AMERICA IS A CONTINENT, NOT A COUNTRY. CULTURE HAS NO BORDERS.
Q&A with Latino Sports’ Julio Pabon
by Ismael Nunez
If you are in the South Bronx and are a Latino sports lover, a place that you must visit is Latino Sports, a small business located at 424 Grand Concourse.
This haven has rare sports collectibles, Latino Sports’ branded merchandise, sports books about Latinos, and jerseys featuring Caribbean baseball teams. Latino Sports considers itself as the “Number 1 Roberto Clemente Memorabilia Store.”
Latino Sports is not just a business. There is a small museum at the shop, which is free and open to the public. The store’s motto is: “It’s about us, it’s about time!”
Julio Pabon, CEO and founder of Latino Sports, recently spoke with Bronx Latino about his shop.
(Julio Pabon, left, is pictured here with Senator Jose M. Serrano at the East Harlem Little League Parade.)
Q: Why did this business get started?
A: It got started out of anger. It was a result of an award we presented to Ruben Sierra who at that time was playing baseball with the Texas Rangers. Many felt he deserved to win the “Most Valuable Player Award” in the American League. Eventually, the award went to Robin Yount who played with the Milwaukee Brewers. The baseball writers voted for Yount. Who’s to say they were wrong? Yount had a good season, but then again Sierra’s numbers were far better.
This event showed that a Latin American institution to highlight the positive values of Latinos in sports was needed. So, I felt it was important for the community to have our own award. I didn’t know that it was going to turn out to be a yearly thing and then to the creation of Latino Sports.
Q: So, Latino Sports is not just about promoting the goodness of Latino athletes. Do you also consider yourselves as activists?
A: This is true. That’s how it basically got started. We realized that Latinos were overlooked not only in baseball but also in other sports.
Q: Latino Sports is heavily involved in the fight to retire “Roberto Clemente’s number 21.” Why is that?
A: Very true. Clemente was not only a great player and Hall of Famer. He was a humanitarian, father/husband, and a person who was proud of his Afro-Puerto Rican heritage. He stood up for things he believed in, loved people/children, and gave back. That is why number 21 should be retired.
Q: If 21 were retired, what would that mean to the Latino sports community?
A: It will be a victory for the entire Latin American community everywhere. It will be something that we believed in, working side by side by side to get. That team effort and caring is what has made Latino Sports a success.
For more information about Latino Sports, visit www.latinosports.com. –
During the Golden Years of The Three Teams, there was also THE NEW YORK CUBANS!
Ismael Nunez
Homeless on the Island of Enchantment
Joseph Calcolli
From 1947 to 1957, a baseball team from New York City would win the World Series. The three teams present in New York City were the New York Yankees, New York Giants, and Brooklyn Dodgers. Some of the greatest players came out of this decade. The Yankees would win five World Series Titles from 1949 to 1953, and would again win World Series titles in 1956 and 1958. The Dodgers would win their only title in 1955, while the Giants would win two in 1954 and 1957 before both teams were to move to California. Yet there remains one question: “Does anybody remember the New York Cubans??”
Yes, the New York Cubans, who won the Negro League Championship in 1947. That same year the Yankees won the first of five World Series in a row, yet no one talks about the NY Cubans. Why, because they were a Negro League team and had players who were just as good as the Major Leagues Players back then? Here are some of the players who played on this team; the average baseball fan today most likely has never heard of them, but in the hearts and minds of the Latin Community, they still exist.
Among them stands Martin Dihigo, considered by many to be the greatest ball player who ever played in the Negro Leagues. Dihigo is the only ballplayer elected to four baseball Hall of Fames; in the U.S.A, Mexico, Cuba and Venezuela. Long before Pete Rose became an All-Star in five different positions, Dihigo had done the same. He was called “El Maestro (The Teacher, or The Master). As a pitcher he won 256 games, with a winning percentage of 653. With a bat he had a life-time batting average .303. Satchel Paige, the greatest pitcher in the Negro Leagues said this when he was inducted to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1971: “I’m not the best, Martin Dihigo is! Dihigo was elected to the fame in 1977.
Tetela Vargas (Dominican Republic,) considered by many to be the “Father of Dominican Baseball.” Long before fellow countryman Juan Marichal (elected to Hall of Fame in 1987), Manny Ramirez or Vladimir Guerrero, there was Vargas. He was known as the “Dominican Deer”! He excelled in defense, was a consistent hitter, good speed, base stealer. When you see Ramirez’s power, Guerrero’s arm, you will see Vargas in sprit!
