Panamanian pollera on display on mural in Philadelphia

Thanks to Philadelphia's Mural Arts Program, the images of some of the artists who have promoted Latin American culture in the region have been captured on the walls of the office of Raices Culturales Latinoamericanas ("Latin American Cultural Roots"), a nonprofit arts organization that I co-founded in 1991 along with Yolanda Alcorta. One of these is Elba Dormoi, who came to the United States from Panama at an early age and promoted both the folk dances of her country and the popular salsa and merengue dance rhythms for over 40 years in conjunction with her husband, the late Ted Dormoi. This mural shows her wearing the beautiful pollera, the dress most identified with Panama. If you're interested in seeing this mural firsthand, go to the corner of 5th and Somerset Streets in North Philadelphia and walk a half block east along Somerset Street to see the full mural. Elba's likeness appears at the back of the building facing Orkney Street.

This description of the pollera comes from the book Festivals and Dances of Panama by Lila R. Cheville and Richard A. Cheville:

The pollera is spectacular from a distance, but closer observation reveals a folk art of exceptional skill and complexity. Almost every part of the dress is made by hand, from the attractive embroidery on the blouse and skirt to the delicate ornaments tucked around the gold combs in the hair. Visitors should not hesitate to approach the lady empollerada to examine the craftsmanship visible in each flower, the delicacy of the stitches in the gathers, and the painstaking skill reflected in the handmade lace decorating the ruffles. She is proud of her pollera and genuinely pleased to display her dress and her jewelry.


One of the most satisfying things for me is to have seen this organization grow and establish a presence in the Latino community in Philadelphia, promoting the culture of the entire Latin American region through the collaboration of all those who have performed, displayed works of art or given workshops over the past 18 years, as well as those who have coordinated or done the less glamorous administrative work. You can go to the Raices website at www.raicesculturales.org to learn more about the organization and its programs.

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

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/

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

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

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

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