Marty Kaplan's Blog

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Daylight savings came to Spain last night and once again we are none hours ahead of California and eight when it comes to Boulder, Colorado.  Rachel is still fighting a cold and I hope that it soon becomes a memory.  We have no plans for today, but one never knows.

Yesterday we took life easy for most of the day.  There was a concert last night at El Instituto Luis Vives sponsored by Amigos de la Guitarra and we decided to attend.  We took a cab to get there and found two seats close to the stage.  The auditorium was less than half filled as last night’s performer, José Luis Salvaje, took the stage.  The concert was to be quite different from all the others we have attended in the past.  That became very evident when he plugged his guitar into an amp.  The presence of a drum set and a bass on stage also made it clear that this was not going to be your typical classical guitar concert.

With a few notable exceptions, most of the pieces we heard last night we Salvaje’s own compositions.  The only distractor last night was the fact that Salvaje appeared to be a bit unorganized and, as a result, a bit flustered.  At one point he interrupted the concert for almost ten minutes to locate the sheet music for his next selection.  That being said, the music was most enjoyable.  Here is a list of the selections he played last night:

PROGRAMA

 JOSÉ LUIS SILVAJE TRIO

JOSÉ LUIS SILVAJE FERNÁNDEZ: Guitarra.

REMIGI ROCA FERNÁNDEZ: Contrabajo.

PEP SOLER GALBIS: Percusión.

 PAISAJES………………………………………..J.L.Silvaje

1. En el otoño.

2. En la cima de la montaña.

 IMÁGENES……………………………………….J. L.Silvaje

1. Niño hambriento en brazos de su madre.

 ROSADELFA…………………………………….J.L.Silvaje

LOS CHICOS TAMBIÉN LLORAN……………J.L.Silvaje

SABOR DO BRASIL……………………………J.L.Silvaje

1. Tema con variaciones.

2. Llamada.

3. Pasacalle.

4. En el Sambódromo.

 ASTURIAS (de la suite española op.47 )…………I. Albéniz

( Versión para guitarra  J.L.Silvaje)

 CHEGA DE SAUDADE………………………. ..A. C. Jobim

ANIMALES DE COMPAÑÍA……………………J.L.Silvaje

1. Allegro.

2. Lento.

3. Allegro.

 ¿ BAILAS? (Tumbao cubano)…………………  J.L.Silvaje

Additionally, here is a video of him playing one of last night’s selections. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=0_yiWpkG_Os#!

After the concert we decided to go in search of a bite to eat.  We slowly made our way to The Ginger Loft to catch up with Mike and Santi and to once again sample Mike’s version of Moroccan Meatballs and Chinese Beef.  Both the food and the company were outstanding.  It was close to 11:00 when we left the restaurant and we slowly made our way home.  I was a bit achy after our walk, so I applied some ice to my knee and stretched out on the sofa.  I finally made it to bed a little after midnight at which time Susan was fast asleep.

Saturday, March 24, 2012

We have just finished a fantastic breakfast of lox, onions and eggs and Susan is on the couch reading and I, obviously, am in front of the computer writing today’s edition of the blog.  We have a guitar concert this evening and are looking forward to that.  For the moment that is the only event on today’s agenda.

Yesterday I learned the intent of each of the devices to which I am attached when I do my PT sessions.  One of the devices stimulates the muscle in my thigh that connects to the knee with the goal of strengthening that muscle.  The second device where the electrodes are attached on both sides of the knee is intended to relax that area of the knee and bring down the swelling.  The Magneto (as they call the machine) is intended to evaporate the fluid that has collected on the right side of my knee.  The isometric exercises are intended to strengthen all muscles that support the knee.

I received some good news yesterday from our insurance company.  They have authorized all my PT sessions so we will not have out of pocket expenses for that phase of my treatment.  Additionally, they will reimburse us any out of pocket expenses that we have incurred.  It took several rounds of e-mails and phone calls to make this happen, but at least it happened.

