There I was in uniform Looking at the art teacher I was just a girl then; Never have I loved since then
He was not that much older than I was He had taken our class to the Metropolitan Museum He asked us what our favorite work of art was, But never could I tell it was him Oh, I wish I could tell him Oh, I wish I could have told him
I looked at the Rubens and Rembrandts I liked the John Singer Sargents He told me he liked Turner Never have I turned since then No, never have I turned to any other man
All this having been said, I married an executive company head All this having been done, a Turner -I own one Here I am in this uniformish, pant-suit sort of thing, Thinking of the art teacher I was just a girl then; Never have I loved since then No, never have I loved any other man
My parents were serious working musicians, but they were not stars -not like pop stars that you have now. They had to make a living and that meant touring, working hard, going on the road -and we were roped in.
Today, The Grandma has gone shopping in La Bordeta, a neighbourhood neighbouring Sants in Barcelona that is historic for many reasons -among them, being the point where the Camiño de Santiago crosses the Sants-Montjuïc district, following the historic route of the old Royal Road to Aragon.
Thinking of the Camiño de Santiago brings to mind Galician friends and an ancient culture that is fighting to keep its memory alive. Close your eyes and transport yourself to the lands of Galicia,evoking its music, its landscape, and, above all, its people. Arguably, no one studies, elevates, and shares Galicianmusic better than Luar Na Lubre.
Founded in A Coruña in 1986, Luar na Lubre is one of the most influential Celtic folk groups from Galicia. Their music combines traditional Galician instruments, such as the gaita (Galician bagpipes), with contemporary arrangements, helping to preserve and share Galicia's cultural identity with audiences across Europe and beyond.
Memoria da Noite (Memory of the Night) is one of the most beloved songs by the Galician folk band Luar na Lubre. Written by the Galician poet and lyricist Xosé María Abad, the song is a moving reflection on love, memory, and the enduring presence of those who are no longer with us. Rather than speaking of loss alone, it reminds us that memories can keep people alive in our hearts, especially during the quiet hours of the night.
Musically, the piece blends traditional Galician folk melodies with Celtic influences, creating an atmosphere that is both intimate and timeless. Luar na Lubre has played a crucial role in bringing the rich musical heritage of Galicia to audiences around the world, and Memoria da Noite has become one of the band's signature songs.
The song speaks a universal emotional language. Even listeners who do not understand Galician often connect deeply with its melody and its sense of longing, hope, and remembrance. It is a beautiful example of how music can cross linguistic and cultural boundaries, carrying emotions that need no translation. Some songs are not simply heard -they are remembered. Memoria da Noite is one of those rare melodies that reminds us that love and memory can outlast time itself.
At dawn, a sleeping harbour becomes the setting for a story of love, loss and remembrance. The sea, once a source of life, turns into a place of grief after tragedy strikes. Empty fishing nets, silent boats and the absence of seagulls paint a landscape of devastation.
The song denounces those who try to hide the truth or reduce human suffering to money and empty excuses. Yet it ultimately becomes a declaration of resilience. Memory refuses to fade, and the community vows never to accept humiliation or forget what happened. The final words, Nunca Máis (Never Again), transform personal sorrow into a collective promise to protect both the people and the sea from such disasters in the future.
Some songs belong to an artist. Others belong to a people. Memoria da Noite became the voice of a community that refused to forget, proving that music can preserve memory long after the waves have fallen silent. When words are no longer enough, music remembers. And sometimes, memory becomes the strongest form of hope.
