South America

Peruvian Gladiators – Gallos de Pelea

“Pelea!” (Fight!) “Pelea!” (Fight!) reverberated around the coliseo, a small ring surrounded by rudimentary bleachers. I looked beside me and a small child was blowing bubbles. The intensity grew as the match went on, the careadores (owners) yelling and cheering on their contestant. Another little boy proudly showed us his favorite fighter, Fernando. Each fighter …

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Lessons Learned

I was walking down the street yesterday when a man approached me in a panic, “Excuse me sir, do you speak English?” I acknowledged the obvious and he asked if I could help him. “What’s the problem?” I inquired. He held up has hand and said that someone had robbed him of all his money, …

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Rocky and the Cop

Well it has finally happen, I have been Iquitocized. Last  night I went with a group of friends to see Illusion, a local band. The only  illusion I got was when someone stuck their hand in my pocket and stole my video camera. It was particularly crowded because it was an outdoor amphitheater  and there …

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The Quinceanera

Birthdays play an important role in this society but none more important than a girl’s Quinceanera, 15th birthday. Like a Bar Mitzvah, a Quinceanera signifies a girl’s transition into womanhood. I had my first chance to experience a Quinceanera last night, Nelcy, one of Paul’s girls, turned fifteen. The party guests are lined up anticipating …

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The Amazing Fitzcarraldo – fact can be better than fiction

It’s amazing how there are times when fact is better than fiction, such is the case of Fitzcarraldo. The story goes that Fitzcarraldo braved hostile Indians, snakes, disease and unspeakable hardships as he used Indian labor to pull, drag and winch a ship across a mountain in the Amazon jungle. The baron, Brian Sweeney Fitzgerald, …

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