When I finished my PT session yesterday I felt good enough to use the Metro to get back home.  I got off at Ángel Guimerá and walked the six or so blocks to the house.  It took a bit of effort, but I was glad to be out on the street again participating in life instead of watching it pass by my window.  I also got a haircut before I returned back home for lunch.  Since we were going to dine out last night, we lunched on some very delicious leftovers and then decided to take life easy for the next several hours.

Brian and Ofelia came by at 8:00 and we chatted for a while, drinks in hand.  A little before 9:00 we headed out for La Comisaría.  We decided to walk there and it did take a goodly amount of time and effort to get there, but get there we did.  We were greeted by Ana and on our way to our corner table we finally had the chance to meet the owner and chef de cuisine, Edward Phillips Blanco.

Over a bottle of a full bodied Ribera del Duero red we studied the menu and chose six different tapas since the idea here is to share all the plates that are placed in the center of the table.  Each dish comes out separately and that allows the focus to be on that dish and that dish alone.  Last night we enjoyed a dish of baby beans, artichokes with Serrano ham, Valencian tomatoes prepared three different ways, a delightful dish composed of a variety of mushrooms, langoustine lollipops and pig cheeks.  It is almost impossible for me to find the words to describe the complexity of each dish, its visual impact and its impact on the taste buds.  Each dish was unique and the ingredients of each dish married well together.

As I have mentioned before, one of the best parts of sitting downstairs is the ability to watch each plate being prepared.  Watching Eddie is like watching an artist attack an empty canvas and create a masterpiece.  Eddie’s canvas is the bare white plate and he uses his culinary skills and his artistic sensibilities to create a dish that attracts the eye and pleases the palate.  I think the central ingredient that makes for a true dining experience is Eddie’s obvious passion for what he does.  In the two hours we spent at the restaurant he produced dish after dish for what was a full restaurant.  Each dish was prepared with the same amount of care in the belief that every diner is entitled to the same fine experience whether they began their meal early or late.

We did manage to partake of a second bottle of wine and because we were rather full we opted for one serving of dessert, which the four of us shared.  It was a delightful combination of a very light, brownie-like chocolate cake served with fresh strawberries, pistachio ice cream and a strawberry infused whipped cream.  Delicious!  We were offered a liqueur, which we gladly accepted.  Next came a most pleasant surprise – a bottle of champagne compliments of the house.  Eddie said it was a thank you for the nice review of the restaurant that I had posted on my blog a few weeks ago.  All of a sudden a meal that was a ten became an eleven!

Brian and Ofelia enjoyed the meal as much as we did and Ofelia was even happier when she discovered that I had brought along a few magic tricks for after dinner entertainment.  Both of the effects played well and I was happy that they did.  Ofelia has recently become part of a gallery that will afford her a workspace as well as an exhibition space.  There is to be a big celebration of the arts in that general area in mid-May and Ofelia would like me to come and do some magic.  We shall see.  Needless to say, I am entertaining the idea.

We opted to walk back home and I started to run out of energy as we drew closer to home, however I did manage to make it all the way back home.  I was surprised to discover that it was 12:30.  I made a beeline to the freezer and took out one of the icepacks that now have a permanent home there.  I iced down the knee and by 1:00 I was under the covers on my way to dreamland.  Here is a video that I found on line that will give you a further idea of what it’s like to dine at La Comisaría. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AC21NjCAwow

Carrillada de Cerdo

Dessert!

Friday, March 23, 2012

The sun has returned to Valencia and so has the warm weather.  It makes one want to get out and get around, even if one has to limit the quantity of both out and around.  I finished my third PT session today and decided that I would take public transportation home instead of taking a cab.  The best way was the Metro and it left me a good five blocks from the house.  I remembered that slow and steady wins the race and although I did not break any land speed records, I got home with a minimum of discomfort.

Susan had gone out to meet with Zahava for a coffee and then she was to go on to the Central Market to stock up on just about everything since we were running low.  Since she had not returned home, I decided to visit the salon where she had her hair cut the other week, to see if I could make an appointment.  As it turned out they were not very busy and said that if I wanted to get my hair cut at that very moment that could be done.  They did a very good job of cutting my hair and trimming my beard.  Barbers want to cut everything way back and I end up looking like a plucked chicken.  Stressing that I wanted my beard to have the same contour, but less hair was very well understood by my stylist and I do not look like I just had a haircut.  I just look well groomed.

