|
A wonder a week - Petra, Jordan
The fabled city of Petra in the
Jordanian desert was a place of
worship, burial, security and survival.
In the harsh environment of the desert
the city was built between 9 BC and 40
AD under the rule of King Aretas IV.
The city lies in a basin of the Wadi
Araba valley that runs between the
Dead Sea and the Gulf of Araba. It
takes advantage of a naturally
occurring fissure in the sandstone
rocks that channels water through the
Wadi. The Nabataeans were masters
of storing, channelling and utilising
water and the city has many tunnels
and basins used to store the water that
periodically swept through the valley
as flash floods. In times of drought the
Nabataeans
developed Petra into
an oasis and
prospered greatly by
selling their stored
water.
Petra is mentioned in
the Bible in the books
of Genesis and
Judges where cavedwellers
are referred
to and there are also
references to it in the
Dead Sea Scrolls.
The site was declared
as a World Heritage
Site in 1985 and still
attracts thousands of
visitors every year. It
wasn't until after
World War I that it
became reasonably
accessible and prior
to this only the
hardiest of travellers
could appreciate the
grandeur of Petra. It
was re-discovered in
1812 by the Swiss explorer Johann
Ludwig Burkhardt. In 1845 it was
described as, "a rose red city half as
old as time," by the poet John William
Burgon in the final line of his sonnet in
1845.
The two main, and most magnificent,
sites of Petra are the Tombs of Urn and
the Monastery. The tombs are carved
into the red sandstone cliffs and create
a three-sided amphitheatre so that the
tombs got maximum exposure to the
city beneath. Archaeologists have
found bodies that relate to the original
Nabataeans, Romans, Greeks and
Egyptians. The Monastery, similarly
cut into the rock face, served the
worship of pre-Islamic Arabian Gods.
Petra was the home to an Arabic
speaking Semite people who created a
life in one of the most inhospitable
places on earth. They adapted their
environment to survive successfully
until its decline under Roman rule and
its final disappearance in the 13th
century. Five hundred years later it
was, once again, revealed to the world
and has been chosen as on of the 21
finalists in the search for the seven
modern Wonders of the World.
Voting is taking place now to find the
seven most popular sites around the
globe. Only one of the original
ancient Wonders of the World is still
standing, the pyramids at Giza. Voting
concludes in Lisbon, Portugal on 7
July 2007 (7-7-07) and you can make
your choice known by logging onto
www.new7wonders.com or calling
0423 663 900 299. The call centre is
based in Lichtenstein (international
rates apply) but the message is in
English and there is a list of the
finalists. So if you like the look of
Petra, it represents engineering and
protection, and think it deserves your
vote then you know what to do. If you
are still undecided then wait for next
week's Wonder.
M Tissington
|
|
The Impatient
Patient
A new playwright on the
scene, Paloma Casco
Delrey, has written,
produced, directed and is
acting in this two woman
production called 'The
Impatient Patient'.
Paloma is English, and
so is her play, but she
comes from Spanish
stock (and with a name
meaning 'helmet of the
King' well to do stock at
that). The play is two
acts of 45 minutes and is
set to play in the
Municipal Theatre in
Torrevieja on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings, 8, 9 and 10 March, the
curtain raises at 8 pm. The final performance is in the Teatro Capital in Rojales
on Sunday 11 March, also at 8 pm.
The story follows the psychoanalysis of an upper class, moneyed, loud and
tactless woman, Henrietta Poppycock (played by Caoimhe, pronounced
Queever), and Gertrude Prude, her exact opposite and psychiatrist. Paloma
said, "What you see is not, necessarily, what you get. It is comical and whilst
it asks the audience to suspend their belief it is also thought provoking." The
play was born out of a conversation with a friend and includes some
autobiographical details. "Its aim is to challenge a life of denial," said Paloma.
"The object of life is to look forward and not dwell on the past. It's about letting
go."
Tickets are available from the ticket office of the Municipal Theatre, open from
6 pm and 8 pm, also from the Bog Road in Cabo Roig and Bargain Books in
Torrevieja. They cost ten euros which is a small price to pay to watch a battle
of egos on International Women's Day and this includes a donation towards the
AECC.
M Tissington
|
|
Mr & Mrs Costa
Blanca 2007
Love is definitely in the air at Sol Productions and in the CoastRider.
The fabulous new gameshow "Mr & Mrs Costa Blanca 2007"
sponsored by Shooby-Doo! has now been filmed and will be on your
screens next week - Tuesday/Thursday 20th/22nd February.
We can reveal that The Coastrider has the exclusive coverage of this
fantastic series. We caught up with the producer, Gina Marks, to ask
for the low down so, with the contestants having been chosen, the
questions composed (and now under lock and key!), the filming has
begun. With four rounds, two semi-finals, who will be in the final?
