Verde y blanca es mi bandera
Si Andalucía quisiera
sería la reina de España,
Pero le sobran pasiones
y le falta la constancia
de unir las manos abiertas
con las que toca las palmas
Blanca la sal de Cádiz
Blancas las velas, verdes las viñas
Verdes, los campos verdes
de la campiña
Verdes, las copas verdes de los pinares
Blanca la luz de Huelva, verdes los mares
Blanca cal de Sevilla, verdes olivos
Verde, la cinta verde de su vestido
Blanca la cortijada
Verde Jaén, sierra y vaguada
Blanca niña Almería.
Blanca cima Granada
Verdes parrales, verdes trigales
Verde, Córdoba es verde de limonares
Blanca la flor de almendro
Blancas las caracolas
Blanca, Málaga es blanca de rompeolas.
Verde el campo, verde el rio
Verde la esperanza mía
Verde y blanca es la bandera
de mi noble Andalucía
*
Gracias a Paquito Mora tenemos un lema:
"Caballo que a los tres años
ve una yegua y no relincha
o es que no ha comído cebá,
o es que le aprieta la cincha
o no es caballo ni es ná" |
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Una magnífica descripción de Andalucía, nada menos que del The Guardian, periódico inglés, (para los que entienden ese idioma): Ojú
Andalucia is simply one of the most beautiful corners of Europe and it is, as yet, undiscovered by the majority. It’s a land where the excesses of the twentieth century seem not to have taken root and where travellers are genuinely welcomed as honoured guests, rather than tourists. A land immortalised by the writings of Ernest Hemmingway and beloved by Orson Welles, where stunningly beautiful, sun-kissed countryside, covered by green olive groves stretch off into the distance under a perpetual azure blue sky. With biscuit coloured plains, untamed rivers, deep gorges and the spectacular snow capped Sierra Nevada mountains providing the backdrop, there can be few places on earth which can boast such a wealth of natural wonders in such a small area. Tiny whitewashed villages perch on the hilltops like eagles’ nests, with narrow winding streets where every house has window boxes crammed with flowers of every description and colour, adding a touch of vitality to these sleepy hamlets little changed since Columbus’ days.
Andalucia has a long and violent past stretching from the dawn of civilisation. The Phoenicians and ancient Greeks traded, whereas Julius Caesar fought here, as did Hannibal with his elephants. That incredible people, the Moors, stayed for many hundreds of years, excelling in science, art and, above all, architecture. The region is crammed with legacies from throughout the centuries from a variety of civilisations. Without doubt, the jewels in Andalucia’s crown are the fantastic cities of Seville, Cordoba and Granada, which have some of the most important monuments anywhere on earth, many of which are designated as Heritage Sites by the United Nations and protected accordingly.
Seville, home of Carmen and Figaro, boasts the world’s largest gothic cathedral. It was from here the conquistadors set sail to explore and plunder the New World and from the sixteenth century unimaginable wealth poured in, building the city we see today. Cordoba has a sixteen arched bridge spanning the river, built by the Romans and it is still in use! And the Mezquita, built by the Moors is so beautiful and thought-provoking it is beyond words. Granada has the Alhambra, the Moorish King’s Palace so richly decorated, it shames almost anything we can conceive today.
Nowadays though, despite its pedigree, or because of it, Andalucia is perhaps the most Spanish region in the country, indeed, the popular image of ‘real Spain’ of ruined castles, sherry and bullfights has its roots here. The food is a delight, with the area noted for its seafood and its famous drink, the fortified wine from Jerez we call sherry. Try a glass of ‘fino’ a very dry yet refreshing sherry whilst nibbling ‘tapas’ that great Spanish titbit invention. The people are charming – always ready to help and with an attitude towards their fellow man and a love of life which seems only to exist in Mediterranean peoples. Flamenco has its roots here and it is far from unusual to witness an impromptu display in a local bar or see people singing to themselves, sometimes quite passionately, whilst walking along the streets – seemingly oblivious to the rest of the world. So, for a unique blend of superb countryside; famous and stunningly beautiful monuments and cities, wonderful art, and all set in a country which welcomes tourists as honoured guests – come with us and see. |
