Sunday, August 31, 2008
Estivating
Estivating is the scientific term for hibernating in the summertime. In Latin, 'hiber' meant winter (like 'hiver' in French) and 'estivus' meant summer (like 'été in French). In fact, the Romans named the Ireland, the Emerald Isle, 'Hibernia,' or land of winter, hence the Irish organization Hibernian Society. At left, an estivating moth.All this to say I am laying low and sleep to shake this seemingly endless mutating congestion/cold. I am taking care of myself, just chillaxing. I'll probably see a movie later today, and visit David's new digs up in Spanish Harlem tomorrow...
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Saturday, August 30, 2008
Tell Someone
The first movie I saw since returning, the French thriller 'Tell Noone,' was terrific, a mystery/thriller that keeps you brain plenty busy, this is the kind of film I like. Uniquely French, as tightly paced as Hollywood, but not at all predictable or manipulative.
'To Tell Something' here would be 'To Tell Too Much', so I'll just 'Tell You To See It...'
My brain is oatmeal and my head is congested. I'm way too beat to write a full-length film review with five parameters... after an intense re-entry week at work and doing things with Mom while she was here... I need to shake this recurring cold for good. Today I got a massage and facial at Nickel - now, off to the gym, then, an early night of sleep.
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Friday, August 29, 2008
Under The Bright Mayan Sun
From Copan Ruins, in Honduras... When I'm all recovered, in a week or so, I'll walk you all, photographically, through my very interesting Central American vacation..
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Thursday, August 28, 2008
Arf
Re-entry week is never easy, even in the quiet final days of August. I'm still trying to shake a cold, get up to speed at work, and spend quality time with Mom while she's here.
Here in Central America, even dog food is purchased in bulk at the city's main marketplace...
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Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
In No Time
But is 'no time', 'in time'? The Riddler once asked this of Batman. Between work re-entry and showing my Mom the town blogging time has been scarce of late. Rest assured that many fine photos and anecdotes lay ahead... in no time! At left, even McDonald's has to conform to the 18th century architectural requirements of Antigua, Guatemala...Cartoons du Jour:
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Monday, August 25, 2008
Luckily, Lykke
I'll be brief with today's Song/Video of the week, the intriguing 'I'm Good, I'm Gone' by Swedish indie singer-songwriter Lykke Li (pictured left). It's a great, catchy, left-field gem, in one breath innovative and elementary. Her odd voice is very endearing, a mix of smart and child-like.Born Li Lykke Timotej Zachrisson in March 1986 into an artistic family, she grew up not only Sweden but also Portugal, Morocco, and India. 'I'm Good, I'm Gone' is the debut single from her first album.
I'm back from Central America, and had a nice weekend with Mom including 'South Pacific' and a party in her honor, and bedtime is nigh.
It's nice to be back. Will post more as I get caught up with normal life after an extended vacation....
Here's the neat video for 'I'm Good, I'm Gone:'
Cartoons du Jour:
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Sunday, August 24, 2008
Eye Prepare
My first weekend home, and I'm organizing a small get together for my Mom so she can meet some of my friends. More on that later. Here's a serene Buddha spotted in a Granada, Nicaragua restaurant.
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Saturday, August 23, 2008
Friday, August 22, 2008
Volcano Trail - Day 17 and Final!Antigua, Guatemala
"Modern Antigua is a peaceful, partially restored colonial city that is a pleasure to explore. Enjoy the beautiful architecture of this UNESCO-designated, World Heritage Site. Take a mountain bike ride out into the countryside or explore the fascinating markets, shops and museums within the city. Walk through quiet cobblestone streets past rebuilt stucco homes with heavy, beautifully carved wooden entrances. "
Cartoons du Jour:
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Thursday, August 21, 2008
Home-made Aaron video after cartoons...
Volcano Trail Day 16The Road to Antigua, Guatemala
"Depart Copán early in the morning, for a long travel day to Antigua. Arrive in the evening.
Once the third largest city in all of Spanish America, Antigua served as Guatemala's capital city for more than 200 years until it was destroyed by an earthquake in 1773. "
Cartoons du Jour:
Buenos Aires taxi ride... Side window view... This gives you a nice feel of what it's like to be there...
