Cheers Spain! Winners of the world cup!

VIVA ESPANIA !!!

Congratulations to Spain for beating the Netherlands in last night World Cup final in soccer city.

They are worthy winners and deserve the hold the trophy! The picture is a well known Spanish beer called Cruzcampo which i'm sure was drank plentiful last night!

South Africa done themselves proud holding this tournament and in turn showcasing their wonderful country despite their recent history.

COMMON SENSE AND COURTESY APPLIES . . .Unless credited otherwise, all photos and poetry in this blog are original work protected by international intellectual property and copyright laws. Please ask for permission if you wish to use something.

Mothering Sunday - UK

Today in the UK is Mothering sunday. So today's post is dedicated to all the mothers who read my blog and to my own mother whom I love very much.

The above picture was taken in a Spanish market in Lucena.

Fishing - A man enjoying his own company

"There is certainly something in fishing that tends to produce a gentleness of spirit,

a pure serenity of mind."

--Washington Irving

When was the last time you spent doing something just for you?

Try and be the man in the picture and doing something by yourself for 10 minutes today.

Stillness.... A Poem

This photo was taken in Spain during a visit to see my mum.

It was a particularly misty morning and the scene reminds me of when Lucy met Mr Thomas in the story "The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe".

Below is a poem inspired by the photograph.

"as the mist lifts

and the cold creeps into my soul,

i am hoping you will come back

and disturb the stillness within my heart,

that has robbed the colour of my life."

© 2009 T.Gayle, all rights reserved.

Good Morning - Sunrise In Spain

Every day we are greeted with a sunrise that brings the promise that something wonderful could happen. The below picture was taken in Spain whilst walking with my mum. You can sunlight creeping over the hills and the darkness of the night is receding.

Below is a poem by Jacqui Thornton which captures the wonder of the sunrise.

I hope you enjoy it.

Sunrise

The grey begins to fade,
As colour creeps from leaf to limb.
The light is slowly seeping up,
From beneath the earth's curved rim.

The sky blue strengthens slowly,
Glazed with hues of orange and red.
Slowly as the earth revolves,
The sun lifts up it's head.

Colours shimmer in the light
And shapes begin to unveil.
The trees and flowers separate,
With the dawn light rosy and pale.

The sun climbs higher in the sky.
It's light shimmering and warm.
All things now are clearly seen.
A new day has been born.

Jacqui Thornton Copyright © 2000

Street Art or Graffiti? You decide? - Granada

Art can be found all around us.

Granada has some great examples of street art.

Art is....


Art should make you feel.

Art should provoke thoughts

Art is sometimes hidden in plain sight

Art is everywhere

Just take a moment to notice it
© 2009 T.Gayle, all rights reserved.


... my mum wrote a great post on how she felt after seeing the above picture of Louis Armstrong .

Pop over to her post and check out her write up - Gloria's Spanish View

Alcaicería (House of Caesar) - Granada - Spain

During my trip to Granada my mum and I spent time exploring the area around Granada's Cathedral this is great part of Granada.

It's narrow streets are filled with Flamenco dresses  jewellery, tables, pipes, té and accessories among other trinkets arab products. 

It was once a great bazaar where silk was made and sold. Alcaicería literally means either the "house of Caesar" or "belonging to Caesar" in recognition of the fact that Emperor Justinian granted the Moors permission to sell silk. Traditionally these bazaars were situated in the centre of a city, with inns where the merchants could stay, and with gates at all the entrances to guard against looting and which were closed at night. The narrow streets inside were then patrolled by watchmen.

The rosemary wielding gypsy ladies also hang out around here. Having said this, it's still a safe place - just be aware of your belongings.

Granada - Spain - A view of the Cathedral

As is the case of most Christian buildings in Granada, the Cathedral was built on the site of the former Mosque. The site of the former Mosque has since been replaced by four buildings: the Cathedral, the Royal Chapel, the Sagrario, and the Merchants' Exchange. 

This picture was taken on my second visit to Granada. On this visit I spent the day with my mum strolling the streets of this wonderful city enjoying its rich history. Granada cathedral like many that I have seen in Spain is quite stunning.

Based around the Cathedral are shops selling Moroccan arts and crafts, also a word of warning there are gypsies who try to sell you flowers, try to avoid them.

Quiet Reflection within the Gardens of Carmen de los Mártires - Granada

Mum doing her Princess Di moment and looking great!

When was the last time you sat down and truly appreciated your surrounds in quiet reflection? We spend our lives rushing from one task to another without really enjoying the moment and the beauty that surrounds us.


I took this picture of my mother at the gardens of Carmen de los Mártires. She was taking a moment by herself to enjoy the beauty around her. Looking back at the picture now, it reminded me how often we walk past things that are truly beautiful which we never really see.

Whatever you today try and take a moment to some quiet reflection and see the beauty of the world around you.

Lucena a Busy Market - A Mother with Child Shopping

Markets are the same the world over, people bustling through the different stalls, looking for a bargain. Stall sellers shouting the prices of their goods.

This market is held  in the nearby town Lucena where it is held once a week. This market sells mainly clothing items and food.

Above is a woman with her child, looking through some clothes that were on sale for €3.00.

A colourful picture of life, mother with child shopping.

A View To a Kill from Carmen De Los Martires- Granada Spain

Last week I spent five wonderful days in glorious Spain, staying with my mum  (Gloria SpanishView's - check out her blog for some great pictures). This stunning view of Granada city is from Carmen De Los Martires.


