Baule - Primera etapa: desmontar y agujero

En los proximos meses vereis la transformacion en la braña de Baule (St Martin), de la pequeña granja (vacas abajo, pajar arriba) en granja habitable.

El edificio (patrimonio protegido) ha sido desmontado, tal que Lego. Debajo, se permite la expansion subterranea (en tanto y cuanto no se vea! ....y esto es Suiza - mucho ojo!).

Las relaciones de los nuevos vecinos se establecen - en esta foto la casi totalidad de la poblacion de Baule

Contravoz en Palencia

Menos de dos dias para comprobar la importancia de la herencia estetica, de una fidelidad al silencio, al horizonte lejano, y a un concepto de harmonia

Saturnia

En el mismo río entramos y no entramos, pues somos y no somos [los mismos]

Heraclito

In 1979, 1991, 1994, 1996, and now 2007, I visited a series of sites in Italy - not all in all trips, but overlaps there were. Thus, the particular set of mind created by the mix of past and present images, on a fixed scenery (and Italy seems fixed in time, more than say Spain).

Lets just mention Saturnia, an unexpected sight from the road in 1991, and now searched. Still there, surprisingly free - with the sulphurous smells and hot water......

I leave you with some more images....

Napoleon over the Grand Saint Bernard pass

"Nous luttons contre la glace, la neige, les tourmentes, et les avalanches. Le Saint-Bernard étonné de voir tant de monde le franchir si brusquement, nous oppose quelques obstacles. " Napoléon Bonaparte, 18 mai 1800

Like any other Napoleon, I take the ski route to the Hospice of Grand Saint Bernard on this Holy Friday. Other than seeing a priest passing by skiing with a giant cross on his shoulders, and many people attending mass on ski, nothing unusual on my yearly trip to the mountain pass.

Upon arrival, soup, bread and cheese. A walk in and around the Convent, and a swift visit to the snow-covered line where Switzerland becomes Italy.

Clark, Jose, Rollie...some day we'll be here together if alcohol fumes do not send us up the wrong mountain.

Lagavulin y Liki Fumei...uno de esos lugares donde quiero venir con vosotros.

Genome Jacques...thinking about the old times here.

Y Cali- Segunda parte y Coda en Madrid

Dear Contravoz blogtourists:
I was well taken care of by my bodyguards, who told me a few things about life face to the FARC.

I also enjoyed the visit to the villages of Cerrito and Ginebra (!) where I ate Gallina (see the photo - that follows the gastronomic example of IslaDesolacion) in large quantities.













I stopped at the ubiquitous Bolivar square of the village of Ginebra (!), and took note of the quote under the statue:

"Prefiero el titulo de ciudadano al de liberador, porque este emana de la guerra; aquel emana de las leyes."

(I prefer the title o citizen to that of liberador, because this emanates from war, and that from the law)

Why did I also like this trip out of Cali? because of my visit to the family of Pilar - a colleague in Lausanne, Switzerland, and one of 11 brothers and sisters by Ginebra, Colombia. I did meet most of them while visting Pilar's parents in Cerrito. The family-based society shined in front of my eyes and made apparent the loss of roots of us emigrati.

Coda: I walked Madrid between planes (from Bogota, and to Geneve). I saw JoseLuisito from the old times, also Tintoretto, and the streets of the capital. Here is the proof.

My only problem: I lost my plane and ended in a lonely hotel in the village of Barajas ..and not the one where SPEAKING ENGLISCH is possible.