Other outstanding players included Pedro Anibal “Perucho” Cepeda (Puerto Rico) who played shortstop. He was the father of Baseball Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda. He was on the Cubans roster in 1941. An outstanding fielder and hitter, he finished with a .325 batting average. When you see Derek Jeter (NY Yankees), Miguel Tejada (Baltimore Orioles) or Alex Rodriguez when he played shortstop for the Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers; representing the new prototype of power-hitting shortstops and hitting those long balls, that was Cepeda. Talk about the great hitting shortstops Honus Wagner, Ernie Banks; who knows how many records he would’ve made!
Still others included Luis Tiant, father of Cleveland and Boston All-Star pitching great Luis “El Tiante” Tiant , and Saturnino Orestes Armas “Minnie” Minoso, who would set an MLB record for appearing in games, mostly with Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox, over five decades (and even attempted a sixth!)
Could this team compete with the “Golden Teams 1947 to 1957? HELL YEAH! I’ll bet all those other New York teams would’ve met their match!
For more information about the New York Cubans and the Negro Leagues, visit the following links:
http://www.nlbpa.com/new_york_cubans.html - Negro League Baseball Players Association
http://www.answers.com/topic/new-york-cubans
http://www.coe.ksu.edu/nlbemuseum/history/teams/nycubans.html - Negro League baseball Museum – eMuseum
Yes, the New York Cubans, who won the Negro League Championship in 1947. That same year the Yankees won the first of five World Series in a row, yet no one talks about the NY Cubans. Why, because they were a Negro League team and had players who were just as good as the Major Leagues Players back then? Here are some of the players who played on this team; the average baseball fan today most likely has never heard of them, but in the hearts and minds of the Latin Community, they still exist.
Among them stands Martin Dihigo, considered by many to be the greatest ball player who ever played in the Negro Leagues. Dihigo is the only ballplayer elected to four baseball Hall of Fames; in the U.S.A, Mexico, Cuba and Venezuela. Long before Pete Rose became an All-Star in five different positions, Dihigo had done the same. He was called “El Maestro (The Teacher, or The Master). As a pitcher he won 256 games, with a winning percentage of 653. With a bat he had a life-time batting average .303. Satchel Paige, the greatest pitcher in the Negro Leagues said this when he was inducted to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1971: “I’m not the best, Martin Dihigo is! Dihigo was elected to the fame in 1977.
Tetela Vargas (Dominican Republic,) considered by many to be the “Father of Dominican Baseball.” Long before fellow countryman Juan Marichal (elected to Hall of Fame in 1987), Manny Ramirez or Vladimir Guerrero, there was Vargas. He was known as the “Dominican Deer”! He excelled in defense, was a consistent hitter, good speed, base stealer. When you see Ramirez’s power, Guerrero’s arm, you will see Vargas in sprit!
Other outstanding players included Pedro Anibal “Perucho” Cepeda (Puerto Rico) who played shortstop. He was the father of Baseball Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda. He was on the Cubans roster in 1941. An outstanding fielder and hitter, he finished with a .325 batting average. When you see Derek Jeter (NY Yankees), Miguel Tejada (Baltimore Orioles) or Alex Rodriguez when he played shortstop for the Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers; representing the new prototype of power-hitting shortstops and hitting those long balls, that was Cepeda. Talk about the great hitting shortstops Honus Wagner, Ernie Banks; who knows how many records he would’ve made!
Still others included Luis Tiant, father of Cleveland and Boston All-Star pitching great Luis “El Tiante” Tiant , and Saturnino Orestes Armas “Minnie” Minoso, who would set an MLB record for appearing in games, mostly with Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox, over five decades (and even attempted a sixth!)
Could this team compete with the “Golden Teams 1947 to 1957? HELL YEAH! I’ll bet all those other New York teams would’ve met their match!
For more information about the New York Cubans and the Negro Leagues, visit the following links:
http://www.nlbpa.com/new_york_cubans.html - Negro League Baseball Players Association
http://www.answers.com/topic/new-york-cubans
http://www.coe.ksu.edu/nlbemuseum/history/teams/nycubans.html - Negro League baseball Museum – eMuseum
San Juan, Puerto Rico - Concierge.com
You can see them every day; they are hungry and dirty as they walk around the streets looking for money. They want liquor, drugs and food. This is a story about the homeless in OSJ.
There are volunteer community action groups, that feed the homeless, treat them with dignity and talk with them as people, indeed as fellow human beings.This story is not about what the government, both municipal and state, are doing or not doing. This is a story about what private citizens are doing in their personal capacity to alleviate the pain of a growing sector of our society.