When I finished PT yesterday I called Susan and we agreed to meet at Carusel for a little lunch.  We discovered that they are going to be closed until the 27^th of March to recover from the crush of Fallas.  We gave some thought to The Ginger Loft, but they were not open and so we made our way to El Molinón and had a lovely lunch of pulpo a la gallega and a steak.  Dessert was a slice of an almond cake that is called tarta de Santiago and we followed that with coffee and a liqueur.  The knee felt good enough to walk on and so we made our way back home at a very slow pace.

The rest of our day was uneventful.  Susan made an impressive chicken cacciatore and along with some pasta that was our supper.  We did watch a little TV and we read for a while.  We were in bed well before 11:00 PM.  Bedtime tonight just may be a bit later.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Rachel is back in Boulder and her suitcase is in Cincinnati.  It seems that the young lady who checked Rachel in on her Air Europa flight to Paris, actually checked in the wrong passenger.  Both Rachel and Susan noticed the error before Rachel went through security and called it to the attention of the young woman who committed the error.  In spite of her promise to get Rachel’s bag sent back to the check-in counter and to personally change the destination of the bag to San Francisco, it just didn’t happen.  Rachel was told that her bag would be delivered to Boulder later today and let’s just hope that is indeed the case because her laptop is in that suitcase.

Yesterday was a horrible day weather-wise both in Valencia and in most of Spain.  Madrid woke up to snow-covered streets due to overnight snow.  Here in Valencia the rain fell hard all day and the wind was quite powerful.  It was one of those winds that turn your umbrella inside out.  We decided to have lunch at La Fórcola because of its proximity and the additional fact that it was raining.  The place was packed.  That not only surprised us, but it surprised the staff who thought that yesterday would be a slow day after Fallas.  We did not have a reservation, but we lucked out because someone was getting ready to leave.  Those who arrived after us were not so fortunate.  Nonetheless, I enjoyed my pizza and Susan enjoyed a veal steak that was smothered in a delightful green peppercorn sauce.

We kicked back after lunch and Susan actually took a nap.  I left the house at 6:30 PM bound for Quirón where I was to meet Doctor Rubio who would assess the condition of my knee and recommend the proper rehabilitation therapy.  Fifteen minutes later, I was in the rehabilitation center where I made an appointment for today’s PT session.  I have been scheduled for fifteen sessions and each will begin at 11:30.  It appears that each of my session has four different components.  Two of them involve electrical stimulation.  With the first, the electrodes are placed above the knee, high up on my upper leg.  The placement of the second set of electrodes is to the right and to the left of my kneecap.  The third component is isometric exercises.  There are eight of them, all done for fifteen repetitions and each exercise is done twice.  I then have a twenty-five minute magnetotherapy session.  The literature seems to indicate that magnetotherapy is of value when treating knee problems.  Today’s session ended at 1:30 and I imagine that when I become more familiar with the exercises the sessions will not last as long.  We shall see.  As always, hope springs eternal.

Magneto-therapy at its finest!

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

It’s as if last week never happened.  The falla outside the balcony has gone up in flames and disappeared; traffic is once again flowing down Borrull; the street has been cleared of all debris; the sun has disappeared and it is raining heavily; and Rachel left for the airport at 5:00 AM this morning.  What a treat it was to have her here for the week.  Valencia reanimated her.  She did a ton of walking and took close to one thousand photos.  She got to meet many, but not all, of our friends and, most importantly of all, the three of us got to spend time together.

Yesterday it seemed that Valencia was saving the best for last in terms of decibels.  The mascletá in the Plaza del Ayuntamiento echoed through the streets of the city and once it was over the air was filled with the sounds of other mascletás all over the city.  The one on the Gran Vía did not go off until 3:00 and I got a perfect view of it from our balcony.  Rachel and Susan watched it from street level.

