Russian Dancing in Alaska

 “Yip! Yip!”  some of the energetic dancers call out as they swirl around the stage.

The rhythm of the music is infectious, the brilliant scarlet, emerald and azure of the skirts as they flare out is mesmerising.  Then the ladies stop to sway in time with the music and encourage the young men in their black trousers, white tunics and black Cossack hats as they perform, crouching down and bouncing on their toes, kicking out, then rising to leap high in the air touching their toes with their hands in typical Russian dance fashion.

Except that they aren’t young men, but women.  Very fit ones.

These are the New Archangel Dancers of Sitka in Alaska.  As Sitka was the capital of Russian America, it isn’t surprising to see Russian dancing here. 

In 1969 a group of young women got together to learn the dances of the town’s heritage.  They did it for fun and to preserve Sitka’s history, even though none of them are of Russian descent.

During a break in the dancing one of the ladies tells the story of their formation including the fact that the men had been invited to join them.  The men refused feeling that it was beneath the dignity of strong fishermen and hunters to do something so ‘sissy’.

The women went ahead without them and have been having fun ever since.  Now, during the bitterly cold winters the Dancers often leave Alaska to tour, not only in the United States, but around the world.

And, yes, the men have now changed their minds but the women prefer to play all of the roles themselves.

The dances are authentic Russian folk dances including the energetic ones that most people recognise.  Then there are the romantic boy and girl flirtatious ones, sailor tap, dances with handkerchief or ribbons, the Cossack Horsemen (this one is a great favourite with the children in the audience) and the elegant Beryozka Gliding Dance.  In this dance the ladies wear long dresses and move smoothly around the floor giving the impression that they are on wheels.

The nearest I got to a bear in Alaska!

As well as touring in the winter, the Dancers perform throughout the summer mostly for tourists from the cruise ships that call at Sitka.  They also showcase Alaska’s Russian heritage with performances on Alaska Day and at special events such as conventions, banquets, fund raisers and other celebrations.

Havana Cuba

As we drove towards Havana I was amused to see that buses driving away from the city had destination boards saying 'Havana Cuba'. Presumably the people catching them know where they are going.

I fell in love with Cuba's capital from the Old Town to the more modern sector. The Old Town is a mix of cleaned up buildings and some that look as if a gust of wind will blow them down. (What a good job hurricanes usually arrive from the east and south and lose power once they make landfall - Havana is on the Northwest coast). The atmosphere is great probably for the history that has permeated those buildings and the happy and friendly Cubans who people it.



Cigar Sellers in national costume



As the Old Town is now a World Heritage Site monies have become available to help restore some of the lovely old buildings. One of those buildings having work done to it while we were there was the imposing Capitol which is neo-classical and has a flight of steps up to the front door. I wandered around the area to get a feel for the City and in a nearby square found men debating - not sure whether it was football, baseball but I doubt it was politics. There were plenty of people about - tourists and friendly Cubans - but it is a bit of a gamble crossing the roads!

We were then driven to Revolution Square with its 109m. high obelisk. This is where Fidel Castro made his speeches to thousands. We were told that people filled the huge square and surrounding streets just to listen to their leader giving speeches that ranged from two to nine hours. Two of the buildings in the square have 'sculptures' by Enrique Avila of Che Guevara and Commander Camilo - the other two of the triumvirate (Fidel being the third). There isn't one of Fidel as the policy is no statues or images until after the Leader has died.

Something which catches the eye traffic-wise are the old cars. Colourful vintage American cars such as Chevrolets (Chevies) and Packards. Mostly they are now taxis and the drivers expect you to pay them if you want to take a photograph. The reason they are still around is that when the USSR broke up Cuba lost its 'mother-lode' and they could no longer get Russian cars. Many people had either put their old American cars into garages or sheds (or even just left them to rot) and found that in order to have a working car they would have to renovate the old ones. Now some of them are, on the outside, American cars but under the bonnets/hoods they have Russian engines.

Following a super lunch at the Pina de Plata (Silver Pineapple) restaurant we strolled through the old town before having some free time. Me? I chose to sit in Cathedral Square sipping a Cuba Libre, listening to Cuban music and thinking about some of the famous people who have either lived or visited Havana.

