Home, Spain and the Gypsy Queen
Well I am home again after 7 days in Torremonlines. It was really nice to get away and to stay offline apart from a couple of tweets and Facebook picture posts. Here is a photo of the old hotel we stayed at Hotel Residencia Miami.
The building was designed and decorated around 1950 by Manolo Blascos, the cousin of the greatest 20th century painter, Pablo Ruiz Picasso. Famous artists and intellectuals were known to meet there.
These walls have witnessed a lot of famous meetings, that were taking place clandestinely, and where "the Gypsy Queen," as the host, entertained her guests by dancing in the lounge on a Granadian mosaic, close to the fireplace. The same lounge where a painting called « Death of a torrero » is displayed, it depicts the critical wound of the famous torrero « gitanillo Chico » that took place august 10th 1952.
This house was purchased in 1957 and modified into a hotel, while preserving its charm and the typical Andalusian construction style.
Originally, this small palace was the country house of the well-known flamenco dancer, Lola Medina, the queen of the gypsies living in the holy mountains in Granada. Here is a picture of the painting of her hanging in the staircase as you walk upstairs to your room. I swear one night when I was coming home late she gave me a wink!
My view from the balcony. Every morning at around 9:30 I went down for breakfast which was down under those big shade umbrellas. Breakfast was always the same, coffee with a fresh bread roll with strawberry jam and a small muffin. After that I would go back to my room, have a shower and then head for the beach.
The beach was always packed full of tourists so there is nothing better than relaxing on the beach, sun burning down and the sound of the surf.
At night we went to this little casual restaurant overlooking the beach and drank cocktails. After a week we became friendly with the guys who ran the bar and we all have a good laugh.
Night time view along the beach front!
Looking from inside the hotel lobby out .
But I had a great time, got a nice tan and kept away from the Internet! It was a real holiday and one I will have fond memories forever. I know I felt a connection to the gipsy queen and she was definitely watching over me. Being there really inspired me to paint and I could imagine having an artist studio in Spain and spending a few months a year there painting....nice dream to hold!
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Comment by kevin hunt on March 10, 2012 at 3:29am -
thrilled you had a great time in Spain, something I benefit from everyday...........a truly inspirational country, Barcelona in particular.
,my smiley won't load !!
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Comment by Becky Jenner on September 13, 2011 at 2:59am -
Glad you had such a wonderful time! The pics are wonderful :)
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Comment by Royce R Baucke on September 12, 2011 at 7:32am -
Thankyou for sharing your "holiday" with us. I feel pretty lucky I live on the beach in the tropics myself. I think the sunshine and the beach are my greatest inspiration....nothing better than getting down on the beach and enjoying the sunshine - and having my sketchbook with me is always a bonus. Cheers.
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Comment by Deborah Petronio on September 9, 2011 at 12:07pm -
It looks beautiful. I hope all your dreams come true!
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Comment by Elke Trittel on September 9, 2011 at 2:28am -
I can see you had a great get away holiday! Yes,wouldn't it be nice to have a studio in a sunny place when winter sets in and gets to you! I'm sure it must be possible if you really want it. Lots of holidayhouses are empty at that time of the year and you could find a cheap place to rent. I have a friend from the UK who goes down there for the sun and she might know someone if you are interested...
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Comment by Nicole Umina on September 8, 2011 at 11:59am -
fab gaz glad you had a sunshining intertwat free holiday!
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Comment by Diana on September 8, 2011 at 9:58am -
looks and sounds divine!
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Comment by Bronwyn Palmer on September 8, 2011 at 8:23am -
Sounds like you had a wonderful time -- good for you! But I'm with Lorraine, give me mountains and peace and quiet. We expect to see lots of Spain-inspired paintings in the coming weeks!
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Comment by Lorraine Rigby on September 8, 2011 at 5:44am
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like the architecture and artists inspiration but not the tourists or beach..give me mountains and peace and quiet any day..but then you have that all the time so it was nice change for you..glad you enjoyed yourself
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Comment by RichAnt on September 8, 2011 at 5:29am -
that place is beautiful I plan to visit someday. Its great to see it through your eyes.
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