tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-252145922024-03-12T20:30:50.930-04:00CORDELIA'S JOURNEYS“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” - Mark TwainCordeliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12689035328319541616noreply@blogger.comBlogger424125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25214592.post-27543538065577495962024-01-14T14:27:00.000-05:002024-01-15T13:58:05.612-05:00Spending the Holidays in Ecuador<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6LGbS9h1SRi_ur1QExE4mm_dtbmsHGyyCdPNddT2CXVqFqLYE_9C8M4j_oZSHyeS_QIqhLS_3RnxddLR9F-Q39KN3ojKLOAi9abi7tkI9FzeAZv0Gmn1HvlBJBKKzODcpBGkj1-Bd9nfAyhWvnZUul6Km-gZN0ZmBB0NK80bxnViObTsvtdw/s823/Ecuador%20Tour%20Route.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="759" data-original-width="823" height="369" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6LGbS9h1SRi_ur1QExE4mm_dtbmsHGyyCdPNddT2CXVqFqLYE_9C8M4j_oZSHyeS_QIqhLS_3RnxddLR9F-Q39KN3ojKLOAi9abi7tkI9FzeAZv0Gmn1HvlBJBKKzODcpBGkj1-Bd9nfAyhWvnZUul6Km-gZN0ZmBB0NK80bxnViObTsvtdw/w400-h369/Ecuador%20Tour%20Route.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>My new tradition is discover a new places over the world and learn how others celebrate. This time I headed to Ecuador for two weeks. Why Ecuador, you might ask? Well, first off, my parents went to Cuenca, Ecuador years ago and couldn't stop talking about it, so its always been on my bucket list. <p>Then I moved to Jackson Heights, Queens, a neighborhood full of Ecuadorians. And now, the height of the latest migrant crisis, new Ecuadorians are arriving every day, which made me want to learn more. I'm an experiential learner and travel helps me soak in the reality of what is going on way better than just reading the news. This time my timing was impeccable. I went, I learned and I got on a plane home and then the day after I got home the gangs and narco traffic issues that have been simmering under the surface for a few years in Ecuador, came to a head and big news from the country made it into US mainstream press, making many people check in on me. Yup, I was fine in NY and the danger junkie side of me wished I was still there seeing first hand while the military cracks down and hopefully begins to stabilize the country.</p><p>Lastly I went to Ecuador because I have gotten close to an Ecuadorian family and even was named god mother of their two daughters. This family is deeply involved in a Ecuadorian cultural center and I attend dances and ceremonies and have learned so much about the culture. I had to experience it in real life.</p>Cordeliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12689035328319541616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25214592.post-29742696472582370432024-01-13T13:53:00.000-05:002024-01-15T13:58:25.200-05:00Photos from Ecuador<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghgsU3cUupFQ3CfjrwF-IaSHCEiPjQeLjSdeZIsLyEUpIlwKZVLfYN8U_SytLZaYbHA6_MoFzmy_9bqSQwAslYBZD3HQDFwWmh7M1m0BhrBbLp0ho5Wcju6p5VdsuH_eQxomkG4y_oZAyagSyiB1MR7IuDqQstg8gcSA0jqLdODcdlhTVB9Tjw/s1731/Ecuador%20collage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="954" data-original-width="1731" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghgsU3cUupFQ3CfjrwF-IaSHCEiPjQeLjSdeZIsLyEUpIlwKZVLfYN8U_SytLZaYbHA6_MoFzmy_9bqSQwAslYBZD3HQDFwWmh7M1m0BhrBbLp0ho5Wcju6p5VdsuH_eQxomkG4y_oZAyagSyiB1MR7IuDqQstg8gcSA0jqLdODcdlhTVB9Tjw/w640-h352/Ecuador%20collage.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: #e69138;"> Click <b>HERE</b> to see my photos from Ecuador</span></span></div><p></p>Cordeliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12689035328319541616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25214592.post-66604799643738296952024-01-12T20:04:00.000-05:002024-01-15T13:59:11.624-05:00Quito, the Capitol City<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhniX51XnUbLZFC6Onew3As89zDKM_CV6SmiKjfJ30yxcZnUS74sAPVszm5ZvT5Qlvn0Rn7xl5G8kOfQ_HSQYyVlbEn6U_FA5yaaCyM1_p6M-zXUICrR2B56Pjy-qZJOsI02kpzZWI8dbTQ5RrDHr5VKWT1OaoZNvAVZyK6a4Ph0qYfg9wi2ONG/s1800/Quito.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhniX51XnUbLZFC6Onew3As89zDKM_CV6SmiKjfJ30yxcZnUS74sAPVszm5ZvT5Qlvn0Rn7xl5G8kOfQ_HSQYyVlbEn6U_FA5yaaCyM1_p6M-zXUICrR2B56Pjy-qZJOsI02kpzZWI8dbTQ5RrDHr5VKWT1OaoZNvAVZyK6a4Ph0qYfg9wi2ONG/w640-h480/Quito.