Saturday, November 8, 2008

Bahamas: Harbour Island and its Beautiful Pink Sands Beach, 2008

On our recent vacation to the Bahamas, we only had a few hours to check out Harbour Island, a small island to the east of Nassau. The ferry ride took two hours and passed by the small island of Spanish Wells before landing at Harbour Island. This island has become a high-end resort with what could be called an understated charm, but retains its traditional look in the buildings in the village. At the dock people are there waiting to rent you a golf cart (it cost us $50/day) to get around the island. If you go up the hill and park at the end of the narrow road, you can walk down the hill and encounter this marvelous pink sand beach, which stretches the entire 3-1/2 miles of the eastern shore of Harbour Island. The beach has been rated among the best in the world. Our time there was way too short (only a four-hour layover before we had to board the ferry to return to Nassau), but we took advantage of every minute.

Visit my webpage on the Bahamas at http://www.latinandcaribbeantravel.com/caribbean/bahamas.html

Other websites:

Caribbean Folk Arts Network (Caribfolk) - Caribbean cultural network: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/caribfolk/

Raices Culturales Latinoamericanas (Latin American Cultural Roots) - a nonprofit organization I founded in 1991 that presents Latin American cultural shows, exhibits, and workshops: http://www.raicesculturales.org/

Raicesnews - Latin cultural events in the Philadelphia area: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/raicesnews

Saturday, September 6, 2008

YouTube video: Boi de Parintins (Brazil)

The Brazilian town of Parintins sits on an island in the Amazon River and is host to the festival of the Boi Bumbá (Ox Festival), which features elaborate costumes and dancing between two teams: one is called Boi Garantido and the other Boi Caprichoso.

One YouTube video featuring Parintins and the Boi Bumbá festival: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyBDkjE93FI

The Boi Bumbá website: http://www.boibumba.com/

An article explaining the festival of the Boi de Parintins: http://www.worldreviewer.com/experiences/festival/boi-bumba/11109/

Monday, August 18, 2008

Good food on San Andres and Providencia, Colombia (2000)

One of my favorite Caribbean trips was a five-day, four-night stay on the island of San Andrés, which is on the western side of the Caribbean and belongs to Colombia. We went there with the whole family in 2000.

The all-inclusive travel package included a stay at the Sol Meliá hotel "Sol Caribe Campo" in the center of the island. Part of the charm of this place was a great view of the Caribbean (it was perched on a hillside) along with the delicious food. The breakfast buffet was the best I've seen anywhere. It fell short when it came to the local cuisine, but what it did offer was well-prepared and abundant, even with small slices of pizza available for a midnight snack. Even though the hotel was not on the beach, it did have a strip of land by the beach where you could have your lunch and enjoy the water there. I also enjoyed having a slice of fresh coconut.

The family was content on San Andrés, but I was eager to check out the quieter sister island of Providencia. I wound up staying overnight at another Sol Meliá hotel: the Sol Caribe Providencia. There the food was a sit-down affair but in terms of quality it was even better than on San Andrés: for $60 a night, I had two meals included and enjoyed the most succulent crab meat I have tasted anywhere, along with a delicious dessert made from island-grown blueberries. When we returned to Bogotá and I told my wife's relatives about that hotel on Providencia, they said to me: "You paid that much?"

See my webpage on Colombia at http://www.latinandcaribbeantravel.com/colombia.html

Other websites:

Caribbean Folk Arts Network (Caribfolk) - Caribbean cultural network: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/caribfolk/

Raices Culturales Latinoamericanas (Latin American Cultural Roots) - a nonprofit organization I founded in 1991 that presents Latin American cultural shows, exhibits, and workshops: http://www.raicesculturales.org/

Raicesnews - Latin cultural events in the Philadelphia area: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/raicesnews

Monday, August 11, 2008

Bahamas: Atlantis Hotel and Casino, 2008


My wife and I took a quick three-night trip to the Bahamas in June. We stayed at the Comfort Suites Paradise Island, right next to the Atlantis Hotel and Casino. With our stay at Comfort Suites we received a pass to use the facilities at Atlantis. They included the casino, several shops, the swimming pools, the aquariums, and the nearby beaches. For an extra charge we could pay for a swim with the dolphins.

