sparkabout.net blog entries

Audio: Horse and carriage, Edfu, Egypt

2010-10-11T17:04:30+01:00

This is the sound of our horse and carriage back to the cruise ship from Edfu temple in Egypt. Which was awesome!

You can hear the clip clopping of horses hooves, car horns and the odd command to the horse in Arabic from the driver.

Audio: Sounds of Luxor at sunset

2010-10-11T09:48:49+01:00

Luxor sunset, from our balcony you can see the Nile, cruise ships on the bank near us, the lush green banks on the other side and white sailed Felucias going up and down. You can hear the call to prayer from the many mosques in the distance, the next door balcony playing music and the sounds of traffic below.

Download MP3

Audio: Another Nubian wedding

2010-10-08T13:05:00+01:00

Our hotel is a popular place for weddings, I count 3 now! Aswan, Egypt

Download MP3

Audio: Sailing on the Nile in a Felucia

2010-10-08T13:03:39+01:00

Nothing at all happens in this clip. You can hear the sound of the Nile, some birds and the creaking of the sail boat. In the background there is the Egyptian call to prayer.

Download MP3

Audio: Peruvian 'street' music

2010-10-08T02:39:45+01:00

You get these Peruvian street musicians world-wide it seams! Most however don't actually use backing music on a stereo! This was in Bordeaux, France

Download MP3

Audio: A wind up music box, Albi, France

2010-10-08T01:46:28+01:00

Albi is worth a visit if you are in that part of France. This wind up music box was being played by an old man outside the enormous brick cathedral.

Naturally this structure claims to be the largest brick cathedral in Europe, but we have seen another in Gdansk, Poland, with an identical claim. Maybe each hopes that no-one will actually check!

Inside was mightily impressive with more 'darned good chislin' as Simon put it. The roof and walls were intricately painted with geometric perspective patterns and religious scenes. Central to the building is a wonderfully carved stone divider which has weathered a little but is still recognisable as excellent craftsmanship.

We paid to go past the divider to the other half of the cathedral which was yet more intricate and detailed (as if that was even possible) an then up to the treasure room, where there were a huge array of bones in cased in creepy gold shrines dedicated to saints.

Download MP3

Audio: Arabic style function, hotel in Algeceras, Spain

2010-10-07T05:52:15+01:00

Travelling overland through Spain from north to South and then to the Spanish enclave in morocco before travelling overland south to the atlas mountains, we feel has given us a valuable perspective on the graduating nature of landscapes and culture.

We were in a hotel in Algeceras, Spain and I think it was the Kings birthday in Morocco, there was a posh looking function in our hotel with live music that sounded more Arabic than Spanish.

Algeceras has a more exotic feel than further north in Spain, but like I said overlanding really exposes the graduations. The bird sounds, the plant life, the people language and culture. It also gets hotter!

Download MP3

Audio: Arabic tent in Ceuta (part 2)

2010-10-06T11:43:56+01:00

We randomly stumbled onto a festival in Ceuta, we enjoyed music and mint tea in the Arabic tent. Ceuta is a Spanish enclave in Morocco.

Download MP3

Audio: Arabic music in Ceuta (part 1)

2010-10-06T11:43:00+01:00

We randomly stumbled onto a festival in Ceuta, we enjoyed music and mint tea in the Arabic tent. Ceuta is a Spanish enclave in Morocco.

Download MP3

Audio: Conversation at the Tannery, Fez (part 2)

2010-10-06T11:34:55+01:00

We visited the tannery in Fez, the biggest in Morocco. This is a snippet of the conversation we had with a guide there. Here the process of tanning the leather is explained, as well as what the dyes are made of. We ask the guide about how the financial aspect of the cooperative works, also what work the women do in the government cooperative.

Download MP3

Audio: Conversation at the Tannery, Fez

2010-10-06T11:21:35+01:00

We visited the tannery in Fez, the biggest in Morocco. This is a snippet of the conversation we had with a guide there.

Download MP3

Audio: Street music in Meknes, Morocco

2010-10-06T10:33:39+01:00

Drums and a traditional wind instrument playing in Meknes square, Moroco

Download MP3

Audio: Call to prayer

2010-10-06T10:28:08+01:00

The sound of the call to prayer from the roof terrace of our Ryad in Meknes, Morocco

Download MP3

Audio: Call to prayer, Meknes

2010-10-06T10:27:27+01:00

Call to prayer from nearby Mosques, Meknes, Morocco

Download MP3

Audio: Ricks Cafe, Casablanca

2010-10-06T04:09:36+01:00

For the Lanyrd.com launch party we went to Ricks Cafe in Casablanca. This is the sound of the piano player while we eating our very lovely dinner. The bar is a fabulous reconstruction from the film Casablanca, down to the smallest detail. There is a room upstairs with a games table and the film Casablanca playing on loop. the food was delicious and I also very much enjoyed my celebratory Pina Colada cocktail!

Download MP3