Speaking of Spain
  • Home
  • Civil War & Volunteers
  • Anarchism in the Spanish Civil War
  • Forgotten Stories From Spain
  • Radical Recipes
  • Library

I'd Rather be the Moor, thanks.

1/11/2013

0 Comments

 
Many years back, my partner and I were travelling through the Alicante area of Spain, in search of a second hand van. The van search proved ultimately successful only after we had arrived in Gandia and purchased a dodgy 14year old Nissan Vanette. A classic vehicle full of character if not mechanical reliability. 

It was due to the vehicle search that we stopped off at a town called Villajoyosa, a small and colourful coastal town that would be celebrating the Moors and Christians fiesta the following morning. So we stayed, and at dawn the following day, we strolled down to the beach to watch the boatloads of costumed characters fight their way ashore and begin the day long battles to take the town. 
It was an eventful day, one in which I was left with a tremendous urge to join in, but only on the condition that I could wear one of the glorious uniforms and bear one of the exotic sabres displayed by the Moors. 

The Moors & Christians Festival (Short Version) from Paul Louis Archer on Vimeo.


So I was pleased to stumble upon, almost 15 years later and explanation as to why that might be. 

Watch the extraordinary film above by Paul Louis Archer who manages to convey through photography and sound, something of the essence of this Mediterranean celebration celebrated in many towns along the levantine coast. 
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    BOOKS

    1984 and Spanish Civil War
    Available Now
     Why Orwell is essential to understanding Spain today. More here - Forgotten Stories From Spain
    Follow @GazpachoMonk

    Norman Bethune and the Spanish Civil war
    The Ambulance Man and the Spanish Civil War (2nd Ed)
    Find out More about the ebook and audio
    Forgotten Stories From Spain Book HERE
    AND WATCH THE TORTILLA VIDEO HERE
    Inside the tortilla book cover
    Listen to an audio sample here

    POSTS

    CNT newspaper
    Spain 1936: The Silenced Revolution
    Did Laurie Lee Lie - a 2 part investigation
    Did Laurie Lee Lie? Listen to the two part investigation.


    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2019
    June 2016
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012

Store

Books
Videos
Audio

Free PDFs to Download

Anarchist Car Designs from Civil War
​Anarchism & the Death of an Idea


Free Stories

The Bullfight
The early Morning Hours
​Laurie Lee

Contact

Contact

The gazpachomonk
© COPYRIGHT 2020. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • Home
  • Civil War & Volunteers
  • Anarchism in the Spanish Civil War
  • Forgotten Stories From Spain
  • Radical Recipes
  • Library