Medieval Characters at Suria

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A page was a boy who acted as a knight's attendant as the first stage of training for chivalric knighthood. These two look somehow suspicious. Hmm...maybe too hairy for being young lads. Of course they can also be soldiers but rather conspicuous ones. I didn't have much time today as I was busy uploading all my previous work to Flickr but an image is worth a thousand words sometimes. The donkey insisted on playing a small part in the play so I gave him a moment of glory.

Recommended: A comprehensive directory about The Middle Ages, Chivalry, & Knighthood.

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Turmeric: A Spice Rooted in Catalan Medieval History

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Resuming our Medieval Fair in Súria, we reach for the spices stall, where I couldn't refrain from firing a bunch of shots on this big bowl of Turmeric, a spice obtained from the dried and powdered rhizome of Curcuma longa, an Indian plant. It is an ingredient in curries and in the Middle Ages its color made it a cheaper substitute for saffron. It originated 4000 years ago and is linked to the Vedic culture in India where it was used as a culinary spice and had religious significance. The name derives from the Latin terra merita “meritorious earth” due to the resemblance to the color of some minerals. It can be used as a dye for cloth or be added to chicken broth or dairy products such as margarine. Curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric is considered to have medicinal properties as an antibiotic and anti-inflammatory. Although I am not particularly fond of yellow I have to admit that Curcuma makes a wonderful subject for a colorful picture.

Recommended: Photography Tutorials in pdf format at The Radiant Vista. You also have video tutorials, workshops, a wonderful podcast or a photoshop workbench. A must see.

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Gaudi: Lizards at Sagrada Familia

For those of you who are fond of gargoyles,mythological beings,gods or goddesses, serpents, unicorns, gryphs or lizards I let you catch a glimpse of Gaudi's work on the façade of Sagrada Familia facing the upper side of the city also known as mountain side. It is a part that we tend to ignore as it reminds us of some other average churches but if you take a closer look you discover strange creatures for a church or impossible spires multiplying by the dozen on top.