Each year, the Great Mosque of Granada celebrate its anniversry. Last weekend was celebrated the eleventh anniversary of the opening of the Mosque. Here you have a short video of the concert!
martes, 2 de septiembre de 2014
Andalusian concert in the Anniversary of The Great Mosque of Granada
Each year, the Great Mosque of Granada celebrate its anniversry. Last weekend was celebrated the eleventh anniversary of the opening of the Mosque. Here you have a short video of the concert!
miércoles, 27 de agosto de 2014
The Orange-tree Courtyard of the Cordoba's Mosque
The "Patio de los Naranjos" (the Orange-tree Courtyard) is part of the Cordoba's Mosque, and is undoubtedly the largest courtyard and oldest of the city. Its origin is tied to the temple itself, in the year 786. His name is undoubtedly due to the 98 orange trees that it contains, planted in rows in the late eighteenth century.
This is an enclosed area 130 meters long by 50 wide, divided into three parts, each with a fountain in the center.
The appearance of the courtyard has undergone many changes in the course of history. One important change was when it was extended to the north during the reign of Abd al-Rahman III, when the former minaret of Hixem was knocked down, or the extension to the east carried out by Almanzor.
In Islamic times, the area was used for public events such as administering justice or teaching, and the arches connecting the courtyard with the main body of the mosque used to be open. It was intended from the very start as a courtyard with porticos (the galleries were started by Abderramán I and finished in the time of Hixem I, who built the minaret and the ablutions hall).
However, the cloisters visible today date from the beginning of the 16th century, when Bishop Martín Fernández de Angulo entrusted the architect Hernán Ruiz I with the task of totally rebuilding them.
Beneath the ground where the orange trees are planted lies a large water cistern which ensured in Muslim times a constant supply of water for the ritual ablutions. The first mention of palm trees being planted here goes back to the 13th century, and there were orange trees in the 15th century, with olive trees and cypresses being added in the 18th.
jueves, 3 de julio de 2014
27 Foods To Eat At Suhoor That Release Energy Throughout The Day During Ramadan
Even if breakfast comes before dawn, it’s still the most important meal of your day. Drink two glasses of water at every suhoor and follow these tips.
2. Spread almond butter on whole grain toast, then top with bananas and chia seeds.
Macey Foronda / BuzzFeed
3. Toss bananas, skin-on pears, and pumpkin seeds with a little lime juice and cinnamon. Add Greek yogurt if possible.
4. If you’re feeding a family, make instant oatmeal packets on Sunday to use throughout the week.
5. Smash beans on whole wheat toast then top with a tomato and a fried egg.
Macey Foronda / BuzzFeed
6. Make a big batch of this breakfast grain salad to eat throughout the week with fruits and nuts.
7. Blend milk, yogurt, quick oats, banana, peanut butter, chia seeds and cocao powder for a quick protein smoothie.
8. Scramble eggs with spinach and feta then wrap in a whole grain tortilla.
9. Make breakfast quinoa by heating it with coconut milk, vanilla, and spices then add nuts and dried fruit.
11. Blend frozen banana with nut butter, cocoa powder, and water. Add oats if you have them.
Get the recipe and more quick smoothies here.
12. Add smoked salmon to a stack of avocado, fried egg, and a whole grain English muffin.
13. Make a batch of hard boiled eggs to have all week then mix them into a crunchy breakfast salad.
15. Find a way to work veggies into your breakfast sandwich (made with whole grain bread of course).
Macey Foronda / BuzzFeed
16. If you’re feeding a family, try this baked oatmeal casserole you can make ahead and reheat in the microwave.
17. Blend a frozen banana with 1/2 cup frozen kale and 1/2 cup coconut water into a blender.
Macey Foronda / BuzzFeed / Via buzzfeed.com
18. Make smoothie packets for your freezer at the beginning of the week to keep that 3am meal simple.
19. Make a smoothie with watermelon, Greek yogurt (protein), apples (fiber), and banana.
20. Blend mangoes, oranges, and pineapple with coconut water and coconut butter.
21. Make a delicious and hydrating Apple-Spice Breakfast Soup the night before.
22. Try egg whites scrambled with fresh avocado and topped with grape tomatoes.
23. Pair your eggs and a whole wheat muffin with a big pile of arugula and avocado.
24. Make a quick breakfast wrap with fruit, nut butter, cinnamon, and a whole wheat wrap.
25. Have a handful of berries and a cup of Greek yogurt with your whole wheat bagel and almond butter.
27. Finally, when you’re pressed for time, scarf a couple of hard-boiled eggs, a piece of whole wheat bread, and a fruit or vegetable.