Rachel spent most of the afternoon packing her suitcase and working on the photos she took.  I spent most of the afternoon on the couch with my leg elevated and occasionally applying ice to the knee.  It is feeling better and there are moments, soon after I have taken the medication, when I am able to walk with almost no pain.  I am hopeful that today’s treatment – the first of I don’t know how many – will succeed in removing the accumulated fluid and will restore my mobility to where it was previously.

Around 9:00 PM the falla outside our balcony was moved down the street to the intersection of Borrull and Botánico where it could be away from neighboring buildings.  There had been a constant report of firecrackers since 3:00 PM and the rhythm of the explosions did not diminish one whit as the night progressed.  At 11:00 Susan and Rachel ventured forth to witness the burning of some of the fallas.  At 2:00 AM, as they were about to light the falla of Pilar the skies opened up and it began to pour and Rachel and Susan sought shelter under a nearby portico.  They returned home thoroughly drenched and napped briefly before the alarm went off at 4:30.  They dressed and went downstairs to meet the cab that was waiting outside our front door.  As I write this she is forty-five minutes into her flight to San Francisco. Today’s photos are courtesy of Susan.

Here is a link to a video of the Cremat http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/valencia.html

Monday, March 19, 2012

It is hard to believe that Rachel arrived a week ago and will be leaving very early tomorrow morning to catch a flight that will take her to Paris and from there to San Francisco.  Her long day will continue after a five-hour layover when she flies back to Denver and from there back to Boulder.  Even though I have had limited mobility, I have thoroughly enjoyed having her here in Valencia.  Needless to say, Susan has been thrilled.

Although it has been a bit frustrating spending major time on the couch, I have been able to experience some aspect of Fallas given all that is happening within a couple of blocks of the house.  Truth be told, I am not a big fan of crowds and more than a million people have filled the streets of Valencia these past few days.  I really do not know how much of a hurry I would have been in to be one of 20,000 people watching a mascletá.  There’s always next year.

I did manage to get out yesterday and do a bit of shopping so that we could have fajitas for lunch.  I also picked up a few necessities.  Rachel and Susan had left earlier in the day to see some more fallas and Rachel was hoping to get up close and personal with yesterday’s mascletá so that she could take pictures of the set-up.  As I mentioned yesterday she got caught up in the sea of spectators and it took her a while to get back home.  We had lunch together and we kicked back for a few hours.  Rachel and Susan decided that they would go watch the ofrenda for a while and so they headed to the Plaza de la Virgen to watch the procession.  Some 50,000 people process through the streets of Valencia to offer flowers to the Virgen de los Desamparados.  All the flowers are then placed in a wooden structure that represents the Madonna and child.

Susan and Rachel did not return home until a little after 9:00.  We all fell into different states of collapse and around 11:00 Susan and Rachel decided that they would not go to see the fireworks display that was scheduled for 1:30 AM this morning.  We were all fast asleep before midnight struck.

Here are a variety of photos shot by Susan and Rachel the past couple of days.

Sunday, March 18, 2012

It’s another warm sunny day with temperatures tickling the low 70’s.  I have just returned from Opencor where I picked up a few items so that we can have fajitas for lunch.  Susan and Rachel went out earlier to take a look at a falla or two.  Susan got home close to 2:30 and we are still waiting for Rachel to make it back home.  She wanted to get some photos of how they set things up for the mascletá and stayed too long at the fair.  Being close to the epicenter, she will have to wade her way through tens of thousands of people to make it back home.

I did manage to get our briefly yesterday to pick up some beer and water.  Walking on a flat surface is not easy, but stairs are difficult to climb.  I had to make three trips up and down the stairs to get everything in the house and that took its toll.  Susan was out of commission most of the day having inherited the cold that was making its way through Mary’s house in Nevada City.  Because it was the Sabbath, Rachel spent most of the daylight hours at home.  However, she wanted to see last night’s fireworks display so at 11:00 PM she headed out by herself in search of a good vantage point.  She didn’t return back home until 2:30 AM and she is getting more adept at making her way around the city.  Good for her!

I have borrowed her latest post on her blog page – www.goldiesgabs.com – so that I can share her impressions with you.  Enjoy!

