I saw him at a small, cozy restaurant/shop. He kept smiling at me. It was easy to smile back. A simple face, young but complete with wisdom. He must be 10-11 but there was a grace in his eyes that was beyond his years. The family got up to leave the restaurant and I knew I had to run after him to capture that smile. That is the best thing about being a tourist, you are not ashamed to ask, to click a photo, to sound ridiculous.....for it is all about the moment--and you may never be at the same place again!!. M confirmed what I must say to not behave like a rude, uncaring tourist. ¿Puedo tomar una foto por favor? May I take a photo please? The family agreed. He continued with his smile. His father teased him for receiving attention. I was so grateful to the boy, to the family, and the little curious, silly child in me who took the courage to run after them to ask for a photo.
This little boy was in his mother's arms quietly watching the potential buyers fiddle with the goods on the table. While I was only partially interested in buying things, I was very interested in getting the boy smile. After a few minutes.....this is what I got!!
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| Plaza Bolivar, Bogota, Columbia. While many adults would be afraid of so many birds around them (including Hitchcock) this little one was not only comfortable in the middle of several pecking pigeons but also gracefully posed for these pictures---looking straight into the camera!! |
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| It was a rainy day. I noticed these young women from afar. They were not with any tourist agency but were promoting a bank, if I remember correctly. No one could ignore their colorful outfits, and festive hairdos. |
I stepped ahead and requested them to face the camera. The picture looked dull in comparison to what the outfits seemed to the naked eye. Colorful and flowing.
M suggested they hold up their skirts to show the flare, the frill and the flow of the dress. Yup, then the picture was flowing!! Even the smiles of the young ladies got wider!!
We were at a camera shop. One of the ladies wanted to buy a camera. Right outside the camera shop was this street vendor. Selling -----(will have to check the name again). Dulce la leche (almost like sweetened condensed milk, only caramalised) sandwiched in two thin tortilla sized wafers. It was sweeter than cream cookies, and softer than cookies. Absolutely delicious. M bought one for us. I ate most of it. She laughed that everyone else kept declining her offer to take a bite. But every time she turned to me, I dug right in. The street vendor, who you can see here, asked me where I was from. When I told him, he thumped left side of chest with a closed fist and said 'me gusta, me gusta' I like. I like.
Then, he took out a pencil, regular HB, painted yellow, half sharpened, and handed me that. He continued in spanish. I understood the word 'regala', meaning gift. I was apprehensive. As I am often, even though I love talking to people. I asked M to translate. When she did, I was humbled, touched, and pleasantly surprised. He had said, "This pencil is a gift from me to you. Please accept this. Take it to your country and use it, and think of me." I bowed in humility. I wished I had something to give to him. The day I left I told M to give him two chocolates in my name. But you know these street vendors never stay in the same place for long. They just go around selling things for cheap and sharing simple wisdom for free. In every country that I have been to, there is a character to street vendors, they see, they notice, they know. While they are also trying to cheat and are looking to make an easy buck, many of them know that they will never be rich, have accepted that and so take life as it comes.
This one though, really touched me. My interaction with him was for less than 5 minutes. I will keep the pencil that he gave me for a very long time before I use it. I hope to share that story with many, so that I can relive it, and remind myself of how much love there is in this world. By the way, the cost of that wafer that we bought from him? 50 US cents!! But what he sold us was sweetness that is priceless!!
M with Dora and Sponge Bob at the conference!!!
This was the first shop we visited at the market. And with my liking for kids, the little boy was the first thing I noticed. 'Como te llama?" What's your name? I showed off my 50 word spanish vocabulary. Cuantos anos tienes? How old are you? 6 years, he said with pride. He was doing his homework while his mom was taking care of his younger sibling and managing customers and onlookers at the same time. How many children in the world grow up in such circumstances. Still happy, still well adjusted, but do they show up in movies? news? or even literature? and how often?
Another one of those kids, who will grow up around a little market of home-baked pots and pans. This one was a grandchild, accompanying grandma at a sunday market by the roadside.
M with a fresh fried snack!!
I met these 'sisters' at the airport. Although all of them were from S. America, they were all came from different countries. A beautiful, gregarious bunch of women of different ages. My elementary spanish came in handy. I asked them if they were content with their lifestyle? The oldest one, said in spanish 'Its been 41 years, I must be content.'. They were all wearing their wedding rings. Married to Jesus Christ. The oldest one also talked about Vishnu and Shiva. They all left their email addresses with me. I intend to write, although have not have the time yet to do so. It was certainly the highlight of that day for me. The happiest of all was the one on the extreme left. I will admit, parts of our happy conversation reminded me of Sister Act!!
At the airport, I requested these air hostesses for a picture. They obliged me. Their red looked so regal!!