Madrugada, o porto adormeceu, amor A lúa abanea sobre as ondas Piso espellos antes de que saia o sol Na noite gardei a túa memoria
Perderei outra vez a vida Cando rompa a luz nos cons Perderei o día que aprendín a bicar Palabras dos teus ollos sobre o mar Perderei o día que aprendín a bicar Palabras dos teus ollos sobre o mar
Veu o loito antes de vir o rumor Levouno a marea baixo a sombra Barcos negros sulcan a mañá sen voz As redes baleiras, sen gaivotas
E dirán, contarán mentiras Para ofrecerllas ao Patrón: Quererán pechar cunhas moedas, quizais Os teus ollos abertos sobre o mar Quererán pechar cunhas moedas, quizais Os teus ollos abertos sobre o mar
Madrugada, o porto despertou, amor O reloxo do bar quedou varado Na costeira muda da desolación Non imos esquecer, nin perdoalo
Volverei, volverei á vida Cando rompa a luz nos cons Porque nós arrancamos todo o orgullo do mar Non nos afundiremos nunca máis Que na túa memoria xa non hai volta atrás: Non nos humillaredes NUNCA MÁIS
Today, The Grandma has been preparing for the big chess tournament starting in Sitges this week. She loves chess and everything surrounding it; that is why a day like today -InternationalChess Day- is very important to her.
International Chess Day is annually celebrated on 20 July, the day the International Chess Federation (FIDE) was founded in 1924.
International Chess Day is celebrated every year; the reason behind its celebration is to commemorate the formation of FIDE, the globally recognized governing body of chess. The idea to celebrate the International Day of Chess was first proposed by UNESCO, and it has been celebrated as such since 1966 after it was established by FIDE.
In 2013, International Chess Day was celebrated in 178 countries according to Kirsan Ilyumzhinov, the then President of FIDE.
On 12 December 2019, the UN General Assembly unanimously approved a resolution recognizing the day.
The United Nations refers to the observance as World Chess Day. According to the UN, the day serves as a platform to promote dialogue, solidarity, and a culture of peace, including education, gender equality, and social inclusion.
On 20 July 2026, Chess.com released a new flair for everyone who logged in on that day. They also held a special service that would renew your highest streak on that day.
Chess is a board game for two players, played on a square board consisting of 64 squares arranged in an 8×8 grid. The players, referred to as White and Black, each control sixteen pieces: one king, one queen, two rooks, two bishops, two knights, and eight pawns, with each piece type having a different pattern of movement. An enemy piece may be captured (removed from the board) by moving one's own piece onto the square it occupies. The object of the game is to checkmate (threaten with inescapable capture) the enemy king. There are also several ways a game can end in a draw.
The recorded history of chess dates back to the emergence of chaturanga in 7th-century India. Chaturanga is also thought to be an ancestor of similar games like janggi, xiangqi, and shogi. After its introduction to Persia, it spread to the Arab world and then to Europe. The modern rules of chess emerged in Europe at the end of the 15th century, becoming standardized and gaining universal acceptance by the end of the 19th century. Today, chess is one of the world's most popular games, with millions of players worldwide.
Organized chess arose in the 19th century. International chess competitions today are governed by the International Chess Federation FIDE (Fédération Internationale des Échecs).
The first universally recognized World Chess Champion, Wilhelm Steinitz, claimed his title in 1886.
A large body of chess theory has developed since the game's inception. Aspects of art are found in chess composition, and chess has in turn influenced Western culture and the arts, and has relevance to other fields such as mathematics, computer science, and psychology. One of the goals of early computer scientists was to create a chess-playing machine.
In 1997, Deep Blue became the first computer to win a match against a reigning World Champion when it defeated Garry Kasparov. Modern chess engines are significantly stronger than human players and have greatly influenced the development of chess theory. Chess, however, is not a solved game.
It has been another sweltering night, so TheGrandma has got up early and has headed to the Port of Barcelona -where Claire Fontaine was waiting for her- to board her small boat, and after slathering on sunscreen, they have sailed 25 nautical miles (about 46 km) to Sitges -that fascinating town in the Garraf county- intending to spend the day enjoying its beaches, cuisine, beauty and its indiano mansions, which recall the history of Catalans overseas.
Tomorrow morning, TheGrandma has to work in Castelldefels, so they will set off on the return journey early. They will stop at Port Ginesta, and while The Grandma attends her training session, Claire will enjoy the beaches of the neighbouring town -this time, in the Baix Llobregat area, before returning to Barcelona.
