Seville. Columbus Day update. Colonialism, Christopher Columbus' bones, Cathedral

Christopher Columbus' Bones

The New York Times:  DNA tests are proceeding to find the ancestry of Christopher Columbus, with choices being many - see http:///www.nytimes.com/2007/10/08/us/08columbus.htm. "Seeking Columbus' Origins - With a Swab."
Update:  He is there.  Really there.  See http://www.nbcnews.com/id/12871458/ns/technology_and_science-science/t/dna-verifies-columbus-remains-spain/#.UggMa23b38k.

Other issues not resolved by the DNA that simply found that dem bones are those of The Christopher: 

• Was the Columbus name Jewish, until the Inquisition forced his parents to convert.  See CNN at http://www.cnn.com/2012/05/20/opinion/garcia-columbus-jewish
•  Or was he from Genoese weaver stock, see http://latinamericanhistory.about.com/od/thevoyagesofcolumbus/p/08columbusbio.htm
• Or a Catalonian rebel, see http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/08/us/08columbus.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
• Or a Portuguese prince's out-of-wedlock son. Again, there are DNA tests that affirmed that the bones are indeed those of Christopher Columbus in the Seville Cathedral, see http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12871458/

Bastards. Was Columbus a bastard? Rights and privileges vary.

Do a search for bastardy in Spain, find at the bastard section of  "The Close of the Middle Ages, 1273-1497," by Richard Lodge, and you will find (more sources in Google books as well) that note that inheritances still went in many cases to the child born of the wrong side of the sheets.
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Western Culture Colonialism.  

Christopher Columbus was not interested in the commons

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Colonialism:  Spain was a major colonial power, as were Belgium, Great Britain, France, and others.  Explore the issue of colonialism as motivating later indigenous persons to take their revenge, their way. Colonialism includes that of corporations, oil companies in particular, taking over areas of indigenous populations and removing them in one way or another, for the profits, and etc.

This topic addresses one group taking what they want from another group, on the other group's turf, and subjugating them in the process, in order to get what they want because they are more powerful and can.

Western Colonialism: Do we all feel entitled, even in our gardens, to force what we want and kill off what is not pleasing. Equipoise in ecology. At what point, if any, does the goal of yellowjackets in the garden, their need for food and life, become less important than my want to garden there under the deck, unstung, where they hive.

Envy Gandhi. Then address rights of immigrants.  What is the morality of making room, or not.

Barcelona. Spain in American History - Spanish-American War 1898

Spain in America.

Barcelona. Monument to Christopher Columbus, pointing west

Review not only Christopher Columbus, but also the Spanish-American War, and how the United States obtained its old interest in the Philippines, Puerto Rico and Guam.

Remember the Maine? This was the battleship that the US sent into Havana, Cuba to show the Spanish who was in charge when an insurrection was going on there.

But Spain sank it. The US rallied public opinion at home (governments are good at that) and declared war.: http//www.eyewitnesstohistory.com/spanishwar

Bullfights Barred - Live Coverage TV

Since 1948, live bullfighting has been broadcast on Spanish TV, TV Espaniola. No mas. Tapes only. News August 24, 2007 - Hartford Courant page D5. Hundreds of bullfights are usually broadcast live March-October.

Those in favor: turning on TV should not mean having to see what bullfights do, especially when the matador is unskilled. Kids see enough violence.

Those against: for those who can't afford the ring (65 million can or do anyway), or watch cable (fees), at least keep this national cultural iconic pastime on the air.

Resolution: do tapes only, on late-night show.

This American bull approves, but is lobbying for a no-kill policy, as in Portugal. See .travelnet.co.il/PORTUGAL/09-Bullfight. The rodeo lobby supports PETA, see peta.org/campaign/army_rodeo, and adds to the platform, no cinching. The slaughterhouse lobby just says enough period. See .indopedia.org/Slaughterhouse.

Bivar. El Cid, at Bivar (a/k/a Vivar, Bevar)

Rodrigo Diaz de Vivar. El Cid. El Campeador, or

The Champion.

This heroic, enigmatic figure is well remembered, in this little, off-track town where he was born, withfresh flowers right there.

