God, Evil & Einstein

Flip Books and Boxes for Beauty Hunters

http://www.thisiscolossal.com/2015/01/patience-the-inception-of-artist-books-by-randi-parkhurst/

Scott Blake

Juan Fontanive

Astorga's April Day of the Book 

“I am a hunter of beauty and I move slow and I keep the eyes wide, every fiber of every muscle sensing all wonder and this is the thrill of the hunt and I could be an expert on the life full, the beauty meat that lurks in every moment.”

Ann Voskamp, One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are

International Chocolate Show

Today was my father's birthday and one of those hard mornings when you battle your demons, mine hard feelings of abandonment, betrayal, injustice of former family and friends, fighting with all the heroic thoughts I could muster. But, neither my thoughts, nor the excited voices in the street below our balconies, could rescue me. Happily, something else did! With no time for sad, I had to hurry through breakfast, dress, and meet Enrique at the door to leave and arrive in time for our special date: with Astorga's Third Annual Chocolate Festival, SICA.

With sixteen local exhibitors and over  a hundred activities for all ages, all themed in chocolate, this festival is gaining overwhelming popularity and extending throughout the nation. Our city, Astorga, was the first European city to industrialise chocolate after its discovery by the Spanish in the New World. That's something to celebrate!

Photographer Sabela Fuentes Fernández

Fortunately, Enrique prompted yesterday that we rush to sign up to gain privileged seats at SICA's Cata Fusion (Fusion of Tastes). There, Bodega Cuatro Pasos, two winery representatives from the region of El Bierzo, near Cacabelos educated us in the rare combination of fine chocolate and excellent wine. A fusion of two of the best tastes in the world, black and orange chocolates made with the best cacao together with just the right wine combinations. I felt all the earlier stress melt away like that sweet chocolate on my tongue, dissolving into relaxed peace with its perfect wine companion.
 

Yesterday we also participated in a Mini Curso, short class open to the public, on chocolate desserts, specifically *mille-feuille chocolate with ground pine, a type of chocolate presentation that is painted onto wax paper and rolled with added color to be cut into whimsical chocolate swirls. It is quite improbably any of the students will ever try this elaborate dessert at home, but we all enjoyed the intricacy of design and marvelled that such artistry was really edible, delicious chocolate.

Astorga Sabe a Chocolate - Astorga Tastes like Chocolate

*SICA- Salón Internacional del Chocolate - International Chocolate Show

*Mille feuille - Traditionally, a mille-feuille is made up of three layers of  puff pastry (pâte feuilletée), alternating with two layers of pastry cream (crème pâtissière), but sometimes whipped cream or jam are substituted. The top pastry layer is dusted with confectioner's sugar and sometimes cocoa, pastry crumbs, or pulverized seeds (e.g. roasted almonds). Alternatively the top is glazed with icing or fondant in alternating white (icing) andbrown chocolate stripes, and combed.

*Mini Curso taught by Nacho González, Jefe de Pastelería de la EIC de Valladolid (Dessert Head Chef of the International Culinary School of Valladolid)

More here: Fabulous photos and Spanish text, by Atana

The Chocolate Museum, El Museo del Chocolate de Astorga that just reopened its doors, appropriately inaugurated Valentine's Day, February 14th, in a beautifully renovated building just fitting the topic.

Destruction, A Simple Difference Between Love and Hate

I read the news today, Oh Boy! As if massive beheadings, victimisation of women, church burnings, kidnappings and more were not enough! the ISIS invasion into Mosul and massive destruction of art and historical monuments and artefacts has even the most liberal and atheistic individuals talking. On El Pais' front page we (teachers) couldn't avoid the subject. These priceless pieces of history are now gone forever and for the most part haven't been stolen, but simply ruthlessly destroyed.

There is a simple difference between love and hate. Love builds up and is constructive. Hate tears down and destroys.

“Now there is a final reason I think that Jesus says, "Love your enemies." It is this: that love has within it a redemptive power. And there is a power there that eventually transforms individuals. Just keep being friendly to that person. Just keep loving them, and they can’t stand it too long. Oh, they react in many ways in the beginning. They react with guilt feelings, and sometimes they’ll hate you a little more at that transition period, but just keep loving them. And by the power of your love they will break down under the load. That’s love, you see. It is redemptive, and this is why Jesus says love. There’s something about love that builds up and is creative. There is something about hate that tears down and is destructive. So love your enemies. (from "Loving Your Enemies")”

― Martin Luther King Jr., A Knock at Midnight: Inspiration from the Great Sermons of Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.

Extremists used sledgehammers and power drills to smash ancient artifacts at a museum in the northern city of Mosul 

Militant uses a power tool to destroy a winged-bull Assyrian protective deity at the Ninevah Museum in Mosul, Iraq. The statue dates back to the 9th century B.C.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2970270/Islamic-State-fighters-destroy-antiquities-Iraq-video.html#ixzz3Sygm6j59

Isaiah 59:7

"Their feet run to evil, And they hasten to shed innocent blood; 

Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity, Devastation and destruction are in their highways."

Oh, where, Obama, are our Monuments' Men?! 

Today, in the teachers' lounge at my Spanish high school, liberals and conservatives alike have called you a coward, a turn-coat. It's the first time I've heard such negative sentimentality in traditionally Obama-loving Europe. Yet, there it is. Who can respect a president who sits by and lets such atrocities occur, offering only lip-service to the American people and the world? Even Roosevelt and Eisenhower, from opposing ideologies had the huevos to come together to create a strategic plan to act out against the unethical acts of the Nazis. 

*Monuments Men (see the film): "In a race against time, and under mandate from President Franklin D. Roosevelt and General Dwight D. Eisenhower, this group of unlikely heroes—museum directors, curators, art scholars, educators, artists, architects, and archivists—risked their lives on the front lines and worked tirelessly to protect Europe's monuments and greatest cultural treasures from both the destruction of the war and seizure by Hitler and the Nazis. Without vehicles, typewriters, or full authority, they managed to track, locate, and return more than five million looted cultural items. Their role in preserving these treasures stands without precedent."

My Men

My men. This is what Mark had to say about his brother leaving for the military: "Had to say goodbye to my best friend today. Not only have you been the best brother I could ever ask for and a huge role model in my life, but you also remind me on a daily basis to be kind and self sacrificing. I'm so proud of you and I love you more than I can say. I know you will do amazing things in the Army; see you in "a bit".' 

Mis hombres. Esto es lo que dijo Mark acerca de la salida de su hermano para la mili: "Hoy tuve que despedirme de mi mejor amigo. No solo has sido el mejor hermano que yo podría haber buscado y un ejemplo enorme en mi vida, sino también me recuerdas a diario ser amable y sacrificado. Estoy muy orgulloso de ti y te quiero más de lo que puedo expresar. Sé que harás cosas asombrosas en el ejército; nos vemos dentro de "un poco".

Segovia

Just off the plane from the States, weary travelors find Segovia just the perfect stop-off spot.

Where we found vegetarian options, Syrian and Lebanese style with a great view of the Aqueduct.

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