Went to Barcelona for the weekend and ate loads. We tried delicious tapas and pinxos everywhere and more or less had a wonderful time. Highlights include eating little squids (chipperones), returning to my old pinxos bar haunt, and finding cutsey shoes for me. Finally, in a category all its own, we have eating dinner in a taverna in the Poble Sec neighborhood.
We arrived at 10:30 for a Barcelona dinner with a group of six. The entry way was as long a shop and filled with wine vats of all sizes, from table top to VW Van top! When we asked for a table, the gentleman looked in the dining room, looked at us, and looked back in the dining room again. Then he said, "What we're going to do is this: each of you take a glass for wine...." He insisted that we each take a little glass off the table and then showed us four vats (table top size). There were two red and two white. After giving us careful instructions to the tune of, "glass here, turn valve," he disappeared to find us a table, leaving us to amuse ourselves completely with the wine and cutesy glasses.
Already impressed, we were happy to hear that he had a table for us. Admittedly, giving us wine and vats at our disposal didn't translate into a rush to get into the dining room, but he eventually coaxed us to a table. Within a couple of minutes, the lights went out and in came a waiter holding a bottle of cava high over his head - with a sparkler stuck in it! A few minutes, the ritual repeated itself for another table. Luckily, one of us realized how the game was played, ordered cava, and we got our own special show. On top of all that, the food was super.
21 February 2007
Travel in Groups
20 February 2007
Bad Theater
Went to the Toneelschuur in Haarlem today for my first dose ever of Dutch theater. It was exciting - would I manage the language? Would the play be fun? Do I have the same taste as the friend who suggested we go?
In the end, it turned out to be the longest two hours of theater of my life. Not that I'm claiming to be a big theater buff, but I have enjoyed a show or two or dozen in my time. The play was called "Elk wat wils. Iets van Shakespeare" or, roughly translated, "Something from Shakespeare." They describe it as Shakespeare put through the shredder and back together again. So, count on something non-traditional but recognizable in bits.
First of all, it was Shakespeare in translation. Unrecognizable and, because it was all pasted back together out of sequence and order, plotless. There were entertaining costumes and a lot of Beatles tunes played on a Hammond organ and sung by the actors. However most of the delivery was more or less deadpan, and I think they were doing it on purpose. The first two sections had entertaining costumes and the occasional songs to make it nearly bearable. The last section was four actors in matching suits standing at microphones going on and on and on. It was hard core.
This play was a disaster. After the first 20 minutes, it became apparent that nothing else was going to happen. After about 45 minutes had gone by, I was wondering if anyone would object to going home during the intermission. After an hour and 15 minutes had gone by, I realized there was no intermission in sight. The last half an hour was pure endurance. My fellow attendees agreed and we laughed all the way home.
We're going to another play in a couple weeks. I'll let you know how it goes. Um - has anyone seen "Winterkant?" If not, I have an extra ticket.
In the end, it turned out to be the longest two hours of theater of my life. Not that I'm claiming to be a big theater buff, but I have enjoyed a show or two or dozen in my time. The play was called "Elk wat wils. Iets van Shakespeare" or, roughly translated, "Something from Shakespeare." They describe it as Shakespeare put through the shredder and back together again. So, count on something non-traditional but recognizable in bits.
First of all, it was Shakespeare in translation. Unrecognizable and, because it was all pasted back together out of sequence and order, plotless. There were entertaining costumes and a lot of Beatles tunes played on a Hammond organ and sung by the actors. However most of the delivery was more or less deadpan, and I think they were doing it on purpose. The first two sections had entertaining costumes and the occasional songs to make it nearly bearable. The last section was four actors in matching suits standing at microphones going on and on and on. It was hard core.
This play was a disaster. After the first 20 minutes, it became apparent that nothing else was going to happen. After about 45 minutes had gone by, I was wondering if anyone would object to going home during the intermission. After an hour and 15 minutes had gone by, I realized there was no intermission in sight. The last half an hour was pure endurance. My fellow attendees agreed and we laughed all the way home.
We're going to another play in a couple weeks. I'll let you know how it goes. Um - has anyone seen "Winterkant?" If not, I have an extra ticket.
12 February 2007
Real Life TV: Animal Cops
There's only one thing to do when you're sick - check out afternoon TV. Not to worry, this comes after reading books and even spending time working.
Did you know there's a show called "Animal Cops?" They save animals from negligent owners, sometimes with police back up. Hilarious. Once they've rescued the neglected animals, the owners can go to court to try and get their animals back. That, of course, means that there are also hard hitting, court scenes in addition to heart wrenching sick animal scenes. It's like "Law and Order" for animals.
This afternoon in Houston, they've had seven underfed ponies in desperate need of pedicures, dog owners who didn't notice their animal dead and stiff hanging on the fence by its chain, and a case of mistaken identity involving dwarf Siberian hamsters. More soon...
Did you know there's a show called "Animal Cops?" They save animals from negligent owners, sometimes with police back up. Hilarious. Once they've rescued the neglected animals, the owners can go to court to try and get their animals back. That, of course, means that there are also hard hitting, court scenes in addition to heart wrenching sick animal scenes. It's like "Law and Order" for animals.
This afternoon in Houston, they've had seven underfed ponies in desperate need of pedicures, dog owners who didn't notice their animal dead and stiff hanging on the fence by its chain, and a case of mistaken identity involving dwarf Siberian hamsters. More soon...