During the trip, they have enjoyed the stunning spectacle of the Barcelonacoastline as seen from the sea and they have been accompanied by some very special travel companions: dozens of jellyfish. Taking advantage of the high temperatures and sea currents, these creatures have been appearing in large numbers recently along the beaches of el Barcelonès, el Baix Llobregat, and el Garraf areas.
Every summer, thousands of people visiting the Mediterranean coast are surprised -or alarmed- by the appearance of jellyfish drifting close to the shore. Beaches may be temporarily closed, warning flags raised, and swimmers advised to stay out of the water. Yet jellyfish are not newcomers to the Mediterranean. They have inhabited these waters for millions of years and play an important role in marine ecosystems.
So why do they suddenly appear in such large numbers along our beaches? Are there really more jellyfish than in the past, or are we simply noticing them more? The answer lies in a fascinating combination of ocean currents, weather conditions, marine ecology, climate change, and human activity.
Jellyfish are among the oldest animals on Earth. Their ancestors appeared more than 500 million years ago, long before dinosaurs walked the planet. Despite their simple appearance, jellyfish are highly successful marine organisms that have survived multiple mass extinctions.
The Mediterranean Sea hosts dozens of jellyfish species, although only a handful are commonly encountered by beachgoers. Along the Catalan coast and much of the western Mediterranean, the most familiar species include the mauve stinger (Pelagia noctiluca), the fried-egg jellyfish (Cotylorhizatuberculata), the barrel jellyfish (Rhizostoma pulmo), and the compassjellyfish (Chrysaora hysoscella). Each species has different habits, preferred temperatures, and ecological roles. Some possess powerful stings, while others are almost harmless to humans.
To understand why jellyfish suddenly appear in large numbers, it is important to understand their life cycle. Most jellyfish alternate between two completely different forms. One stage is a tiny polyp attached to rocks, harbour walls, shells, or other hard surfaces. The other is the familiar free-swimming jellyfish, known as the medusa.
When environmental conditions become favourable -particularly water temperature and food availability- the polyps reproduce, releasing many young jellyfish into the sea. Within weeks or months, these tiny organisms grow into adult jellyfish capable of reproducing themselves. This means that what people observe on beaches is only the final stage of a much longer biological process that has often begun months earlier.
Jellyfish are surprisingly poor swimmers. Although they can pulsate their umbrella-shaped bodies to move vertically or make small adjustments, theycannot swim against strong currents. In practice, they are largely transported by the sea itself.
The Mediterranean is a dynamic environment where surface currents constantly move water masses across large distances. These currents can carry jellyfish dozens or even hundreds of kilometres from where they originated.
Along the Catalan coast, prevailing winds often determine whether jellyfish remain offshore or are pushed towards beaches. When persistent onshore winds blow for several days, surface waters carrying jellyfish gradually move landward. As a result, beaches that were completely free of jellyfish one day may experience large numbers only a few days later. Conversely, offshore winds may quickly remove them from coastal waters.
Weather conditions also play an important role. Strong storms may break up offshore jellyfish aggregations and redistribute them across coastal waters. Changes in atmospheric pressure, wave action, and wind direction can all influence where jellyfish eventually appear. Interestingly, many large beach strandings occur after periods of calm weather followed by changing winds. This explains why jellyfish appearances can seem unpredictable even though they often follow well-understood oceanographic processes.
Climate change is one of the factors receiving the greatest scientific attention. The Mediterranean is warming faster than many other seas around the world. Sea surface temperatures have increased significantly during recent decades, and marine heatwaves are becoming increasingly frequent.
Warmer waters can benefit certain jellyfish species in several ways:
-Longer reproductive seasons.
-Faster growth rates.
-Higher survival of juvenile stages.
-Expansion into areas that were previously too cold.
However, scientists emphasize that climate change alone does not explain every jellyfish bloom. It is one contributing factor among several interacting processes.
