Monday, July 7, 2014

Tain't No Sin

During our afternoon in Málaga last week, Judy and I visited the cathedral. I had never been inside. Built between the years 1528 and 1782, Málaga's Cathedral has a Renaissance interior and a Baroque exterior. The cathedral is nicknamed "La Manquita" ("The One-Armed Lady") because it only has one tower. The south tower was never finished.

LA MANQUITA, THE NORTH TOWER. (CLICK ANY IMAGE.)

I was fascinated to read a plaque there that claimed the money for the south tower was redirected to the British colonies in America (now the United States) to help them gain their independence.

In my little bit of online research, I learned that the parish registers indicate that the money was more likely used to renovate the road that led to the city of Antequera, an hour to the north. I think someone needs to go to confession!

I'm an atheist. Judy believes in "something." The Cathedral is amazing and she and I marveled at the beauty of the architecture and the art. However, Judy's color commentary makes me think maybe she needs to go to confession.

TWO CONFESSIONALS (AND MANY MORE), NO WAITING.
JUDY: "THAT'S THE CONFESSIONAL FOR MAJOR SINNERS."
(JUST DOORS...)
JUDY: "THE ANGEL OF THE STANLEY CUP."
(BECAUSE FROM THIS ANGLE IT LOOKS LIKE SHE'S HOLDING A HOCKEY STICK.)
MAUSOLEUM OF LUIS DE TORRES, ARCHBISHOP OF MONREAL, 17TH C.
OPPOSITE HIM WAS LUIS DE TORRES, ARCHBISHOP OF SALERNO, 16TH C.
(JUDY THOUGHT, GIVEN THE SULTRY POSES, THEY SHOULD BE NUDE. "USE PHOTOSHOP.")
"BEHEADING OF SAINT PAUL" BY ENRIQUE SIMONET, 19TH C.
JUDY: "WOW! BIG FRAME!!!"  (AND YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT BIG FRAMES.)
AWE-INSPIRING.
A STRONG SET OF PIPES.
HEAVENLY LIGHT?
WHEN WE WALKED THROUGH THE CHOIR STALLS TO VIEW THE CARVINGS.
(AND THE PIPE ORGAN) A SIGN INFORMED US THAT FLASH COULD NOT BE USED...
... I DIDN'T SEE THAT SIGN ANYWHERE ELSE IN THE CATHEDRAL.
SO, ONCE WE LEFT THE CHOIR STALLS, I BEGAN TO USE MY FLASH AS NEEDED....
... THIS IS THE LAST PHOTO I SHOT WITH FLASH, BEFORE I GOT IN TROUBLE.
I IMMEDIATELY APOLOGIZED. CONFESSION IS GOOD FOR THE SOUL.
GRAND.
TEXTURED.
ANGELIC.

STRANGE PROPORTIONS.
JUDY THOUGHT SHE LOOKED BORED...
...AND WONDERED WHAT THIS GUY WAS THINKING.
I FIGURED HE JUST WANTED TO GET HIS ASS OUT OF THERE.
EXITING THE CATHEDRAL INTO A WALLED COURTYARD.
PART OF THE BAROQUE EXTERIOR.

Tain't no sin...

26 comments:

  1. It is a beautiful cathedral and I always enjoy exploring them even though they don't put me in a spiritual mood.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Stephen:
      I love the art and architecture but sometimes have to bury my thoughts of the wealth and opulence.

      Delete
  2. Wow, it is amazing as most cathedrals in Europe.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gosia:
      When I was a boy, I thought Saint Patrick's Cathedral in NYC was amazing. I had no idea!

      Delete
  3. EXCELLENT colour commentary, and a very beautiful cathedral. That hockey-playing angel is clearly Canadian.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I could spend all day in there! And NOT in the confessional either! Those were/are weird places....
    What a beautiful cathedral, Mitchell! Can't imagine paying any attention to any service going on....too much to see and admire.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jim:
      The stonework is especially amazing. I wouldn't mind going back for another walk around.

      Delete
  5. Spanish and French cathedrals tend to frighten me

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. John:
      They all tend to frighten me just a little. Having been brought up Jewish, I used to think god was going to strike me dead for walking inside one. Atheism is so much less stressful.

      Delete
  6. I saw the title and my mind totally went south (but you knew that without me saying it, didn't you).
    LOVE the music!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jacqueline:
      I'm not surprised your mind went south but I am surprised yours was the only one. As I hit "publish," I thought, "Oops!" But then I figured I was legitimately using the name of the song, so no one could blame me.

      Delete
  7. When I go to the UK, I'm sure I'll visit some churches, and I really enjoy the beauty when I do, but I can imagine having some inner commentary going on. I'll have to channel my inner Judy. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Michelle:
      When I go to these places alone, I enjoy my own INNER commentary. Judy was a very bad influence.

      Delete
  8. I'm going to have to start committing some major sins, because I reallllly like that confessional for major sinners :)
    (That photo of the interior, with the "grand" caption... amaaaaazing! That interior is soooo ornate and everything is sooooo big!)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Judy:
      I have never confessed to anything. But it might be worth to get on the other side of those doors.

      Delete
  9. Wow, beautiful. Judy is right though, kind of odd poses - please DO NOT PHOTOSHOP THEM ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Cheapchick:
      I was tempted, but it would be way too much work.

      Delete
  10. How do non-Catholics fare in Spain these days? Once upon a time it was quite hazardous to be different.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Spo:
      I'm happy to report that the Spanish Inquisition ended a few years back. I wish I could say the same for ignorance, which is universal.

      Delete
    2. No more Spanish Inquisition ? In a way I'm disappointed!!

      Delete
    3. Spo:
      But we've still got "The Comfy Chair."

      Delete
  11. I agree with Judy's commentary, though the hockey stick looks more like a giant golf club to me. I thought that was a photo of Tiger Wood's (ex) wife when she learned of his infidelity. But what do I know? I'm Jewish. On that note, and related to Ur-spo's more profilic comment, I hear that anti-Semitism is rising in Europe. I have relatives moving from Europe to Canada for that reason. Did you notice this?

    Thanks for the bday wishes and for stopping by. It's good to be back, and to see you, in blogland.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Robyn:
      I read stories of growing anti-Semitism, too. I personally haven't had any negative experiences here but I know anti-semitism, racial prejudice, and all other biases still exist all around the world.. "Europe" covers a lot of countries and cultures, though.

      Delete
  12. As a person who teeters between atheism and agnosticism I must say that I do love churches.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bob:
      I used to teeter, too. Then I guess I tottered. But I still love churches.

      Delete

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