“The festival is in full swing now. Today all day long there were constantly bands, complete with a retinue of Falleras, marching up one street or another and accompanied by the many explosions as everyone old enough to walk is setting off some firecracker or another. I think the guy at the pyrotechnics store was shocked that I wanted only one box of 50 bombetas (picture those snaps you used to be able to get that you could throw at the ground to make go boom…and triple the size).

I just got back from the 1am fireworks. It is the third night of fireworks (and there is one more night to go) but it was the first one I have made it too. The whole city was awake (including babes in strollers.) As I headed out at about 12:15 when I passed the pyrotechnics store it was still open. Surely you didn’t expect individual pyrotechnics to stop during the official fireworks.

As I walked over to the Turia (former river bed, now park, where the fireworks would be held) I had to smile as every restaurant and little corner store was open, not to mention stands set up with an impromptu bar or sausage stands. The churros, buñuelos y chocolate stands were still blazing, but this late at night they just smelled like tired oil, so my usual wish I could partake had fled for the night.

My route took me by the Ofrenda. The Fallas, from what I can tell has always been made of these wooden structures depicting scenes on the edge of what were the social norms. Sort of political protests that have been part of Valencia for centuries. Nonetheless this defiant behavior is tied in closely with the Church. The burning of the statues, the Cremat, occurs on S. Joseph day, and as part of the festival a giant wooden frame as the dress of the Virgin (holding the Child) is set up, and people stream in in traditional dress bearing flowers which will be woven into the frame. This is the Ofrenda. The procession today had started at 15:30 (3:30 pm) today and was just finishing up with some anthems as I passed through the square at about 0:30.

As I completed my walk I had to pity anyone who was trying to drive. I crossed two fairly major roads and people just walked through the middle (or danced and lay down depending on what group it was). No the streets weren’t closed, but that didn’t really matter.

The fireworks started on time and were wonderful to see and hear. Alongside the official fireworks there were a few local “booms” as people where I was standing set off their on firecrackers. It wasn’t until the walk home that someone decided to set off one of the ground flowers, on the main street, in the middle of a bunch of people. Other than some sprinting away no harm was done, but it did remind one to stay on their toes.

On the way back home some of the restaurants were closing up, but as I made it down my street I could hear parties in the tents of the Casals (the groups that worked to put up their neighborhood/corner Falla (of which there are over 300 in the city)). And as I type this I hear a band marching along down the street from here. Ah the party in the streets is still roaring (and booming) at 2:40 am.

And with that I sign off from Valencia Spain.”

Here are some shots that Rachel took the other night.

Saturday, March 17, 2012

We will be heading out to the Cuchara Mágica this evening for a 9:30 paella date.  In addition to Pepe and Sara, Paquito and Giocodimani, Miguel Ángel Gea is in town with his friend, Ana, and they will be joining the party, also.  At the moment Rachel is relaxing and doing a bit of reading and Susan is in the kitchen getting the ingredients together to make a sopa de ajo.

I had my doctor’s appointment yesterday at 12:20.  The MRI seems to imply that undue pressure was placed on the right side of my left knee causing some bone spurs and, as a result, water has collected there and is part of the reason for the pain I am experiencing.  There is no fracture and there appears to be no damage to the meniscus.  I am to continue with the medication I am taking for another week, keep applying ice and elevating the leg, limit the amount of walking that I do and slowly re-introduce cardio into my routine.  I will start doing some magnetic pulse therapy on Tuesday, which will help diminish pain and remove the accumulated water.

We took a cab back home and it dropped us off on the Gran Vía because the entrance to Borrull was blocked off.  I crossed the street with minimum difficulty and forty-five minutes later Susan and I headed to La Fórcola for lunch.  We started of with some veal carpaccio and followed that with a pizza.  I had a pear strudel for dessert and Susan went with the chocolate ice cream.  Rachel joined us for coffee and we all had a liqueur to finish off our meal.  I made my way back home to take things easy and Susan and Rachel went in search of other fallas.