The three nights we had weren't enough to take advantage of all the options that Atlantis had to offer. There were also movies offered at different times of the day, a disco (one for adults and the other tailored to kids), several restaurants and lounges, and the activities of the water park. Not that we would have taken advantage of the Mayan temple slide! Our nerves wouldn't have been able to handle it.

The arrangement of staying at the Comfort Suites, which is clean, friendly and reasonably priced, and being able to use the Atlantis facilities, was great and we would definitely take advantage of it again.

Visit my webpage on the Caribbean at http://www.latinandcaribbeantravel.com/caribbean.html

Other websites:

Caribbean Folk Arts Network (Caribfolk) - Caribbean cultural network: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/caribfolk/

Raices Culturales Latinoamericanas (Latin American Cultural Roots) - a nonprofit organization I founded in 1991 that presents Latin American cultural shows, exhibits, and workshops: http://www.raicesculturales.org/

Raicesnews - Latin cultural events in the Philadelphia area: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/raicesnews

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Finding Latin treats close to home

When my family and I visited Long Island in July, we weren't expecting to see a large Latin presence there and were pleasantly surprised with finding places where we could get Latin food. Though The Hamptons has a reputation of being a playground for the wealthy, there is also a thriving Latino community in the area. Among the places were some restaurants such as this one along the road between Riverhead and The Hamptons called "Cabaña Latina." It was run by Ecuadorians but had food from Colombia and Central America as well. Cabaña Latina also has a restaurant closer to The Hamptons, on Montauk Highway between Hampton Bays and Southampton.

One of our favorite types of Colombian breads available at the restaurant were buñuelos, which in Colombia are large round cheese fritters. Another type of bread with cheese is called an almojábana. The restaurant also has a good selection of food products that are usually only available in Latin America or in the Latin neighborhoods of cities.

Other websites:

Caribbean Folk Arts Network (Caribfolk) - Caribbean cultural network: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/caribfolk/

Raices Culturales Latinoamericanas (Latin American Cultural Roots) - a nonprofit organization I founded in 1991 that presents Latin American cultural shows, exhibits, and workshops: http://www.raicesculturales.org/

Raicesnews - Latin cultural events in the Philadelphia area: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/raicesnews

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

YouTube video: Merengue Típico by Arsenio de la Rosa

This merengue by Arsenio de la Rosa is a Dominican history lesson in
three minutes. He starts by explaining Columbus' arrival to the
island, called Quisqueya. He then proceeds to the colonial era and its
buildings, then to Dominican independence and the story of a general
who danced the merengue with a stutter step because he had a peg leg.
The people liked the stutter step and proceeded to imitate it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85ET7btQut8

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

YouTube video and articles on the Gaita Zuliana, from western Venezuela

The state of Zulia in western Venezuela is in the area surrounding
Lake Maracaibo, the main source of Venezuela's oil fields. Zulia's
northern border is the Caribbean Sea and the state borders Colombia on
its western side. The principal rhythm of this region is called a
"gaita." It is sometimes called "gaita zuliana" which distinguishes it
from the bagpipes played in northern Spain, also called gaitas. There
is also a flute and corresponding rhythm on Colombia's Caribbean coast
called gaita, but this is distinct from the Venezuelan rhythm.

YouTube video of Sabor Gaitero: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLAxEXpZx58
(There are several YouTube videos of Sabor Gaitero)

A short article in Wikipedia on the gaita zuliana:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaita_(music_style)

Wikipedia article on the state of Zulia, with maps, flag, coat of arms
and list of municipalities: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zulia
(There is a more detailed Wikipedia article in Spanish on the state of
Zulia at http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zulia)

An article called "La Gaita Zuliana: The Best Christmas Music You've
Never Heard Of":
http://vivirlatino.com/2006/12/25/la-gaita-zuliana-the-best-christmas-music-youve-never-heard-of.php

Sunday, May 25, 2008

Link to YouTube video on San Basilio de Palenque, Colombia

The town of San Basilio de Palenque in Colombia, founded by runaway
slaves and home to a fusion of African languages and Spanish called
Palenquero, is featured in this news clip from CNN.

