My long-time dream came true this fall when I was able to visit Andalucía, Spain. The region has always attracted me with its wonderful history,  warm weather,  beaches, Mediterranean food, Pablo Picasso and other famous artists and especially the laid-back life style of the people.

It is both the most populated (8.4 million) and the most southern autonomous community in the kingdom of Spain (reino de España). It is also the only European region which has both an Atlantic and Mediterranean coastline. Over 70%  of its over 500 miles of coastline feature sandy beaches (playas), making it a very popular destination for tourists. Some of which stay in Andalucía for several months as the weather stays all year round sunny and warm.

Some of the cities to visit are Málaga, Sevilla, Granada, Marbella, Torremolinos, Benalmádena and Cádiz. Sevilla (Seville) is the capital of Andalucía. It is also one of the warmest cities in Europe reaching temperatures over 40C in the summer. I especially enjoyed Málaga, home town of Pablo Picasso. This city’s biggest landmark is the Castle (Castillo) de Gibralfaro which dates back to the 14^th century with some stunning views (vistas) over the city. Also the Cathedral, Port (Puerto) de Málaga, Museum (Museo) Picasso and Constitution Square (Plaza de Constitución) are must see places.

The Spanish lifestyle calls you to stay up late into the evenings when people gather in the restaurants or coffee houses (cafés) to eat tapas or to drink hot chocolate and eat churros (fried dough pastries). Tapas (a variety of appetizers or snacks) are said to have originated in Andalucía. Popular tapas in all of Spain include shrimp, fried squid, cured ham, chorizo (spicy Spanish sausage), and potato omelettes (tortillas).

Table full of mediterranean appetizers, tapas or antipasto

The most enchanting feature of this region is the Moorish past, which has influenced the famous flamenco dance. The authentic flamenco song, sung a cappella (without musical accompaniment), is the cante jondo, an anguished lament expressing love, sadness, and loss.

Meria (Nina’s mom)

Flamenco is a dance that originated in the south of Spain in the region of Andalucía in the 18th-century. This area of Spain has been heavily influenced by Arabic culture as Arab people were in power here from 711 until 1492. Flamenco also has roots in the gitano or Roma (gypsy) culture.

Traditional flamenco comes in two varieties: jondo, which invokes a type of mournful and soulful singing and carries deep emotional meaning, and a more lighthearted version, alegría, which means happiness in Spanish.  Nowadays there are dozens of newer versions of flamenco as artists around the world experiment with this art form. One thing remains constant however, the rhythms are very complex and take a long time to master.

There are three parts to Flamenco: the guitarist, the singer and the dancer(s). Both males and females can take any part but one most commonly sees male singers and guitarists with female dancers. Generally a performance is broken up into sets with the dancers taking turns dancing alone, in pairs or small groups. Dancers use numerous props to accentuate their movements including their dresses, shawls, castanets and colorful fans called abanicos as well as special high-heeled flamenco shoes that make the distinctive tapping sound on the wooden stage.

Flamenco continues to be very popular in Spain, especially in the city of Seville. Since 1980 a bi-annual month-long festival by the name of Bienal de flamenco has been held there in the month of September in even numbered years. It features numerous performances of both traditional and modern takes on flamenco. Another way to catch live flamenco in Spain is by visiting tablaos. These flamenco bars are open late into the night and serve local specialties such as sangría, an alcoholic beverage made of wine, citrus fruits, rum and carbonated water. Also on offer are Spanish appetizers called tapas. These are commonly made with shrimp, octopus, and chorizo, a spicy Spanish sausage.

If you are heading to Seville on holiday here is a website for information on seeing live shows. Luckily you do not have to fly all the way to Seville to see flamenco as we have a great venue right here in Vancouver. Grab some friends and head down to Kino Café in the Cambie Village showcasing live flamenco Wednesday through Sunday nights.