El Cid, Vivar, Spain. Birthplace.

"Cid" comes from the Arabic meaning "sir" or "lord."  This El Cid was the standard-bearer and commander under King Sancho II, heir to King Ferdinand I. He conducted an unauthorized raid into Toledo, angered the new King Alfonso, brother of Sancho (then deceased), was exiled, and then began to serve the Muslim ruler of Saragossa (Zaragoza).

He engaged in much back and forth between sides, then El Cid aimed for control of Valencia, for himself. See http://www.historymedren.about.com/library/who/blwwcid.htm. 1043?-1099. 11th Century.

El Cid is also of movie fame. See the 1961 film at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0054847/. 

He had two swords: Colada and Tezone, see Names of Swords, at http://www.squidoo.com/famous-swords-list.  Colada.  Pina colada?

He is the subject of epic poetry.  See El Cantar de Mio Cid, "The Lay of the Cid,"at //omacl.org/Cid/; and the Arab Alqamah's records of the conquest of Valencia by El Cid. See more on El Cid at ://www.gksdesign.com/atotos/cid/cidhistorical.htm; still trying to find an English Alqamah. Do a search.

In myth, he is a brave knight who fought the Muslims; in reality, probably a mercenary or "soldier of fortune" who was often in conflict with the Christian King. Still, talented, and as honorable as any other good knight of the time. See http://www.enotes.com/middle-ages-biographies/cid-el

Visit his birthplace at Bivar, or Vivar, or Bevar. See www.who2.com/elcid. It will take you up some back roads, and to a tiny village.  There is a well-kept memorial with fine tower to climb up and see the countryside. See historymedren.about.com/library/who/blwwcid.

Some sites say he was born in Burgos, not far, www.azureva.com/gb/espagne/magazine/esmag8burgos.php3, but we found his monument here. Even a Burgos site that claims in one place to be the birthplace later states that Bivar is. See Spain Road Ways, Burgos.

Read about his life at this curriculum site - www.medievaltimes.com/images/Chapter1.pdf

Choose any destination off the beaten track and go there. Best way to learn some history as well. We fill in details at home.

For more on the legends surrounding El Cid, see legends.dm.net/paladins/cid. A paladin is a chivalric model, see http://www.thefreedictionary.com/paladin - and, that site says, the name given to any of the 12 peers of Charlemagne's court. Have honor (?) will travel. See ://www.thrillingdetective.com/paladin.html

Bilbao; safekeeping in parking lots; and Basques (including food)

Bilbao Museum, Frank Gehry, back

This is the back of Bilbao's Guggenheim Museum of Art, design by Frank Gehry. See www.guggenheim-bilbao.es/ingles/home. There are surprises wherever you look.

In the front is a two-story huge puppy form, covered with live impatiens plants. We liked the spider.

The guidebook says to beware your belongings in any car left in the lot there, locked or not. Best to park elsewhere and walk, and always keep money, passport and tickets with you. If you lose stuff out of your car, just tell the police, buy more Right Guard and set up a time to meet with the airport people about your passport early, and enjoy the rest of your trip anyway. Happened to us at Blarney.
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Bilbao Museum, Frank Gehry, side
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Basques.The homes look alpine, as makes sense given the Pyrenees mountains; and the geography itself is very different from the rest of Spain.

I understand that the Basques were excellent navigators, and that genetically they match with Irish and Welsh Celts, see news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/1256894. Other sources say they migrated from Eastern Europe. Their language is different, as are their customs. 

Groups that do not absorb, retain their identity: salute.  How to accommodate a drive for self that wants to live free of intrusion of others, when old territorial boundaries are disregarded.  How to address the rights of those who annex land by invasion, long ago.  Nationhood - a complex concept.

Basques and others that will not be subsumed: a long history to be checked out. 
Coming closer!

For food: try www.buber.net/Basque/Food/Recipes/.

One of our best dinners, going all out with the tablecloths and all, was in Bilbao. Fine dining occasionally is a must, and the skills needed are useful anywhere - practice which fork, where and how to cope with a huge linen napkin. See planetrjl.tripod.com/LaFraughName/id9 - fine Basque menus.