garyartista

[garyartista]

Sofia

November 23, 2024 Sofia is situated on a plane set between hills and mountains, including ski areas within thirty minutes. This can make for a swinging descent all the way to the runway. This caused the young, brightly lipsticked English fluent Bulgarian woman seated between us to do the Bulgarian-Orthodox double cross as if this were her last, yet she does this trip frequently. We were told…

[garyartista]

Mazon closed Valencia's Emergency Unit

Shortly after taking power Mazón closed Valencia’s Emergency Unit, the main body tasked with natural disasters. However, he took €17 million to bullfighting, a widely unpopular sport. When Aemet, Spain’s weather agency, issued multiple severe weather warnings starting early morning on October 29, and issued a red level alert, the highest category, there was warning was issued by Mazon’s…

[garyartista]

November 9th, the recovery continues

The death total has reached 212. Five children are confirmed died in the flood. Two are missing per the latest reports. . Policía Nacional y la Guardia Civil have 28 cases of missing persons as of November 12, down from 50 the day before. No victims were found in the parking lot at the MN4 mall in Alfafar. Debris and vehicle removal continues but there are mountains to move. The first step is…

[garyartista]

Update early morning November 7, 2024

Latest stats: some 1 million were effected by flood waters in 78 municipalities. A husband and wife were found in an isolated house. He is ill and has been taken to hospital, with search operations continuing. Donations to the Spanish Red Cross can be made here Cruzroja. Spanish television station reporting – Headline reads, “There is still a lot to do.” No…

[garyartista]

Developments in the last few hours, November 5, 2024

Some statistics: 44000+ vehicles, 21,400+ houses and 2200+ commercial properties destroyed. Endless quantities of perishable goods have been ruined: 800,000 kilos in 32 locations, mostly fresh meat and fish shops as well as restaurants. Authorities have removed almost 3000 farm animal cadavers. Family Cash y MasyMas supermarket chains are donating food, hygiene and cleaning products. Amazon has…

[garyartista]

Brief update

Some miscellaneous updates: The Metro in Valencia is not running. It will be opening line by line in the coming days. The regional trains running north are in service, but not to the south, which is where the flooding occurred. There are efforts underway to take care of cats and dogs. Pet stores are collecting donations. Some 15000 military personnel are in or on the way to effected areas. I can…

[garyartista]

Family mysteries part 1

My writing here is ordinarily focused on our travels, be it by air, land or boat. I diverge from these now. I think that these stories have some general interest. Also I write about these matters for my direct heirs and other relatives, that they may know about those who came before them. The Italian side We were told that my mother’s family came from Palermo, and that on my father’s side the…

[garyartista]

The devastating flood in Valencia province, Spain

On October 29, 2024, Paiporta and Picanya, both in the province of Valencia and on the south edge of the city of Valencia, and 13 other communities on the west and south side of Valencia were heavily damaged by a raging flood causing over 200 deaths and counting. Bodies are still being pulled from the wreckage. This came about as a result of 19″ inches of rain in the hills to the north and west…

[garyartista]

Moros and Cristianos on Valencia Day (video)

Upon our return to Valencia we were greeted with this parade. It is Valencia Day here, and for the people here any excuse for a party or parade will do. The costumes are fantastic and if there is one thing Valencia is not lacking it’s musicians. Each group of Moros/Cristianos has its own band, and they are sizable too. Check it out!

[garyartista]

Silently passing in the blackness

Germany was not yet a nation in 1870 when war broke out between France and the North German Federation. It resulted in the loss of Alsace and Lorraine. The French built the Canal de l’Est afterwards to replace the transport it had lost. The canal begins just a short distance from Nancy. In 2003 the northern and southern branches were officially renamed Canal de la Meuse and Canal des Vosges. We…

[garyartista]

Down with Nancy (the city, not the person)

After another beautiful cruise through the gorgeous Vosges Mountains (see The Grand Est), this time with friends, we came back to Nancy, one of France’s delightful cities and the capital of the Lorraine. Nancy (Gallic Nanciaco, possibly from a Gaulish personal name) has a wonderful pedestrian old town center stuffed with restored half timber buildings. The city’s a center point of Art Nouveau,…

[garyartista]

Barge at Port de Plaisance in Nancy (watercolor)

Barge at Port de Plaisance in Nancy, 21 x 30 cm/8..3 x 11.7 inches on 300gr watercolor paper This was our view of the Port de Plaisance in Nancy

[garyartista]

Go, Figures!

Several quick figure drawings in ink with wash using the two handed technique.

[garyartista]

Strasbourg and its magnificent cathedral

Cross the bridge over the Rhine to find yourself in Germany. It takes just a few minutes. From 1870-1918 this would not involve a change of country, as it was then under German control. We crossed the bridge only because it symbolizes the open border between France and Germany. So often at war since Germany became a nation, these countries crossed the bridge from war and destruction to friendship…

[garyartista]

Count Basie with Ella (pen and ink)

Count Basie with Ella (pen and ink)

[garyartista]

In the Grand Est with the Headless Monk

We’ve been strolling along the Canal de la Marne au Rhin, connecting the Marne river to the Rhine. We switched to the Moselle for a glorious couple of dozen kilometers then back to the Canal. We are in an area generally termed the ‘Grand East,’ the northeast corner of France, bordered by Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and Switzerland. Some of the region was part of Germany from 1870 – 1918,…

[garyartista]

Even more locks, and still no bagels (continuation)

We continued our journey, stopping in Epernay, Tours sur Marne, Chalons-en-Champagne, then Vitry-le-Francois. Epernay is at the heart of Champagne country, in good measure because it sits on the Marne. As we exited the Canal Lateral de la Marne we saw the muddy river flying past. Turning into it we immediately felt the strong current. We chugged the 4 kilometers to the marina to find the harbor…