Jellyfish feed mainly on zooplankton, fish eggs, fish larvae, and tiny crustaceans. When plankton populations increase, jellyfish have abundant food available, allowing them to grow rapidly and reproduce successfully. Nutrient-rich waters -sometimes enriched by river runoff or human activities- can stimulate plankton growth, indirectly benefiting jellyfish populations. This ecological chain illustrates how changes at the microscopic level may eventually become visible to beach visitors.
Another important factor may be overfishing. Many commercial fish species consume plankton or compete directly with jellyfish for food. Others prey on juvenile jellyfish. When fish populations decline due to intensive fishing, competition decreases and jellyfish may gain an ecological advantage. Although the relationship is complex and varies between regions, many marine biologists consider overfishing one of the possible drivers behind increasing jellyfish bloomsin some Mediterranean areas.
Modern coastlines contain many artificial structures such as marinas, breakwaters, piers, and harbour walls. These hard surfaces provide ideal places for jellyfish polyps to attach and reproduce. As coastal development expands, the number of suitable habitats for polyps also increases. This hidden stage of the life cycle often goes unnoticed because polyps measure only a few millimetres and resemble tiny sea anemones.
No two summers are exactly alike. A year with abundant jellyfish usually results from several favourable conditions occurring simultaneously:
-Successful reproduction during spring.
-Warm sea temperatures.
-Plenty of plankton.
-Persistent winds carrying jellyfish towards the coast.
-Ocean currents concentrating them near beaches.
If one or more of these factors are absent, jellyfish numbers may remain relatively low. This is why one summer may experience widespread blooms while the following year has very few jellyfish despite similar temperatures.
This remains one of marine biology's most debated questions: Are jellyfish increasing?
Some long-term studies suggest that jellyfish blooms have become more frequent in certain regions of the Mediterranean. Other researchers argue that natural population cycles have always existed and that improved monitoring, satellite observations, and increased public reporting make blooms appear more common than they once seemed. Most scientists agree on one point: local increases are real, but there is no universal trend affecting every part of the world's oceans equally.
Despite their reputation, jellyfish are valuable members of marine ecosystems. They serve as food for loggerhead sea turtles, ocean sunfish, some seabirds, and numerous fish species. Young fish often shelter among their tentacles for protection from predators. When jellyfish die, their bodies sink to the seabed, transporting organic matter that supports deep-sea communities. Rather than being merely a nuisance for swimmers, jellyfish contribute to the health and complexity of marine food webs.
Complete elimination of jellyfish from Mediterranean beaches is neither possible nor desirable. Instead, scientists focus on monitoring environmental conditions and predicting blooms using satellite observations, oceanographic models, weather forecasts, and citizen science initiatives.
In Catalonia, organizations monitor jellyfish throughout the bathing season, helping local authorities provide timely information to the public. By understanding how currents, winds, climate, ecosystems, and human activities interact, we gain a clearer picture of why jellyfish appear on our shores.
Far from being mysterious invaders, jellyfish are natural inhabitants of the Mediterranean, carried by the sea and responding to environmental changes. Their seasonal arrival reminds us that even seemingly simple marine creatures are part of an intricate ecological system whose balance increasingly depends on how humans care for the oceans.
A jellyfish, if you watch it long enough, begins to look like a heart beating. It doesn't matter what kind... like a ghost heart -a heart you can see right through, right into some other world.
The heatwave seems endless, and that is not good news for older people like TheGrandma. These days, she tries to stay indoors as much as possible, keep well-hydrated, and rest near the air conditioner -her best friend this summer.
Today marks the anniversary of the death of ÀngelGuimerà, one of the great Catalan writers of the 19th century, whose spectacular works The Grandma greatly admires.
So, to beat the heat and pay tribute to Guimerà, TheGrandma has been reading Mar i Cel (Sea and Sky), a fascinating work about a love story between a Muslim pirate and a Christian slave, a story that went on to become the most successful musical in the Catalan language.
