Catching up on trivia in Sevilla!
Trip Start
Apr 27, 2008
1
19
27
Trip End
Jun 05, 2008
Seville,
Andalusia,
Spain
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Saving Sevilleīs story for another day
Bread for breakfast, for lunch and dinner, or the Spanish equivalent. Bread has been a theme on this blog a couple of times. So letīs finish that story. In Spanish, this delicacy shares its name with a deity, pan, the god of shepherds and flocks, of fertility and the breeze. Honestly! It is also present in religious symbolism, in Hebrew Christ is the Bread of Life just as Bethlehem, the city where he was born, is the House of Bread. The story is getting more interesting, isnīt it?
However, its origins go back even further. In the Neolithic era ground cereal grains were mixed with water forming a grain-paste that could be considered the seed of bread as we know it today
Sun or shade? Bull Ring, Sevilla
. Egyptians invented fermented bread by adding yeast to the bread-making process and created the first bread-making ovens. The Greeks brought experimentation with the addition of new grains such as oats and rye, spices, nuts and dried fruit.The staple became essential to the common people. However in the Middle Ages due to widespread famine bread became a coveted food. The defined social hierarchies of that time were also reflected in the bread: white bread was exclusive to the rich and wealthy. In modern times flour quality gradually improved, etc. And this nearly completes our story. Nearly. But letīs bring it up-to-date.
In Spain, there are over 300 varieties of bread. Each one has its own story behind it, which, you will be glad to know, I wonīt relate to you. What I find of interest is that this delicious and versatile staple has lost consumers in the last few years here in Spain. In 2006, the average Spaniard consumed 54 kg less than half of what they ate in 1964 when they consumed 134 kg. (2.2 lbs. to a K.) But maybe this isnīt very curious at all. I mean most people are watching their waists (grow), arenīt they?
Other observations:
-Most Spanish women seem to be short, square-shouldered and fuerte (strong). Donīt mess with them!
-As we travel to the cities, all the Spaniards dress. All of them. Men in suits and ties (everyday, even without a job to go to such as retirees), or maybe no tie and a sports coat
Tilework, Plaza Espana
.-There are more menīs clothing shops per square km. than in any country we have traveled in.
-The women donīt let the men outshine them. Suits, heels, silk, traditional. All stylish. Always. This isnīt the north where the women work in the field and shovel...you know.
-Spaniards love to discuss everything; talk; relate; tell; discourse. You get the idea. And they can make a cup of coffee last for hours while having this discussion (while people wait for their table). This isnīt an issue here.
-The sub-prime mess has affected Spain as well as everywhere in the world. Building is down.
-Many young people have high degrees (remember my story of Kristof from Hungary?) Same deal. Highly educated and no jobs for them. They want to stay; they will probably have to leave or continue waiting tables.
-Pedestrians can cross safely. Cars must stop for them in cross-walks. But if there isnīt a pedestrian there, the car can go.
-Restaurants can be out of food listed on the menu. For no reason. Or, for no reason we understand. "No lo tenemos." We donīt have it.
Cigar Factory; Have you seen the operaCarmen?
Do you have a problem with that?-Spaniards have ferias or fiestas most all year for many reasons, but mostly religious. Today and last week was the celebration of corpus, the body of Christ. The first hint were the many women we saw carrying red roses last Thursday in Barcelona. Then, today in Sevilla, we saw at least two processions leading up to local churches--bands playing; parishioners holding huge tall burning candles; altar boys, older ones in robes and priests; and the floats carrying saints and being carried. They were carrying the images of the saint being celebrated, or the baby Jesus. And underneath? There wee men carrying these floats. All we could see were their feet and pantīs bottoms, all white. I got tons of photos!
This is all of the trivia I can think of right now. Must run. It is cocktail hour somewhere in the world, and we must honor that tradition! Ciao, Dick and Sue
Comments
yo tambien (me too!)
I loved the socializing in Spain. I slowed down to enjoy 2 hour lunches with lots of food, wine and talk. I think I laughed more in 4 weeks there than the last 3 years in the US! It's so easy to eat bread when you sit so long at a table. I could never stay up for dinner though.
Keep us posted... susan
Svilla
Sue and Dick,
Glad to hear you both spent soem time Sevilla. It is truely and amazing mix of arabic and southern European cultures. Ian and spent 3 days there and were amazed by the richness of the architecture and the number of monuments. We enjoyed flamenco music and dancing and experienced a bullfight. We wondered who attended this event and soon realised that all age groups and gender attend bullfights and they really understand what si going on. We certainly enjoyed the myriad of caffes and the relaxed nature of the Spaniards. We witnessed the most rich and vibrant Sunday market with thousands of people moving around the stalls shoulder to shoulder. Once again the Arabic influence was overwhelming. You mention the size of women, but did you notice that there aren't many overweight women in Spain and they all smoke. Also there seems an understanding between young men and women that transcends any sexual overtones which is present in Aussie and Amercian society. Young women seem to be freer to enter bars and caffe without any undue attention from a male suitor. Anyway enough of narrow observations as I'm sure there are problems.
Svilla
Sue and Dick,
Glad to hear you both spent some time in Sevilla. It is truely an amazing mix of arabic and southern European cultures. Ian and I spent 3 days there and were amazed by the richness of the architecture and the number of monuments. We enjoyed flamenco music and dancing and experienced a bullfight. We wondered who attended this event and soon realised that all age groups and gender attend bullfights and they really understand what is going on. We certainly enjoyed the myriad of caffes and the relaxed nature of the Spaniards. We witnessed the most rich and vibrant Sunday market with thousands of people moving around the stalls shoulder to shoulder. Once again the Arabic influence was overwhelming. You mention the size of women, but did you notice that there aren't many overweight women in Spain and they all smoke. Also there seems to be an understanding between young men and women that transcends any sexual overtones which is present in English speaking countries. Young women seem to be freer to enter bars and caffe without any undue attention from a male suitor. Anyway enough of narrow observations as I'm sure there are problems.
bullfights and flamenco
We saw a bullfight in Madrid and for some reason I did not know all the bulls get killed. We kept saying 'Oh my goodness!' for 3 hours!! What an experience. I felt better to read Jung, the pshchotherapist, note that we would have more war if we did not have bullfights (and football) etc to get out human aggresion.
IN Cordoba we were eating and drinking in a Plaza and noticed young firls dressed in flamenco outfits. I followed them and saw a recital. We bought tickets and had the best night in Spain. Watch this youtube movie of 4 years old girls doing Flamenco. Hilarious. These are the stars of tomarrow!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=WYZLXa5KGq0
Susana (susan west)