CNN video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgzOlTAze3Q

Wikipedia article on San Basilio de Palenque and links to other
articles: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Basilio_de_Palenque

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Palo de Mayo (May Pole) traditions in Bluefields, Nicaragua

The European May Pole dance combined with African traditions in Bluefields, a town on Nicaragua's Caribbean coast, to create a unique cultural blend. The May Pole Dance as celebrated in Bluefields during the month of May derives from African devotions to Mayaya, the goddess of fertility and maternity. It is believed that Mayaya taught the art of agriculture to the Africans. In some cases the songs or portions of the songs are performed in other parts of the Caribbean.

Musicians playing a May Pole song in Bluefields "as part of the forthcoming documentary by Bluefields Sound System which explores the struggle, survival and throbbing pulse of three generations of music from the Atlantic Coast of Nicaragua": http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=7O4FJc8mlTc

The website on the Bluefields Sound System: http://www.bluefieldsound.com/

A report in Spanish on the Palo de Mayo dance traditions: http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=GJhNuQ9AQu8

An article in Spanish from El Nuevo Diario in Nicaragua on May 7, 2008 regarding the May Pole traditions in Bluefields: http://www.elnuevodiario.com.ni/opinion/15122

Friday, May 9, 2008

Links to YouTube videos: malambo from Argentina

In the early 80s I made friends with a group of Argentinians. Back then the Argentinian community in Philadelphia was very active, holding social events and featuring performances from local or visiting artists. I attended one event featuring a performer from New York named Juan Carlos Salazar, "El Super Gaucho," who dazzled the audience with his dancing, playing of the bombo and mastery of the boleadoras, which he banged on the stage in perfect rhythm. The audience, myself included, exploded in applause.

The Argentinian malambo can refer either to a guitar rhythm or to a dance of the gauchos. The dance is not accompanied by song lyrics and is primarily composed of the rhythm of the footwork or zapateo, though it sometimes is accompanied by a guitar or the bombo (drum). The feet
rarely touch the ground and feature lively movements and elaborate tapping with the soles, the heels, and other parts of the boot.

A brief description of the malambo dance:
http://www.travelsur.net/argentinamusic/malambo.html

A demonstration of the malambo rhythm on guitar:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mKXe8Vw-5EY

The malambo as a solo dance: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzNUImwU1-k

A modernized version of the malambo that adds the boleadoras or
lariats for stage performances:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cYuCURAXTII

An article in Wikipedia regarding the bolas or boleadoras, as used by
the gauchos: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bolas

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Spain: View of Guadalquivir River, Seville


The Guadalquivir River cuts through the heart of Seville. The older part of the city is on the north bank (where the boats in this picture are docked).
In colonial times the ships that came from Spain's colonies in the Americas would arrive here, and as a result Seville was the hub of Spain's economic activity during much of this period.

Nowadays the river is too shallow for the commerce that used to characterize it, so it is more the domain of the tour boats. The large tower toward the right of the picture is called the "Torre del Oro" or Gold Tower.


See my webpage on Spain at http://www.latinandcaribbeantravel.com/spain.html

Other websites:

Caribbean Folk Arts Network (Caribfolk) - Caribbean cultural network: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/caribfolk/

Raices Culturales Latinoamericanas (Latin American Cultural Roots) - a nonprofit organization I founded in 1991 that presents Latin American cultural shows, exhibits, and workshops: http://www.raicesculturales.org/

Raicesnews - Latin cultural events in the Philadelphia area: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/raicesnews

Thursday, April 3, 2008

Some notes about the culture of St. Martin


One of my motivations to travel to Latin America and the Caribbean is to collect recorded music, particularly folk music. There is much one can collect via amazon.com and in more conventional retail stores, but there are many places that you can only learn about by going there. St. Martin, well-known as a tourist mecca, is a case in point. In the mad rush to cater to foreign visitors and revenue, the culture of the island and the need to preserve its uniqueness as a legacy for its inhabitants are sometimes neglected.

