The Alhambra in Granada, Spain is worth all the hype. While planning another visit to Spain, I came across this video on YouTube, which shows many of the highlights of the palace/fortress in a computer generated animation.
The American writer Washington Irving’s Tales of the Alhambra is a great primer for anyone considering a visit. Irving is given credit for initiating the historical preservation movement thanks to this account of his travels to Spain and the Alhambra specifically. When I first toured the Alhambra, my guide made special note of Irving and went so far as to thank him for making his job possible. This sounded a bit over the top until I did some more research and discovered into what sorry shape sites such as this had deteriorated.
In earlier posts I also mentioned H.V. Morton’s A Stranger in Spain. He touches lightly on Granada but his insights into Spain in general are well worth your time. Like Irving, his account is first hand. Both of them interacted extensively with the local populace, experienced the authentic culture, and are capable writers.
Good research ahead of a trip makes it much more enjoyable and fulfilling. I’ll post more on that soon.
Note the clear handwriting of this man, something that always impresses me about previous generations. (My own left-handed scrawl is barely legible, sometimes only to myself and perhaps one other person). Also, he describes the action clearly and almost detachedly, simply related the facts of the situation without much embellishment or exaggeration. I’ve seen log books from previous centuries which include similar writings. It is literally amazing the records that still remain. We can learn plenty of these first hand accounts, which I dare to say are better than what passes for journalism in the current age.
The Bent Page 
ESV Study Version, video discussion
The English Standard Version Study Bible has proved to be an invaluable resource for me as I do research for a novel I’ve been working on for nearly two years. Of course, it contains the text of the Bible, but it also features an introduction to each book by a scholar who provides additional contextual insight. Then there are the diagrams, maps, and illustrations, as well as glossaries and cross reference indices. Here’s my video discussion:
If you’re interested in a deeper look at the Bible, I can highly recommend this version. And don’t forget, it comes with the key to access the content on the internet, which makes it that much easier. All in all, a useful study tool.
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on April 12, 2012 at 11:23 am Leave a CommentTags: Bible Study, blog casting, book review, Books, English Standard Version, ESV Study Bible, history, reading, research, vlog, Writing