The Sun has arrived in Arles!!

OH LA LA!!
The sun has finally arrived in Arles..
Well, actually it never really goes away... But, it's now finally warm enough to paint the toe nails hot pink and dust off the sandals.... Arles is amazing.... people pour out of their houses into cafes and soak up the sun... I sat out in front of the church today the sun was hot yet, as always, the breeze kissed my face... I could have sat there four hours... hmm would have been burnt to a crisp but... eh what the heck.. After being bundled up all winter and basicly loosing most of the color to my skin.... It finally came back.... It's fun to sit and watch all of the ultra tragique hip 30 somethings pour out of their indoor cafes onto the street.... And now I fear my quiet little bit of heaven is now being over run with sun worshiping, i should say craving, tourist from northern Europe and those people who spent the winter in their stuffy little houses..... Eh it's not really a bad thing... makes for great writing... The one thing i love about being here is you are out in the sun for 10 minutes and your beautiful golden color is back... NO MORE NEW YORK PASTY WHITE!!
VIVA EL SOL!!!

On a lighter note.

Well, I just thought I would coment on the past week. As I sit here in a cafe on a somewhat gloomy day... Eh it's been drizzling all day long and it's cold but somehow here in Arles that's really okay... I had planned on writing about this before but with the events of last week kinda put this on hold... I was walking home, one night after a quick trip to the mini market to pick up a few things.. I was passing through the "Place Du Forum" when I ran into a friend of mine who I actually hadn't seen for a couple of years... We used to hang out, at "la salsa" when it was open and during my various trips here. He asked if I wanted to pop into a bar, close by and have a drink...eh sure why not? So we walked in... Okay, now after "La Salsa" closed... The regulars scatterd across the 4 directions... Yeah okay they found other bars... Sounds more dramatic though huh huh? We sat there and yaked about what was going on in our lives since we last saw each other... Then it happened... The bar, was playing some rather good Chico and the Gypsies music... All of the sudden it happened.... One dude pulled out his Air guitar. Now the first dude, I am sure if he had an actual guitar he would have been good. Real good. But the other two... Hmm not sure if it was the countless numbers of beers they had before they picked up their instruments but........ Well, needless to say they were damn serious about their music.... AWESOME!! I was in the middle of a Gitano Air guitar band... I actually had to step out of the bar because I was hysterical laughing and I didn't want to offend the talent! Oh as for my friend.. Haven't seen him since.... eh one thing about being here is they NEVER forget a face... Well, kids I am off to see if they make a version of the game guitar heros in a Gitan version... ALLEZ CIAO! from Roman Gual

In Loving Memory of Mamma Kitty

My dear friend Alexa, and roomate, in NY. Lost her beautiful cat, friend and companion. Yesterday. I am especially heartbroken because I had the wonderful chance to share 14 years with this fabulous cat... Somehow I like to think that she's boppin mice on their heads in heaven. :-))))))))))))

In Loving Memory of Our Dear Friend and Companion.
1992 (+/-) - April 2, 2008

Jellica aka. Mama Kitty
You will forever be in our hearts.

Love always, Alexa, Melissa
Willie, Molly/Puss
& Ginger

Thank you President Bush

I normally stay away from being to political. Or taking a stand on much of anything... It's my personality. Most of my opinions, politically, I keep to myself.. But I felt the need to post this month's post from Paulo Coehlo's Warrior of the light. Kinda hits home when it's been a little over 6 years since we "invaded Iraq"

The following text was written by Paulo Coehlo:

Thank you, President Bush
I wrote the letter below on March 9, 2003, ten days before the invasion of Iraq. It is the most widely read text I have written, having been published in the leading newspapers across the world and all over the Internet: close to 500 million people have read it.
The war is now entering its 6th year, and over 4,000 American soldiers have lost their lives, together with an indefinite number of Iraqis. According to the CNN (March 24, 2008), “estimates of the Iraqi death toll range from about 80,000 to the hundreds of thousands, with another 2 million forced to leave the country and 2.5 million displaced within Iraq, according to the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees”.
Many of the people I mention have already left the scene, yet the war goes on. At the moment, there is no light at the end of the tunnel. Below are some extracts from the letter:
Thank you, great leader George W. Bush.
Thank you for showing everyone what a danger Saddam Hussein represents. Many of us might have forgotten that he used chemical weapons against his own people, against the Kurds and against the Iranians. Hussein is a bloodthirsty dictator, today seen as one of the world’s clearest expressions of evil.
But that is not the only reason I have for thanking you. During the first two months of 2003, you showed the world a great many important things. So, recalling a poem I learned as a child, I would like to express my gratitude.
Thank you for revealing to the world the enormous gulf that exists between the decisions made by those in power and the wishes of the people. Thank you for making it clear that neither José Maria Aznar nor Tony Blair really care or show the slightest respect for the votes they received. Aznar is capable of ignoring the fact that 90% of Spaniards are against the war and Blair is unmoved by the largest public demonstration to take place in England in the last thirty years.
Thank you for insisting that Tony Blair should appear before Parliament with a fabricated dossier written by a student ten years ago, and present this as 'damning evidence collected by the British Secret Service'.
Thank you too, because, after all your efforts to promote war, the normally divided Arab nations were for the first time unanimous in condemning any invasion, at a meeting held in Cairo.
Thank you also for your rhetoric stating that 'the UN now has a chance to demonstrate its relevance', which made even the most reluctant countries take a stance against any attacks.
Thank you for trying to divide a Europe that is struggling for unification; this was a warning that will not go unheeded.
Thank you for having achieved something that very few have so far managed to do in this century: bringing millions of people together on all continents to fight for the same idea, even though that idea is opposed to yours.
Thank you, because without you we would not have realized our own ability to mobilize. It may serve no purpose this time, but it will be useful later on. Now that there seems no way of silencing the drums of war, I would like to borrow the words of an ancient European king to an invader: 'May your morning be a beautiful one, with the sun shining on your soldiers' armor, for in the afternoon I will defeat you.'
So, enjoy your morning and whatever glory it may yet bring you.
Thank you for not listening to us and not taking us seriously, but understand that we hear you and will not forget your words.
Thank you, great leader George W. Bush. Thank you very much.