Will it be?
The Wilsons vs The Thorntons
The Couplands vs The Tysoes
The Parkers vs The Hanscombes
The Vaughns vs The Battistes
There are some tough rounds, cheeky questions and some of the
couples are very competitive! So watch this space over the next eight
weeks for some fun, frolics and fireworks!! Don't miss round one on
Sol Productions - Tuesday 20th February ITV 1 at 7pm (Telmicro
Cina) / Infochannel 7pm (Torresat).
With Romance in the Air, Sol Productions are also proud to present the
second Wedding Fayre at the la Zenia Hotel, Orihuela Costa on
Sunday 18th February 2007. So, if you are going to pop the question,
visit the Wedding Fayre to find everything you will need for your
perfect day, plus everything for celebrations, birthdays, anniversaries
- all under one roof, for one day. Keep reading the CoastRider for
further updates. If you provide a wedding or any style of celebration
service, then contact the exhibition team at Sol on 966 799 314 or email
exhibitions@solproductions.tv.
Happy Valentines from all at The CoastRider and Sol Productions.
|
|
Campoverde theatre group
If you thought the Festive season
was all over, you're mistaken! You
still have time to catch Campoverde
Theatre Group's spectacular annual
pantomime at the magically
converted Olympia Annex, Mil
Palmeras - with performances from
Feb. 21 - Feb. 25, every night at 8
pm. It's the big one, with the
beanstalk that grows, and the Giant
that rumbles - in other words, it's
"Jack and the Beanstalk". Demand
for tickets at this comfortable venue,
with bar service available, is already
great; at time of writing there are a
few tickets left for most nights, so
don't leave it too late. The
pantomime is a traditional family
affair, written and directed by Tony
& Margaret Brown, and starring a
brave hero and his girl, supportive
villagers who sing and dance, a
redoubtable Dame, and a fair
scattering of enchanting little
people. Keith Monk and Vida
Nelson are Musical Director and
Choreographer respectively, both
touched by magic. Tickets, 7 € for
adults and 4 € for children,
available from Adele at the
Pizzeria, Campoverde, 11.30 am -
1.30 pm Tuesdays and Thursdays;
at the Olympia Annex 2.30 pm - 5
pm., Mondays and Wednesdays.
Ticket information Adele 96 676
2114, Diana 96 532 1494.
|
|
A night of music
and song
A night of music and song is being held
in Torrevieja's Inmaculada church on
Sunday 25th February at 8.30pm.
Entry is free and a donation basket will
be passed around for contributions
towards the church organ fund.
The night is organised and hosted by
local tenor, Derek Francis and features
the popular Evergreens Band as well as
international pianist Jackie Heath.
A Leddy
|
|
Seared Scallops and Crispy Prosciutto with Roasted
Tomatoes and Smashed White Beans
Serves 4
Ingredients
4 large ripe plum tomatoes, quartered
salt and freshly ground black pepper
a pinch of dried oregano
olive oil
8 slices of prosciutto (4 would be OK)
1 small clove garlic finely chopped
1-2 small dried red chillies, crumbled to taste
4-6 anchovy fillets, chopped
1 x 400g tin cannellini beans or flageolet beans, drained
extra virgin olive oil
12-16 scallops, trimmed with roe on or off to your preference
1 x olive oil and lemon juice dressing
a small handful of peppery leaves (rocket or watercress)
Olive Oil and Lemon Juice Dressing
2 tablespoons lemon juice
5 tablespoons olive oil
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Preheat the oven to 240 degrees C.
Method
Season the tomatoes and sprinkle
with the oregano. Drizzle with olive oil
and roast, skin side down for about
10-15 minutes. Place the prosciutto
slices beside the tomatoes and
continue to roast for a further 10
minutes until the tomatoes are juicy
and the prosciutto is crisp.
In a pan fry the garlic, chillies and
anchovies in a lug of olive oil for a
minute or so. Add your beans and cook for a minute or so before adding a wine
glass of water. Bring to the boil then lightly mash to a coarse puree. Loosen the
puree with a little more water if need be. Finish the flavour off with some peppery
extra virgin olive oil, salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Season the scallops then sear them in a frying pan with a touch of olive oil for two
minutes without touching them. Check and continue to fry until they have a lovely
sweet caramelised skin. Turn them over and allow the other side to do the same.
Don't overcook them. Remove to a bowl and coat with a little olive oil and lemon
juice dressing. Put some smashed bean puree on each plate, scatter over the
tomatoes, prosciutto and scallops and finish off with some peppery leaves.
|
|
|
|
