Back and recovered from the trip to New York City of last week. I think there is no better way to enjoy some days off than travelling to some unknown place and enjoy the sun walking from dawn to dusk.
New York was not an exception. Furthermore, when you get to NYC for the first time, you can only wonder “Am I really here?”. Because everything is really familiar to you, but not real. You have seen it in all kind of movies, TV series, documentaries, etc. There is not a big gap between your expectations and what you get. It’s a trip to realize that everything we see in the movies… is inspired in a real place, and you are there: New York.
It is said that the World’s capitals are London, Tokyo and New York, and this latter was still missing in my list. After having visited all three of them, I think Tokyo and New York are at a different level in terms of size and dynamism, although the fact that Tokyo is in Japan provided some quiet experiences even in the city centre that I did not manage to see in Manhattan.
New York’s transport is great… if we exclude weekends for the evaluation (they do construction works every single weekend and it is a small mess). I think this is mainly a result of a decision back in 1811, when they decided to define a perfect grid for the island. The result is that lines are straight: either north-south, or east-west, and it is very easy to orientate in the city with the streets having numbers instead of names: really practical, isn’t it? There is a big flaw in the subway: you have no indication of when next train is coming (and which one is it): a bit confusing.
Food is no surprise either. American culture and cuisine has been successfully exported to the rest of the world. We all know burgers, pizzas (we know them through the Americans), bacon and pancakes… Well, that’s it. Not really healthy, but trust me, the burgers are awesome over there.
Going to New York, you must also make sure you attend a couple of events and places. If you are into art (not my case), you should not miss MoMA and Metropolitan (very similar to British Museum), but there are some other “musts”.
A basketball match at Madison Square Garden is a great experience. If you are lucky, go for a Knicks match. We could not as the season was over at NBA, but we went for a WNBA’s New York Liberty match: 13,000 people and a lot of fun. Another recommendation is the Gospel service on Sunday in Harlem: a different approach to what we know over here, with people singing and with some visual aids (videos, presentations, karaoke)… And, of course, Central Park: a huge park in the middle of Manhattan to (try to) disconnect from the urban landscape without leaving the city. Just like Retiro in Madrid or Englischer Garten in Munich.
More of New York in coming posts.
Powered by Twitter Tools
Powered by Twitter Tools
Powered by Twitter Tools
Today, I have given a speech at Toastmasters about my birthplace’s festivities. Although I have written lots of times about it in this blog, and also share lots of pictures, I think this time I put the festivities more in context.
Year 1276. Many battles are taking place all over the Iberian Peninsula between the Moors, who have lived here for six centuries; and the Christians who are trying to re-conquer their once-ruled kingdom. One of these battles occurs in a valley in the East of Spain, in a small town in a strategic location near a river, that the Arabs call Alcoy. The Christians had already reconquered the city, but Mohammad Abu Abdallah Ben Hudzäil al Sähuir, a leading Arab Moorish Commander, also known as Al-Azraq, was besieging Alcoy with his Army. The Christians were suffering a scarce of food, and were about to be defeated… But they weren’t. They managed to kill Al-Azraq and the rest of his Army, and a legend says it was thanks to a knight on a white horse, called Saint George.
A couple of centuries later, Alcoy started conmemorating this divine help in the “Moros y Cristianos” festivities honouring Saint George, and they have become one of the most beautiful spectacles in Europe.
It all starts on April 21st in the evening, when more than 5000 alcoyanos and 20 bands of music, gather in the main square of Alcoy to sing the Festivities anthem. That moment is magic for me. I have goose pimples every single year… almost like when I give a speech in Toastmasters.
The following day is the day, the visitors enjoy at its most. it’s time for the Militar Parade. Both the Christian and the Moorish Armies show not only their military power with their soldiers, armors and weapons, but also their wealth with colorful dances, brilliant treasures, and virtuous musicians.
The last day is time for the battle, for the noise and for some theatre remembering the history… Thousands of kilos of gunpowder are shot by the two Armies, and Alcoy is covered by a thick cloud as a result. In the morning, the Christians fail to defend the castle against the Moorish Army, and in the evening, with Saint George’s help, they recover the City and Alcoy remain in peace for almost one year… (until next year’s festivities)
I know you are now thinking: “I cannot miss this spectacle full of colour, music, theatre and gunpowder. It sounds like a lot of fun”. You are lucky, because next year, these festivities are exceptionally on a weekend, so it is easier for you to attend. Book it in your calendars: second weekend of May 2011.
See you there.