Graham Greene stayed there and got his idea for 'Our Man in Havana', Alec Guinness and Noel Coward were there for the making of the film, Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald had a short holiday there and, of course, Ernest Hemingway lived there at the Hotel Ambos Mundo. (I have written about his stay which is on my other blog: www.barbarabothwell.blogspot.com).

Salobrena - A Holiday with Problems

The pool and Salobrena

I'm sure everyone has at least once in their life planned a holiday only to have it go horribly wrong. Travel journalists aren't exempt!

In 2012 my trip to Bath was soggy, in Edinburgh I was plagued with chronic back ache (fault of prescription pills - now back on over-the-counter ones) and Spain in December joined the club.

Salobrena is not the best location for someone with a back problem - I should have done my research before booking. But that wasn't the main problem. Without one of the other problems that cropped up I could probably have managed okay.

As the flight out was horrendously early it meant an overnight at an airport hotel. I should have known when the train pulled out of the station and I realized that I had left my overnight bag at home that this was a fated holiday. On arrival at London Gatwick it was a trip to Boots for toiletries. No cosmetics in that branch. I had to wait until the next morning after going through Security before I could buy the face paint and make myself look human.

Knowing that at that time of the year the hotel would be almost empty I hoped they had good PR and would allocate me a decent room. Not one of those awful European single rooms - the width of 2 beds, a bathroom in which you can barely move, no view and located in noisy and/or smelly area. As this was a Best Western hotel I handed over my card with my passport only to have it returned to me with a grumpy, "Bring it back later I don't have time now." There were only two couples to check in after me! I was handed my card key and told the room number - 102. Yup. Had to be a single didn't it? Over the front door with a view of a flat roof and the side of another building. No way!

I hot footed it back to reception where the last couple were checking in and as soon as they cleared the desk I put my Best Western card and press card on the counter and told the receptionist (possibly manager?) in no uncertain terms that I wanted a better room. That as a regular user of Best Western hotels I expected some consideration. She, two other receptionists and the Saga rep were gob-smacked. Well, I had said it all in Spanish! I got my other room - on the third floor, a double with balcony overlooking the pool and a splendid view. As they say, it pays to complain!

The excuse? There was a problem as it was a late booking. Eh? I had paid in full three months earlier - not exactly a late booking.

One of the things I enjoy about holidaying by myself is that I can do and see what I want without having to consider anyone else. I hate sightseeing or shopping with someone tagging along as I cannot then concentrate. That being the case I try to avoid those nice people who think I want to spend time with them. Mind you, some of them are just plain nosy! On the coach from the airport I had spotted some whom I needed to avoid but, would you believe it, I got caught. Most unexpectedly.

The first evening before dinner I went to the bar for a drink and ended up sitting with a married couple. The next morning at the information meeting the wife came into the room and sat beside me. Okay so far. After the meeting we and the rep. went on the hotel bus into Salobrena for a familiarisation tour. In the town we left the bus and followed along like good children taking in the information being imparted about local buses, locations of various places of interest etc. Then the rep left us to do whatever we wanted to do. A voice beside me said, "My husband hasn't come because he said I could stay with you so that I don't get lost."

What can you say? He didn't come on either of the included trips, not even to Granada, but the pair did use the hotel bus to go into Salobrena. I didn't get to go there again as every time I thought I might be able to jump on the bus, his wife was sitting in reception - probably waiting to see if I would go. I did fool them once. After they left on the hotel bus I got onto the tour bus to Almunecar and found that it is a far better location for someone who has problems coping with hills. There is a lovely long flat promenade with plenty of benches on which to sit and enjoy the views - or read, of course - and I discovered a delightful small park.



One of the roads in Frigiliana



Have you heard of Frigiliana? This is a pretty village that we visited. It is filled with white-washed houses that are decorated with wrought-iron balconies - all very Andalucian. And it is hilly. Some people in our group took the 'high' road while the rest of us (including my attachment) continued strolling along the lower road as far as the church square. I thoroughly enjoyed the stroll, stopping to look in shop windows and, on the way back, popping into some of the shops for a browse.

