Date with Beethoven

Pics: Procession figures in a local museum; The Cathedral detail; Jardin Botanica; edificio banco; Mercado Central; Quart Tower (right down the street)-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Saturday evening I trudged at dusk for 45 minutes, admittedly through the lovely Turia (a beautiful ribbon of a park that used to be a river until the river was diverted to avoid chronic flooding of the city) to get to the Palace of Music to hear the Orchestra of Valencia perform Beethoven's Third - spectacular hall with acoustics said to be among the best in Europe. Unlike theatres and concert halls in the States, they brook no latecomers here...I barely made it to my 20 euro seat when at 7pm, on the dot, the orchetra began tuning up and out walked Maestro to begin the first program with cello master (wait for it)..........Robert Plant. No, kidding, it was an artist by the name of Steven Icerles, but he could easily have passed for the Led Zeppelin lead singer today - a mop of long, frizzy white hair, angular features and a slender physique that back in the day attracted legions of groupies. I half expected Alison Krauss to step out on stage and sing a duet with him. The Beethoven was just...really....fine. A good date with good music.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Going out to meander one more time this evening as darkness overtakes the Valencian day, then a quick bite in, then a short study session before tackling classes again in the morning. Let's see what the new week brings.