Old San Juan a city of restaurants bars and historical land marks. The port o call of cruise ships carrying 1000s of fun seeking tourist. Hidden in the shadows of this metropolis are hundreds of men and women who are either homeless or living in substandard housing. They are of all ages and of varied backgrounds. Each one has a different story about how he/she came to be where they are today. What they all have in common is the fact that they are suffering. Suffering made worse by the collapse of an economy, which at its best does little for them.
The Presbyterian Church on Calle Fortaliza is a land mark in itself. Built hundreds of years ago, it is still owned by The Presbyterian Church. Here in the shadow of La Fortaliza, Carlos Sanchez works with a group of homeless men and women. The Presbyterian Church donates the rear rooms of this building. This includes meeting rooms and shower facilities. His group called “Puente De Amor”, has since 2005 ministered to the basic needs of people no one else wants.
Sanchez says “Our basic goal is to motive people to break the cycle of dependency”. To this end using his own money and some donations “Puente de Amor” meets with 40 to 75 men and women every Monday and Thursday nights.
He offers a light snack of sandwiches, and a chance for a shave and shower. Everyone is given a bible and a chance to discuss it with Sanchez and his small group of volunteers.Finally, he is available to refer people to one of two programs for alcohol or drug abuse.
On a recent visit to the church I observed a group of street people sitting in a circle having a spirited conversation concerning the biblical theme of the day.
Sanchez says “It’s not just about food. We are trying to reach these people with a message of Love and give them a chance to take back control of there lives”
Another program established 6 years ago is cooperation between The Union Churches and San Ignacio Church. These groups alternate Mondays at 7 o’clock when they prepare a full hot dinner, which they transport to Ballaja in Old San Juan and serve to up to 75 people a night. On a recent Monday night, I observed men and women speaking English as well as Spanish as they waited in line to be served..
Any stereo types of who are the homeless does not apply. The only thing they all have in common is that they were hungry. John Alberts who was helping to serve dinner that night, told me. “We all want to do more but we are limited by funds. We can temporally relieve some suffering but we haven’t addressed the overall problem of motivating these people to pull their lives together and rejoin society”.
In 2001 Former President Bush announced that the federal Government will help fund, faith based initiatives. To this end “Christian Caribbean Initiative” is there to help faith based programs get funding. They are a non profit group who voluntarily help fill out the forms necessary for these groups to qualify.
Joe Ramos director of this group say that his aim is to inform other groups what is available and what has to be done to qualify to get funding. Ramos says “We go beyond just filling out forms. We try to coordinate and educate faith based groups. We give them support and capacitation training to get the help they need to do the work they do.” Ramos went on to say that he is available to work throughout the island.
During the course of doing the research for this article I had the pleasure of meeting many extraordinary people, both among those who are homeless and also among those who were called to help. What I saw was “people helping people.” Much still has to be done. The patchwork quilt of help needs to be coordinated to avoid duplication and better focus the efforts of these fine people. The problems of addiction and homelessness will never “go away”.
But it can be alleviated.
The means exist for everyone to help do something positive.
There are volunteer community action groups, that feed the homeless, treat them with dignity and talk with them as people, indeed as fellow human beings.This story is not about what the government, both municipal and state, are doing or not doing. This is a story about what private citizens are doing in their personal capacity to alleviate the pain of a growing sector of our society.
Old San Juan a city of restaurants bars and historical land marks. The port o call of cruise ships carrying 1000s of fun seeking tourist. Hidden in the shadows of this metropolis are hundreds of men and women who are either homeless or living in substandard housing. They are of all ages and of varied backgrounds. Each one has a different story about how he/she came to be where they are today. What they all have in common is the fact that they are suffering. Suffering made worse by the collapse of an economy, which at its best does little for them.
The Presbyterian Church on Calle Fortaliza is a land mark in itself. Built hundreds of years ago, it is still owned by The Presbyterian Church. Here in the shadow of La Fortaliza, Carlos Sanchez works with a group of homeless men and women. The Presbyterian Church donates the rear rooms of this building. This includes meeting rooms and shower facilities. His group called “Puente De Amor”, has since 2005 ministered to the basic needs of people no one else wants.
Sanchez says “Our basic goal is to motive people to break the cycle of dependency”. To this end using his own money and some donations “Puente de Amor” meets with 40 to 75 men and women every Monday and Thursday nights.