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Quito. Ecuador’s capitol city is the highest altitude capitol in the world, now that La Paz is no longer the capitol of Bolivia. It’s perched in the mountains which makes for dramatic landscapes. The Old City is BEAUTIFUL. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage site and is well preserved. As with all cities, I liked looking at the diversity of faces and the intense buzz of activity. I joined the masses riding the brand new subway that opened in early December and quickly moved around town.<p></p>Cordeliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12689035328319541616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25214592.post-85193848284763284832024-01-11T19:55:00.001-05:002024-01-14T19:57:15.830-05:00Cuenca<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOrpKLcon40ZF7FGmUpfqqDHVPwc3kgJ6pA9qEfptFlqhuD0qC5Zxt3ECJHQ3sC5an0BaQXNl1sSTxOm5il6D9I41a90GN2l-19qk6Og4QffIiBr8rTkqofjE0VCUWPZTfl_1mWattthMgtIwLRWq9IcgJFTIcc_EZevFYQKZfU7ZUThff8EiA/s1800/Cuenca.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOrpKLcon40ZF7FGmUpfqqDHVPwc3kgJ6pA9qEfptFlqhuD0qC5Zxt3ECJHQ3sC5an0BaQXNl1sSTxOm5il6D9I41a90GN2l-19qk6Og4QffIiBr8rTkqofjE0VCUWPZTfl_1mWattthMgtIwLRWq9IcgJFTIcc_EZevFYQKZfU7ZUThff8EiA/w640-h480/Cuenca.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />The news today about Ecuador is grim. The flow of drugs to America has destroyed many countries and Ecuador is one of the latest to fall victim to its ravages. I feel sad. It’s a sweet little very beautiful culturally rich country. I hope this is just a blip in their history. </span><p></p><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Now back to posting happy pretty pictures which accurately depict my experience. It’s weird how tourism can be largely unaffected by the harsh reality locals live under. </span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Cuenca is Ecuador’s most <a style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="-1"></a>beautiful city. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage City towards the southern end of the country up in the highlands. It took us 8 hours on beautiful, mountainous, winding roads to get there at times driving through total cloud cover. </span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I have wanted to go since my parents visited about 20 years ago. Also, since I try to visit where immigrants I know are from, the first Ecuadorians I knew from Port Chester, all came from around Cuenca. </span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Cuenca has unusual architecture or at least unusual to me. I’m not sure I fully captured it, but you will see some of the details and colors here. </span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Cuenca is also where the famous Panama Hats are made. Originally a hat maker produced hats for the workers digging the canal, then the hats were mistakenly named and Ecuador gets no credit for their beautiful products.</span></div></div>Cordeliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12689035328319541616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25214592.post-70124137322915741572024-01-07T19:33:00.017-05:002024-01-14T19:43:51.291-05:00Churches in Ecuador<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimsMzwEdKfsEzbI65S3OnA__nGUtotLb4AihVI0HPU3ru2Ox8CV39gkV0AKDIFyOD6afb5_KbxZxikXmd2iL4exeebvqUOcJFOZaUVk7g09X3L4yPi4RnARQF8y5PZfiTa5nl9YuOldbyQwsQgiOm_3kCOK8_506C_WtNevSuled8oWJoWhPq_/s1800/IMG_0042.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1800" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimsMzwEdKfsEzbI65S3OnA__nGUtotLb4AihVI0HPU3ru2Ox8CV39gkV0AKDIFyOD6afb5_KbxZxikXmd2iL4exeebvqUOcJFOZaUVk7g09X3L4yPi4RnARQF8y5PZfiTa5nl9YuOldbyQwsQgiOm_3kCOK8_506C_WtNevSuled8oWJoWhPq_/w640-h640/IMG_0042.