Tuesday 14 January 2014

Farewell to Andalucia, Spain, the land of Flamenco.

Hello all!

Well, my 5-week Grand Tour is just about over, and very soon I will be winging it home, ready to face lots of work and the challenges of a new year. I am spending the last week in Spain, visiting Morocco, then 2 more days in Paris, then I fly home. Thank you to those of you who followed my travels both here on my blog and/or on facebook.

In honour of Spain where we've spent a total of 2 weeks this visit, I thought I'd post about flamenco. Andalucia, the region where we've been staying, is credited with being the birthplace of flamenco. I caught a wonderful show in Madrid on a previous visit, and this time I was fortunate enough to catch a show here at the resort on the Costa del Sol. The music is wonderful, the costumes are so unique and colourful, the dancing is so energetic, made more so by the throbbing, thrumming guitars and boot slamming. It brought back memories of a story I wrote for RomanticFridayWriters for a prompt in 2012 - The Perfect 9.5, which I decided to re-post today with a few edits. I hope you enjoy my story, inspired by a visit to Madrid in 2011.


The Perfect Dance

The women danced. Their dresses, bodices decorated with jewels, shimmered in the semi-dark. The movements began slowly, the dancers moving like fish floating across a luminescent ocean. Soon the slow dance became a crescendo of whirling, twirling patterns across the barn-like room. This was excellence, the best of the best.

Jose cast his eyes to the stage. The musicians stood tall, their faces gleaming, sweat dripping from their black curls. They played the trembling guitars, stroking the strings with a thrumming like a thousand fluttering winged birds, softer now, then louder. Their white shirts were blue under the light, their tight black high-waisted trousers gleamed and shone. Cowboy boots were glittering glass as they stamped to their own beat.

Mirrored lights swirled over the dancers, silvering the sequins on the flounces of skirts as the frills vibrated with the dancers’ steps. It was a kaleidoscope of red, purple, yellow and white, checks, polka dots, stripes. Jose counted the heavy, clacking beats as the black dancing pumps met the timber floor, shaking the room. A hundred shoes in perfect time as the dancers followed the thrum of the five flamenco guitars.

But there was only one dancer on the floor who set his blood boiling.

Her auburn ringlets, her lithe body clad in a slash of brightest red, her waist an invitation for a man to span with joined fingers. His Angelique. Her lower body kicked yards of frills, revealing slim legs in satiny black stockings. Her arms held above her head, the clicking fingers, were a perfect sculpture of beauty and tension. His eyes followed her every movement. How could the judges fault her? Did she miss a beat? No, every call of the sobbing guitars was met, every whirl perfection, every stamping foot in perfect timing.

Source*
Soon it was only a competition between two – Angelique and a fiery redhead who looked imperiously at the judge’s table each time she shimmied by, daring them to eliminate her. She was perfection herself, her body screamed. Find a fault if you dare! I’m the perfect 10!

Angelique was asked to leave the floor. How could they send her away? Only he saw the tear she brushed from her eye. He half stood in his seat, mortified.

‘9.5!’ The judges score his Angelique.

‘They might give you a less than perfect score,’ he thought to himself, ‘but to me you’re the perfect 10’.


Photo my own, taken in Madrid 2011.

Please join me and several other enthusiastic writers/authors, who will be posting to the NEW BEGINNINGS prompt at Write...Edit...Publish on January 22 - a bit earlier or later is fine. Sign up in my sidebar, or visit Write...Edit...Publish.


37 comments:

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Rather sexy description, Denise.
Glad you've had a great time on your world tour.

Denise Covey said...

Thanks Alex. The tour has been wonderful. Now I have to get home and write about it which is nearly as much fun as touring. In the air in a few hours.

Manzanita said...

Denise
Your interpretation of Flamenco was interesting. Thank you for sharing your story.

Kittie Howard said...

Wow, love how you captured flamingo's sizzle! And what a fab holiday you had! Your New Year's definitely off to a great start!