And don’t forget, two glasses of water at every suhoor.
miércoles, 2 de julio de 2014
Travel the halal way and discover.. Las Alpujarras southern flanks of the Sierra Nevada, Granada
The region of mountain villages known
as Las Alpujarras clings to the southern flanks of the Sierra Nevada,
cloven by deep, sheltered valleys and gorges which run down towards the
Mediterranean. 
The Alpujarra, as it is popularly known, in the singular, is famous throughout Spain because of its unique mini-ecology. Its terraced farmlands are constantly watered by the melting snow from above, constituting a high-altitude oasis of greenery which stands in dramatic contrast to the arid foothills below.
This is ideal hiking terrain for adventurous travellers, provided you take along a tent and well-padded sleeping bags - the average altitude is 4,000 feet above sea level.
The cultural interest of the region lies in its fifty-odd villages, which were the last stronghold of the moorish. Soon after the Castillians took Granada in 1492, all the city´s Moors were forced to convert to Christianity. Those who refused took to the hills, settling in this remote, inaccessible area.
Constant pressure from the Christians led to a bloody uprising, the
Morisco Rebellion of 1568, which was ruthlessly crushed out, with the
public execution of the leader, Ben Humeya, in the main square of
Granada. Soon followed a royal decree expelling from the Kingdom of
Granada all people of moorish descent, since the "new Christians", as
the converts were called, were all suspected of being ¨crypto-Muslims¨
in secret...The villages of the Alpujarra were resettled with some 12,000 Christian families brought by king Felipe II from Galicia and Asturias in north-western Spain.
However, these unique hamlets have retained their traditional Berber architecture - terraced clusters of grey-white box-shaped houses with flat clay roofs - which is still common in the Rif and Atlas mountains of Morocco.
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| An street in Órgiva (Las Alpujarras, Granada) |
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| Acequia de Las Ventanas |
If you stray from the beaten path, you will be sure to catch sight of the region´s abundant wild life, such as the Cabra Hispanica, a mountain goat which roams the mountains in herds and is often seen standing on pinnacles, silhouetted against the sky. But as soon as it flairs the scent of man it will bound up the steepest slopes with amazing speed... The Alpujarra is also famous for its excellent birdwatching - the colourful Hoopoe with its stark, haunting cry, is a common sight.
ALCAICERÍA, the old silk market in muslim times in GRANADA
The Alpujarra mountain range, was important for the production of silk, where silkworms feasted on the leaves of the Mulberry trees. The raw material was then transported by mules, to Granada,where the silk threads were woven, then sold, either in bales, or made into clothing etc.
In the centre of Granadas' city, a bazaar was built , consisting of a grid like network of streets, with merchants shops, and inns, for the merchants to sleep, eat and conduct business. (The Corral del Carbon was originally a merchants inn - see my tip for further info).
Arched Gateways led into the bazzar, which were locked at night, while night watchmen guarded the area.
Originally, this bazaar covered the area from Plaza Nueva to Plaza Bib Rambla, and was a very important trading area.
However,
on the night of 19th July 1843, a fire started in a shop that made
matches, and the entire bazaar was destroyed. The area was soon
re-built, but on a smaller scale.Today, the bazaar still operates as a centre for trading, but mainly goods sold are souvenirs or crafts. It is an interesting place to wander around. Besides looking at the goods for sale, there are some good examples of Islamic architecture, and tiled wall decorations.
Travel the halal way and discover... THE MADRID'S ROYAL PALACE
Madrid grew around the Manzanares River, which was called Mayrit by early Muslim settlers meaning 'source of water'.Madrid was just a small provincial town, while nearby Toledo was the political and cultural capital of Medieval Castile. Still, remnants of the old walled city are waiting to be found—albeit in some pretty odd places—for those who know where to look.
The medieval town was centered around the present-day Palacio (where the Muslim Alcázar was once located). The easiest place to see remnants of the Muslim wall is on Cuesta de la Vega to the left of the architecturally mediocre Catedral de la Almudena.
Travel the halal way and discover... The Liquid Gold from Morocco: Argan Oil, one of the most rare and expensive oils in the world
Argan
oil is beautiful golden oil with a slightly reddish tinge, which comes
from the Argan Tree of Morocco. For centuries, the Berber people of Morocco have used the oil for its numerous culinary, cosmetic and medicinal benefits. The argan tree is under the protection of UNESCO due to its dwindling numbers and difficult growing conditions. Argan is one of the most rare and expensive oils in the world because of its limited quantity and traditional production methods. For this reason it is often referred to it as…
The Argan tree is believed to have originated in the town of Argana, a village north east of the Moroccan city, Agadir. It lives longer than the olive tree and requires no cultivation. The trunk of the tree is twisted and gnarled, allowing goats to climb its branches and feed on the leaves and fruit. It is possible to see this magnificent site while driving in the southwest regions of Morocco. The fruit has a green fleshy exterior much like an olive but larger and rounder. There is a nut inside the fruit, which has an extremely hard shell and contains one to three almond shaped kernels.