He offers a light snack of sandwiches, and a chance for a shave and shower. Everyone is given a bible and a chance to discuss it with Sanchez and his small group of volunteers.Finally, he is available to refer people to one of two programs for alcohol or drug abuse.
On a recent visit to the church I observed a group of street people sitting in a circle having a spirited conversation concerning the biblical theme of the day.
Sanchez says “It’s not just about food. We are trying to reach these people with a message of Love and give them a chance to take back control of there lives”
Another program established 6 years ago is cooperation between The Union Churches and San Ignacio Church. These groups alternate Mondays at 7 o’clock when they prepare a full hot dinner, which they transport to Ballaja in Old San Juan and serve to up to 75 people a night. On a recent Monday night, I observed men and women speaking English as well as Spanish as they waited in line to be served..
Any stereo types of who are the homeless does not apply. The only thing they all have in common is that they were hungry. John Alberts who was helping to serve dinner that night, told me. “We all want to do more but we are limited by funds. We can temporally relieve some suffering but we haven’t addressed the overall problem of motivating these people to pull their lives together and rejoin society”.
In 2001 Former President Bush announced that the federal Government will help fund, faith based initiatives. To this end “Christian Caribbean Initiative” is there to help faith based programs get funding. They are a non profit group who voluntarily help fill out the forms necessary for these groups to qualify.
Joe Ramos director of this group say that his aim is to inform other groups what is available and what has to be done to qualify to get funding. Ramos says “We go beyond just filling out forms. We try to coordinate and educate faith based groups. We give them support and capacitation training to get the help they need to do the work they do.” Ramos went on to say that he is available to work throughout the island.
During the course of doing the research for this article I had the pleasure of meeting many extraordinary people, both among those who are homeless and also among those who were called to help. What I saw was “people helping people.” Much still has to be done. The patchwork quilt of help needs to be coordinated to avoid duplication and better focus the efforts of these fine people. The problems of addiction and homelessness will never “go away”.
But it can be alleviated.
The means exist for everyone to help do something positive.
When a Father and Son Decide To Explore South America For The First Time!?
Fiction By Martin Aston (Argentina)
This is a story about a man in his forties and his son, still a teenager, who both took their time off from work and school, respectively, to go and explore the other part of the combination of continents, namely South-America.
This was Winter season in the North America, around last Christmas when they made this decision that was going to lead God knows where, as they did not know yet where they are really going. They know it should be South America, because the father had seen all the other continents before and wanted some novelty in his travels.
They did not have any friends or family members who would have been there before, so it was also a 'missionary position' to be in.
So, they said goodbye to their usual, comfortable lives in order to gain some new experiences and continue discovering the world for themselves, which is always good in order to expand one's horizons and serves as a great addiiton to life experience as well.
Both men departed from their home in Los Angeles on a sunny, yet a little chilly day. They took all sorts of supplies like potato chips, nachos, some burgers etc. for a couple days, like Americans sometimes do (being the consumer society we like comfort in every shape and form).
Airport contained many sorts of different people who were going different directions either for work or holiday (who knows, it was just fun to observe all the different people going about their business). When you are a little bored, like waiting for a flight, you turn to any kind of entertainment you can possibly get there.
The man's name was Chris. He was going to go to South America for the first time. He was really more than a little excited as the prospect of meeting some local people was high on his mind. Especially the women - he was really looking forward to meet some of the latin women down there. His marriage has become a little boring and he needed some fresh experiences!
Eventually the duo decided to visit the country named Argentina, which was a promising prospect, really as it has a rich culture of dancing and music. Chris, being an ex-musician, was really into many kinds of music - both classic and modern, and he loved both playing musical instruments as well as enjoyed listening to all kinds of music. This was a large part of his life - the vibrations that musical instruments make was something he enjoyed a great deal in his life, and it was his whole life when he was a teenager like his son was. Which is one of the reasons he took his son with him. Rather than playing computer games and at best, going to see a football or basketball play, now his beloved son is going to see "some life" and possibly meet some interesting latin girls, as well. His son was shy with girls. It can happen when you are in your teens and it is not an uncommon thing at all. But he must show what a man must be like, he thought to himself as they were climbing into the bus which was going to take them to the airport.
A man must know how to behave around women - be strong, yet be a gentleman he thought to himself. Also stay in control of oneself, which means you will also be able to control the women around you. It has long been known that if you want to control others, you control yourself first.
It was going to be the first inter-continental trip for his son, as well. He has all his life ahead of him to do all the travelling he wants and likes, but this is going to be a nice starting point. Not so far from home either. Americas were a united continent once, after all, so they still will be like home wherever they go on this continent, thought Chris silently to himself.