Fortunately, there are people on the island who are serious about promoting the culture and teaching it to their children. One such person is Clara Reyes, who when I met her was finishing up a Master's program in dance at the State University of New York (SUNY) in Brockport. Clara did research into St. Martin's "ponum dance" as part of her Master's degree. The dance originated as a celebration of the liberation of the slaves on the island in 1848. Back then, as today, the island was divided between the French and the Dutch. France abolished slavery in its territories in 1848, and when the slaves on the Dutch side learned of this, they fled to the French side and ultimately the Dutch side of the island would have to grant freedom to its slaves as well. The Dutch would not abolish slavery in the rest of its territories until 1863.

Clara later took time out of her schedule to perform the dance in a presentation that we organized in Philadelphia in 2002. Shortly afterwards, Clara returned to the island after completing her studies in New York to begin teaching in a primary school on the Dutch side.

I made a follow-up visit to St. Martin in 2003 to meet people who practiced different types of folk arts. Among those I visited was Clara's mother, Regina Millet, who owned a souvenir shop in Philipsburg and posed for this picture. Regina was wearing a madras skirt which often appears in Caribbean folk dress.


Visit my webpage on the Caribbean at http://www.latinandcaribbeantravel.com/caribbean.html

Other websites:

Caribbean Folk Arts Network (Caribfolk) - Caribbean cultural network: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/caribfolk/

Raices Culturales Latinoamericanas (Latin American Cultural Roots) - a nonprofit organization I founded in 1991 that presents Latin American cultural shows, exhibits, and workshops: http://www.raicesculturales.org/

Raicesnews - Latin cultural events in the Philadelphia area: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/raicesnews

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Puerto Rico: Isla Verde beach in San Juan, 2007


There are three beachfront areas in San Juan: Condado Beach at the western side near the bridge that connects this part of the city with Old San Juan; Ocean Park, further to the east; and Isla Verde, which is closest to the Muñoz Marín International Airport and has hotels of every shape and size. The Isla Verde beach, while not the absolute best the island has to offer, is advantageous because it is convenient to the airport and many shops and restaurants.




See my webpage on Puerto Rico at http://www.latinandcaribbeantravel.com/puertorico.html

Other websites:

Caribbean Folk Arts Network (Caribfolk) - Caribbean cultural network: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/caribfolk/

Raices Culturales Latinoamericanas (Latin American Cultural Roots) - a nonprofit organization I founded in 1991 that presents Latin American cultural shows, exhibits, and workshops: http://www.raicesculturales.org/

Raicesnews - Latin cultural events in the Philadelphia area: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/raicesnews

Monday, March 17, 2008

Mexico: Visit to Popocatepetl, 1979


About midway between Mexico City and Puebla stand the twin volcanoes Ixtaccihuatl and Popocatepetl. Both of them are visible on a clear day looking east from Mexico City. We had an unexpected opportunity to visit that area shortly into our semester in Mexico.

One of our roommates had a car and offered to take us there. We piled into the car and drove due east from the capital. We took an expressway out of the city and then pulled off at a town called Cuautla. We went a little further and stopped at the town of Amecameca. This town was one of the first small Mexican towns I had seen, with its plaza and church, and one thing I liked a lot - slices of fresh coconut for sale. We took some time to walk into the church and look around, and as we were walking out, one boy looked at the other and said in Spanish as we were walking by, "They're gringos," which for some reason made me crack up.

Further along we went up along the winding mountain road until we reached a lodge close to the summit of Popocatepetl, where there were plenty of tourists. What I liked about the area was that you could walk around and find some little piles of snow on the ground. The top of the volcano was so close that it looked like you could take a stroll there, but we saw a group of mountain climbers returning from the summit in their full gear, reminding us that the climb was not as easy as it looked. In any case the view was spectacular.


