Day Eight: XXFestival Internacional de Poesia de Medellin

By: aromaproductions on 3:31 PM

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Medellin is really lovely and the poets are beautiful people. There is a Russian poet however, who gives us newcomers to the international poetry reading scene,  the impression that his status is way above everyone elses. To us he behaves like a "divo." But others, who have participated in several International Poetry Festivals with him, have great respect for him. His reputation and age deem him the wise one among us.  We have been told that he has read to an audience of 44,000 in Russia.  Myth or no Myth, any poet, who can read for one hour and keep the audience entertained, is very special. He has the eyes and ears of the listeners. Not everyone is happy about him infringing on their reading time.  We live and learn.

I accompanied three poets to the town of Santo Domingo which we reached via metro and cable-cars. Going up by cable, one could view the mass of brick houses which lace the mountain sides. I was told that the houses are made from brick because of the abundance of clay in Medllin. From this point, there is an excellent panorama of Medellin and it's outskirts. From the mountains, the city and its outskirts were covered in mist. There is a state of the art liberary/monument which rises high againt the mountain.  It was built by the government in the middle of Santo Domingo to encourage the community to read and to let them know that they are important and not forgotten. It rises tall like grey granite against the sky. The streets are norrow and most people access that city via cable, but it can be reached by cars winding up the steep, narrow roads.

We returned, tired from walking, in time for lunch which was delicious. It included an avocado salad and roasted corn, and a fruit salad. There was meat and rice of course. Each meat includes fresh fruit (mongo, papaya, melon, pineapple, grapes and apple), soup, dessert, salad, meat, chicken or fish, fresh fruit juice and coffee.

Tonight I am reading with Estaban Moore (Argentina), Jose Libardo Porras (Colombia), Lasse Soderberg (Sweden). I am the only woman it looks like.

Tomorrow I am flying with two three other poets to Bucarmanga to read. It is a one hour flight from Medellin and the weather there is hot compared to Medellin which is very cool. I am looking forward to seeing this city.