I am passionate about travel, along with my family and photography, and when I’m not traveling, I enjoy reading. I especially enjoy reading books that take place in locations I’ve visited. They allow me to relive the adventures I encountered in those destinations, and such was the case with Len Camarda’s The Seventh Treasure set in Spain.
The Seventh Treasure follows the story of Secret Service agent Gene Cerone, who travels to Granada, Spain to investigate the mysterious circumstances surrounding his sister’s death. Turns out her death was no accident and Cerone, with help from Lieutenant Mercedes Garcia, uncovers a hidden conspiracy that dates back to the time of the Moors.
Alhambra Gardens @ Debi Lander 2003
Although I recently toured Spain’s Balearic Islands, I visited Granada back in 2003. Still, I vividly remember the Alhambra as a massive palace complex, home Spanish Muslims as well as Isabel and Ferdinand. The buildings were unassuming from the outside, yet ornately geometric and beautiful on the inside. The gardens and fountains were particularly unusual and lovely, plus a cooling respite from the summer heat. Anyway, Camarda’s book spends a lot of time in and around the Alhambra.
Looking up at the Alhambra from a hotel in Granada.My daughter Laura in the Court of Lions, 2003
I’ve read Dan Browne’s books because I enjoy the way he entwines mystery with historical facts. Len Camarda’s follows a similar path in this, his first novel, using the storyline from the Tales of the Arabian Nights. His writing is descriptive, he keeps the plot moving, and involves politics (in a similar fashion to Tom Clancy) and uses plausible methods to uncover the mystery.
If you like historical thrillers or are just looking for a good read, I suggest Len Camarda’s The Seventh Treasure — and, of course, a trip to Spain!
Disclosure: The Seventh Treasure was sent to me for review, but if I’d come across it in the bookstore I would have purchased it. I can honestly recommend it.
I had one free day between the end of my Holland photo workshop and the arrival of my friend, Carol, to start a week of touring in Belgium. I chose to go to Delft– an easy train ride about an hour southwest of Amsterdam.
A canal in Delft
The station lies just a short distance from the pretty little town. I passed Renaissance and Gothic houses, massive churches, and shops with their beautiful reflections in the canals. My visit happened on a Saturday, market day, so tents and displays were scattered throughout the main streets.
Shops in Delft
New Church in Delft-1346!
I meandered along until I reached the Old Town Square and the bold facade of the gigantic Nieuwe Kerk (New Church) built from 1396-1496. The tower stands nearly 360 feet tall. Talk about feeling dwarfed, I entered the santuary and the huge columns and high ceiling made me feel miniscule. Toward the altar I found the magnificent tomb of William I, known as William the Silent. The ornate work includes not one, but two representations of the King of Orange, one in a corpse pose (with an adorable dog by his feet) made out of white marble, and the other, a seated bronze statue. The church crypts, not open to the public, hold the royal House of Orange tombs starting with William and succeeding to present day.
Tomb of William I with his dog.Tomb of William I of Orange
Visitors can climb the church tower to get spectacular views of the city and so, I started up. Let me say, the climbing wasn’t easy. I was laden with a backpack containing all the photography equipment I own, which is to say, way too heavy. The 376 steps became an aerobic challenge and my pack and I could barely squeeze through the tiny circular stairway. I had to take it off when I reached the viewing platform in order to make my way around the narrow passage.
Delft’s Market Square
But, as usual with these towers, the climb was worth the effort. I could see all the way over to The Hague.
Looking down on Delft
I also stopped into the Vermeer Center, Old Master Jan Vermeer was born in Delft, and here I learned about his use of natural light. While none of his original works are not on display, I had seen four masterpieces in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and am a fan. The Vermeer Center presents interesting, informative exhibits and a fine introductory movie in the basement. Did you know the painter had 14 children?
Vermeer Center Display
On my explorations I passed by this restaurant with a clever Delft painted bicycle. Had I not eaten in an outdoor cafe, I would have stopped in.
Delft Blue and White Bike
Of course, the main reason for choosing to visit Delft is my love of the famous blue and white earthenware. Factories here still produce the pottery using old-fashioned methods. Every piece of true Delftware (check for authentic markings on the bottom) is hand-painted by skilled craftsmen. Unfortunately the Delftware factories are located somewhat out of town, so I did not have time for a visit them. Nonetheless, I totally basked in the gorgeous array of items for sale in the many shops: vases, plates, tiles, pitchers and teapots. I turned a bit blue myself, not being able to afford anything special.