Other websites:
Caribbean Folk Arts Network (Caribfolk) - Caribbean cultural network: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/caribfolk/

Raices Culturales Latinoamericanas (Latin American Cultural Roots) - a nonprofit organization I founded in 1991 that presents Latin American cultural shows, exhibits, and workshops: http://www.raicesculturales.org/

Raicesnews - Latin cultural events in the Philadelphia area: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/raicesnews

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Colombia: Hot Springs in San Vicente near Pereira, 2007

From the city of Pereira, in the middle of coffee country in central Colombia, one can take a day trip to some hot springs in the mountains. San Vicente was one of these hot springs or "termales." This was an 1-1/2 hour drive from Pereira, where one would pick up the microbus. After leaving Pereira and going north to Santa Rosa, the bus quickly leaves the paved road and meanders deep into the countryside before stopping in an area completely enclosed by mountains, with the hot water coming down the sides of one of the mountains and channeling through several of the pools. Aside from bathing in the waters or spending some time in a sauna, there are opportunities to get massages or take nature hikes. The presence of soldiers at the site and along the road indicates that this is a remote area that requires protection for its employees and visitors.

See my webpage on Colombia at http://www.latinandcaribbeantravel.com/colombia.html

Other websites:

Caribbean Folk Arts Network (Caribfolk) - Caribbean cultural network: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/caribfolk/

Raices Culturales Latinoamericanas (Latin American Cultural Roots) - a nonprofit organization I founded in 1991 that presents Latin American cultural shows, exhibits, and workshops: http://www.raicesculturales.org/

Raicesnews - Latin cultural events in the Philadelphia area: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/raicesnews

Monday, March 3, 2008

Spain: View from Ronda


From Seville there are opportunities to take several day trips to nearby towns with interesting architecture. They are collectively known as the "white towns" because many of the buildings of these towns are whitewashed.

I had spent most of my week observing the April Fair in Seville, but as I had seen most of the activity of the fair, I had the day to explore another town. My first choice had been Arcos de la Frontera, which was the closest of these towns to Seville, but the bus schedule was better to Ronda. I wasn't disappointed: Ronda boasts plenty of fascinating architecture and some phenomenal views, as Ronda sits on two hills with the huge Tajo gorge cutting through the middle of the town. This particular view you can see by walking the fenced perimeter, where there is a wide promenade.

See my previous entry on Ronda at http://latin-caribbean-travelblog.blogspot.com/2007/08/spain-bullring-in-ronda-2006.html

Also see my webpage on Spain at http://www.latinandcaribbeantravel.com/spain.html


Other websites:

Caribbean Folk Arts Network (Caribfolk) - Caribbean cultural network: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/caribfolk/
Raices Culturales Latinoamericanas (Latin American Cultural Roots) - a nonprofit organization I founded in 1991 that presents Latin American cultural shows, exhibits, and workshops: http://www.raicesculturales.org/

Raicesnews - Latin cultural events in the Philadelphia area: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/raicesnews

Monday, February 25, 2008

Caribbean: Aerial Views of St. Martin and Anguilla


On my trip to Antigua in 2005 I could see the outlines of the nearby islands St. Martin and Anguilla. Anguilla is the long, narrow island to the north, which belongs to the United Kingdom. It is only a 20-minute ferry ride from St. Martin. St. Martin is shared between the French and Dutch (the Dutch spelling is Sint Maarten) and is slightly south of Anguilla, with the French side on the north side of the island and the Dutch side on the bottom. The part of St. Martin that sticks out to the west is shared by both countries and features Simpson Bay, a large haven for ships of many sizes. Also on a small patch of land on the south side of Simpson Bay, on the Dutch side, is Princess Juliana Airport.

Both islands, though close to each other, have very different personalities. Anguilla is quiet and laid back with a few high-end resorts, and St. Martin is bustling with hotels, casinos on the Dutch side, traffic and tourists.

