Caray, Caray!

How did you like Agustin's little curl right in t5he middle of his forehead ? The old goat was interested in Hip...uh-oh. I enjoyed the confrontation between Aggie and Luis . I also appreciated Felipe introducing himself to Hip as he and Luis were following her and sincerely offering his help. Everyone needs a Felipe...and a Marcos. I love Felipe . He is so loyal to Luis. The scene between Luis, Hip, and Cristobal was great. I giggled as I watched Luis waving his glove and fuming about Hip being as stubborn as a mule. [Speaking of mules, poor Vincent can't seem to get anyone to listen to him about that mule he borrowed to get home !] I also loved Cristobal trying to reason with Luis after Hip rejected his offer to help and Luis pushing him away. FC does angry very well.
 

We talked over the weekend about the Inquisition (I.). There were four distinct I's: The Medieval, Spanish, Portuguese, and Roman.

The Roman I. seems to be the direct descendant of the Medieval I. The Medieval and Roman I's were under the authority of the pope, and their primary role was to combat heresy. It was the Roman I that tried Galileo. It only had authority over Catholics. The State had the power to prosecute blasphemy, and that was used in northern Europe after the Reformation.

2. The Spanish I. was under the authority of the crown, not the pope, because the crown feared allowing the church further authority over the crown.

In 1492, Spain forced all non-Catholics (Jews and Muslims) to convert or leave Spain. The Spanish I. was established to root out closet Jew and Muslims - those who ostensibly converted to Catholicism, but still practiced their original religion.

Many Conversos (converted Jews) and Moriscos (converted Muslims) moved to the Americas. Perhaps for new opportunities, distant from European oppression. Perhaps to distance themselves from the close scrutiny of the Spanish Inquisition.
 

I don't know whether I'll have a chance to write up plot developments this week, so don't hold your breath.
 

I completely screwed up the time change. It is 12 noon, right not 12 midnight? Yikes, good thing there is Youtube
 

Yes, Cheryl. Midday, not midnight. At 1 in the afternoon on the coasts; not sure about the middle. Sorry you missed it.
 

Does Agustin know "Hipolita" is his daughter's name? He seems to react when she says it, but then he still seems to "pay undue attention" to her.
 

Like Susanlynn, I really enjoyed the scene with Luis, Hipolita and Cristobal. Luis' frustration was perfect. It WAS worth a giggle as well as a quick replay on the computer.

Poor Martin. He's just so jealous and confused about Luis' intentions. He's hanging out with his dad, Marcos and Luis and is the only one who doesn't know the story of "The Mystery Boinker"

I thought Hipo opening a floodgate of tears at Felipe's kind word and gesture was very believable. She had been holding all this fear and desperation inside in an attempt to be strong.

I also felt for Hipo as she was leaving Rafael, but it doesn't seem too smart to rely on Juana or Asuncion to care for her maid and Rafael while she's in the convent. What would make her think she could trust him with her son?
 

I was a little worried about that little boy in the scene in the coach. He seemed so sound asleep. I hope that they did not slip the poor kid some Robitussin or something to make him sleep. Hip is between a rock and a hard place. Personally, I would have just accepted Luis's help...but that's just me. I am also enjoying the scenes between Marcos , Luis's loyal and devoted bodyguard, and Martin, Luis's rival. Marcos tries to reason with Martin, but he can't tell him why Luis has called dibs on Hip. It must be very frustrating for Marcos who is torn between his devotion to his patron and his friend. I guess that we've all been in a situation where we can't tell a friend something that we feel he/she should know. [Wow...the word ID is ''moved'' as in the show has been ''moved.''
 

I too thought this was at night. Off to see the YouTube version. But I don't understand spoken Spanish that well, so oh well! GAH!!!!

Thank you for this discussion. Hopefully I won't be completely lost!
 

Barbara, I was wondering who was going to take care of Hip's maid and baby and thinking there's no one but Luis and his gang that can be trusted.