As the Sun was climbing, they finally hit the airport after an hour or so of contemplation. The son was bored though and was reading some comics book or something like that, Chris observed. He had been working a lot and really did not know his son that well. This was the chance also to get to know each other better as it is going to be several days one-on-one experience with each other. Being distant to one's son is not always a good thing even if you are a hard-working family man who is a proper provider. Father-son connection can be very powerful and also developed quite fast, given chance for both parties involved. Son's name was Robert. Chris also had three other children - two boys and a girl, all younger than Robert, school aged kids.
This is going to be fun - thought Robert in his mind as he was reading his "novel" - a fancy comics book. He loved reading, really. He had been reading about different parts of the world in the books and also on the Internet, which is a good way to explore the world in many ways. Yet, it does not provide "live" experience which is something different. Internet may be live in some ways, but not really. He was excited at the prospect of seeing a little of the larger world that was waiting for him out there. It is to be conquered by him in near future, he thought.
Both men did not really talk to each other as they sat on their ride to the airport and when they finally arrived there, it was a full day already. About 11 AM it was with Sun shining and the sky hanging clear above them. This was going to be a great day!
On the airport they did their formalities and then just observed all the people that were passing by as they were chewing on their hamburgers bought at the local fast-food restaurant. KFC is everywhere these days. Especially at the Los Angeles airport. Try and see for yourself if you are not an American and you will experience the abundance of fast-food locations everywhere in the States.
Well, this is how the trip has started off. Chris was thinking again about how he is going to meet women which really appealed to him since his early days. There are a great deal of them in the States as well, but he was really looking forward to meet some 'latinas'. He was really good with ladies when he was younger and not married and was remembering his days of freedom. The instinct was still there. He loved his power with women and enjoyed every chance at flirting he got really. Having connections with different artists always is helpful when it comes to ladies, as well. Chris loved to be the center of attention. Many times he was, too. Although, this is what many of us love - being attended to and cared about he thought. That is why you should also give your time to others, to create reciprocation. It was a little philosophical line of thought going through his mind. The day had just set off and he was already thinking serious thoughts again!
This was going to be exciting, it has to. Daily life, as exciting Los Angeles may be, is pretty much the same every day. Day in day out you go to your job, care for your family and see the same faces mostly. Even the sunny weather is not enough to keep you happy always.
As both guys glanced at the passing members of the public, they wondered how the people will be different in South America.
The plane arrived shortly or it seemed so at least. Eating is a good passtime indeed!
They have also chosen their location - it was going to be the Argentinian capital - Buenos Aires, which is not exactly an ancient city, but neither most cities in the States are.
It is the second-largest metropolitan area in the South-America, trailing only SaoPaolo, the Brasilian Capital. Being a large trade center from its outset, it enjoyed a vast diversity in the people living there. The city was visited twice by pope John Paul II, due to the Faukland conflict that erupted between Argentina and Britain in the 1980's.
An earlier history says that in the 17th and 18th centuries, Spain was insisting that the trade paths must pass Peru, Lima, so that the taxes can be collected properly and in full. Trades of Bueons Aires were frustrated by this and they developed a system of contraband trade. Portenos also were starting to feel deeper and deeper resentment towards the Spanish authorities because of this reason. Prince Charles III from Spain sensed this well and declared it to be a free port by the late 1700s.
WIth only 12 million people it definitely was not so big as Los Angeles was though, so they are going to get around just fine, Chris thought to himself. You can sense the excitement even from the plane though, as you fly towards such an exotic destination. It's burling with street musicians and latin culture, like Los Angeles is, just to a much larger extent, really.
The son was opening up, too, to the excitement that is going to be experienced there. He was an avid reader but a scarce traveller as of then. So this chance was a God-send to him indeed. He was really thankful to his dad for getting him on the plane to see a bit of other parts of the world even if it was just another part of America, really.
Chris had his guitar with him in his luggage bag. And some other items that are going to be helpful in a week's worth of the trip they are undertaking. The younger man also had some objects of entertainment, as well so they are not going to be bored, even if the outside environment will try to bore them hard. They both had a rich inside world, so this was not a problem - the fun was always to be had with whatever they were doing. They were really similar - father and son - and maybe this was what really set them at distance mostly. As everybody knows - opposites attract and similarities work the other way - they may not always unite.