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Churches are some of the most prominent, ornate and impressive buildings in Ecuador. When the Spanish Empire defeated the Incas in the early 1500s, they began to spread Catholicism throughout the indigenous communities. They built churches on top of Incan structures to erase the past and solidify power. Today you can see the original bases of the Incan buildings and Spanish churches rising out of them. These days Ecuador is over 90% Catholic, but many indigenous religious <span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="-1"></a></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space-collapse: preserve;">traditions continue intermixed. </span></span><p></p><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The Spanish used religion to control the people. There was even a point in history only Catholics could become Ecuadorian citizens and get enjoy government benefits. While that has changed Catholic traditions are deeply mixed in daily life. </span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I always look at the opulence and gold and think about in Colonial times it was built to wow people into believing in Catholicism and submitting to Spanish control and honestly, it works on me. My heart skipped a beat in some of them. The beauty is awe inspiring. In Ecuador I was very impressed by elaborate wood carving that covered entire churches, much of it plated with gold. Others churches had intricate designs painted on their walls. Photos were not allowed in the most famous/important ones, but you’ll get the idea. </span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The churches in this post are from various places around the country.</span></div><div dir="auto" style="font-size: 15px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5MXyJYaRsWhWCE8CgJpxvdh9Qg_zmHqamrJt_w755MORifyIJLNYC5kHEuDx8x6LYWwcIIebiVofDpa3zO_RrQV-61aOfEljjf4UGm0GPfPrCLY_ydc_Cw4U6ynBpNEcsoYy39Oh2QDLe8KhwUkvNznNl5-CGP16rOY6Av78wRnp3W8wgWyTe/s5712/Basilica%20and%20Convent%20of%20San%20Francisco,%20Quito.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5712" data-original-width="4284" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5MXyJYaRsWhWCE8CgJpxvdh9Qg_zmHqamrJt_w755MORifyIJLNYC5kHEuDx8x6LYWwcIIebiVofDpa3zO_RrQV-61aOfEljjf4UGm0GPfPrCLY_ydc_Cw4U6ynBpNEcsoYy39Oh2QDLe8KhwUkvNznNl5-CGP16rOY6Av78wRnp3W8wgWyTe/w480-h640/Basilica%20and%20Convent%20of%20San%20Francisco,%20Quito.jpg" width="480" /></a></div></div></div>Cordeliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12689035328319541616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25214592.post-40376892323135648242024-01-06T19:32:00.001-05:002024-01-14T20:04:46.205-05:00Three Kings Day in Quito<p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYYcgyNv1PqKo5Lkhw3VL4tTv6lNdyID_4fH1FmuyrO6LxUYGRF9SU0N2wB_yUMb4GEgqHXXRqCloj_M1iQbLyfhMfqpCuNnSE-qdhY2-SGsv4k8z4S1x1EoCkQJsUA1Wl8FKU_XbUH8I_GlVWHNsKVdc7dAR2zEY503BoBijOA-Gxa1zK1K-Q/s3557/Three%20Kings%20Day.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2668" data-original-width="3557" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYYcgyNv1PqKo5Lkhw3VL4tTv6lNdyID_4fH1FmuyrO6LxUYGRF9SU0N2wB_yUMb4GEgqHXXRqCloj_M1iQbLyfhMfqpCuNnSE-qdhY2-SGsv4k8z4S1x1EoCkQJsUA1Wl8FKU_XbUH8I_GlVWHNsKVdc7dAR2zEY503BoBijOA-Gxa1zK1K-Q/w400-h300/Three%20Kings%20Day.HEIC" width="400" /></a></div><br />Can you spot the three kings in this sea of nuns? It’s the 12th day of Christmas, Three Kings Day. I got sucked into the side chapel of the Church and Convent of St. Francis lured by a beautiful spirited children’s choir. Seems like a good day to work on my God is on your side points and a very good crowd to do it with. I stayed an extra day in Ecuador hoping for fun local celebrations. I found none but this was a pretty close second.<p></p>Cordeliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12689035328319541616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25214592.post-27368035908723387992024-01-06T19:20:00.001-05:002024-01-14T19:21:14.699-05:00<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwcB6de2GoQlFunWqsYaaBJtVUcvvMZp1T4rTLeH8w8vf8g17kdw0cW_XWmn44nWMohlQiXtkhGZHwe_kImrK_X2Fu8ErmuE0QG4kEHt4q0jamF_FxcdfgQaBq-FqBhY3BzqPMYR3zG-9eSQsJxoAQlOWd6YiEywlRJ1lXILb6EKRp0-Xy2Fvb/s1800/Highlands.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1198" data-original-width="1800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwcB6de2GoQlFunWqsYaaBJtVUcvvMZp1T4rTLeH8w8vf8g17kdw0cW_XWmn44nWMohlQiXtkhGZHwe_kImrK_X2Fu8ErmuE0QG4kEHt4q0jamF_FxcdfgQaBq-FqBhY3BzqPMYR3zG-9eSQsJxoAQlOWd6YiEywlRJ1lXILb6EKRp0-Xy2Fvb/w640-h426/Highlands.