The lettuce was special, too. I wanted to grow some but I was shot down by robert:
http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...typesspain.cfm

Just came across this thread and was interested to read about the Estrella Morente concert. I went to see her in Brussels a few years ago and was absolutely blown away. Really fabulous, though I don't think the concert was "full-on" flamenco, as there were a lot of other styles mixed in. Her voice is just gorgeous though.

With regard to the flamenco dresses, it's quite possible that the "beautiful" dresses that annhig referred to in the shops in Seville were actually sevillanas dresses, which tend to be much more elaborate and ornate than dresses for "pure" flamenco dancing. I have seen some top-class flamenco performances where the dancer was in a plain black skirt and top. Too many fancy frills and ruffles can even be thought to detract from the performance.
The big exception would probably be "bata de cola" dresses which have a "train" that spreads across the floor and require a particular style of dancing (and a special "kick") just so the dancer doesn't trip over the skirt!

Like your comments hanl,
Estrella Morente does much more than flamenco, her most popular album "Mujeres" (2006) is no flamenco. For example the title melody of Pedro Almodóvar's movie Volver, an old Carlos Gardel song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_-Gv...eature=related

I like her flamenco stuff much better, for example the debut CD Mi cante y un poema (2001): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rx38hva0zpg

And hanl, you are just right, no need to dress up as "la guapa"/the pretty one. Here's Rocío Molina, one of the greatest dancers today, in six different costumes in her brilliant Almario ("soul closet": Alma: soul and Armario: closet):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUlWn...eature=related

With regard to the flamenco dresses, it's quite possible that the "beautiful" dresses that annhig referred to in the shops in Seville were actually sevillanas dresses, which tend to be much more elaborate and ornate than dresses for "pure" flamenco dancing. I have seen some top-class flamenco performances where the dancer was in a plain black skirt and top. Too many fancy frills and ruffles can even be thought to detract from the performance.
The big exception would probably be "bata de cola" dresses which have a "train" that spreads across the floor and require a particular style of dancing (and a special "kick") just so the dancer doesn't trip over the skirt!>>

LOL, hanl, it was the restrained dresses that I admired so much in the shops. the ones worn by the dancers that I was attempting to describe, obviously inadequately, looked as if they'd come out of a dressing-up box! Estrella's costumes were generally much plainer - white blouse with plain skirt and a bright shawl, apart from the "da Falla" dance when she wore just what you have described - which thanks to you I now know to be a bata de cola dress.

Annhig, I must admit to loving flamenco skirts and dresses - whenever I go to Spain I have to restrain myself from buying any (I have three already...!)

And thank you for the links, Kimhe. My favourite sevillanas song ever is probably Estrella Morente's A Pastora, from the album you mention.