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Dim Sum, Bagels, and Crawfish
Bits and pieces of daily life, nomadic rambles, pickled cravings, piles of books, and a furry dog. Cajun, Jewish, Taiwanese, American family on the move.
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Blue Doors in Urubamba
In addition to loving the blue doors we found on a little, dusty street in Urubamba, we also enjoyed: lunch at Kaia , ...
Isn't the Grill pattern amazing? Were you told the background on it?
I was impressed by that ceiling in the entrance to the basilica. Tell me about the grill pattern! I would love to travel in Spain with you...maybe we should plan a mommy daughter bookclub trip to Spain?
OMG. Are you serious??? I would sooooo love it. Let's talk (skype) or email. My last trip to Spain was while I was still waiting for Isabel.
Regarding the grill:
The story is that Felipe II's army (circa late 1500s) won a battle against the French at San Quintin on the fiesta of San Lorenzo (his 'saint' day). So, to give thanks for victory, Felipe II decided to build a palace dedicated to San Lorenzo.
In case you didn't know, San Lorenzo was basically barbequed - martyred on a grill, so the Monasterio Real de San Lorenzo de El Escorial pays tribute to that by incorporating the grill design in the architecture.
Basically, everything from the bars on the windows to the things that hold the ropes to keep you in line are reminiscent of the grill San Lorenzo died upon.
My favorite rooms are the Pantheon...absolutely humbling to think you are standing amidst the remains of royalty extending back centuries... and the round room where you can whisper into one corner and (because of the architecture) hear the whisper by a silent echo in the opposing corner.
Laureen,
Thank you for that explanation...our Spanish friend kept pointing out the grills but I didn't really get it until reading your explanation!
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