Saturday, March 2, 2013

The weather has been cold and nasty for the past few days and not very conducive to moving about.  The natives say that this is not typical late February or early March weather, but with global warming a reality, for most of us anyway, the adjective “typical” really doesn’t apply anymore when it comes to weather.  Thursday evening, however, I did manage to make it over toLa Cuchara Mágica for another organizational meeting for LAS 24 HORAS.

Festivities will begin on Friday night with a lecture and performance by Miguel Gómez, one of Spain’s top card men.  The event will take place in the MuVIM and will be preceded by a dinner.  This event is for CIVAC members only. Saturday’s events will start at 11:00 with registration and in the afternoon there will be a lecture or two and a close-up gala.  At 8:00 PM the MEMORIAL PACO DE ANDRÉS will happen followed by a dinner and a midnight cabaret.  Sunday morning is when the Gala Infantil happens and the young magicians gala will happen on Sunday afternoon.

After eating at home for the past few days we decided to have lunch at Carosel.  The tabla de entrantes yesterday featured a ham-based broth, a coca de escalibada, pescadito adobado and a fried dumpling filled with spinach and morcilla.  Our entrée was paella con pollo, alcachofas y costillas.  One of the other possible entrees was a stew of fabes y langostinos.  I asked if I could have a taste and somehow a taste ended up being translated as a small casserole dish.  It was the perfect dish for a cold day.  Dessert was a chocolate extravaganza with a variety of tastes and textures.

Last night we went over to the MuVIM for a musical performance that featured the music if Cuba.  Jordi had opened the café in anticipation of some lively business.  The start time was intended to be 8:00 o’clock but by the time the musicians had stopped greeting friends and family and had the audio setup functioning it was close to 9:30 and a goodly number of people had left. The speakers were no match for the space, which is cavernous and prone to reverb.  I left early, but Susan stayed on to take some photos.

Today’s photos feature a variety of themes including preparations for Fallas and a meal we had at El Molinón.