Santiago where are you?

Dear Blogreader,

I read in a South African online newsletter,that a film of the modern classic and one of my favourite books,The Alchemist,will be made soon.Apparently this was confirmed by Paulo Coehlo´s publicist at the Cannes Festival this year and Laurence Fishburne will directing and starring in it.It will be shot in Europe,the Middle East and North Africa.The only missing piece to the coming to life of this literary brilliance is of course,Santiago.Those of you who have read the book will know he is the ¨protagonista¨and central character in the book.Now,I found it exciting that there is now an extensive search for someone to take this role,happening in Spain and South America.I mean for me,this is like fast forwarding ¨The sixth sense¨ and not being able to imagine any other little boy being able to convincingly utter those immortal words,¨I see dead people...¨ the way Haley Joel Osmont does it!This time however,our expecations are enriched by our own personal journey going through the book.It will be a tough job to re-produce the work as poignantly as Paulo Coelho leads the reader to do in their imaginations.In all cases,Im looking forward to it!

NewsFlash:This classic will also be translated to a first ever African language of Xhosa for use as textbooks in South Africa´s Xhosa speaking provinces!

I will conclude with these words from the book,which made a lasting impresion for me:¨if you want something badly enough,all the universe conspires to help you get it!¨...read that again...and again..and again,until you see it!

Im celebrating already!

Sarah

Good Blog References from South Africa

Dear blogreader,

Im so grateful and happy with the presenation and content of the wesbite iafrica.com

Its laid out in a way that allows a reader to easily browse and read articles of interest.I find their lifestyle article particuarly informative and entertaining like this article which discusses blogging in South Africa.

Apart from the still developing internet service and the plan by small and big investors like Bill Gates for Africa and Southern Africa in particular to affordably implement it for a widestream population.

The following blog gives general descriptions of various blogging activity in South Africa by subject matter

Read the article here

Till soon,

Sarah

Museums´ Afternoon in Madrid

Dear Blogreader,

Today I went to see two art expositions with a friend.The two were ¨El pan de los Angeles¨ from the Uffizi Gallery collection in Florence(From Botticelli to Luca Giordano) and Alphonse Mucha´s ¨Seducción,Mordenidad y Utopia¨.My friend liked the Uffizi collection more.She is Italian and she had fond memories of seeing some of the works in Florence at the Uffizi Gallery as shown above, when she went there in her school days!

Anyway,it was an afternoon well spent.In both expositions,there were some interesting revolving themes of Spirituality and Christianity.The collection from Uffizi Gallery was strictly works based on the most illustrious stories of the Bible.So there were paintings of Adam & Eve,another with Manna falling from heaven,then there was, of course,The Passion of Christ which is from the main theme of Jesus´s body as the bread of life.I really liked the collection and its diversity,from paintings to tapestry.My favourite pieces were by Lorenzo Monaco,Fransceco Salviati and Fabrizio Boschi.

The second and last part of the exposition was quite exciting as well.Personally,because I went to Prague in December last year,and got introduced to Alphonse Mucha there.His works were quite broad as well,and included sketches that went on to become famous posters,sketched drawings for paintings,jewellery designs(and in particular a bracelet he designed for Sarah Bernhardt),stamps,bank notes,cake tins...all with his famous signature Art Nouveau!All these reminded me of Andy Warhol´s trademark design which was termed pop art because everyone from Paris to when he went back to his native Chech Republic wanted his Art Nouveau on anything that had a surface!

I like Mr. Mucha´s biography as well.In particular,that after attaining fame and fortune he made a point to give back and do some wonderful work for his native Chech Republic through the Slavic Epic.He led an interesting life in his own right,and is said to have been a known freemason.I love his style.In particular a water painting called Song of Bohemia,which has soft touches and is a living,organic depiction of three peasant girls from his Slavic Epic theme.

I now have a new-found appreciation for my Möet & Chandon white-star bookmark which I bought from The Mucha Museum in Prague.The man who shot to stardom after Sarah Bernhardt and the public loved his commissioned work (poster for her play called Gismonda) and although he died after contracting pneumonia in the duration of a Gestapo interrogation,seemed to have achieveda life well-lived.