Castillos (con encanto)

Previous posts here at The Bent Page mentioned a few castles in Spain. In the process of planning my next stay, I rediscovered a book called Castillos con encanto, which I had purchased in Spain. This book is one of a series of books published with the con encanto tag.

castbookThis book provides plenty of useful information, not to mention dozens of great photographs. There is also a map section, which works well when doing general trip planning. You will need Spanish skills as the book is written entirely in that language. However, it is an opportunity to further your involvement in the culture as you work out your plans.

Saludos!

Published in: on May 14, 2009 at 1:07 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Writing Letters

Letter writing seems to have fallen off in this age of email and the text message. (Forget stuff like twitter, facebook, and such). However, there are still those people out there who take pen in hand (or typewriter or word processor) and scribe a message to someone. I happen to be one of these people, employing my fountain pens to good use. For stationary these days I’ve taken to recycling old nautical charts that are out of date. I have the good fortune to have made the acquaintance of several people with whom I exchange letters regularly. They are an excellent way to concentrate your thoughts, learn something new, and enjoy a friendship.

But if you want to see a master letter craftsperson, check out The Missive Maven’s blog. Here is a direct link: http://missivemaven.blogspot.com/. She corresponds with many people from around the globe and encourages others to write to her. Plus, her letters are written on various types of paper, her stamps are varied and interesting, and she uses all manner of writing instruments and inks. The creativity shown here is stunningly impressive. Take a look at her blog. I’m sure you’ll find it fascinating and perhaps inspirational. Maybe you’ll write to that old friend, college roommate, or favorite relative as a result.

Besides, isn’t it a thrill to get something in the mail? Of course! I send literally hundreds of postcards each year, but that’s the subject for another post soon. In the mean time, get a pen, some paper, and write. It’s good for your brain and your relationships, whatever they may be.

Published in: on May 9, 2009 at 3:04 am  Comments (2)  
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Off The Broiler, a great blog

If you enjoy all kinds of food and want to read excellent reviews, check out Off The Broiler. You can follow this link: http://offthebroiler.wordpress.com/.

I’ve been reading this blog for about a year now and have not been disappointed. All sorts of food are covered from Asian to Colombian and more. The photography is excellent as well. Check it out; I’m sure you’ll find it fascinating.

This is one of the things I like most about the internet, the ability to get first hand information. And when it comes to food, an honest review can be hard to come by.

Published in: on May 6, 2009 at 1:22 pm  Leave a Comment  
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La Tienda, (Spain on order)

La Tienda is a web-based supplier of many things Spanish. I mean, they can supply you with everything from foodstuffs to crockery, all of it from Spain. If you enjoy Spanish food and culture the way I do, I recommend you follow this link: http://www.tienda.com/

You won’t be disappointed in the products and services at La Tienda as they have sources directly in Spain where the real stuff can be procured. I can’t wait to get back across the ocean to the Iberian Peninsula. During all my trips to Spain, I’ve never had anything other than an exceptional experience. Things have changed over the years but mostly for the better. And if you can’t make the journey, try the recipes on La Tienda’s site. It’ll give you a literal taste of Spain that is hard to match.

Published in: on May 5, 2009 at 2:05 pm  Leave a Comment  
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