Carmen de los Mártires is a 19th century house and ornamental grounds just to the right of the Alhambra palace. There are some interesting views of the Alhambra from the other side and great views of the city of Granada and the Sierra Nevada. 


During this week, Trojan's Corner will be featuring photography of my stay in Spain.  I look forward to your comments and your company. 

Olive Groves in Cordoba Spain

Olive Groves are a familar sight in southern Spain's countryside. This picture was taken in June while visiting my mum, Gloria (Gloria's Spanish view). Today I head home to London and will be sorry to leave this gorgeous sunshine and wonderful people. Plus I'll be sad to leave my mum as well.

Hasta luego!

Puerto de Malaga - Malaga Airport

Going to Spain for five days... Sun, culture and a thousand opportunities to take a picture.

Tree Hugging In Seville at the Alcazar Garden

I saw this tree and thought it was absolutely stunning and guess what I gave it a hug!

The this was taken in the Alcazar Garden, named because its design is patterned after the gardens of Alcazar Castle in Seville, Spain, lies adjacent to the Art Institute and Mingei Museum. It is known for its ornate fountains, exquisite turquoise blue, yellow, and green Moorish tiles and shady pergola. This formal garden, bordered by boxwood hedges, is planted with 7,000 annuals for a vibrant display of color throughout the year. The garden has been reconstructed to replicate the 1935 design by San Diego architect Richard Requa.

This picture was taken by my mother, Gloria - check out her fantastic blog called Gloria's Spanish view!

Hello Mr Spanish Geese

During my visit to Seville in June, I had a great picnic by the river Guadalquivir made by my mother (check out her blog on (Gloria's Spanish View). There was some ducks and geese on the bank of the river sunbathing.

This particular goose did'nt like the idea of his picture being take and decided to hiss at me and he started to have a pee. Not very attractive I know, but I got the message.

The river Guadalquivir is a beautiful place to have a picnic if you want have scenic place to have a place to eat. We saw people swiming and rowing canoes in the river; as well as various lesiurse boats.

Granada - Spain - A view from La Alhambra

Earlier this year during my visit to Spain, I went to La Alhambra in Granada. I will be visiting my mum later this month and during my visit I hope to revisit Granada and explore this wonderful city. Above is a view of the city from the La Alhambra.

Take a Walk With Me - A Poem

Take a walk with me
And let’s have a conversation
Let’s talk about what really matters
The things that we really want to say,
Lets be real and lets be true
Take a walk with me and lets really talk from the heart.

Take a walk with me
I want to experience your company and spend some quality time with you.
Talk about our dreams and have fantasies about the lives that we want to live
Lets laugh, let really laugh, till our bellies hurt, till tears roll down our cheeks
Take a walk with me and really have some fun.

Take a walk with me
Walk with me past the milestones of our life,
As a friend, partner or a part of my family.
Share the joy of my highs and help me during my lows
And when I can’t walk no more, lay me down to rest and remember our walk through life.

Written by Trojan Gayle

© 2009 T.Gayle, all rights reserved.

New Blog - Gloria's Spanish View

Gloria's Spanish View is a new blog which explores the life a British expat making a new life in Spain.

Those who know me personally will know that my mother moved to Spain just under three years ago. Gloria (my mum) has just published her first post and I would recommend that you over to her site and give her some of the love you guys have shown me.

I took this picture during a visit to Spain last year. We visited a neirbouring town called Iznájar, which is very pretty and has some stunning views of the country side.


To visit Gloria's Spanish View click here!

Manolo Vazquez - Fearless matador with grace and gravity

Manuel Vázquez Garcés was born a Spanish bullfighter in the neighborhood of San Bernardo in Seville on August 21 1930 and died in Seville on August 14, 2005.

He was known by the nickname "The Socrates of San Bernardo" and "The Wizard of San Bernardo." Took the option on the Real Maestranza in Seville on October 6, 1951 before the bull of the herd Perdulario Domingo Ortega, acting as his godfather brother Pepe Luis Vazquez and witness Antonio Bienvenida.These swords will confirm the choice the next day in the Plaza de las Ventas bullring in Madrid on Sunday Ortega, receiving a severe fighting during the corner. He retired in 1968 after participating in their lives in over 300 runs. He reappeared 50 years with the April 19, 1981 in Seville bullring to Juan Pedro Domecq. That evening he gave an alternative to his nephew Pepe Luis, acting as a witness Curro Romero.Among the best of his artistic operations, which are held in the bullring of bullfighting in Mexico Distrito Federal in early 1954, which cut off a tail, of the Feria de San Isidro in the year 1957, when he cut the two ears of a bull to the herd and Cobaleda Corrida Corpus on June 18 1981 in the Maestranza in Seville, where he alternated with Curro Romero and Rafael de Paula, which had a sensational performance that allowed leave for the first time in his career by the Gate of the Prince of that place.Is permanently withdrawn from the bullrings on October 12 1983 in the plaza de toros de la Maestranza in Seville, having a hand in hand with Antoñete. That evening was a resounding success, cut four ears, one of a bull the herd of Juan Pedro Domecq, two other iron-González Sánchez Dalp and an animal Núñez Moreno de Guerra, left the arena for the second time in his life to shoulder through the Puerta del Príncipe.

Antonio - Tour Guide in Seville City - Spain

Antonio was my tour guide during my visit to the beautiful city of Seville. He showed my the beautiful sights of the city from his gorgeous horse drawn carriage.