When they got off the plane, setting foot on a new soil was a good first step to explore the new continent they were seeing. It was an interesting experience and the weather was different - it was more humid and the pressure was higher than in their home city. Large cities have a large appeal, as well. And this was an amazing place to be, thought Robert when they were heading from the airport to the center of this 3-century old city. Not exactly as old as some of the cities in Europe, though it was a great place to visit. This is what could be told from the first impressions. And first impressions really count and are true enough usually as we may know already.
Robert was also excited by some of the women there, his eyes balling one after another - they had scarce apparel so it made it easier to look at them at most times. Without much thinking on his part, he enjoyed the process. He had a girlfriend at home, though, so he is going to remain faithful he thought to himself. What a brave young man! It takes guts to reject these beautiful latinas, I mean. With all the passion in the latin society, it was a big love arena out there. Well, everybody is also familiar with their wide range of TV shows, even from them you can tell alot about these people.
Buenos Aires had a lot of musicians. Music was a good part of Chris life as we have noticed before. So this was also one of the main reasons to go there - to explore and see the local music and culture of this city. Music is a global language, requiring no words really. Words are only supplemental there, the main thing being the good vibrations or vibes that are set off while playing or singing. Chris knew all this and looked forward to meet some people who were local musicians and make some contact with them. This was another goal of this excursion, maybe even the main one. This experience was promising to be exciting, too. As everything involving music is exciting to some people, really. Actually most of the people cannot stay lukewarm when it comes to music. You either hate it or you love it, usually there is no middle grounds.
The city being spread out, with no real center, makes it more unique. Well, maybe this is more common to American cities on the whole, but if you happen to be a European tourist, you may experience a surprise moment about this fact. As cities in Europe have well defined historical centers (well, they are also centuries older usually, at least the larger cities of Europe).
The complex, energetic and seductive city of Buenos Aires has been a pathway to Argentina for centuries already. The modern version has seen some reconstruction and construction of new buildings, but the culture has remained the same essentially. This is what Chris was looking forward to really. Local people, many of them value their original European traditions. There are many colonists from the centuries ago when they arrived and they highly regard their European names. It all creates a well-mixed population that is interesting and unique to this city, not to be found anywhere else on the planet. And the quality of uniqueness is what really is attractive!
Tango being their national dance, tells much as well about their spirit and sense of passion. Tango is being practiced in the many local Tango places and clubs there. Which is how they usually learn this national dancing style. Or they may be born with it - it has traditions dating back into centuries.
Chris along with Robert were walking down the supposed city center. They also passed an area called Tigra - which was a really exciting center of entertainment, containing casinos and a large amusement park, making it a great place for tourists. It already started to seem like a good place to spend vacations and holidays to both guys. And it was going to become better, hopely, too. As there are more areas in the city filled with joy, excitement and rich local culture.
Tango is being practiced everywhere - on the cobblestone, in special arenas, in cabarets - you name it! even if you are not that much into Tango dancing (or watching), you can still enjoy a wide variety of musical styles there. From blues to techno to local rap music - you can pick your own choice wherever you go. Also plethora of street musicians. This all adds up to be a really enjoyable cultural experience. Which is why this city is being visited so abundantly by tourists from around the world every year, during every season.
The local people speak Castillano, which is a form of Spanish spoken by Argentinian peoples.
- to be continued...
This is a story about a man in his forties and his son, still a teenager, who both took their time off from work and school, respectively, to go and explore the other part of the combination of continents, namely South-America.
This was Winter season in the North America, around last Christmas when they made this decision that was going to lead God knows where, as they did not know yet where they are really going. They know it should be South America, because the father had seen all the other continents before and wanted some novelty in his travels.
They did not have any friends or family members who would have been there before, so it was also a 'missionary position' to be in.
So, they said goodbye to their usual, comfortable lives in order to gain some new experiences and continue discovering the world for themselves, which is always good in order to expand one's horizons and serves as a great addiiton to life experience as well.
Both men departed from their home in Los Angeles on a sunny, yet a little chilly day. They took all sorts of supplies like potato chips, nachos, some burgers etc. for a couple days, like Americans sometimes do (being the consumer society we like comfort in every shape and form).
Airport contained many sorts of different people who were going different directions either for work or holiday (who knows, it was just fun to observe all the different people going about their business). When you are a little bored, like waiting for a flight, you turn to any kind of entertainment you can possibly get there.
The man's name was Chris. He was going to go to South America for the first time. He was really more than a little excited as the prospect of meeting some local people was high on his mind. Especially the women - he was really looking forward to meet some of the latin women down there. His marriage has become a little boring and he needed some fresh experiences!
