The domestic sheep is a multi-purpose animal, and the more than 200 breeds now in existence were created to serve these diverse purposes.

Churras and Merinos are 2 of those breeds, one for excellent milk production, the other excellent for wool production but if you mix them you got neither good wool neither good milk production. So, as it is said in Spain, do not mix churras with merinos trying to get maximum benefit because sometimes it doesn’t work that way.

Aranjuez is known for the Palacio Real de Aranjuez, one of the Spanish royal sites, and its vast gardens. The Tagus valley has been intensively farmed since medieval times and the strawberries of Aranjuez are famous throughout Spain. Internationally, Aranjuez has become known through the Concierto de Aranjuez by Joaquin Rodrigo. Rodrigo is buried in the town cemetery.

The Concierto de Aranjuez is a composition for classical guitar and orchestra by the Spanish composer Joaquín Rodrigo. Written in 1939, it is probably Rodrigo’s best-known work, and its success established his reputation as one of the most significant Spanish composers of the twentieth century.

Rodrigo, blind since age three, was a pianist. He did not play the guitar, yet he still managed to capture the spirit of the guitar in Spain.

This time photos are the pretext to share with you the concert – playing the guitar Paco de Lucia.

Playlist

Aranjuez concert part 1

Aranjuez concert part 2

Aranjuez concert part 3

Wikipedia about Bardenas Reales

Wikipedia sobre las Bardenas Reales

After finishing this selection I have enjoyed the whole photostream of Martin Zalba which I recommend. I am impressed by his domain of many photography technics like macro, BW, landscapes, …

The Photochrom Print Collection has almost 6,000 views of Europe and the Middle East and 500 views of North America, but only a 5% has been uploaded to flickr. Published primarily from the 1890s to 1910s, these prints were created by the Photoglob Company in Zürich, Switzerland, and the Detroit Publishing Company in Michigan. The richly colored images look like photographs but are actually ink-based photolithographs, usually 6.5 x 9 inches.

Like postcards, the photochroms feature subjects that appeal to travelers, including landscapes, architecture, street scenes, and daily life and culture. The prints were sold as souvenirs and often collected in albums or framed for display.

The Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division assembled this collection from two sources that provided prints in mint condition. In 1985, the prints of Europe and the Middle East were purchased from the Galerie Muriset in Switzerland. In 2004, Howard L. Gottlieb generously donated the North American views.

Let me know if you find it interesting in your comments, thank you.