The goats eat the fruit leaving the nut behind. The nuts are collected by farmers and produced into the argan oil by a very arduous process. The production of argan oil is still mostly done by traditional methods. The production of one liter of oil takes about 20 hours of hands on labor. The production of the argan oil is still a cottage industry, managed by co-operatives of women. It provides employment to many women and families in the region.
miércoles, 4 de junio de 2014
Documentary of the Ancient MegaStructures in Alhambra de Granada (Spain)
The Alhambras's outer walls are made
from a mixture of dark red clay, sand and stone found on site and known
as the Alhambra conglomerate.
The Hispano-Muslim architects who
designed the Alhambra used a unit of measurement from classical
architecture called the rashshashid codo. It is with the use of this that the architects were able to create astounding intricacy and exact geometry to the patterns on the walls to establish effects that have overwhelmed visitors from ancient times
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
sábado, 14 de diciembre de 2013
Cordoba, where cultures come together
Over the centuries, the different peoples and cultures who settled in Cordoba left a priceless legacy of monuments in the streets of the city. If you come to southern Spain, then make a note to visit this destination. This city in Andalusia had all of Europe in awe during the Middle Ages. When you see its stunning heritage, you will understand why.
Its historic quarter has been declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO, although the main protagonist is actually the Great Mosque. It is considered the most important Islamic monument in the West, and is doubtless one of the world's most fascinating works of art. Its "forest" of columns, its two-tone arches and its decor, along with the Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque elements of the Christian cathedral built within it make this a unique, stunning architectural site.
Besides the Great Mosque you will find other magnificent buildings in this city. A gentle stroll around the historic centre will take you to the Alcázar (Palace) of the Christian Monarchs, with its beautiful gardens, its Moorish baths, and the Mosaic Room, where you can see the wonderful collection ofRoman mosaics found beneath Plaza de la Corredera Square. Head for the narrow streets of the Jewish Quarter where you can admire the beautiful plasterwork of its Synagogue. Also worth visiting are the Medina Azahara archaeological site, the typical Cordoba patios at Viana Palace, the Potro Inn, mentioned in "Don Quixote", the Baroque Merced Convent, Calahorra Tower...
In Spain, enjoying art and culture is an unforgettable experience. In Cordoba too: start planning your holiday and come and see for yourself.
Besides the Great Mosque you will find other magnificent buildings in this city. A gentle stroll around the historic centre will take you to the Alcázar (Palace) of the Christian Monarchs, with its beautiful gardens, its Moorish baths, and the Mosaic Room, where you can see the wonderful collection ofRoman mosaics found beneath Plaza de la Corredera Square. Head for the narrow streets of the Jewish Quarter where you can admire the beautiful plasterwork of its Synagogue. Also worth visiting are the Medina Azahara archaeological site, the typical Cordoba patios at Viana Palace, the Potro Inn, mentioned in "Don Quixote", the Baroque Merced Convent, Calahorra Tower...
In Spain, enjoying art and culture is an unforgettable experience. In Cordoba too: start planning your holiday and come and see for yourself.
miércoles, 11 de diciembre de 2013
Travel the halal way and discover... Cabo de Gata (Almería)
The province of Almería can boast of having the first sea-land park of Andalusia, Cabo de Gata-Nijar Natura Park, with impressive cliffs, small and hidden coves, finde gold sandy beaches and marine depths of incredible beauty, ideal for scuba diving.
You must visit different enclaves within the park, such as the village of Nijar, featuring Mudejar style church, that used to be and old, and walk around its white narrows streets with and Arab layout.
Also, you can visit the mining village of Rodalquilar and the industrial plan of Agua Amarga, as well as Los Genoveses and El Mónsul beaches, in San José.
In the easternmost part of the park, you must aso visit the villages of Cuevas del Almanzora, Garrucha Mojacar, Vera and Carboneras.
Cabo de Gata-Níjar Natural Park comprises unique spaces and landscapes, with the single volcanic origin mountains in the Iberian Peninsula, a coastal strip plenty of dunes, beaches and salt mines, and protected sea mile with rich sea beds.
There are over 100 singular species in this natural park, a paradise for enviromentalists and botanists. You must stand out the abocetas of Autouin seagulls, among others.
Yet another clear example of Cabo de Gata the natural richness is its sea bed that makes of this park one of the most attractive places por scuba diving lovers.
#CaboDeGata #Almeria #Alhamratour #honeymoon #NaturalPark#Mojacar #Mudejar