The Iberian Peninsula /aɪˈbɪəriən pəˈnᵻnsjᵿlə/, also known as Iberia /aɪˈbɪəriə/, is located in the southwest corner of Europe and is divided among three states: Spain, Portugal, and Andorra; as well as Gibraltar, an overseas territory of the United Kingdom. With an area of approximately 582,000 km2 (225,000 sq mi), it is the third largest European peninsula, after the Scandinavian and Balkan peninsulas.
The English word Iberia was adapted from the use of the Ancient Greek word Ιβηρία (Ibēría) by Greek geographers under the rule of the Roman Empire to refer to what is known today in English as the Iberian Peninsula. At that time, the name did not describe a single political entity or a distinct population of people. Strabo's Iberia was delineated from Keltikē (Gaul) by the Pyrenees and included the entire land mass southwest (he says "west") of there.
The ancient Greeks discovered the Iberian Peninsula by voyaging westward.Hecataeus of Miletus was the first known to use the term around 500 BC.Herodotus of Halicarnassus says of the Phocaeans that "it was they who made the Greeks acquainted with ... Iberia." According to Strabo, prior historians used Iberia to mean the country "this side of the Ἶβηρος (Ibēros)" as far north as the river Rhône in France, but currently they set the Pyrenees as the limit. Polybius respects that limit, but identifies Iberia as the Mediterranean side as far south as Gibraltar, with the Atlantic side having no name. Elsewhere he says that Saguntum is "on the seaward foot of the range of hills connecting Iberia and Celtiberia."
Iberia, by James A. Michener (original title: Iberia: Spanish Travels and Reflections), is a detailed and illustrated exploration of Spain as it was during the mid-1960s. The author takes a measured, literary view on such subjects as the Moorish occupation, Islam, Catholicism, Francisco Franco and other controversial subjects.
Michener shows to be very prescient, as in his talk of national cycles of rebirth (p. 837): "... And one of these days, (change) will be true even of Russia, and we had better be prepared to admit it .... though (in the United States) we fight against it and blind our eye and conscience to the fact".
Iberia is a suite for piano composed between 1905 and 1909 by the Spanish composer Isaac Albéniz. It is composed of four books of three pieces each; a complete performance lasts about an hour and a half.
It is Albéniz's best-known work and considered his masterpiece. It was highly praised by Claude Debussy and Olivier Messiaen, who said: "Iberia is the wonder for the piano; it is perhaps on the highest place among the more brilliant pieces for the king of instruments". Stylistically, this suite falls squarely in the school of Impressionism, especially in its musical evocations of Spain. Technically, Iberia is one of the most difficult pieces in the repertoire, requiring immense strength from its interpreters and flexible hands.
Dedicated to Ernest Chausson's wife.
Well I looked out of my window this morning
and I saw the strangest thing
Everyone was walking on water and dancing in the rain
Oh darlin' I got so jealous
Just wishin' you were here with me
And I saw the prettiest people
They were kissing in the street
They didn't care who was watching
In the middle of the street
Didn't care who was watching
Well I can see blue in the sky when it's raining
And I can see blue in the sky when it's raining
And I can see blue in the sky when it's raining
Raining on me and I'm waiting on you
Just sitting here watching the weather
And I can feel the air is getting colder
They say sometimes the sunshine of a party
She's the first one to go she doesnt give any warning
She just gets up and goes she doesnt give any warning
I can see blue in the sky when its raining
And I can see blue in the sky when its raining
And I can see blue in the sky when its raining
Raining on me and I'm waiting on you
Oh, no no no no
Oh what would you do if I showed up
Oh at your doorstep just ready to go
Would you send me away
Or would you come out and play
It's just a little bit of rain and I'm leaving today
It's just a little bit of rain and I'm leaving today
'Cause I can see blue in the sky when its raining
And I can see blue in the sky when its raining
And I can see blue in the sky when its raining
Raining on me and I'm waiting on you
Oh I can see blue in the sky when it's raining
Oh I can see blue in the sky when it's raining
Oh I can see blue in the sky when it's raining
Raining on me and I'm waiting on you
Oh I can see you, no I can see you
Oh I can see you, no I can see you
Oh I can see you, no I can see you
Oh I can see you you you you.
And I can see blue in the sky when it's raining
And I can see blue in the sky when it's raining
And I can see you in my eyes when it's raining