Eventually the duo decided to visit the country named Argentina, which was a promising prospect, really as it has a rich culture of dancing and music. Chris, being an ex-musician, was really into many kinds of music - both classic and modern, and he loved both playing musical instruments as well as enjoyed listening to all kinds of music. This was a large part of his life - the vibrations that musical instruments make was something he enjoyed a great deal in his life, and it was his whole life when he was a teenager like his son was. Which is one of the reasons he took his son with him. Rather than playing computer games and at best, going to see a football or basketball play, now his beloved son is going to see "some life" and possibly meet some interesting latin girls, as well. His son was shy with girls. It can happen when you are in your teens and it is not an uncommon thing at all. But he must show what a man must be like, he thought to himself as they were climbing into the bus which was going to take them to the airport.
A man must know how to behave around women - be strong, yet be a gentleman he thought to himself. Also stay in control of oneself, which means you will also be able to control the women around you. It has long been known that if you want to control others, you control yourself first.
It was going to be the first inter-continental trip for his son, as well. He has all his life ahead of him to do all the travelling he wants and likes, but this is going to be a nice starting point. Not so far from home either. Americas were a united continent once, after all, so they still will be like home wherever they go on this continent, thought Chris silently to himself.
As the Sun was climbing, they finally hit the airport after an hour or so of contemplation. The son was bored though and was reading some comics book or something like that, Chris observed. He had been working a lot and really did not know his son that well. This was the chance also to get to know each other better as it is going to be several days one-on-one experience with each other. Being distant to one's son is not always a good thing even if you are a hard-working family man who is a proper provider. Father-son connection can be very powerful and also developed quite fast, given chance for both parties involved. Son's name was Robert. Chris also had three other children - two boys and a girl, all younger than Robert, school aged kids.
This is going to be fun - thought Robert in his mind as he was reading his "novel" - a fancy comics book. He loved reading, really. He had been reading about different parts of the world in the books and also on the Internet, which is a good way to explore the world in many ways. Yet, it does not provide "live" experience which is something different. Internet may be live in some ways, but not really. He was excited at the prospect of seeing a little of the larger world that was waiting for him out there. It is to be conquered by him in near future, he thought.
Both men did not really talk to each other as they sat on their ride to the airport and when they finally arrived there, it was a full day already. About 11 AM it was with Sun shining and the sky hanging clear above them. This was going to be a great day!
On the airport they did their formalities and then just observed all the people that were passing by as they were chewing on their hamburgers bought at the local fast-food restaurant. KFC is everywhere these days. Especially at the Los Angeles airport. Try and see for yourself if you are not an American and you will experience the abundance of fast-food locations everywhere in the States.
Well, this is how the trip has started off. Chris was thinking again about how he is going to meet women which really appealed to him since his early days. There are a great deal of them in the States as well, but he was really looking forward to meet some 'latinas'. He was really good with ladies when he was younger and not married and was remembering his days of freedom. The instinct was still there. He loved his power with women and enjoyed every chance at flirting he got really. Having connections with different artists always is helpful when it comes to ladies, as well. Chris loved to be the center of attention. Many times he was, too. Although, this is what many of us love - being attended to and cared about he thought. That is why you should also give your time to others, to create reciprocation. It was a little philosophical line of thought going through his mind. The day had just set off and he was already thinking serious thoughts again!
This was going to be exciting, it has to. Daily life, as exciting Los Angeles may be, is pretty much the same every day. Day in day out you go to your job, care for your family and see the same faces mostly. Even the sunny weather is not enough to keep you happy always.
As both guys glanced at the passing members of the public, they wondered how the people will be different in South America.
The plane arrived shortly or it seemed so at least. Eating is a good passtime indeed!
They have also chosen their location - it was going to be the Argentinian capital - Buenos Aires, which is not exactly an ancient city, but neither most cities in the States are.
It is the second-largest metropolitan area in the South-America, trailing only SaoPaolo, the Brasilian Capital. Being a large trade center from its outset, it enjoyed a vast diversity in the people living there. The city was visited twice by pope John Paul II, due to the Faukland conflict that erupted between Argentina and Britain in the 1980's.
An earlier history says that in the 17th and 18th centuries, Spain was insisting that the trade paths must pass Peru, Lima, so that the taxes can be collected properly and in full. Trades of Bueons Aires were frustrated by this and they developed a system of contraband trade. Portenos also were starting to feel deeper and deeper resentment towards the Spanish authorities because of this reason. Prince Charles III from Spain sensed this well and declared it to be a free port by the late 1700s.
