a remarkable number of kuwaitis have chosen spain as their holiday destination and second home. i visited it for the first time in the 1980s, and fell in love with it because of my old friend sabah al-rayes and other dear ones.
among the celebrities who chose to visit spain continuously made spain their second home for several reasons.
frederic chopin, the polish composer, who loved the island of majorca, and found inspiration there between 1838 and 1839, and composed some of his most beautiful musical works, such as the raindrop instrumental.
ernest hemingway, the most famous american writer, who was attracted to the culture of the spaniards, their way of life and bullfighting, wrote his famous novel “the sun also rises” (1926).
oscaår wilde, the irish writer who was famous for his admiration for spain, and wrote about his travels between its cities, and about spanish art and culture, and visited a prison in cárcel de cádiz, from which he wrote his famous play the ballad of reading gaol.
george orwell, the british writer spent time in spain during the spanish civil war (1936-1939), and his political views were influenced by it, and he wrote his two masterpieces, “a tribute to catalonia” and “animal farm.”
when europe opened its doors to salvador dali, the surrealist painter, and the great pablo picasso, they chose to live in their homeland, spain.
ava gardner, the american actress, loved spain during the filming of “pandora and the flying dutchman” (1951), and chose to live there for forty years, until her death in 1990.
richard ford, the american author, derived the events of his novel (the ultimate good luck 1981) in mexico and spain.
tennessee williams, the american playwright, spent a long time in spain, where he put his plays, such as “the night of the iguana” (1961) and “the milk train doesn’t stop here anymore” (1963).
orson welles, the american director and actor, who had a deep affection for spain and its culture, directed and starred in the movie chimes at midnight (1965).
jean cocteau, the french poet, writer, and director, was inå love with spain, and was inspired by many of his works
bruce springsteen, the american rock singer, loved spain and its music, and gave several concerts there.
these are just examples of famous people who have chosen spain as their home, haven and source of inspiration.
friend shakir abel asks why spain has lost its position as the most powerful and richest country in the world, and answers that the separation of england, the netherlands, germany and others from the roman church in the period known as the protestant reformation greatly affected its civilized development.
the transition to protestantism, as a new form of christian belief, led to changes in religious beliefs and practices, and contributed to shaping the identity of their states and its impact on civilized development, as the separation from the roman church contributed to the development of the concept of religious democracy, as everyone has “greater freedom in choosing beliefs” and the practice of worship and the establishment of new churches and denominations, and the creation of an environment that encourages economic and scientific development, and encourages exploration, trade and technological development.
separation also contributed to the occurrence of cultural and artistic changes, and produced new cultures and a great diversity in the arts, and the emergence of new intellectual and literary currents, and contributed to the development of works of art and music in new forms. artists and thinkers from these countries made important contributions to philosophy, literature and art.