Visit my webpage on the Caribbean at http://www.latinandcaribbeantravel.com/caribbean.html

Other websites:

Caribbean Folk Arts Network (Caribfolk) - Caribbean cultural network: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/caribfolk/

Raices Culturales Latinoamericanas (Latin American Cultural Roots) - a nonprofit organization I founded in 1991 that presents Latin American cultural shows, exhibits, and workshops: http://www.raicesculturales.org/

Raicesnews - Latin cultural events in the Philadelphia area: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/raicesnews

Monday, February 18, 2008

Miami: Visit to Star Island, 1998

For many years my wife and I would travel back and forth between Philadelphia and Bogota and change flights in Miami. We were curious to visit Miami but didn't have the chance to do so until 1998, when our flight from Philadelphia to Bogota had a six-hour layover in Miami.

We left the airport and found a taxi driver who offered to take us around the city for three hours. This taxi driver was originally from Sweden and on his card said that he spoke 14 languages. His Spanish sounded very Cuban, and he conducted the entire tour in Spanish. While he was driving he took a call on his cell phone from his daughter. They were discussing the results of the World Cup that was going on at that time. He spoke to her in Danish and gave her the score of the game: "et - et" (1-1).

Among the places he took us were Coconut Grove, Miami Beach, particularly South Beach, and Biscayne Bay. On the way back from Miami Beach, we stopped at Star Island, home to many celebrities. He drove up and told the guard that he was taking us on a tour, and he was let through. He stopped at the house in the first photo that he said was the residence of Gloria Estefan. (Note: On Google Earth Gloria Estefan's house is now identified as a different house on the island.) The next stop was a house that he said formerly belonged to Julio Iglesias (second photo).

After this trip we felt content that we finally were able to see something of Miami. We returned to Miami in 2003 and stayed ten days.









Visit my webpage on Latinos in the United States at
http://www.latinandcaribbeantravel.com/latinosintheus.html


Other websites:

Caribbean Folk Arts Network (Caribfolk) - Caribbean cultural network: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/caribfolk/

Raices Culturales Latinoamericanas (Latin American Cultural Roots) - a nonprofit organization I founded in 1991 that presents Latin American cultural shows, exhibits, and workshops: http://www.raicesculturales.org/

Raicesnews - Latin cultural events in the Philadelphia area: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/raicesnews

Sunday, February 10, 2008

Puerto Rico: Beach at Loiza, 2004


In 2004 I had the opportunity to return to Puerto Rico after 20 years, this time with a group of people. It was a short but very intense visit, as our purpose for being there was to document the Fiesta de Santiago Apostol (Feast of St. James) in Loiza, which takes place at the end of July of each year. This research trip was part of my activity with the group Raices Culturales Latinoamericanas ("Latin American Cultural Roots"), and our purpose was to gather information that could be used to teach the dances based in Loiza to students in Philadelphia's Latino community. I had been in New Haven, Connecticut one week before to see their version of the same festival, and one of the participants in that festival also was in Loiza.

The event, which lasted six days, started with a parade through the town that started at 4:00 AM. We went to the municipal building and met some of the participants, attended religious devotions, met a visual artist at his studio, and filmed the parade that featured dancers, musicians, and floats.

The way that Loiza is designed, the beach does not seem to be the focus of activity. It seems to be more designed to face the Loiza River. As such, it is remarkable that this beach is still relatively undeveloped. There have been documentaries that have filmed performers of folk dances on the beach.



See my previous post on Loiza at
http://latin-caribbean-travelblog.blogspot.com/2007/11/puerto-rico-coastal-road-to-loza-1984.html


Also see my webpage on Puerto Rico at http://www.latinandcaribbeantravel.com/puertorico.html


Other websites:

Caribbean Folk Arts Network (Caribfolk) - Caribbean cultural network: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/caribfolk/

Raices Culturales Latinoamericanas (Latin American Cultural Roots) - a nonprofit organization I founded in 1991 that presents Latin American cultural shows, exhibits, and workshops: http://www.raicesculturales.org/

Raicesnews - Latin cultural events in the Philadelphia area: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/raicesnews

Saturday, February 2, 2008

Colombian crafts


It should come as no surprise that Juan Valdez, the symbol of Colombian coffee, would be immortalized in crafts as well as commercials and logos. There are many places in Colombia where crafts such as Juan Valdez with his sack of Colombian coffee can be found.

