Illuminated Manuscripts

Before the invention of the printing press, comic books, iPads, and other forms of delivering images with the written word, there was the illuminated manuscript. I like that term. All sorts of meanings lurk within it. While visiting Spain, I came across a number of such books in both original form and modern reproductions.

The colors pop off the page, giving your imagination a bit more fuel than words alone.

Some are bolder than others in both imagery and colors. The example above, with its reds really grabs the eye.

There’s also plenty of white space in the margins, which makes me wonder if the original owners of these might have written some notes on the pages not shown. Hard to tell and the curators didn’t seem like the type to let me page through.

Someday, I’d like to get permission to look through books like these. It would be a fascinating journey into the past and inspirational for future works. I’ll have to find a friendly librarian to bribe.

Published in: on July 5, 2010 at 9:51 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Coca-Cola in Salamanca

Strolling the streets of Salamanca, Spain, I happened upon this cafe blazing with Coca-Cola signage. Take a look.

The Cafe Jardin not only went for the overhead banner, but also the frosted glass below. Let there be no mistake, this place serves Coca-Cola proudly. As if that were not enough, there was a delivery van parked out front as you can see in the next photo.

I was tempted to get behind the wheel and roll out of there toting dozen of cases of the beloved elixir. That would have been bad form while visiting another country. Still, the temptation was there. As it was, I settled for an ice-cold bottle and was on my way to see more fascinating sights in this old university town. There will be a few posts about Salamanca in the near future.

Published in: on June 30, 2010 at 1:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Posada Dos Orillas, Trujillo

Welcome to Trujillo, Spain, that town of conquistadors, a fine castle, and the Posada Dos Orillas. Located in the oldest part of town, only a short walk from the castle, this posada is quiet and comfortable with a wide selection of rooms.

We arrived in the middle of the morning and there was construction in the Plaza Mayor which meant we couldn’t access the hotel by the route I planned. No problem, I parked in a garage, took only the essentials for an overnight stay, and walked back. It was good exercise and an opportunity to explore another set of streets.
The reception area above gets you off to a good start. From here you can get oriented, ask questions to obtain local info, and get the password for the network. The building itself is a reformed palacio with a fair number of nooks and crannies. You’ll go through a passage or two like this on the way to your room.

You can see style and good taste on display in that photo as you will find it throughout the facility. In our room we had plenty of space in terms of sleeping, sitting, and closets.

The bathroom featured the necessities you require plus a hair dryer for those who want to remain well coiffed.

At ground level there is a restaurant. Sadly we did not have a chance to try it. However, here’s a look at the seating there.

I like the fabric stretched overhead. Although it was late April when I visited Trujillo, already the temperatures were plenty warm. Keeping the sun at bay makes things a bit more comfortable. The next morning we enjoyed the breakfast of the house and departed this lovely establishment. If I have the chance to return to Trujillo, I would definitely stay here again.

Published in: on June 29, 2010 at 1:22 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Country Quality, Spain

In the previous post, I discussed my stay at Hospedería Convento de la Parra. This post continues at the same location, taking a look at the fine supper served in the restaurant there. Entering from the lobby, you’ll first encounter the bar where you might want to have a cocktail or three.

Properly fortified, enter the dining room and take a seat.

Hopefully you brought a hearty appetite and sophisticated palette. The meal began with a cup of consommé, a nice touch that I had not experienced before in Spain.

I apologize for the poor photo quality of the one above and the next one. Bear with me, they get better. The next course consisted of a bowl of tomato soup topped with a slice of toast, which is seen in the lower portion of the next photo.

At the top of the photo you see the highly creative goat cheese salad that contains toasted apples and onions. The concoction is a myriad of funky tastes that simply makes you stop and wonder who thought it up. The Convento de la Parra may be out in the country, but this is big city style food. Our main courses were more typical. On one side of the table a filet.

On the other side, a plate of fried eggs with the blessed jamón ibérico.

It should be noted here that the town of La Parra is located in the heart of the region where those black footed pigs are raised. Thus, the ibérico shown above is locally originated. The flavor was all there. Sadly, after all this food, there was no room for dessert. Let me take a moment to mention the service. The two women serving the dining room did a wonderful job, putting up with my lousy Spanish and keeping up with the tables like the professionals they were. Most important (to me) was that as high class as the food was, the mood was friendly (almost but not quite casual). A great meal with friends is hard to beat.

Published in: on June 26, 2010 at 10:55 am  Leave a Comment  
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