Bonn, Germany—Friends of the Bonn chapter of UPF were invited to a fascinating encounter with the Spanish region of Andalusia.
Speaker Irma Scheeffer led the event on October 15, 2017, as one of a series of intercultural events that UPF Bonn organizes. Mrs. Scheeffer has Spanish roots and knows very well the south of Spain, where her mother lives near the city of Malaga.
Andalusia looks back on a 3,000-year history in which it was ruled by Phoenicians, Carthage, Rome, Vandals, Visigoths and the Moors. Whenever there was a willingness to give and receive in history, the region experienced a positive development. Many violent clashes, however, were the reason that the peaceful coexistence of Muslims, Jews and Christians in Andalusia was not permanent.
Photographs and videos that Mrs. Scheeffer showed gave a colorful impression of the magnificent buildings in Granada, Jaen, Cordoba, Cadiz, Seville and other places. The guests became familiar with the region’s fantastic beaches and mountainous regions, as well as special highlights such as flamenco dancing, Andalusian horses, paintings by Pablo Picasso (born in Malaga), vino and paella.
Live presentations of flamenco and rumba swept many in the audience off their feet. A delicious paella and other culinary specialties delighted the senses and rounded off the impressions of Andalusia.