2012-11-20

In a place in Mancha...

Last weekend I went to Mancha to visit a modern Quixot called JoseAntonio. Instead of windmills, he has a dream: Alhambra Palace in Granada.


JoseAntonio has been building by himself something like Alhambra in a small 3000 citizens village in LaMancha, with no technology or knowledge to do ancient works as timber roofs or plaster walls for more than 10 years.

Visitors only can see the magnificent decoration all around the main court, the painted tiny details, the light of the last sun in the afternoon making gold paint brights, and the magnificent mocarabes dome, the house best secret.

JoseAntonio, by contrast, sees imperfection, working to do, faults. He repeats details, he brake amazing roofs to build anothers, looking for a kind of unreal perfection...

When you are used to ending projects, it is incredible to know someone who is not worried about the end. Ending the house means to wake up from this dream of Alhambra. JoseAntonio knows that if he woke up, SanchoPanza would be there to remind him how hard reality is. JoseAntonio prefers to remain in this dream under construction, in a place in Mancha, of whose name I don't want to remember...




**Both photos are been taken from JoseAntonio house.


5 comments:

  1. JoseAntonio has been building by himself something SIMILAR TO Alhambra in a small village of 3000 citizens in LaMancha, with no technology or knowledge OF HOW to do ancient works () LIKE timber roofs or plaster walls for more than 10 years.

    Visitors only can see the magnificent decoration all around the main court, the painted tiny details, the light of the last sun in the afternoon making THE gold paint () SHINE, and the magnificent mocarabes dome, the () best secret OF THE HOUSE.

    JoseAntonio, by contrast, sees imperfection, working to () IMPROVE faults. He repeats details, he () DESTROYS amazing roofs to build () OTHERS, looking for a kind of unreal perfection...

    When you are used to () COMPLETING projects, it is incredible to know someone who is not worried about the end OF THE PROJECT?. () FINISHING the house means to wake up from this dream of Alhambra. JoseAntonio knows that if he woke up, SanchoPanza would be there to remind him how hard reality is. JoseAntonio prefers to remain in this dream under construction, in a place in Mancha, of whose name I don't want to remember...(DO YOU MEAN CAN`T REMEMBER?)

    How interesting Ivan, and where exactly is La Mancha? In which part of Spain? The photos are very impressive, I have been to Alhambra, I went there about two years ago, it was a place I had always wanted to see and it lived up to my expectations.

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  2. Thank you Kathryn for the correction. The place is called Villanueva de la Fuente (Ciudad Real). It is located in the middle point between Madrid and Granada, in Campo de Montiel region, where Quixote started his adventure.

    I have always been impressed by the Alhambra too. No comparision with this house is possible, but the house has a magic atmosphere -it is not a copy- based on sensations.

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  3. Hi Ivan,

    Nice post.. I like what you say about no ends and dreams..
    As Cavafis express on his poem......


    Keep Ithaka always in your mind.
    Arriving there is what you are destined for.
    But do not hurry the journey at all.
    Better if it lasts for years,
    so you are old by the time you reach the island,
    wealthy with all you have gained on the way,
    not expecting Ithaka to make you rich.

    Ithaka gave you the marvelous journey.
    Without her you would not have set out.
    She has nothing left to give you now.

    And if you find her poor, Ithaka won't have fooled you.
    Wise as you will have become, so full of experience,
    you will have understood by then what these Ithakas mean.

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    Replies
    1. Arantxa,

      Thanks for joining us! If you're looking for something to write about, I'd love to read something about you.

      Matt

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    2. Thanks Arantxa for this amazing poem that I have never read before...

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