I may not have been able to do exactly what I wanted to in Granada but I did persuade my shadow to come into a restaurant and share a fabulous dish of paella.

I'm off to Croatia in just over a week. Keep your fingers crossed that this time I am hanger-on free! After all, I will be there for two weeks.

The House of Mateus in Portugal

People with long memories will recall a flat bottle of wine called Mateus Rose.  The label showed an ornate manor house.  Although The Casa de Mateus exists and produces wine, it never produced Mateus Rose - just provided the illustration for the label.

During my visit to the Valleys of the Douro I visited this fantastic house and its beautiful gardens.  The house was built in the early 18th century and is a National Monument.  It is of the Italian Baroque style in cream with beige dressed stone trim, red tiled roofs and ‘oriental’ style pinnacles.

The main entrance is on the first floor (second to my American readers) and is reached by staircases from the central courtyard.

Our group was divided into two for the house tour.  I don’t know what the other guide was like but the young lady who escorted us was not only informative but also very amusing - and enjoyed sending up the Establishment.

I’m not going to be boring by describing all of the rooms - you need to go there to see them.  There are some pretty stupendous things to see such as the octagonal wooden ceiling in the library with its carved central panel.  Wood is used extensively throughout the house, especially chestnut, on ceilings, for doors and door decoration.

The rooms are, of course, filled with antiques from various countries and include some ornate cupboards, ceramics worth a fortune, glassware and silverware.  Most of the paintings are of the family.

I think the items that left everyone breathless are some fabulous 18th century religious satin and taffeta garments which are heavily embroidered and, apparently, were only used once.  The thought of the number of hours women spent working on them is mind blowing.

Despite the number of people milling about in the gardens, because they are divided into sections it is possible to find quiet corners.  Near the house is the formal garden with paths between the trees radiating in all directions from a central pond.  Further away is the 20th century Parterre which, because it is on a lower level, is beautiful when viewed from the terrace.

The most well known part of the garden is the reflecting lake at the front.  As well as reflecting the facade of the house it also reflects the nearby trees.  In the lake is a sleeping figure.  It is a sculpture by Joao Cutileiro and has been in the lake since 1981.

The grape treader is on lunch break.

The Casa de Mateus does produce its own wine.  As we were there during harvest it was interesting to go into the Adega to see the vats of grapes.  We were told that the grapes are still trodden by human foot.  By one man - who was on his lunch break.

It was a lovely two to three hours and I could have happily spent the rest of the day enjoying those gardens. 

This was another of the days out during the Saga River Douro holiday.

 

Saga Holidays

A Rail Trip through the High Douro Valley

The River Douro from the train

Even if you aren’t an avid train buff, this journey is a MUST as it is one of the most scenic in Europe.

We caught the train in Ruega and travelled alongside the River Douro to Pocinho.  For most of the journey we were higher than the river so the views were fantastic.  For the first part of the journey the river was on the right and on the left it was rocks, trees and bushes but eventually the scenery appeared on that side.  Vineyards, valleys, lakes and rivers.

Between the steep hills of vineyards there are tributaries of the Douro looking like sparkling ribbons throwing back reflections of the trees and sky.  Dotted here and there are mansion houses guarded by yew trees.  Now and again can be seen a small holding with orchards of olive, walnut and almond trees.  I even spotted an ‘orchard’ of prickly pear cacti.

One of the beautifully decorated stations

Further along the route the train crosses the Douro so passengers on the lefthand side of the train can watch the green waters of the river gliding past.  Along the way the train made a few stops which wasn’t a hardship as some of the stations are beautifully decorated with blue and white tiles.

The coach met us at Pocinho to take us to Meda which is the eastern limits of the port wine region.

The Pillory in front of the castle at Penedono

Following lunch and some free time we were then taken to Penedono.  This is an ancient village perched on a rock crest 974m above sea level.  In the square was a display of instruments of torture - anyone for the rack?  Across the road is a crenellated medieval castle. In front of the castle is a tall and ornate stone pillar.  Locally it is called a ‘pillory’ and has been there since the 16th century.