WIth only 12 million people it definitely was not so big as Los Angeles was though, so they are going to get around just fine, Chris thought to himself. You can sense the excitement even from the plane though, as you fly towards such an exotic destination. It's burling with street musicians and latin culture, like Los Angeles is, just to a much larger extent, really.
The son was opening up, too, to the excitement that is going to be experienced there. He was an avid reader but a scarce traveller as of then. So this chance was a God-send to him indeed. He was really thankful to his dad for getting him on the plane to see a bit of other parts of the world even if it was just another part of America, really.
Chris had his guitar with him in his luggage bag. And some other items that are going to be helpful in a week's worth of the trip they are undertaking. The younger man also had some objects of entertainment, as well so they are not going to be bored, even if the outside environment will try to bore them hard. They both had a rich inside world, so this was not a problem - the fun was always to be had with whatever they were doing. They were really similar - father and son - and maybe this was what really set them at distance mostly. As everybody knows - opposites attract and similarities work the other way - they may not always unite.
When they got off the plane, setting foot on a new soil was a good first step to explore the new continent they were seeing. It was an interesting experience and the weather was different - it was more humid and the pressure was higher than in their home city. Large cities have a large appeal, as well. And this was an amazing place to be, thought Robert when they were heading from the airport to the center of this 3-century old city. Not exactly as old as some of the cities in Europe, though it was a great place to visit. This is what could be told from the first impressions. And first impressions really count and are true enough usually as we may know already.
Robert was also excited by some of the women there, his eyes balling one after another - they had scarce apparel so it made it easier to look at them at most times. Without much thinking on his part, he enjoyed the process. He had a girlfriend at home, though, so he is going to remain faithful he thought to himself. What a brave young man! It takes guts to reject these beautiful latinas, I mean. With all the passion in the latin society, it was a big love arena out there. Well, everybody is also familiar with their wide range of TV shows, even from them you can tell alot about these people.
Buenos Aires had a lot of musicians. Music was a good part of Chris life as we have noticed before. So this was also one of the main reasons to go there - to explore and see the local music and culture of this city. Music is a global language, requiring no words really. Words are only supplemental there, the main thing being the good vibrations or vibes that are set off while playing or singing. Chris knew all this and looked forward to meet some people who were local musicians and make some contact with them. This was another goal of this excursion, maybe even the main one. This experience was promising to be exciting, too. As everything involving music is exciting to some people, really. Actually most of the people cannot stay lukewarm when it comes to music. You either hate it or you love it, usually there is no middle grounds.
The city being spread out, with no real center, makes it more unique. Well, maybe this is more common to American cities on the whole, but if you happen to be a European tourist, you may experience a surprise moment about this fact. As cities in Europe have well defined historical centers (well, they are also centuries older usually, at least the larger cities of Europe).
The complex, energetic and seductive city of Buenos Aires has been a pathway to Argentina for centuries already. The modern version has seen some reconstruction and construction of new buildings, but the culture has remained the same essentially. This is what Chris was looking forward to really. Local people, many of them value their original European traditions. There are many colonists from the centuries ago when they arrived and they highly regard their European names. It all creates a well-mixed population that is interesting and unique to this city, not to be found anywhere else on the planet. And the quality of uniqueness is what really is attractive!
Tango being their national dance, tells much as well about their spirit and sense of passion. Tango is being practiced in the many local Tango places and clubs there. Which is how they usually learn this national dancing style. Or they may be born with it - it has traditions dating back into centuries.
Chris along with Robert were walking down the supposed city center. They also passed an area called Tigra - which was a really exciting center of entertainment, containing casinos and a large amusement park, making it a great place for tourists. It already started to seem like a good place to spend vacations and holidays to both guys. And it was going to become better, hopely, too. As there are more areas in the city filled with joy, excitement and rich local culture.
Tango is being practiced everywhere - on the cobblestone, in special arenas, in cabarets - you name it! even if you are not that much into Tango dancing (or watching), you can still enjoy a wide variety of musical styles there. From blues to techno to local rap music - you can pick your own choice wherever you go. Also plethora of street musicians. This all adds up to be a really enjoyable cultural experience. Which is why this city is being visited so abundantly by tourists from around the world every year, during every season.
The local people speak Castillano, which is a form of Spanish spoken by Argentinian peoples.
- to be continued...
UNITED STATES
Capital - Washington DC
Language - English
Population - 290,342,554
Language - English
Population - 290,342,554