Colombian crafts, which include wooden and ceramic figures, replicas of pre-Columbian gold pieces, clay pots, wall tapestries, leather goods, and other items, can be found throughout the country. I am most familiar with those that are available in Bogota, which was the ancient capital of the Muiscas, the indigenous group that inhabited the region when the Spanish arrived (which also explains the motifs of some of the pre-Columbian replicas). There are several stores, some better known than others, where they can be bought. In the center of the city there is an artisans' center close to the Museo del Oro (Gold Museum) where there are several individual vendors. There is another store further north called El Balay that is a haven for foreigners looking for these kinds of crafts.

See my webpage on Colombia at http://www.latinandcaribbeantravel.com/colombia.html

Other websites:

Caribbean Folk Arts Network (Caribfolk) - Caribbean cultural network: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/caribfolk/

Raices Culturales Latinoamericanas (Latin American Cultural Roots) - a nonprofit organization I founded in 1991 that presents Latin American cultural shows, exhibits, and workshops: http://www.raicesculturales.org/

Raicesnews - Latin cultural events in the Philadelphia area: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/raicesnews

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Pedro Infante and Jorge Negrete, two giants of Mexican cinema



The two biggest icons of Mexican cinema, Pedro Infante (left) and Jorge Negrete (right), have both been dead for 50-plus years. Yet any discussion of Mexican cinema invariably gets into a disagreement regarding the merits of one versus the other. Why is this so?


One reason is that both of these screen stars have left their mark on Mexican popular culture and popularized the image of the charro or Mexican cowboy. It may also have to do with the fact that both died young and while still popular with the public. In fact, for many, Pedro Infante's tragic death in a plane crash in 1957, at the age of 39, signified the end of the golden era of Mexican cinema and the quality of Mexican film overall began to decline from that point on.


Another reason for the lively discussion is that both stars were good actors, had good singing voices and starred in many successful films. Pedro's immense popularity with the public is something that even Mexican film critics do not completely comprehend, except that the Mexican people identify with him strongly, especially as he came from a working-class background. It's undeniable that Pedro had enormous charisma and an extremely likable screen presence that elevated the quality of any film he starred in. His voice was as smooth as velvet and his popularity with the ladies undeniable. He had a wide range of acting ability and was also a daredevil, having a strong interest in motorcycles and airplanes. In fact he was in two plane crashes years before the third one took his life. One of his frequent co-stars, Blanca Estela Pavon, also died in a plane crash at the tender age of 23.


Jorge Negrete, with his powerful operatic voice, achieved stardom a few years before Infante became popular. His first film, "La Madrina del Diablo" (The Devil's Godmother), was released in 1937, but he really catapulted into the spotlight with his starring role in "Ay Jalisco, No Te Rajes!" (Jalisco, don't back down) in 1941. There were earlier films featuring the Mexican charro, but this one caught fire internationally and was in a large way responsible for the association of Mexican culture with mariachi music. (Though Infante first had starring roles in 1942, his first really successful role was in "Nosotros Los Pobres" or "We the Poor" in 1947.)


Taking advantage of the popularity of both stars, the film "Dos Tipos de Cuidado" ("Two Guys to Watch Out For"), was released in 1952 and is considered the best Mexican charro movie of all time. The director, Ismael Rodriguez, took great care in balancing the singing and acting strengths of both stars and succeeded marvelously. (The above photo is taken from the movie.) The success of the film spearheaded a two-week run of concerts in Mexico featuring both stars. It was an opportunity that was seized at just the right moment, for Negrete, already in declining health due to his hepatitis C infection, would die at the end of 1953. Infante, as a tribute to his friend, rode with the Mexican motorcycle patrol at Negrete's funeral.


Also visit my webpage on Mexico at http://www.latinandcaribbeantravel.com/mexico.html
Other websites:
Caribbean Folk Arts Network (Caribfolk) - Caribbean cultural network: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/caribfolk/
Raices Culturales Latinoamericanas (Latin American Cultural Roots) - a nonprofit organization I founded in 1991 that presents Latin American cultural shows, exhibits, and workshops: http://www.raicesculturales.org/
Raicesnews - Latin cultural events in the Philadelphia area: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/raicesnews

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Spain: Favorite foods in Seville


One of the highlights of Seville, and the rest of Spain for that matter, has to be the food. There are many specialties: paella and other seafood dishes, cookies and other sweets baked at convents and sold with the name "dulces del convento", gazpacho or cold soup with tomato and other ingredients, and much more. What I remember most, though, were the delicious tapas that are served in small portions at many locations in Seville.

