The months of April and May often see a number of celebrations in Spanish pueblos dedicated to patron Saints. Local food, wine, and dancing along with an overall carnival atmosphere is quite a sight to see.
I was lucky enough to have my camera with me for the celebration at "La Ermita", the little chapel dedicated to Nuestra Señora de los Remedios just outside of town.
A local dance of by "Los Jateros" was performed. This very old, very traditional dance is entirely unique to my little town. It looks like an interesting combination of European cultures, and--although I'm no anthropologist--I'm going to guess it's probably some kind of gift from the Iberio-Celts.
Thank you ancient peoples of Europe for providing me with colorful fodder for my blog.
Running
Running seems to be going pretty well, when I manage to keep from wiping out. For the second time in the last couple of months, I found myself in slow motion, eating dirt. But all's cleaned up and healing, and I've made the resolve to always wear my contacts when I'm taking the really uneven/overgrown paths around here.
I'm putting in five days each week, with speed days on Wednesday, long days on Saturday, and rest on the T-days.
During the week of rain we had (which seems as though that may've been the only wet period during my entire stay here), I spent my time doing speed intervals jumping rope. I was pleased to find it pretty enjoyable, and surprised at feeling worn out afterward. Kids are tough.
Now that the glorious sun is back, the only unfortunate aspect of my training is that I've been confined to nasty early mornings, or questionably lit dusk.
Reading
Although I am (once again) millennia behind many other readers' material examinations, I'm still enjoying some more classical reads which I think are worth sharing and reflecting upon.
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote 9337495 Jack Whites
So creepy and great. The story unfolds brilliantly. It begins in media res, and offers a number of flashbacks from a swath of historical periods in the lives of many of the characters. It's also told from the point of view of various people in this motley, so you as a reader can begin to discover for yourself, "the ties that bind." Quick, satisfying read.
Ulysses by James Joyce 43080394 Pints of Guinness
Steven returns!
This has been described as one of the best novels of the twentieth century for one reason only: it is. Joyce's almost shocking gift of mimicking the incredible evolution of written English provides great insight into his talent as a writer, but also raises some questions as to who the "real" Joyce is. Fascinating. His way of streaming, blending, and complimenting the flows of thoughts, sights, sounds, and surroundings of his characters while pulling meaningful symbolism throughout the novel is incredible. The motifs and commentary related to modern colonialism is quite complex and still relevant today.
Sherlock...The entire series by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle 204072 Robert Downey Jr.s
I've been on some kind of express kick careening through the annals of Baker Street. I'm not really sure why, but I took it upon myself to read the complete tales of my favorite London detective. I haven't been disappointed. The subtle dry humor, and the fun of piecing together the clues has been a pleasant source of entertainment. The best part is that you can pick up and leave off almost anywhere in the series of short stories, or mix in one of the four novels without confusion. The little self-contained accounts make it a nice travel companion.
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison 9 3-penny Mary Janes
What a powerful social commentary. It's Morrison's first book, and you can see her typical fascination with the story of a family through the eyes of its members. Again, as with much of her writing, it can be humorous, difficult to read, and inspiring all at once. It's a short, and very fast read, but it provides the audience with yet another glimpse of why Ms. Morrison is such an important contemporary American author, entirely deserving of her Nobel status. Although Morrison has said she regrets that the book failed in that it touched, rather than moved many of its readers, I can say that I was very compelled by the narrative.
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