Seducción y Pasión española

Maja
Aroma de seducción. Pasión española.

This roughly translates to "Aroma of seduction. Spanish passion." It's a talcum powder I now wear instead of deodorant since this summer. It takes longer to put on, but it lasts longer and smells better. I haven't felt seductive at all lately, but I have been feeling rather passionate about many things Spanish but I'm sure that's not a result of my using the fragrant powder.

I've always loved the music typical to Spain, but I never bothered to learn more about it or acquire some. Now, I'm bent on soon obtaining some Cante Flamenco music, which could be described as Flamenco with a Gypsy feel to it. I often pretend to know how to play this kind of music on my guitar, but I only go as far as two chords.

I've also wanted to put up a picture/poster/drawing that best represents this style. I found the previous picture, but it's rather small. I'm determined to draw or paint something similar soon. For now, the cover of Pedro Almodóvar's film Volver with Penélope Cruz on the cover should suffice.

It now all seems too much of a coincidence that my dear friend Sydnee Wilson was called on an LDS Mission to Madrid, Spain. I recall attending with Sydnee the first day of her Spanish Literature class. The professor went over an early form of Spanish literature which was called Jarchas and other terms which I do not recall. I DO remember that these poems and the Spanish language in general was highly influenced by Hebrew and Arabic. I knew there was some Arabic mixture in Spain, but Hebrew? Now certain words and the "J" sound make much more sense! We also read some poems along with the modern Spanish translation. Oh how beautiful! They were both romantic and tragic. She then played an audio clip of one of these poems being sung. Again, very beautiful. I lack the words to properly describe it.



I think the above example (the first song) best represents what I heard in that class. The below one is basically a flamenco song which I'm sure was influenced by the previous style.




I should definitely get over my phobia of heights, and take up my dad's offer to visit Spain and Italy in the near future. The architecture also gives me a je ne se quois feeling (French to describe something Spanish? I know.) so being there in person would also be something worth sacrificing for. Who knows, maybe I'll bump into handsome Spanish footballer Xavi Hernandez who I might add is a World Cup Champion! (to my unknowing friends, footballer=soccer player).

Basically, I'm feeling rather Spanish lately, and why not? Some of my ancestors are from Spain so it's basically in my blood to love all things Spanish... including handsome footballers. What can I say, I've been seduced by Spanish passion!