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Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Just arrived in very rainy Copan - flooded would be more accurate. In sunlight, this would be a beautiful old town, but it's currently a drainage problem and splash-fest. Scuba diving yesterday was a much better way to get wet - it was fascinating if kind of scary - so much equipment and breathing through an oxygen tank. I felt like an astronaut. But I stood on the ocean floor, 20 feet below the surface, next to a coral reef, as fish swam around me....
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Home-made Aaron video after cartoons...
Volcano Trail Day 15Copán, Honduras
"The Copán ruins in Honduras are fascinating, beautiful and unique among Mayan cities. Visitors walk through grassy plazas filled with intricately carved and decorated monuments, statues and staircases. Huge carved faces stare at you from ancient walls and bring the place to life, causing renewed wonder at the mysterious disappearance of such a creative civilization. "
Cartoons du Jour:
View from a Mexico City conference room, April 2008...
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Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Home-made Aaron video after cartoons...
Volcano Trail Day 14Utila, The Bay Islands, Honduras
"Utila has a small community atmosphere. Crystal blue waters invite swimming, diving, and snorkeling. Utila is surrounded by over 100km (62 miles) of living, protected reef that is home to thousands of species of fantastically coloured fish and marine life."
Cartoons du Jour:
Colombia: Oil processing facilities are compellingly un-pretty..
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Monday, August 18, 2008
I Came, I Saw, I Snorkeled
The island Utila is and isn't Honduras - the locals are more English-speaking Afro-Caribbeans, though many poor Latin Hondurians come here for work. It's a paradise for foreigners and water sports. With Belize, these islands form the world's second largest coral reef, you know.My best decision to date on this vacation was to go snorkeling, for the very first time, in spite of a terrible night's sleep. It was just what the doctor ordered! I learned very fast, after a frenetic first few minutes Snorkeling was even cooler than I imagined, you're just swimming all around these giant coral reefs amidst a colorful array of fish, (didn't risk my camera underwater, but this Google image is very accurate) staring down 50 feet at the ocean floor. I found it really easy. Sooooooooo...................
Tomorrow I'm doing 'baby diving' - just wetting my feet in it accompanied - lessons and one actual dive. if not now, when, I ask you?
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Song/Video of the Week below, but first, a birthday greeting and a vacation update...
Happy Birthday, Karen!
A big Happy Birthday Hug to my friend Karen, from thousands of miles away in Central America. Have a great one! Karen and her partner Donna really brighten up my day...
Here we are on video, brunching at East of Eighth..
Volcano Trail Day 13Utila, The Bay Islands, Honduras
"Once the home of British pirates, a unique culture developed here when the British moved a population of slaves from the Caribbean island of San Vincent to nearby Roatan in 1795. From this seed grew a large Garifuna culture that spread through northern Honduras and into Guatemala. One finds English, Garifuna and Spanish spoken here with descendants of all three cultures populating the island."
Stars Live In The Evening..
... but the very young, need the sun, uh-huh... Old Blondie lyrics for you.. I'm still on vacation, but SOTW continues today with Stars, the award-winning six-member Canadian indie-pop band that my friend Emerson, while visiting me from Brazil, actually met backstage, after making a pilgrimage out to Hackensack NJ to see them. That was a run on sentence. : - ) Today's SOTW is their recent single, 'Take Me To The Riot,' which is much prettier and mellower than its title.
Stars have been described as 'characterized by lush instrumentation, nimble production and mixing, narrative lyrics, and soft but nuanced vocals.' I got that from Wikipedia so it just can't be wrong, can it now?
At left, the latter-day-impressionist cover art from their lovely recent album, 'In Our Bedroom After The War.'
Video clip for 'Take Me To The Riot'
Live clip of 'The Ghost of Genova Heights'
Cartoon du Jour:
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Sunday, August 17, 2008
Home-made Aaron video after cartoons..
Volcano Trail Day 12Utila, The Bay Islands, Honduras
After another full day of travel through the hills of Honduras, we arrive at the coast and ferry across to Utila. A scuba diving haven amidst what is part of the second largest barrier reef in the world, Utila is a Caribbean-style island more kicked back than its larger neighbor, Roatan.
Cartoons du Jour:
Too good for my camera : - ) (Hi, Dan!)