Beautiful Blue and white Delftware
But, even my small budget permitted a miniature tea set to place within the printers tray that hangs in my office. Now, the little cups and saucers remind me of my delightful day in Delft.
Debi in Delft
Disclosure: My day in Delft was totally self-funded.
Torrential rain hammered New York on Thursday morning and continued unabated through Friday night. Taxi queues snaked so long the idea of sloshing on foot appealed more than the wait. If only I brought my galoshes. I kept thinking that racetrack conditions on Saturday would be mud-bowl miserable.
Entering Belmont Park
However, sunshine blessed Saturday morning and the Big Apple awakened with delicious looking dry skies. A limo scooted us out to the Belmont Stakes grounds, not far from LaGuardia Airport. We arrived early to get the lay of the land and watch the event come to life. As we strolled in, we discovered booths of festival food, craft beer in an outdoor bar, tents selling horse racing memorabilia and the paddock area where horses were being saddled.
Belmont Stakes Trophy
My pass permitted me into the Belmont Club where I found impressive sterling silver trophies shining with aged patina. Who would win the title this year and add their name to the prestigious list? No Triple Crown possibility; Orb captured the Kentucky Derby and Oxbow the Preakness, but both would compete in the race later in the day.
In addition, there was a talented field of twelve others and plenty of possibilities to consider like the jockeys such as Rosie Napravnik riding the filly Unlimited Budget. At Belmont, the question of endurance is paramount as the course is the longest race of the three.
As a historical back note: Twenty-six horses have been eligible to win the Triple Crown coming into the Belmont Stakes and eleven have succeeded. In the last three runnings, horses that won the Kentucky Derby and Preakness (Silver Charm, Real Quiet, and Charismatic) were denied racing immortality in the Belmont Stakes. Racing has not seen a Triple Crown champion since 1978, when Affirmed swept the three-race series.
Box Seat at Belmont
Back in the clubhouse, gentlemen arrived in coat and tie and women gussied up in fine dresses, many with hats. They helped themselves to a sumptuous buffet and dined over horsey conversations at linen-clothed tables. Tuxedoed waiters scurried to bring champagne, refill drinks and open doors.
Patron boxes sat directly in front of the finish line outside the Club’s glass fronted room. These were the best seats in the house and one was mine for the day!
Races run a half hour apart and the big race was scheduled as number 11. The minutes between pass as bets are placed at a slew of teller windows. White ticket stubs record bets and offer the chance at big payoffs or end up as trash. Up to the moment odds are reflected on the official board. All this frenzied hubbub drew me in; it’s rather addictive.
As a newbie, I attempted to learn how to read the program and race records as well as interpret the complicated lingo used to handicap the horses. While the stats appear to lend an edge, to me, it all seemed like pure chance. I could bet on my favorite number or the color of jockey’s silks with about the same chance. I didn’t follow the rules or wasn’t very lucky because all day long I never picked a winner.
Belmont Paddock
But, I was captivated by my surroundings and had fun listening to the bugler call everyone to attention. Then, the announcer would report that the horses were entering the track. Best of all, I admired the pageantry of the gorgeous parading thoroughbreds in front of the stands. Before the official Stakes, “New York, New York” blasted through the speakers and many in the stands joined in song.
The escort horses eventually trotted off and the racehorses and jockeys entered the starting gate. “And they’re off,’ shouted the caller. The cheering voices in the grandstands rose as the competitors completed the final turn and the volume accelerated as they neared the finish line. Folks jumped up and down, clapped their hands or pulled their fists through their hair. Many of the races were won by a nose- a photo finish displayed on the jumbotron and frequently followed by jubilation or harsh words.
This time Oxbow finished second, three and a quarter lengths back, and Orb was third. Palace Malice surprised the crowd and completed the mile and a half distance in 2 minutes 30.70 seconds on a track that was upgraded to fast. The winner paid $29.60 on a $2 bet to win. As a comparison, Secretariat’s amazing 31-length victory in the 1973 Belmont Stakes established the world record for a mile and a half at 2:24.
No doubt about it, horse racing is a thrill. On this day, Belmont was the place to be and this time I was indeed lucky; I was there.
Here’s a short 15 second video of the start of the Race:
Disclosure: Attendance at this event was made possible by the generosity of a good friend.
