Thursday, July 30, 2009

Granada

Hello all,

National Geographic photographer Tino Soriano has been leading us around Granada for the past few days teaching us some of the many secrets of Andalusia. We've had the privilege to visit with the dancers from a flamenco troupe and to photograph one of their rehearsals. We've climbed to the top of the Albaicin both in the morning and in the evening and we've searched through the markets for trinkets and other sundrys. Best of all, we had the chance to visit with the owner and horse trainers at the Picadero de Nuestra Senora Terrocio.

More
photos and details about our adventures to come . . . for now, Adios!

Saludos,
Ben and Megan

Monday, July 27, 2009

An update in fotos

Madrid's Palacio Real

Night photo shoot near the Atocha train station


Picasso's Guernica at the Prado Museum


Group shot in front of the Prado Museum


plaza and sky view

Gaspacho is the perfect antidote for southern Spain's heat!

Griffiti overlooking Granada's tiled rooftops

Sunday, July 26, 2009

From Madrid to Granada

Hola de Granada!

We have made the jump from Madrid to the south and all is well in the Andalusian hills. Our time in Madrid was action packed. We visited the Prado and Reina Sofia, spectacular museums with works by view the masters Goya, Velazquez, Dali, and Picasso. One evening we went out on the town for some night shooting practice around the Atocha train station.

Before we left la mancha we took a day trip to Toledo where we gained entrance to a damascene steel workshop, visited the physical setting for Edgar Allen Poe's 'The Pit and the Pendulum', examined the famous mosque of Santa Maria de la Blanca-- a building whose history has seen it used as a synagogue, office building, church, and police headquarters. We also had the opportunity to visit the majestic Cathedral of Toledo and do a bit of curio shopping before heading back to Madrid for our final night where we saw a flamenco adaption of the opera Carmen. Ole!

Granada is hot. Very hot. People disappear during the heat of the afternoon until early evening. We have adjusted to this afternoon siesta schedule quite nicely! Our favorite meal in Granada so far was in a cafe in the plaza near our hostal. There was nothing better than starting our Saturday with churros y chocolate-- long thin sticks of fried dough dipped in molten cocoa. Later that day we broke into our On Assignment teams to explore the city for ideas to develop into magazine-like photo stories and articles. We plan to include some of the fruits of our labors (fotos!) in this blog soon.

Our National Geographic expert, Tino Soriano, arrives tonight. We'll write more soon to update you on our excursion to the Alhambra and other adventures. . .

Saludos!
Ben and Megan

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Saludos desde Madrid

Buenos dias!

Yesterday we arrived in Madrid safe and sound after a smooth connection at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris. We were all a little tired after a full day of traveling, but a quick bocadillo and a siesta perked everyone up enough to explore the Plaza Mayor the first evening. Then we strolled into a lively market to photograph hanging legs of jamon and fresh pescado before enjoying a welcome dinner of tapas sampling many traditional Spanish dishes. After dinner we walked down to the Palacio Real to capture the beautiful light on the southern facade as night fell over the lively city.

Today in Madrid the sun is shining down and we have just returned from a morning shooting pictures in the the Parque Retiro. There we wandered past the famous Palacio de Cristal and the Rosaleda before finding a local restaurant for lunch.

This evening we will be exploring the Museo Nacional de Arqueológico and Photo España, the International Festival of Photography and Visual Arts. Tomorrow it´s on to the Prado and the Reina Sofia!

We´ll have photos posted for you to see soon, but for now, hasta luego!

-Megan and Ben

Monday, July 20, 2009

The group has arrived

We've received word from the expedition leaders that the group has arrived in Madrid.