Bolero de Carlet, traditional Valencian dance. Just happened across it while we were walking through the medieval section. You will find it interesting!
Category: Blog
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First place Fallas 2016- Casal Calle Cuba- Litorat Alzorin
Casal Calle Cuba- Liiorat Alzorin won many prizes in 2016, including best sound and light show and 1st place in the Special category (largest) for it’s many slendored fallas. Here is a short slide show (below the photos):
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Dracula and other Fallas’ of 2016
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Fireworks at the unveiling of the statue at City Hall
Fireworks at the unveiling of the statue at City Hall
One of the largest and most fabulous of the Fallas’ is the one at city hall (Ayuntamiento). Photos and video.
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Sound and Light Shows in Rusafa neighborhood of Valencia March 2016
Sound and Light Shows in Rusafa neighborhood of Valencia March 2016
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Visit to the fallas workshops (with photos)
March 3, 2016 we visited the workshop area where the sculpture for Fallas are produced. These are made from foam over a wood frame. Each neighborhood Fallas contracts with a workshop to produce these creative and delightful sculptures each year. Except for a very few ‘small’ ones (small is human sized) all are burned around midnight on March 19 each year. The largest are around 25 meters/80′ in height. This industry employs hundreds of artists, carpenters and other skilled labor and brings in 800,000 people to Valencia each year. The streets are lively, filled with lights and stands selling churros and other fried goodies, mojitos (a mixed alcoholic drink) and of course beer and wine. The neighborhood fallas organizations have tents, lots of parties, and make paella on wood fires on the street. Some of them sell portions as fund raisers.
Fallas is the annual carnival in Valencia, Spain. For background information see https://garyjkirkpatrick.com/the-fallas/
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Fabulous fireworks during Fallas, Valencia (video)
Fabulous fireworks during Fallas, Valencia March 5, 2016 from next to city hall. Enjoy!
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Fallas 2016!- first photos
These are the first photos from Fallas 2016. Fallas is the annual carnival in Valencia, Spain. It is truly one of the wonders of the world. They erect hundreds of sculptures made of foam and wood (these days), some of which are 25 meters (75′) in height. There are daily booming fireworks more for feel than light, daily at 2 pm. At night there are more traditional fireworks in the parks. Valencia doubles in population for the event, which starts March 1 and ends March 19 every year.
In Rusafa, a section of Valencia, there are not only fallas’ (the statues) but also sound and light shows. Here they are installing the lighting.
Much more to come!
For background information see https://garyjkirkpatrick.com/the-fallas/
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¡Hola de Valencia! First drawing from Palau de la Musica
We are back in our favorite winter quarters, where the sky is always blue and the winter temperatures moderate, the street life vibrant, the food fresh and varied, and the people warm and friendly. It’s a place that brings smiles to our face the moment we look out the window or go out the door.
Bar Sant Jaume (Saint James), pen and ink The flight from Rome is normally quite beautiful. You might get a view of the Coliseo. You fly over Sardinia and then get a lovely view of Valencia. Not this flight. Weather has hit the entire Iberian Peninsula, and even Valencia is effected. Light rain greets us but still we shed the jackets and sweaters we were wearing to get to the airport in Rome.
We are staying in a new ‘piso.’ This one is near Plaza de Toros, much larger than our previous place, more expensive too, but better for the painter in the household. We will miss our view:
View from our old place in Plaza Cisneros pen and ink We go to the Palau de la Musica here most Sundays to listen to the symphonic bands, of which there are many in the province. The first Sunday we heard the Banda Municipal. I often do small pen and ink drawings as I listen. Here’s the flautist playing a piece by one of local composers:
Flautist Palau de la Musica 2″ x 4″ -
Arrivederci Roma: The Marcus Aurelius
October 31, 2015
It’s our last day in Rome and I spent the morning drawing the statue of Marcus Aurelius in il Museo Capitoline. This has to be one of the most impressive pieces of art around, for its magnificence, proportions, gilded in bronze and dating from around 180 CE. It’s astounding and a privilege to sit before it. It is in its new setting in a special room at the museum.
Marcus Aurrelius closeup 
Marcus Aurrelius Just around the corner there is this Etruscan piece from 700-600 BCE
Reclining figure This one is terrific but pales in comparison to the Sarcophagus of the Spouses in the Etruscan Museum here- called Villa Giulia. Circa 520 BCE. Terracotta.
Sarcophagus of the Spouses
