 |
| Jamon Experience |
In my travels abroad I have learned many things. In southern Africa
I learned that African time is real. At Westminster Choir College, Princeton
New Jersey I learned that the letter “T” is an event. In Barcelona I learned
that ham (jamon) is an experience.
There is a ham museum “Jamon Experience”
with an amazing audio visual display on the creation of Iberian ham. The
raising of the pig and the preparation of the meat boils down to a rule of two.
The pigs graze for two years eating acorns in paddocks, the legs are then
salted for two weeks before being dried for two years.
Interestingly in the display there was no
mention of the killing of the pig, I can only imagine that the two hind legs
when ripe just simply fall off for gathering and another two legs grow in their
place.
The taste testing (including a couple of
glass of wine or beer) was amazing, yes it was an experience! Six different
grades and flavours of ham – whatever is served at Christmas dinner around the
world, in comparison is in no way ham.
 |
| Casa Batllo chimneys |
 |
| Light-well Casa Batllo |
Gaudi is a revered artist and architect
with good reason. The buildings are truly ground breaking in his creation of
self-sustainable technologies and visually spectacular. His use of colours,
shape and form are unsurpassed. That said, judging by his fluid lines he was
either was substance affected or vision impaired. The third option; Gaudi is in
fact Dr Seus.
My brain was created sans compass leaving me with no sense of
direction*. I may even be eligible for supports through
the new National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) as it is an impairment that
is permanent and stops me from doing everyday things by myself. Upon visiting
Parc del Laberint d’Horta I have discovered one advantage. I can solve mazes
very quickly. Whilst other
people get confused as the zig-zag through a series
of dead ends, switch-backs and endless intersections, my mind is already well
accustomed. Armed with a sense of tranquil serenity I was calmly make my way to
the centre of the maze and easily out the other side.
 |
| Parc del Laberint d'Horta |
I am constantly amused and bemused by
American tourists and their inability to comprehend that other countries are
different from the Unites States. They have different architecture, different
culture and different food. This seems to create a sense of bewilderment
bordering on disdain. “Why are the buildings so different?” How do they
understand each other if they do not speak English?” “I can’t tell how much
anything is because there is no President on the money”
 |
| Placa de Catalunya |
I sat and listened to four American aged in the late 50s discuss
where they were going to eat lunch. In a city where Alfresco dining is plentiful
with an amazing array of Tapas and food from across Europe I was keep to hear
recommendations. I was disappointed. The two couples were earnestly debating
the virtues of Burger King verses Starbucks. For those keen to know the
answer it was the former because it would be cheaper. Oh well why I have food that is fresh and
flavoursome when you could eat mass produced sugary food by-products. It does
make me wonder what Americans think of Australia’s Aborigines. Just how did
this culture survive well over 40,000 years without SUVs and soft drink served
in buckets?
 |
| La Catedral |
Talking of food, tapas in Spain is nothing
like tapas in Melbourne. Surprise! It is cheaper, the portions are bigger and
the food is much more flavoursome. And
the sangrias… served in sizes Americans can understand. After a litre of
sangria for lunch the concept of a siesta makes a lot more sense. And there is
a chocolate museum!
It was the Spaniard who introduced the
cocoa bean to the wide world, specifically their religious leaders. The traditional
hot chocolate is so good and nourishing that it was the one thing priest were
allowed to consume it during periods of fasting. The nuns were the ones who
first added sugar. The Spanish serve it hot, rich and thick. So thick that
there is an active choice to either chew or drink it. Traditionally it is
served with bizcocho, a light sponge biscuit for dipping.
With it being of such religious
significance the church should consider changing the elements of communion to
hot chocolate with bizcocho, instead of wine and wafers. More people would
attend church.
* To read more about my directional
disability visit http://anotherfreakin.blogspot.com.es/2016/05/get-lost.html
No comments:
Post a Comment