Of all the Spanish traditions I have written about in my blog, I don’t think I’ve ever mentioned about eating the twelve grapes on New Year’s Eve, our “Nochevieja.” Spaniards eat each grape as the clock strikes midnight in order to have good luck in the coming year. Depending on whom you ask, the twelve […]
Breathless: Take Two
The 34th Philadelphia Film Festival last month was wonderful. Out of the one hundred plus films I saw fourteen. Junior varsity ranking compared to the badge holders, but I chose well. La Grazia by the Italian visionary Paolo Sorrentino was one of my favorites as well as Calle Málaga with iconic Carmen Maura still beautiful […]
Carmen and Boléro
Did I ever tell you that I love Philadelphia? Not only because of its Art Museum, The Barnes Foundation, The Rodin Museum and now the newly opened Calder Gardens; but also, for its world renown Philadelphia Orchestra and Opera Philadelphia, without forgetting that there is a daily direct flight to Madrid from its International Airport. […]
Prêt-à-Porter
I just returned from a trip to Switzerland and Northern Italy with my daughter Jane. She tells me that I should blog about what is like to travel with seniors. I wanted to write about European fashion, comparing the gorgeous couture window displays with the Prêt-à-Porter attire preferred by tourists. But, since I’m a Baby […]
Love Match
Growing up in Spain, tennis was one of the most popular sports, just about everyone played tennis at school. I started playing when my family moved to Madrid and our parents became members of the snooty Apostol Santiago Club, where we could only play wearing white. I’m sure my mother was behind this ploy since […]
The Heart Wants What It Wants
The American Dictionary says that this phrase means “our emotions and desires can be unpredictable and not always governed by logic or reason.” Supposedly, it was used by Emily Dickinson in a letter to Mary Bowles in the spring of 1862 upon the death of Mary’s husband, Samuel Bowles, the editor and publisher of the […]