Mar i Cel is a play written by Àngel Guimerà in 1888, first performed at the Romea Theatre in Barcelona on the evening of 7 February of the same year.
It is a romantic tragedy written during the first phase of Guimerà's career as a writer, which lasted until 1890. The play is written in verse and belongs to the historical-romantic genre. It already showcases the main characteristics of his theater, such as the internal conflicts of the characters, who navigate romantic settings.
The action of Mar i Cel takes place on the high seas of the Mediterranean during the first half of the 17th century. The play narrates the impossible love between a Muslim pirate and a Christian girl.
The play is structured in three acts and maintains the unity of place, as all three acts are set in the cabin of the corsairs' ship. Regarding language, the play is written in blank decasyllabic verse (without rhyme), which requires a declamatory style and an emphatic tone, and prominently features the use of hyperbaton. Within the dialogues, and especially in the monologues, there are many images (in the form of metaphors and similes) of high poetic value. However, in the rapid dialogues, the verse is broken (over two or more lines), making the style closer to colloquialism. The use of exclamations and colloquial expressions further adds to this conversational tone.
The action takes place in 1629. Saïd is the captain of a ship of Algerian pirates who have taken a group of Christians prisoner after attacking their vessel. Saïd, like Guimerà himself, is of mixed heritage. His father was Muslim, and his mother Christian; they lived peacefully on the Iberian Peninsula. His parents were killed during the expulsion of the Moriscos in 1609, prompting Saïd to seek revenge, as his mother urged him before dying: Avenge us!
Saïd, wounded after boarding and capturing a Christian ship, orders that a Christian girl be brought to him to treat his injuries. This girl is Blanca, the only woman among the prisoners, who had been cloistered in a convent since childhood and was on her way to Barcelona to take her vows as a nun before the attack. The other Christian prisoners include Carles, Blanca's father and a high-ranking military officer; Ferran, the captain of the Christian ship and Blanca's cousin, secretly in love with her since childhood; and other sailors. Their fate is to be sold as slaves, Carles to be ransomed, and Blanca to join the harem of the ruler of Algiers -a destiny she is willing to die to avoid.
Grateful for Blanca's care, Saïd grants her more privileges than the other prisoners and eventually falls in love with her. When Saïd recounts the tragic story of his parents in a dramatic monologue, Blanca is moved to tears. To atone for the guilt of feeling compassion for an infidel, she plans to kill him with a dagger while he sleeps. However, she cannot go through with it, and when Saïd wakes up, he offers his chest for her to strike but faints instead.
In the second act, Blanca is confused by the new emotions she feels for Saïd, while Saïd secretly harbors growing affection and passion for her, revealed through his jealousy upon suspecting a relationship between Blanca and Ferran. Once Saïd confirms there is nothing between them, an impossible love blooms between Saïd and Blanca. They belong to different and opposing worlds, and they know their love will be condemned by all.
Joanot, a renegade Christian in Saïd's crew, becomes the turning point. A fugitive from justice who joined the Muslims, Joanot struggles with the contradictions of abandoning his faith and seeks reconciliation with it. To win the Christians' favor, he decides to free the prisoners, who kill all the pirates except Saïd and take control of the ship.
In the third act, Blanca stands guard outside the cabin where Saïd is held to protect him, threatening to stab herself if anyone harms him. Carles, Blanca's father, disowns her upon discovering her love for a Muslim. There are two attempts to save Saïd: first, Joanot offers to sacrifice himself by pretending to be Saïd so the latter can escape, hoping to reconcile with his faith and have prayers said for his soul. Later, Ferran, who secretly admires his adversary and understands that his cousin was never meant to be a nun, prepares a rowboat for Saïd to escape by night.
However, at the last moment, Carles appears and shoots Saïd, but Blanca steps in to shield him and takes the bullet instead. She dies from her father's shot, and Saïd, in despair, throws himself into the sea with Blanca, and they die together. The death of the two protagonists is the only way they can be united in love. They live in two opposing worlds -one the sea, the other the sky- which only meet at the horizon that is death.