They returned home having taken multiple photos of the falla at Na Jordana.  It is an enormous head of Leonardo DaVinci, which stands seven stories tall, weighs ten tons and 90% of the head is made of wood.  If you pay 2 Euros you can take a tour of the inside of the head.  I can only imagine how impressive it must be to see it close up and personal.  Here is a link with an embedded video http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2012/03/13/valencia/1331646850.html

We had visitors last night.  Pepe and Miguel Ángel Gea stopped by for a drink.  We chatted for a good hour or so.  Gea is in town to do some filming for the Magic Ágora project.  Gea is world-renowned for his work with coins and I believe that he will be filming what will become the video library of coin sleights.  Rachel was napping when they arrived, but when she awoke she joined in our conversation.  When they left they remarked that looked forward to seeing us Saturday evening for a bit of paella and, most probably, a bit of magic.

Friday, March 16, 2012

In about two hours I should know what the official story is with my left knee.  The prescribed medication has helped somewhat in diminishing the pain and I can now sleep through the night…well, almost so.  At the moment the house resembles an outpatient clinic.  I am dealing with my knee, Rachel has a stiff neck and Susan is experiencing some arch pain.  Thank God for ice!

Yesterday I resumed my role as couch potato in chief while Susan and Rachel ventured forth to see Thursday’s mascleta.  They did some exploring around the City Hall area and made it back home at 3:30.  Susan set forth preparing lunch, which included a pasta with tomatoes and green beans, some fish filets for Susan and Rachel and a bit of veal for me.  When lunch was finished, we all retired to our mutual corners and either read or played on the computer.  Susan and Rachel briefly toyed with the idea of seeing last night’s fireworks display that was scheduled for midnight, but they were too worn out from their very busy schedule of the previous days.

I am including some of the photos that Susan and Rachel took on Wednesday night in the Ruzafá neighborhood.  Enjoy!

Thursday, March 14, 2012

It is yet another sunny day here in Valencia and it will be dry and sunny for the intense celebration that will take place beginning on Friday and ending on Monday.  This is in marked contrast to the rain marred Fallas of 2011.  Rachel and Susan will go to today’s mascleta and later tonight will go to the fireworks display that will take place on the old riverbed.  I will continue to rest and relax and stay off my feet as much as possible.

At 2:30 PM I was back at Quirón for my MRI.  There was almost no one in the waiting area and I was escorted to my dressing room at 2:30 on the dot.  I had the thrill of putting on a dressing gown in preparation for my picture session.  I would love to meet the idiot who designed the gown that never really closes and has to be tied from the back, something that nobody has ever had to do before.  There is no sense memory that will take you through the process of tying a bowknot behind your back.  As for the second knot that needs to be tied in the middle of the gown, I did not even bother to attempt it.

The MRI took a good fifteen minutes.  I lay on my back and they inserted me into the machine.  I was given a buzzer in case I needed something and they placed a pair of headphones over my ears to dampen the sound of the imager as it does its thing.  Twenty minutes later I was dressed and we were heading back to Calle Borrull.  Before we hopped into the cab, I made an appointment for Friday at 12:20 so the traumatologist could read the MRI and decide what the next step in my treatment needs to be. It was a little after 3:30 and we decided to sneak into A Nou to grab some lunch.  We had a salad, a seafood fideuá and dessert and coffee.  We also did in a bottle of wine.  All the conditions were just perfect for a late afternoon nap and so I just gave into the temptation.

While we were at the hospital, Rachel made a little lunch for herself and then went to the exhibition of the ninots at Nuevo Centro.  Later on Rachel and Susan headed out for Brian and Ofelia’s house.  The plan was to have a drink and then head down to what are easily the most spectacular exhibits of lights in the entire city.  One of them is comprised of a million lights.

I spent my evening on the living room couch either reading or ignoring whatever program was on the boob tube.  Around 10:00 there was a great deal of commotion outside of our window.  When I went to look I discovered that a falla was being raised directly outside of the window.  There were a dozen men struggling to assemble it and raise it into place.  It was a fascinating process to watch and, in the process, I learned a lot of new Spanish swear words.  I was in bed by 11:00 and was fast asleep when Rachel and Susan returned home.