Here we have a plate of the famous jamón serrano, which loosely translated means ham from the sierra or mountain range. This ham is also referred to as "pata negra" (black hoof). It is served along with other tapas such as queso manchego ("cheese from La Mancha"), olives, fried shrimp, and other foods, accompanied by a glass of sherry, particularly the variety of sherry known as manzanilla.


See my webpage on Spain at http://www.latinandcaribbeantravel.com/spain.html


Other websites:

Caribbean Folk Arts Network (Caribfolk) - Caribbean cultural network: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/caribfolk/
Raices Culturales Latinoamericanas (Latin American Cultural Roots) - a nonprofit organization I founded in 1991 that presents Latin American cultural shows, exhibits, and workshops: http://www.raicesculturales.org/

Raicesnews - Latin cultural events in the Philadelphia area: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/raicesnews

Sunday, January 20, 2008

Pictures of the Bahamas from the air

In any flight to Miami returning from the eastern part of the Caribbean, it's inevitable that part of the trip will take you over the Bahamas. As the Bahamas consist of hundreds of small islands and reefs in addition to the better known populated ones (Nassau or New Providence, Grand Bahama, Eleuthera and others), the colors of the sea are spectacular.

Technically, the Bahamas are not Caribbean islands as they don't border on the Caribbean Sea but rather on the Atlantic Ocean and are farther north than Caribbean islands such as Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The chain starts to the east of Florida (the closest island being Bimini) and extends on a southeastern angle until it comes close to the north coasts of Haiti and the Dominican Republic. At the southernmost part of the chain are the Turks and Caicos Islands.









Visit my webpage on the Caribbean at http://www.latinandcaribbeantravel.com/caribbean.html

Other websites:

Caribbean Folk Arts Network (Caribfolk) - Caribbean cultural network: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/caribfolk/

Raices Culturales Latinoamericanas (Latin American Cultural Roots) - a nonprofit organization I founded in 1991 that presents Latin American cultural shows, exhibits, and workshops: http://www.raicesculturales.org/

Raicesnews - Latin cultural events in the Philadelphia area: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/raicesnews

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

The Lashing Dogs, a string band from the British Virgin Islands


Though I've never been to the British Virgin Islands, I learned about the folk group The Lashing Dogs, who hail from Tortola (the largest of the British Virgin Islands), while I was in Anguilla in 2003 and found their music in a record store. My experience has been, at least on some occasions, that you can't find the music from certain artists on the island they're from but rather come across it on another island. This was the case with a band from Anguilla called Happy Hits whose music I found at a store on nearby St. Martin.


My friend Carlson Velasquez, the guitarist I met in St. Martin (see my Oct. 13, 2007 post at http://latin-caribbean-travelblog.blogspot.com/2007/10/caribbean-st-martin-2002.html), was very familiar with them, as the string band tradition is common to the US and British Virgin Islands, Anguilla, St. Martin, Saba, Statia, St. Kitts and Nevis.

When Carifesta took place in Trinidad in 2006, The Lashing Dogs were one of the featured groups. The music, with its banjo at the lead, has an easy-going beat that is not as frenetic as modern Caribbean dance music.

Visit my webpage on the Caribbean at http://www.latinandcaribbeantravel.com/caribbean.html

Other websites:

Caribbean Folk Arts Network (Caribfolk) - Caribbean cultural network: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/caribfolk/

Raices Culturales Latinoamericanas (Latin American Cultural Roots) - a nonprofit organization I founded in 1991 that presents Latin American cultural shows, exhibits, and workshops: http://www.raicesculturales.org/

Raicesnews - Latin cultural events in the Philadelphia area: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/raicesnews