Anyway, we got into Madrid and checked into the hotel around...4ish? Some folks immediately set out to shop while others—myself and Cory included—opted for the Prado museum. Worth noting is that students under 25 get into the Prado and La Reina Sofia for free! Despite being an active undergraduate student, I **do not** look 25 and had to fork out the 15 euro entrance fee, but it was worth it. Cory and I had limited time so we had to do a speed-run of sorts through the Prado—which is not the ideal way to tour the Prado—but we got to see most of what we wanted to see.
I did a blog post on the Prado in 2024 that is probably worth a revisit if you want to know more about the works hosted in the museum.
Still a fan of Goya’s dark paintings. More of a fan of Valasquez. Bummed I didn’t get to see the Bosch.
From the Prado, we hightailed it to Tablao Flamenco 1911 for dinner and a flamenco show. Apparently, we did the flamenco show at the beginning of the 2024 trip.
But it felt right to close out our 2026 program with a really solid performance. The Tablao Flamenco 1911 institution is allegedly the world’s oldest flamenco show (so it claims) but I’m wondering if they mean oldest contiguously running flamenco show (or something like that) as it originated in Andalusia during the 18th century...
I mean, whatever. It was a good show. The musical accompaniment was 10/10. My favorite was the percussion box (and the person playing it), but all of the musicians were super talented and genuinely seemed to have a great time playing with each other and with the dancers.
There were 3 featured dancers:
- “El Yiyo”
- Cynthia Cano
- and...a mystery. I couldn’t identify the other dancer from the website, but she was also exceptionally talented.
And here’s a little more about the history of flamenco—I changed “gypsy” to Romani but all other language is directly from the website: https://www.elduendebarcelona.com/blog-about-flamenco/flamenco
The origins of flamenco: multicultural roots
Flamenco emerged in Andalusia, a region that for centuries was a melting pot of cultures. Its origins date back to the confluence of Arab, Jewish, Romani, and Christian influences that coexisted in the southern Iberian Peninsula. This cultural diversity became fertile ground for the birth of an artistic expression as complex as it is emotional.
Romani Influence: The Romani people, who arrived in Spain in the 15th century, brought with them intense music full of passion and emotion. Their oral culture and itinerant lifestyle played a fundamental role in the formation of flamenco.
Arab Influence: The Muslim occupation of the Iberian Peninsula left an indelible legacy in Andalusian music. Melodic scales, hypnotic rhythms, and the use of instruments like the guitar have roots in this tradition.
Jewish and Moorish Influence: Sephardic melodies and chants from the Moors contributed to flamenco's distinctive melancholic and spiritual tone.
Flamenco is, therefore, the result of a rich blend of cultures and a historical context marked by coexistence and struggle. This "art of minorities" found in the voice, body, and guitar a way to express joys, sorrows, struggles, and hopes.
After the show, folks were free to do whatever. Cory and I had to return to the hotel to hit some work deadlines, but we eventually rallied and met Jeff and Aaron at el Mercado de San Miguel, where we met Arturo and his wife (whose name I can’t remember—I’m so sorry!), who are from Yucatán in Mexico. We spent over an hour talking to them and learning about good adventure and cultural destinations in Mexico. As a result of their kindness and friendship, I have adopted Mexico as my secondary team for the Copa Mundial 2026 (behind the USA) and am currently wearing the Mexico futbol jersey I bought in the Plaza Mayor on the night that Mexico won its first game in pool play. I’m going all in on Mexico. I’ve spent at least an hour on this flight reading up on the team (El Tri), its World Cup history, and its current roster.
No comments:
Post a Comment