The ethnic diversity of AndalucÃa
July 6th, 2009In a sea of faces, Andalusians provide a fascinating diversity of looks and origins that bear living testimony to the region’s turbulent past as a much-invaded corner of Europe. Since the earliest times, conquerors, refugees, soldiers, mercenaries, merchants and adventurers have been adding to the rich and diverse mix of ingredients from which the Andalusians have been moulded.
The concept of racial purity, even if such a thing was ever desirable, has long since been discarded as unrealistic. As Europeans we live on a continent which, in spite of a broader sense of cultural identity and concept of racial affinity, consists of a myriad of nations and regions, each with their own traditions and mythology about their origins. Given this diversity within our own continent, and the fact that we border two large landmasses, it is only logical to assume that all but the most isolated and remote communities could not withstand being swept into the great tidal wave of migrations that have occurred since the earliest of times.
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The Costa del Sol has come a long way from the sleepy collection of fishing villages and mountain settlements that it once was. Back then, age-old practices still applied and those who wanted to settle down here, build a home and conduct business had to adjust to an altogether new set of rules and realities. Today, many of the old limitations have disappeared along with the craftsmen who built homes in the traditional Andalusian way. Not only have the construction process and the appearance of homes changed greatly, but as the scale of operations increased, property developers have had an increasingly dramatic effect on the physical landscape that we live in. At this stage of the region’s development, and with its long-term interests in mind, it might be good to look into the prospects for sustainable development.
High up, on the foothills of the Sierra Blanca range lays an artist’s retreat with magnificent views over Marbella and the Mediterrean Sea. Inspired by this perspective and the rich light of southern Spain, renowned painter Armando Sendin has been producing a prolific body of work that has long since seen him established as the leading representative of Brazilian realism.
One of the perks of writing articles about cars is that you can occasionally drive the type of bolide you would normally never get to take for a spin. I make no claim to being a latter-day Niki Lauda or in any way related to the Stig, but I have thrown the odd car around a bend in my day and even pulled a hair-raising stunt or two. Until I got into the Tygan Speedster, however, I hadn’t driven a ‘real’ car. 
The city of light, romance and revolution is also a leading centre of style, elegance, design and architecture. With so many beautiful buildings to inspire and work with, it’s hardly surprising that the Parisian interior décor scene has always been so vibrant. The city and its famous icons have provided a rich backdrop for artists, artisans, couturiers and creators of interiors that range from superbly tasteful to outrageously outlandish. 