The play inspired a musical produced by Dagoll-Dagom, Mar i Cel.
Hot summer streets and the pavements are burning I sit around Trying to smile but the air is so heavy and dry Strange voices are sayin' (what did they say?) Things I can't understand It's too close for comfort, this heat has got right out of hand
It's a cruel, (cruel) cruel summer Leavin' me here on my own It's a cruel, (it's a cruel) cruel summer Now you're gone
The city is crowded, my friends are away And I'm on my own It's too hot to handle, so I got to get up and go
It's a cruel, (cruel) cruel summer Leavin' me here on my own It's a cruel, (it's a cruel) cruel summer Now you're gone Gonna feel only it was
It's a cruel, (cruel) cruel summer (Leavin' me) leavin' me here on my own It's a cruel, (it's a cruel) cruel summer Now you're gone
It's a cruel, cruel summer Leaving me here on my own It's a cruel, cruel summer Now you're gone You're not the only one
It's a cruel, (cruel) cruel summer (Leavin' me) leavin' me here on my own It's a cruel, (it's a cruel) cruel summer Now you're gone You're not the only one
It's a cruel, (cruel) cruel summer (Leavin' me) leavin' me here on my own It's a cruel, (it's a cruel) cruel summer Now you're gone You're not the only one
It's a cruel...
The city is crowded, my friends are away And I'm on my own It's too hot to handle, so I got to get up and go.
Today, The Grandma has visited Carme, a lovely town in the Anoia county where various bird species can be observed, including swallows.
Carme is a municipality in the comarca of the Anoia in Catalonia. The town is in the middle of a valley, which is surrounded by the Orpinell range (751 m.) and the other by the Collbàs range (544 m.).
The village is at the bottom of the valley and is surrounded by forests. The capital of the county of Anoia, Igualada,is just ten kilometers from the village, while other municipalities like La Pobla de Claramunt or Capellades are about five kilometers from the village. Currently the village has approximately 800 inhabitants, but in holiday seasons this figure may be slightly increased.
It is believed the town was founded at the end of the Middle Ages, although the first historical documents of the town speak of the late seventeenth century. At the time of the Arab conquest and during the same average age (10th and 11 centuries), much of Catalonia was partially occupied by Arabs. This caused the middle of the country to form a series of fortifications in order to monitor the progress of Arabs to Europe today. This set of fortifications are known as the border castles and correspond to a fictitious line drawn through the current central Catalonia allowing visually dominate a vast territory and defend it quickly and efficiently. Some castles then be visited on route border castles of the Middle Agesalong the Catalan territory. The Anoia county is one of the most preserved castles and small fortresses, and allows for a very similar to the reality of that time. One of the best preserved and restored castles is the LaPobla de Claramunt, located five kilometers from the town of Carme.
At the beginning of the 18th century, Carme underwent a major demographic and economic growth and during that growth, a new religious temple was built. Currently, this is the village church, where they celebrate the traditional local and national festivals of the village, along with religious activities.
Carme's climate is due to its location and topography. It has many hot summers (25-40°C) and very cold winters in extremely cold. Half of the rainfall is concentrated in the autumn but also in spring it rains frequently. In winter snow thickness episodes live media, so despite not having much altitude valley was cold and the accumulated snow level down in this area compared to other towns like La Laguna.
Carme is located in the middle of a valley, which affords a variety biological and mineral. In fact Carme and surrounding stand for a special occasion; the fact is that due to the geographical position of the valley, we find in these different climates and vegetation. We can find the weather riverside the Mediterranean or dry, all present and well characterized. This confluence cause the formation of a small microclimate in the valley of Carme, which creates a very special phenomenon in the valley. In the midst of this special climate, individuals are more comfortable there are some birds that are in this space weather and vegetation ideal for playback.
In the Valley of Carme, there are more than 50 different bird species and up to 85. These could highlight the executioner, the shrike, cornell black or swallow.
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