tango that my husband I dance is called Tango Elegante, taught by these outstanding teachers.

Our friend’s daughter kindly shot this video of my honey and me…

What’s your favorite dance?…

Cool Art 4 Hot Days at MOLAA by da-AL

August 4, 2017September 16, 2018 da-AL19 Comments

On these heat rash inducing days when all I want to do is take showers and more showers, it’s extra nice to look at beautiful things within a cooled museum. Every time I visit the Museum of Latin American Art, I’m rewarded with something new, fun, and thought provoking.

Little Red Riding Hood reinterpreted in plasticine by Mondogo Argentine art collective

This time I went for The Portfolio Series: Mondongo Argentine show.

Mondongo Argentine art collective wolves in plasticine clothing

My art-loving mom wanted to see it, especially since she’s from there. Lo and behold, the exhibit somewhat disappointing — great but tiny!

‘Somewhat’ only — because I was delighted to see oodles of other great stuff! Dunno how MOLAA decides to publicize one thing and not another — I’ll show you what I mean.

There’re Ramiro Gómez Jr.’s showy magazine photos cleverly brought up to the reality by the insertion of the workers (hover over or tap photos for titles) …

Lorena Waiting for Her Check by Ramiro Gómez Jr.

Martin Sweeping by Ramiro Gómez Jr.

Delia Preparing Dinner by Ramiro Gómez Jr.

Fernando and the Pool by Ramiro Gómez Jr.

Camila Cleaning by Ramiro Gómez Jr.

There’s historical political art …

There’s classically gorgeous stuff …

And then there’s Luis Tapia’s work! How can it be that he’s not given a dedicated calendar event listing when MOLAA’s dedicated an entire room to his work?! Is MOLAA afraid that this little museum, so beloved by all sorts of people, will get all the more popular and they won’t be able to accommodate everyone? (Hover over or tap pix to see titles.)

Barrío Barbie by Luis Tapia

Camino de Sueños by Luis Tapia

Three Graces by Luis Tapia

Cruising Hollywood: Homage to Magu by Luis Tapia

Corazon Negro by Luis Tapia (front)

Corazon Negro by Luis Tapia (back)

Chuy con su Carga by Luis Tapia

Abuela by Luis Tapia (front)

Abuela by Luis Tapia (back)

Pachuco Way by Luis Tapia

Who’s your favorite artist?

L.A. Iconic Artist Frank Romero and Frida Kahlo at Museum of Latin American Art by da-AL

May 3, 2017May 7, 2017 da-AL42 Comments

Iconic Los Angeles artist Frank Romero has helped define Los Angeles.

Los Angeles beauty and grit are common themes in Romero's paintings. — Los Angeles beauty and injustice are common themes in Romero’s paintings.

It’s about time that he has a solo show at the Museum of Latin American Art (MOLAA, located in Long Beach).

Now well into his 70s, Romero continues to paints every day. — Now well into his 70s, Romero still paints daily.

A long time activist, he’s a self-described visual historian and storyteller.

“Death of Rubén Salazar,” 1986, depicts the night the Los Angeles Times' first Chicano journalist was killed. — “Death of Rubén Salazar,” 1986, depicts the night the Los Angeles Times’ first Chicano journalist was killed.

I say he’s also a journalist and a feminist.

The fabulous museum opened in the mid-90s. Up until a few years ago, it only displayed art by Central American and South American artists. No North American art.