This was a great day out but for those requiring a steam train, you have to go on a Saturday.

This was a part of the River Douro trip with Saga. 

Saga Holidays

Lamego, a beautiful town in the Douro Valley

The most spectacular view in town is looking up to the Baroque sanctuary of Nossa Senhora dos Remedios with its twin towers and flights of blue and white tiled steps.  Some people do make the climb but the preference is to walk down them.  The easiest way to reach the church is to drive up.  The views over the town are stupendous and, during September, the Jupiter trees were in full bloom with branches laden with mauve flowers. 

Following a look around inside the church and a part of the grounds, we were let loose in the town and while some people elected sit at an open air cafe for a refreshing drink I - and my camera - went for a wander.

In the centre of the main square - actually circular - is a remembrance statue of a soldier.  By taking one of the side roads to look at the shops I discovered a super modern statue dedicated to the fire-fighters.

A very popular food in Portugal is something called Bacalao which is salt cod.  There was a freezer full of it in a supermarket and I was amused to see a notice on the door of a nearby dress shop - “No entry with bacalao”.  Why not?  Out of the freezer it stinks to high heaven!

Back to the soldier statue.  Stand with your back to the Sanctuary and look straight down the road.  In the centre of the road looking towards the Bishop’s Palace are some colourful shady gardens through which to stroll.  At the end of the gardens across the road to the Bishop’s Palace look to the right and there is Lamego Cathedral.  To the left and on a hill is the Castle, which isn’t open to the public.  It is the headquarters for the Boy Scouts who, some years ago, worked hard on the derelict castle and were rewarded for their efforts.

 

The Bishop’s Palace has a museum in which there is a large collection of religious paintings (what else do you expect in such a museum?) and some sculptures.

As well as the shops there are many restaurants in Lamego - it is sometimes difficult to choose between them.  Me?  For lunch I bought some snack food in the supermarket and sat in the gardens to watch the world go by - an interesting pastime no matter where you are in the world.

The view across Lamego from the Sanctuary

Although I was on a Saga holiday, Lamego makes for a good centre if you prefer to hire a car to tour the region.

Saga Holidays

A Cruise up the River Douro in Portugal

Whilst in Portugal I took a cruise from Oporto, upriver through the vineyards as far as Regua where a coach met us to take us to Lamego for the rest of the week.

We boarded the boat at Vila Nova de Gaia which is the side of the river where the Port Wine Lodges are located (yes, we did visit one of them and got to sample some port).  Having sailed beneath the D. Luis I and Dona Maria bridges - the latter designed by Gustave Eiffel - we soon left Oporto and were out into the peaceful countryside.

Historically the River Douro was a vital link between the wine valleys and Oporto from where the wine is exported all over the world.  In days gone by when the grapes were picked by hand and then trodden the barrels of wine were transported down river on Rabello boats.  Throughout September - harvest time - the river would have been crowded with these sail boats.  Very picturesque.

Now that road and rail links have been improved the river is no longer used to transport the wine but the boats, which are often anchored in Oporto, are used during Fiesta times.

The Douro River Valley is a Unesco World Heritage Site so it is very unspoiled and delightful.  During the cruise we passed by woodlands, some coming down to the river’s edge, others with great granite boulders.  Dotted about the landscape are farms, houses, villages and towns.  We saw plenty of birds including herons and, by looking carefully in the wooded areas, saw a few mountain goats.

The landscapes are an artist’s (or photographers) dream, with the clean and pure air adding a luminescence to the scenery.  Add to that the sparklingly clear river water and you can understand why this cruise is so popular. 

The vineyards seem to be on every available space - flatland and hills.  Most of the rows of grapes go in one direction but sometimes due to the shape of the hill there will be one or two with the rows in different directions.  As the picking of grapes is now mechanised, rather than the rows being close together giving a lush aspect there is more space between them so the fields look like an ochre fabric with narrow bands of green.

 Those passengers not going to Lamego or further along the river, disembark at Regua and take a train back to Oporto.