I´m in Spain

Stan Sakai · Post by **Stan Sakai** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 11:26 -0700

Sergio and I are in Granada for their international comics festival, but it was at times, an ordeal to get here. It involved a missed flight, a new airport, a speeding taxi, gate changes, and a mob at security.

But we´re here. Fortunately, the hotel we´re staying at, that was originally built in the 15th century, has a computer room with internet connection.

Sergio and I are going to train over to Sevilla tomorrow morning. In the evening, the city is closing the Alhambra for the festival guests to enjoy.

I´ll try to post regularly, but you´ll get a more complete story when I write up my travel report when I return.

Pekass · Post by **Pekass** » Tue Mar 07, 2006 14:59 -0700

Hehe, so you knew the hell that is the New Barajas?
Hope you get to enjoy the charming southern Spain, it is a nice place to visit every time of the year.
P.D:Hope you get to enjoy a good visit of the Alhambra.

Stan Sakai · Post by **Stan Sakai** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 11:32 -0700

Sergio and I took the train to Sevilla today. It is exactly how I pictured old Spain to be with a courtyard in every neighborhood. Charming. We went to the cathedral, the biggest outside of Vatican City, and walked the 35 stories to the top of the tower for a wonderful view of the city. It is a beautiful city, with lots of Moorish influences.

Outside of Sharon, Sergio is the best traveling companion one could hope for--especially in Spain.

Tonight, we go to the Alhambra, and tomorrow is the opening day of the festival.

I´m even getting used to the Spanish computer. We don´t have neat keys in the US like Ç or ¿.

ziritrion · Post by **ziritrion** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 12:25 -0700

Yup, those extra keys are handy indeed.

Fanfan · Post by **Fanfan** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 14:15 -0700

How is the weather in Spain ?

Here it is coldest than ever...

Stan Sakai · Post by **Stan Sakai** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 16:39 -0700

Fanfan wrote:How is the weather in Spain ?

Here it is coldest than ever...

The weather here is wonderful. We were told it was cold and wet just before our arrival.

Sergio and I just got back from a nighttime tour of the Alhambra. It´s a beautiful place, but we would like to see it in the daytime. We probably won´t go tomorrow because the president of Spain will be there, and we don´t want to bother with the hassles of security.

Stan Sakai · Post by **Stan Sakai** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 12:40 -0700

Sergio and I walked around the city center today. We did an awful lot of shopping. He bought a new pen--a Pelikan. When he first started using it, it costs about $60. Now it´s almost 4 times as much.

We´re going out for octopus tonight. A guy drives 1,000 km each year to prepare octopus for the festival guests and staff. It´s supposed to be delicious. If not, I´ll put it in one of my stories, like the Norwegian sheep´s head.

Stan Sakai · Post by **Stan Sakai** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 17:39 -0700

We just returned from our octopus dinner. I´m sorry, but it was delicious, so I won´t be making fun of it in a story.

Sergio is at the next computer. I always say that I´m computer illiterate. But next to him, I´m Bill Gates.

ziritrion · Post by **ziritrion** » Fri Mar 10, 2006 5:42 -0700

I'm glad you enjoyed octopus. If the guy who cooked it drove 1000 km, then he's probably from Galicia, whose seafood is the most well known in Spain.

It's too bad I couldn't make it. Have a good time there and post a travle report whenever you can!

Stan Sakai · Post by **Stan Sakai** » Fri Mar 10, 2006 7:17 -0700

Sergio and I went to the Alhambra today. I´m glad we did, because there was so much we missed when we were there Tuesday night--details in the architecture, the gardens, and parts of the grounds we could not get into. We even took one of those novelty photos together dressed as Arab sheiks. It turned out great.

It´s a bit after three, and I´ll be off to the festival in a while. There is not much scheduled for us today. We have a presentation together tomorrow afternoon.

The weather is perfect here--clear skies, 21 degrees C.

Anjin-san · Post by **Anjin-san** » Fri Mar 10, 2006 14:35 -0700

Oooh! The Alhambra ! I've always wanted to see that. I've only seen photographs in my Art History texts.

Moreover, I've always wanted to hear live Galician music. (Celtic music with an Arabic influence ! Very cool stuff !) Heck, I'd love it if I could find some on CD.

TheQuestionMan · Post by **TheQuestionMan** » Fri Mar 10, 2006 15:05 -0700

Hmmm... Perhaps a Story about in Spain. Kinda of a spin off.

Maybe

QM

Stan Sakai · Post by **Stan Sakai** » Sat Mar 11, 2006 15:43 -0700

Sergio and I were walking around the Granada City Center today, when I noticed a store´s name. That started Sergio talking about a possible Usagi story. We bounced it back and forth until we came up with a winner. Unfortunately, it won´t fit in with the type of stories I tell.

But it´s too good a story to pass up. I´m thinking of publishing it in one of the UY sketchbooks. I´ll do a comic strip story of the creation of the story, the outline, thumbnails, and the finished work. I can also include my Granada travel report.

Post by **Steve Hubbell** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 0:43 -0700

I would guess that means you will have a new sketch book for sale at the 2006 International Comic con - San Diego (better known to some as Groo-fest 2006)? Cool!

Sounds like you are having a great time in Spain.

Abayo....

ziritrion · Post by **ziritrion** » Sun Mar 12, 2006 3:56 -0700

Anjin-san, if you want some good Celtic music, try finding Hevia (electronic bagpipes, very cool stuff) and Luar Na Lubre (more classical, but very good as well). If you can't find any of their CDs, try finding a few songs on emule or any P2P network. If you can't still fins them, PM me and we'll arrange something.