On May 23, 2008 after having traveled for exactly One Year and One Day famous Leo Falk has returned home. New York City has greeted her prodigal son with a warm, bright, sunny day after three cold, rainy, gloomy days he endured in Dublin.
Due just to the durability of this voyage a comparison inevitably rises in the mind with the fabulous Thousand and One Nights. And indeed during those wanderings Leo visited 25 countries, including numerous islands. He tramped on the Arctic ice at the North Pole and on the Sahara sands in Morocco. He flew 12 times – perhaps on the flying carpets with the help of the magic lamp of Aladdin. He met Sindbad the Sailor and other famous seafarers. Not to mention his other adventures. He himself should be compared to the poor Ali Baba, who has found precious treasures in the hidden cave. And as to the 40 thieves – they are waiting for him in New York City.
But here comes the morning – and Leo Scheherazade must stop his/her narration.
At this time it is not clear whether, when, and where there will be future travels. On the map of this tiny wretched planet Earth still there are many white spots waiting for Leo’s discovery. Even in this lousy old Europe there is one country – Iceland – not yet visited by the famous globetrotter.
So if you are not tired of his reports and want to hear the new ones in the future, please tell him about your desire. Otherwise he will assume that you are fed up with those boring messages – and you will be removed from the list if its recipients.
With best wishes to all forty thieves,
your Ali Baba
23 мая 2008 года после странствий, продолжавшихся ровно 1 год и 1 день, знаменитый Лео Фальк возвратился домой. Нью-Йорк встретил своего блудного сына тёплым, ясным, солнечным днёи после 3 дней, проведённых в холодном, дождливом, хмуром Дублине.
Одна лишь продолжительность этого путешествия невольно напрашивает сравнение со сказочными историями 1001 ночи. И действительно, во время своих скитаний Лео посетил 25 стран, включая множество островов. Он ступал на арктический лёд на Северном полюсе и на пески Сахары в Марокко. Он летал 12 раз – вероятно на коврах-самолётах с помощью волшебной лампы Аладдина. Он встречал Синбада и прочих знаменитых мореходов, не считая других приключений. Его следует сравнить с бедным Али Бабой, обнаружившим сказочные богатства в скрытой пещере. Что же касается 40 разбойников, они поджидают его в Нью-Йорке.
Но тут наступило утро – и Лео/Шехерезада вынуждена прекратить недозволенные речи.
В настоящее время не ясно, будут ли, когда и куда какие-либо будущие поездки. На карте этой паршивенькой крошечной планетёнки Земля всё ещё есть множетво белых пятен, ожидающих своего открытия Лео Фальком. Даже в задрипаной старушке Европе есть одна страна Исландия, где не ступала нога этого знаменитого землепроходимца.
Так что, если вы не устали от его описаний и хотите читать новые в будущем, уведомите его об этом. В противном случае он будут предполагать, что вам надоели эти нудные описания – и ваше имя будет изъято из списка их получателей.
С наилучшими пожеланиями всем 40 разбойникам
Ваш Али Баба.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Monday, May 12, 2008
My peregrinations from March 30 to May 12, 2008
Most time on the Canary Islands was spent in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria.
I already wrote you that my thirst for opera was not satisfied in Italy. But fortunately in Spain I did find very high quality performances, especially in Barcelona at Liceu Theater. Enjoyed there
3 evenings. But even greater surprise awited me in Las Palmas de G.C., where a good production of rarely performed THAIS by Massenet was staged, though this city is not considered as an important cultural center. In Valencia I listened to THE BARBER OF SEVILLA, etc. And BTW all the tickets were very cheap -- surely not the best seats.
After Gran Canaria I went to Fuerteventura Island and flew back to Girona/Barcelona. And from there to Mallorca -- the largest of the Balearic Islands. Its capital La Palma was in 14 century the major center of cartography -- the most prominent cartographers were Jews, especially Abraham Cresque. His atlas kept in the French National Library carries the best geographical knowledge before the Age of Discovery. Jacam de Mallorca (?) -- perhaps Abraham's son -- was an adviser to the Portughese prince Henry the Navigator. And I think he gave him the idea of passing the Cape Bojador.
Besides ancient monuments of La Palma I visited on the island the village of Valdemossa, where Frederic Chopin and George Sand spent one winter. (This visit I dedicate to my famous friend Rose Bunchik, who is a Chopin admirer.)
Back on the continent I was in Valencia.
After that I found myself for 2 days in Rome -- could not afford more time, preferred again Florence.
And from Livorno by ferry I arrived to Corsica. Crossed it by train and bus from North to South -- magnificent landscapes. Visited there 4 towns: Bastia, Corte, Ajaccio, Bonifacio -- every next better than the previous one. But unfortunately very expensive.
By ferry crossed to Sardinia, but explored only the Northern part, mainly the ancient city of Alghero, from where flew to Milan.
At last moment in Italy managed to attend the premiere performance of the new opera 1984 by Lorin Maazel at La Scala. Surely he himself conducting.
By airplane arrived to Brussels and spent 4 days in the Netherlands. For the first time I was in the world famous garden Keukenhof, which opens only for April and May during the tulips bloom. Explored better also Leiden and Utrecht.
Now I am near Brugge and have other 8 days for Belgium.
Then 3 days in Dublin -- and will arrive to New York on May 23, 2008.
So see some friends soon home!
your Leo
I already wrote you that my thirst for opera was not satisfied in Italy. But fortunately in Spain I did find very high quality performances, especially in Barcelona at Liceu Theater. Enjoyed there
3 evenings. But even greater surprise awited me in Las Palmas de G.C., where a good production of rarely performed THAIS by Massenet was staged, though this city is not considered as an important cultural center. In Valencia I listened to THE BARBER OF SEVILLA, etc. And BTW all the tickets were very cheap -- surely not the best seats.
After Gran Canaria I went to Fuerteventura Island and flew back to Girona/Barcelona. And from there to Mallorca -- the largest of the Balearic Islands. Its capital La Palma was in 14 century the major center of cartography -- the most prominent cartographers were Jews, especially Abraham Cresque. His atlas kept in the French National Library carries the best geographical knowledge before the Age of Discovery. Jacam de Mallorca (?) -- perhaps Abraham's son -- was an adviser to the Portughese prince Henry the Navigator. And I think he gave him the idea of passing the Cape Bojador.
Besides ancient monuments of La Palma I visited on the island the village of Valdemossa, where Frederic Chopin and George Sand spent one winter. (This visit I dedicate to my famous friend Rose Bunchik, who is a Chopin admirer.)
Back on the continent I was in Valencia.
After that I found myself for 2 days in Rome -- could not afford more time, preferred again Florence.
And from Livorno by ferry I arrived to Corsica. Crossed it by train and bus from North to South -- magnificent landscapes. Visited there 4 towns: Bastia, Corte, Ajaccio, Bonifacio -- every next better than the previous one. But unfortunately very expensive.
By ferry crossed to Sardinia, but explored only the Northern part, mainly the ancient city of Alghero, from where flew to Milan.
At last moment in Italy managed to attend the premiere performance of the new opera 1984 by Lorin Maazel at La Scala. Surely he himself conducting.
By airplane arrived to Brussels and spent 4 days in the Netherlands. For the first time I was in the world famous garden Keukenhof, which opens only for April and May during the tulips bloom. Explored better also Leiden and Utrecht.
Now I am near Brugge and have other 8 days for Belgium.
Then 3 days in Dublin -- and will arrive to New York on May 23, 2008.
So see some friends soon home!
your Leo
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)