http://www.warriorofthelight.com/
mailto:autor@paulocoelho.com.br

More Stuff from the Feria.

Hey Hey Gang here are some pics from the Corridas from the past couple of days..... All I can say is this Arles is out of it's F*#$&*@ MIND!! There are ump pa pa bands everywhere... People are running around half blitzed out of their minds from all of the pastis!! Not to mention that I think 4 days of smelling Paella cooking is enough... And I don't care if I smell another glass of Ricard again.... Naw it's all in good fun... Arles isn't the quiet little place, that I moved to back in October... Somehow I think as the weather gets warmer it's going to get worse.... Hmm minus the ump pa pa bands I hope...... tee hee Okay enough of my bitching about the craziness in Arles here is what I and, I am sure y'all have been waiting for... My Corrida pics..... These first set of pics I took on Saturday March 22nd. These first three pics are of Juan Bautista. He's a local boy from here in Arles...

These next two are of El Juli

These next two are of Jose Mari Manzenares These next three were taken on March 23rd and they are of Uceda Leal.

These next three are of Antonio Ferrera.

These Last three shots are of Mehdi Savall.Well, that's it for the Corrida Photographs... Tonight is battle of the Ump pa pa bands.. I may go and check that out.. Hmm who knows if people get to out of hand I may go out and find a little person to stuff into one of those Tubas. All in all being in Arles during the Feria was fun.... I do, however, enjoy it when it is a little more more quiet..... I am off to see if any of Mi Amigos who run the verious eating and drinking establishments here have pulled out any of their hair... As of last night many of them looked as though they were about to... YIKES!!! I think it's the pallea.... Hey Superfrog ya got any Paella??? tee hee!!!!!

~Mel~

Novillada and Arles has Paella feaver...

Okay I woke up this morning to the sounds of Um pa pa bands.. Oh la la Feria has arirved.. This morning was the first Novillada of the Feria. 6 younger Novilleros against 6 younger bulls. Well, one of the Novilleros is one of the kids that I took photographs of back in November... JUANITO. Here are a few pictures From today's events..

OH LA LA UMM PA PA BANDS!! GREAT!!!!! ARLES IS BEING INVADED BY UMP PA PA BANDS!! hmm wonder if they do private parties... Okay can you imagine this band in my tiny little flat!! ALE!!!

This is Fran Gonzales.....This is Sofianito:

This is Damien Castano:

This is Cayetano Ortiz he actually took the ears and won his fight.

This is Luis Manuel Casares

This is Juanito: He's the one I photographed in Fontvielle back in November... My how we grow up in just a few short months...

Well, gang that's it from the Novillada... I am off to find the best Paella in Arles.... Hmm it's not like I have only a few choices... Some how I think what the Gitanos are cookin at Chez Paul will be the best....

A bientot....

I am back in Arles... And it's got the Feria feavah!!

Okay gang I made it back to Arles safe and sound. The flight back was quick and uneventful... Picked up my car and made my way to Arles. Took a little detour.. eh give me a break... I barely slept on the plane.... hmm couldn't remember if i should go toward Aix en Provence or Salon??

Finally agreed on Salon... Good choice.. Finally got back to mi casa... All was well with the exception of three of my plants... But this being the Easter season maybe something will help my other plants.... Well, I set off, yesterday in search of bulls... This Weekend is the Easter Feria here in Arles and the whole village has a fresh coat of paint and there are little white tents everywhere. They have set up a space in Gimeaux where they have put the bulls for the Corridas... Aye!! Here are few shots of the Bulls.. Okay folks please no hate posts to my blog... It's all good.... These Animals are treated like gold even when they make it to the Arena ring. I just wanted to show the majesty of these beasts....

Here are a few shots of the Corse de Camargues that took place also at the Arena in Gimeaux. These first shots are of the Guardians and I tried to get the torreros but these guys fly when being chased by the Camargue bulls. Here are a few shots of the events.

Okay here is a quick lesson on Bulls Camargue bulls: Their horns point to heaven... Spanish Bulls point forward... tee hee there endeth the lessonHere are a couple of shots of the Corse De Camargues... The Torreros have to try and grab a piece of string tied between the bulls horns..Okay gang that's it from Roman Gual for now.. Keep your eyes on the blog.. Men in tight pants are coming soon!!!!