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Mi Nombre Es Rick… Richard… Ricardo

Sunday, April 22nd, 2007

There is one experience that has been consistent in Latin America for me. When I am asked my name, I usually say “Rick” in plain English. I get a funny look. They do not understand. First, the “i” said in English manner does not exist in Spanish. Second, they do not get the shortened name of “Rick”. I refuse to say it in Spanish manner “Reek” for obvious reasons and they still would not understand this shortened version.

So, then I say “Richard” and they go “ah, Richard”. It is a name even said in English that they understand a little. They may say “Reechard”, but they get it enough for us to carry on. But I don`t leave it at that and I say “Ricardo” (well, actually, “Reecardo”) and their eyes light up, a smile appears on their face and they say “AHHHHH, REECARDO!” This scenario is played out close to 100% of the time over the last six months in every country visited. I have fun with it because it is so predictable, it is a fairly touching exercise in bridging two cultures and it only results in smiles by both parties.

Don´t Stand, Sit or Camp Under the Coconut Tree

Thursday, January 18th, 2007

Over Christmas week I did a kayak trip with Explorer´s Corner of Berkeley to the San Blas Archipelago in Panama. It seems like a lifetime ago (Bacu and modern Panama City and Colombia have made it more dreamlike than real) that I visited paradise. The archipelago is part of Kuna Yala – an autonomous district of Panama´s Caribbean coast populated soley with the Kuna indigenous people. Kuna Yala contains 350+ small, coconut-covered sand islands as well as a swath of the mainland. About 50,000 Kunas live there.

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Let’s Get Wild

Friday, December 22nd, 2006
I went to Tikal, Guatemala after Lake Atitlan and had a fantastic couple of days exploring the Mayan ruins and surrounding jungle.  I flew from Guatemala City to Flores early one morning and did the return ... [Continue reading this entry]

Short-Changing La Antigua

Friday, December 22nd, 2006
I never got to write about La Antigua Guatemala.  Quickly, it is a very nice colonial city which used to be the capitol of Guatemala before being moved to Guatemala City maybe twenty-five kilometers away.  I ... [Continue reading this entry]

Mexico City

Friday, December 15th, 2006
I get the feeling that no matter how hard I try not to have preconceptions about places, I will still carry them in and they will all be thrown out soon after arriving.  I went into Mexico ... [Continue reading this entry]

How Lucky Are We!

Friday, December 8th, 2006
It just hit me today on my perfect travel from Mexico City to Antigua (via 20-30 minute taxi and a 1 hour, 40 minute flight on Taca Airline (Great!) and a 1 hour, 30 minute shuttle van ride which should have ... [Continue reading this entry]

What Goes Up Often Comes Down

Wednesday, December 6th, 2006
My great times in Mexico City came to a halt very early Monday when I woke up with Turista or Montezuma's Revenge.  Went out to an Argentinian restaurant Sunday night and had a nice meal (a bit heavy on the ... [Continue reading this entry]

Instituto de Lengaujes Puerto Escondido

Saturday, December 2nd, 2006
Tomorrow finishes off my stay in Puerto and I would like to bring attention to the school which has provided my first lessons in Spanish.  Instituto de Lenguajes has been fantastic.  I am just now starting to get comfortable with ... [Continue reading this entry]

Strange (But Charming… Sometimes) Things in Mexico

Friday, December 1st, 2006
There's always something different about another country (let alone your own) which gets your attention usually wondering why it exists or why it is allowed to continue.  Here are some that have caught my attention in Oaxaca State, Mexico... Unfinished buildings are ... [Continue reading this entry]

Oaxaca Photos

Friday, December 1st, 2006
Here are some photos from my adventures in the state of Oaxaca... Oaxaca City: View of City from Monte Alban Oaxaca Cathedral Javier Martin Scupture 1, [Continue reading this entry]