Jo said...

I have spent a lot of time in Spain, Alicante where my parents lived, but never seen a flamenco dance. Loved your description. Hope you have a good trip home.

Denise Covey said...

Lovely to see you!

Denise Covey said...

Definitely Kittie.

Denise Covey said...

You should see one Jo. A wonderful experience. Love both the music and dance.

Anonymous said...

It sounds like you've had a wonderful time.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

What an adventure you've had these past few weeks!

Sally said...

Your descriptions transport me to that moment in time. Have a safe journey home, although you had a lovely time away I bet you are looking forward to your own bed!

Denise Covey said...

Definitely Donna.

Denise Covey said...

Certainly has been Diane.

Denise Covey said...

Thanks Sally. I'm glad you liked the little flash. Ah, yes, my own bed is looking good, especially after 24 hours in the air which starts in 3 hours. Ugh. Necessary evil. And thanks for following my adventures these past weeks.

Denise Covey said...

Okay so by the time you read this I will be in the air. I will come by for a visit once I sleep off the jetlag, ha ha.

Stephen Tremp said...

Traveling mercies and safety to you! Sleep is good. Don't deny yourself. Glad you had a great trip and welcome back!

Remembering Grace said...

Beautiful story! I'm so sad you're leaving...I was living vicariously, LOL!

Julie Flanders said...

What an amazing tour you've had. It's been fun to follow along with you virtually! Loved this re-posted story.
Have a safe trip home! :)

Crystal Collier said...

LOVE the story. Woman, your travels are inspiring. You deserved a long and good sleep once your arrive home, eh? I SUPER want to join in with the challenge, but I'm up against an editing deadline and ready to dole out the proverbial shotgun to keep my brain focused. I'll definitely be around to read and critique...some. Darn broken time-stopper!

Vallypee said...

You've had such a fantastic time, Denise. I hope you've enjoyed every minute. Love this story. Andalucia is such a land of colour, vibrancy and dreams!

Denise Covey said...

LOL! I do that all the time! All good things must come to an end as they say.

Denise Covey said...

Thank you Julie. I made it home but feel quite drunk. Nothing that a few good days' sleep won't cure.

Denise Covey said...

It was amazing Val.

Denise Covey said...

Would love you to join in some time Crystal. Glad you loved the story.

dolorah said...

So sorry to see your wonderful vacation coming to an end. You'll have lots of other good stories to tell from the travels though. Travel safely :)

.........dhole

Nilanjana Bose said...

Hi Denise, and wish you a safe trip back home. Have loved following your travel posts, and enjoyed the story on flamenco "the dancers moving like fish floating across a luminescent ocean" my favourite line, got me right from the start.

Denise Covey said...

Thank you Nila. It was fun to write.

Denise Covey said...

Yep, just bursting with stories Donna , but everyone has probably had enough by now. Am home and in recovery mode...zzz

Michael Di Gesu said...

Hi, Denise,

LOVELY description and imagery! I brought me back to my first viewing of a Flamenco show in Madrid ions ago... Some beautiful things never change... Thankfully!

Kelly Steel said...

I love your stories Denise! Feels like I've been on your travels with you!

Denise Covey said...

Thanks Kelly !

Denise Covey said...

Those shows in Madrid are the best!

Raelene Purtill said...

Hi Denise, I love the tag line for your blog... writing as if you've lived it all your life... agree with Kelly, we are travelling with you.

Denise Covey said...

Hi Rae. I've been waiting for someone to notice /comment on my new tagline.

Deniz Bevan said...

Aww, such a sweet story. I've always wanted to visit Spain!

Scheherazade said...

Lush and well-written. I may have to make a trip to Malaga in the fall for a wedding. Never been to Spain.

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Denise .. great story - and certainly flamenco, its movement, costumes etc evoke romance .. you've told it well .. and reminds me of the Angelique books .. that as a kid entranced me!

You're probably recovering your wits at home now .. happy return to Aus .. cheers Hilary