Martin seems ungrateful for Luis' support to his family as he is jealous and outraged at Luis and out of the loop but still try to be polite for the parents' sake.

Okay, Lucero has to be the most irritating crier in all novelaland. Time to hit mute.

GinCA
 

GinCA: So glad to know I'm not the only one who finds Lucero's crying annoying!

Faro
 

Well, I managed to draw up a list of plot developments tonight (just now posted), but Tues and Wed, no way. Thurs? We'll see.

I think Martin is your typical young buck who gets a college degree and a head full of progressive ideas, and he thinks his parents are provincial know-nothings. He hasn't experienced enough life to realize, "Yo solo sé, que no sé nada (I only know that I know nothing)."
 

Now I know where Hip inherited her curly hair when I saw Agustin's.
 

The whole convent thing disturbs me. Maybe because I would have suffered Catslina's fate in earlier times. Makes me wonder how many nuns throughout history were forced into the convent. Alas, there is no way to answer this question.
 

Yes, Susanlynn, won't someone please pay attention to Vicente about that mule?

I think it's interesting that Isabel suspects an amorous link between Juana an Agustin. The conversations between Isabel and Juana can be difficult to understand but are always revealing.

Little Rafael must really be enjoying his part. I wonder if he'll get to meet Perla?

Carlos
 

Paula - I can do plot developments for the rest of this week. I just need to email them to you?

Audrey
 

Audrey, you're an angel! e-mail me. paulah88@hotmail.com
 

Yes, thanks Angel Audrey . Carlos~~I'm glad that you are also concerned about Vicents's concern about making right on the mule borrowing. Vicente is a sweetpie. I am enjoying the young buck Martin and the seasoned immortal...I mean aristocrat ...Luis butting heads. It's mating season in Mexico and the testosterone is rising. Guess who's going to win . Diablo Diego does not have a chance against these two.
 

Sure - happy to oblige as I love this novela. What great dramatic scenes!

Paula - I'll email today's later this afternoon. I'm hoping to get home by noon today, but I've already watched the episode on YouTube (minus the Spanish captions unfortunately).

Audrey
 

If we are going to discuss the history of the Spanish Inquisition, it has to be added that they invented and refined several methods of torture to force "confessions", including the recently infamous waterboarding which the Spanish Inquisition is credited with inventing.

Here is a notable quote from the chilling Wikipedia entry on waterboarding.

"A form of torture similar to waterboarding called toca, and more recently "Spanish water torture", to differentiate it from the better known Chinese water torture, along with garrucha (or strappado) and the most frequently used potro (or the rack), was used infrequently during the trial portion of the Spanish Inquisition process. "The toca, also called tortura del agua, consisted of introducing a cloth into the mouth of the victim, and forcing them to ingest water spilled from a jar so that they had the impression of drowning".[89] William Schweiker claims that the use of water as a form of torture also had profound religious significance to the Inquisitors.[90]"

It also seems that the final punishment of burning at the stake persisted for many centuries including the time period of this novela.

Audrey
 

When I was in Guanajuato I went to a museum with the Inquisition equipment. The waterboard was a wheel that you were spread eagled on & it was turned with a bucket of water at the bottom. Other items were the chair with spikes, a head compressor,
guillotine & rack. All done in the name of religion.
I read that the Inquisition ended in Mexico in 1820, but I'm sure some areas were slow to get the message.
It ended in Spain in 1834 under Isabella.
 

Yikes and Bleeeccchhh.
 

That works, Variopinta, because our story is set some time between the French and the Mexican revolutions, which would be 1789-1810.
 

Audrey and Variopinta,

Yikes!

And here I thought they pretty much relied on the terrors of the soft cushion and the comfy chair.

Carlos
 

Shucks. I missed the part about Vicente and the mule and in fact most of the first 10 minutes. The broadcast would freeze in one spot and then skip to some other scene. Thanks for providing the link. I think I'll need to view what I missed in the beginning,

GinCA