Day 2-International Poetry Festival of Medellin

By: aromaproductions on 3:26 PM

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Met a man, who I thought was a poet, from San Andres Island, Columbia. Turned out he was just a guest at the hotel. It was his accent that caught my attention. It was 100 percent West Indian. He told me that on this island, which was ceded over to Columbia by England, English is the first language and Spanish the second. They all have English names. The island isn't any where near Columbia. It is off the coast of Panama. England gave the island to Columbia in a treaty one hundred years ago, he said. It is considered a Caribbean island. He was telling me how beautiful it was. Perhaps more beautiful than all the other islands in the Caribbean. I took his name and address. I had never heard of this island before. You should check it out on the internet.Perhaps I will visit it one day.

I ventured out briefly into the city.  The streets are lined with fruit vendors and there are many little shops that sell pastries and chicken and assorted "fast food".  Quick snacks for the busy worker I guess. One could see that the small people (vendors) are working hard at making an honest living. There are an abundance of stores selling underwear (bras and slips). That I found very interesting. The eyes of the men were glued to the World Cup match that was taking place.  It began turned dark and began to thunder and so I decided to return to the hotel.

I have to fly to another city in Columbia to do a poetry reading next Wednesday 14th of July. It is about one hour by plane. I am not too excited about that but it is part of the adventure. Met a French writer who hates Switzerland because of the banking system mainly. A Swedish writer next to me didn't say much but then again Spanish isn't his native tongue either and I am really bad at it.

Went through my poems with my translator/reader this morning. We have 30 minutes to read English and Spanish at various venues during the next 7 days. It's going to be hectic.

Today they gave us such a large breakfast. I only managed half of it.--eggs, sausage, cheese, cereal, juice, a slushy drink, and coffee. Just ate the basic. The slushy drink looked like milkshake. It didn't appeal to me. I ate eggs, toast, and drink the orange juice and coffee. The food is very healthy though. All meals are served with assorted fresh fruit and freshly pressed juice. Tomorrow buffet meals begin and we are able to choose what we like.

The rooms are very comfortable.  I am in a large room on the sixth floor.  It is a double room and comes with a safe that I can lock jewelry and money in.  It is very cool at night and I sleep very well.

My former student, poet and friend arrived today and I am finally beginning to meet some of the poets who are arrival from as far as Combodia and New Zealand.