Under the Frog
Tibor Fischer's Under the Frog: a black comedy reads well. There's no clear plot to dive into or storyline to follow as such, but it is a compelling read nonetheless. I managed to get through it in four sickness, painting filled days and enjoyed it quite a bit as well. After years of pushing through books in order to have read them and reading too many books that start well but lag in the middle or the end, simply finding a book that leaves me wanting to get back to it has become exciting.
Essentially, the novel is the story of post-World War II Hungary up until a revolution in 1956. Of course, knowing nothing about Hungary, let alone Hungarian history, I just enjoyed the story and countless unpronounceable names. Initially, the novel feels like a collection of short stories held together across breaks in time and place by a couple of main characters. By the middle of the novel, one character in particular, Gyuri, has taken center stage and he remains the focus of the story. He plays basketball on an amateur team, moves through a variety of jobs in which he works hard at not working, avoids the army on most of the time, is arrested on numerous occasions, and tries to keep up with his best friend's success with ladies. All of this happens within the context of communist Hungary.
There is a lot of emphasis on Fischer's sense of humor in reviews and commentary on the novel. Yes, he's funny and yes, it's an unexpected context, but it is not a laugh out loud funny novel. It's a novel that will have you wincing more than giggling but always marveling at the creativity that finds humor in burning your own bed to make sure you wake up on time for basketball practice or winning a moral battle by eating more chocolate ice cream than the opposition can handle.
Perhaps what is most interesting about the novel is the way that Fischer addresses the political context. Gyuri is not interested in politics except insofar as living in a communist country makes everything complicated and difficult. There is too much bureaucracy and not enough fun. He is obsessed with travelling more than 200km away from Budapest, but of course that is impossible. In short, his relationship with his government and country is similar to the way that all teenagers and young adults view their government and country; a given that makes life complicated and to which there much be better alternatives. However, Gyuri is neither a hero nor a visionary. He is just trying to make the best of his situation.
I enjoyed Under the Frog, not in the least for the great title, which makes little more sense after reading it than before. Hungarian communism and revolution don't sound like entertaining topics, but Fischer has a curious sense of humor and the daring to use it in unlikely places.
Note: Larry Wolff's review of Under the Frog in the New York Times Book Review doesn't do much justice to the book, but it is a comparison. He also makes some references to other books - that means he's well read.
Essentially, the novel is the story of post-World War II Hungary up until a revolution in 1956. Of course, knowing nothing about Hungary, let alone Hungarian history, I just enjoyed the story and countless unpronounceable names. Initially, the novel feels like a collection of short stories held together across breaks in time and place by a couple of main characters. By the middle of the novel, one character in particular, Gyuri, has taken center stage and he remains the focus of the story. He plays basketball on an amateur team, moves through a variety of jobs in which he works hard at not working, avoids the army on most of the time, is arrested on numerous occasions, and tries to keep up with his best friend's success with ladies. All of this happens within the context of communist Hungary.
There is a lot of emphasis on Fischer's sense of humor in reviews and commentary on the novel. Yes, he's funny and yes, it's an unexpected context, but it is not a laugh out loud funny novel. It's a novel that will have you wincing more than giggling but always marveling at the creativity that finds humor in burning your own bed to make sure you wake up on time for basketball practice or winning a moral battle by eating more chocolate ice cream than the opposition can handle.
Perhaps what is most interesting about the novel is the way that Fischer addresses the political context. Gyuri is not interested in politics except insofar as living in a communist country makes everything complicated and difficult. There is too much bureaucracy and not enough fun. He is obsessed with travelling more than 200km away from Budapest, but of course that is impossible. In short, his relationship with his government and country is similar to the way that all teenagers and young adults view their government and country; a given that makes life complicated and to which there much be better alternatives. However, Gyuri is neither a hero nor a visionary. He is just trying to make the best of his situation.
I enjoyed Under the Frog, not in the least for the great title, which makes little more sense after reading it than before. Hungarian communism and revolution don't sound like entertaining topics, but Fischer has a curious sense of humor and the daring to use it in unlikely places.
Note: Larry Wolff's review of Under the Frog in the New York Times Book Review doesn't do much justice to the book, but it is a comparison. He also makes some references to other books - that means he's well read.
10 February 2007
Painting Virus
This weekend we are (finally) painting the downstairs. It's going well thanks to sage advice from a patient expert and a good dose of natural talent. No worries - neither the advice nor the talent is mine. What I've decided to do in order to make this weekend more exciting is to get catch some kind of virus. It's one of those random runny nose, coughing, body aches, and sleepy viruses that just stink. So, the downstairs is looking great and I'm feeling quite sorry for myself.
On the upside, at least I don't have to feel guilty for not going running!
On the upside, at least I don't have to feel guilty for not going running!
07 February 2007
More Reasons...
Mainly thinking about how little I post anything here. Especially when I have friends who are doing a much better job and using cool dots.
What's occupying me lately is lots of last minute lesson planning, getting ready for house painting, and finishing my teacher certification course. The last one is tomorrow, so there's a good reason to stay up too late and not get enough sleep. Good thing I looked at the map, though - I'd have been very lost and missed my evaluation talk tomorrow!
What's occupying me lately is lots of last minute lesson planning, getting ready for house painting, and finishing my teacher certification course. The last one is tomorrow, so there's a good reason to stay up too late and not get enough sleep. Good thing I looked at the map, though - I'd have been very lost and missed my evaluation talk tomorrow!
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