19-20 April: Salamanca
Salamanca has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1988.
I only had a day and a half to complete a major cultural highlight like Salamanca to visit, so it was difficult to decide what to visit. I walked fairly quickly from one site to another, writing short comments under the photos I took. Some buildings I photographed only from the street, in others I spent more time. I just followed my gut feeling. On Wednesday evening, I went to the Teatro Liceo to 'Shock' to see, a critical play about the manipulations by big money, multinationals, the pharmaceutical industry and, in recent years, the technology giants that manage to glue us to our screens.
The rest of my list (see photos via Flickr link):
– Casa de Conchas + patio
– Patio de Escuelas Menores With painting 'Cielo de Salamanca'.
– New and old cathedral
– Casa Lis (Photography not allowed): Art Nouveau and Art Deco
– Convento and Iglesia San Esteban
– Palacio de Monterrey (Photography not allowed): the house of the Dukes of Alba, including the one who ruled Flanders tyrannically under Felipe II and who was hated by the Flemings. In Spain, however, he was hailed as a superior strategist.
The place I enjoyed most - and where I spent the most time - was the Dominican Esteban monastery and church. I prefer the austere monastic atmosphere to opulently decorated churches. On the ground floor of the patio, I loved the reconstruction of the booth where Santa Teresa, who lived in Salamanca from 1570 to 1574, came to confess and discuss her reform plans with the Dominican monks, who supported her. Teresa de Avila was a Spanish Carmelite nun and a prominent religious reformer and mystic and ascetic practitioner. I entered the confessional box and suddenly Santa Teresa knelt before me and began confessing her doubts and insecurities. A very moving video performance indeed.
On the second floor of the patio, the walls are painted with texts illustrating the Dominicans' philosophy and attitude towards the indigenous peoples of the Americas. I found them quite interesting given the atrocities the Spanish later committed in their American colonies. Therefore, I also provide the original Spanish version below.
– De pensamiento en de acción de los dominicos de San Esteban en America mostraron que la lucha por la libertad y la dignidad de todos los pueblos es el camino hacia la VERDAD. Y el unico medio: la PALABRA.
The thinking and actions of the Dominicans of San Esteban in America showed that the fight for the freedom and dignity of all peoples is the way to TRUTH. And the only means: the WORD
– Aquellas gentes todas y aquellos pueblos de todo aquel obre son libres.
All those people and the peoples of this whole enterprise are free.
– Pecan mortalmente los que violen los derechos de gentes.
Those who violate people's rights sin mortally.
- Toda nación tiene derecho a gobernarse por si misma.
Every people has the right to self-determination.
– La libertad se equipará a la vida.
Freedom will be equated with life.
- No es el hombre lobo para el hombre, sino hombre.
People are not wolves but people for other people.
- No es causa justa de guerra el deseo de ensanchar el imperio.
The desire to expand empire is not a just cause of war.
– Por derecho natural nadie is superior to others.
According to natural law, no one is superior to another.
– Most renounce all violent ability.
It is better to renounce one's own right than to violate the rights of another.
– Es deber de todos que no se extingan las especies útiles al hombre.
It is everyone's duty that species that are useful to humanity should not go extinct.
16 September: Opening the door at Diamondway Buddhist Centre in Tallinn The centre's meditation sessions are open