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Saturday, August 16, 2008
Tegucigalpa, capital of Honduras, is gritty and not crime-free but I hesitate to call it a ´dump.´ It has rolling, steep green mountains on all sides, and sprawls like a mini-Los Angeles. I was very happy to hear that we are leaving this hotel tomorrow at 8am, NOT 1am. I see.... a great night of sleep....
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We´re hitting the road, after three lovely days in colonial Granada, Nicaragua. It´s two long days of travel to reach the Utila Bay islands in Northern Honduras. Tonight we camp out in lockdown in Tegucigalpa, which even the more culturally sensitive tour guides refer to as a ´dump.´
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Happy Birthday, Emerson!
It's fitting that I'm away traveling on Emerson's birthday, since Emerson, aside from being warm, funny, charming, and sweet, is the most accomplished world traveler of my acquaintance...
Volcano Trail Day 11Tegucigalpa, Honduras
When I was 14 my family hosted an exchange student from here, Lisandro Suarez. I wonder what became of him...
"Explore the beautiful colonial buildings located in the historical centre of Honduras' capital city, Tegucigalpa. Marvel at the massive cathedral in the centre, decorated with gold and silver. Learn about the city's past as an important silver mining centre."
Cartoon du Jour:
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Friday, August 15, 2008
Home-made Aaron video after cartoons...
Volcano Trail Day 10Granada, Nicaragua
"For a relaxing afternoon, you can spend a couple of hours in a boat touring some of the 350+ ¨Isletas¨ or little islands by found nearby Granada in Lake Nicaragua. Other optional activities include visiting the nearby extinct volcano Mombacho, now shrouded in vegetation, or Masaya Volcano National Park, which is home to an active volcano."
Cartoons du Jour:
Drilling for oil in Colombia - an action film...
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Thursday, August 14, 2008
Home-made Aaron video after cartoons...
Volcano Trail Day 9Granada, Nicaragua
"Granada is Nicaragua’s third largest and oldest city and retains its traditional Spanish colonial character. It´s sometimes called ¨The Great Sultana¨ because of it´s beautiful colonial architecture. In the warm evenings you can usually find friendly neighbors visiting and chatting with each other from rocking chairs in the open front room of their homes. "
Cartoons du Jour:
Up In Hamilton Heights with Fernando - Crossing Busy Street, Passing Gospel Singer....
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Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Much more sun and health today, both good things to have on a vacation. Nicaragua is a fascinating, colorful place, and we had a memorable public bus ride with a parade of vendors walking on and off to hawk their wares, mostly food... Now we´re in charming old Grenada, cobblestone streets and ye olde pastel-hued homes. three nights here - rest and relaxation...
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Home-made Aaron video after cartoons...
Volcano Trail Day 8
Granada, Nicaragua
Granada's colonial charm is complemented by the surrounding active volcanoes and lakes. Take easy day trips and hikes, a cruise on the lake or explore the city's markets and museums.
Cartoons du Jour:
Riding to a Colombian Oil-Field - View Out The Window
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Volcano Trail Day 8Granada, Nicaragua
Granada's colonial charm is complemented by the surrounding active volcanoes and lakes. Take easy day trips and hikes, a cruise on the lake or explore the city's markets and museums.
Cartoons du Jour:
Riding to a Colombian Oil-Field - View Out The Window
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Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Nicaragua, Mon Amour
Well 11 hours of sleep brought me back to life though still trying to shake stubborn cold. This tropical hideaway on Lake Nicaragua isn´t a bad place to relax, though it would be nicer without the rain. Giant parrot-like birds walk on the tables.
Nicaragua is much poorer than Costa Rica, and this was apparent at the border, where Costa Rica border staff are on-line while Nicaraguan border staff sit on benches in the dust. They do charge $8 to enter Nicaragua, and it must be paid in two different places. The whole crossing was quite cumbersome..
Our ferry arrived on Ometepe Island and just missed the bus so we rented a private van and tried to squeeze 15 of us in a vehicle meant for 9. I sat on the floor, and got a two-year old´s view, peaking up out the window at banana leaves...
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Home-made Aaron video after cartoons:
Volcano Trail Day 7Ometepe, Nicaragua
Take an optional hike up Concepción Volcano or just enjoy the beach and jungle swimming holes.
Cartoons du Jour:
Visit to a local grade school built by the oil company...
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