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />Ecuador is a small country, about the size of the state of Colorado. We spent many hours driving through its dramatic landscapes through the Andean Mountain Range. I love looking out the window and soaking it all in. On New Year’s Day we were also lucky to pass through a few local indigenous towns who were holding fun parades and some interesting different roadside food vendors. I’m not sure I captured just how amazing the landscape is. It’s hard in a moving vehicle. I’d like <span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit;" tabindex="-1"></a></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">to recommend to the Ecuadorian government that they need more scenic overlooks, so I can get more pics next time!</span><p></p>Cordeliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12689035328319541616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25214592.post-30037107979165801042024-01-05T19:50:00.001-05:002024-01-14T19:52:19.260-05:00Visiting the Amazon<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhK0U0rnZASTVMtx7-qHLwIoxZhq6WNFUYImOcb0LgfNq6Rr1rl5effSMb5ZQd0Z7_RWVUU490RGcXP0tcBJPO71lZ39KmywJwYX7Wsv6rp7uASdSzFFHdOj6OuE0ZtSrBxZg3F_Oi4Ksq0cXJI8D9yL0OkP2tsp7fJInpeFUxfsCDrrg9mPbs/s1602/The%20Amazon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1602" data-original-width="1350" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhK0U0rnZASTVMtx7-qHLwIoxZhq6WNFUYImOcb0LgfNq6Rr1rl5effSMb5ZQd0Z7_RWVUU490RGcXP0tcBJPO71lZ39KmywJwYX7Wsv6rp7uASdSzFFHdOj6OuE0ZtSrBxZg3F_Oi4Ksq0cXJI8D9yL0OkP2tsp7fJInpeFUxfsCDrrg9mPbs/w540-h640/The%20Amazon.jpg" width="540" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br />One stop on my trip was at a homestay in the Amazon near Tena. We got to see the jungle and learn about indigenous culture from our host family. </span><p></p><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The most exciting thing I did was climb a waterfall. There was lots of support and ropes and I’m proud of my first (and possibly last) moments of rock climbing. </span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">We also got to make chocolate! One of Ecuador’s more recent economic success stories is that instead of just growing and harvesting cocoa beans, the country has begun to <a style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="-1"></a>process and produce the finished product making a more valuable export. </span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">One thing you may not know is that Ecuador’s largest export is petroleum and till now lots of that oil came from deep in the Amazon. The big news is that in August there was a referendum and 60% voted to stop the oil drilling there. While drilling will still be allowed in other areas of the country, this is a BIG change and it led to interesting conversations about oil production, jobs, trade with China and the surprising success of the indigenous campaign to preserve the rainforest. In grad school I got to meet a number of Ecuadorian indigenous leaders who were in NY to address the UN on this issue. It feels exciting that they are finding success and hopefully it will force better extraction practices elsewhere too.</span></div></div>Cordeliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12689035328319541616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25214592.post-59826435198693176842024-01-04T15:03:00.003-05:002024-01-14T19:20:02.746-05:00New Year's Eve Traditions in Ecuador<p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: inherit; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFydRwcL0v8-Xxo3RH3rxoNmqEZR71CFjlqVbtZjtNzTfdK6-P6GF4kOS8WT4YJjOdO4QS2KIiMWvzPmTqwroEvcaTiv7tkhd3vkBqN18EqrVrfQMuDzntn6TeYugrnR9XbweIVrsBaO5ZXkA6MG4PIyfM10_sqhC-dAw66onUKbbk4zhAux9g/s3621/CP%20on%20NYE.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3621" data-original-width="3456" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFydRwcL0v8-Xxo3RH3rxoNmqEZR71CFjlqVbtZjtNzTfdK6-P6GF4kOS8WT4YJjOdO4QS2KIiMWvzPmTqwroEvcaTiv7tkhd3vkBqN18EqrVrfQMuDzntn6TeYugrnR9XbweIVrsBaO5ZXkA6MG4PIyfM10_sqhC-dAw66onUKbbk4zhAux9g/w381-h400/CP%20on%20NYE.jpg" width="381" /></a></div><br />There are lots of New Year’s Eve traditions in Ecuador and it was fun to observe preparations and join the celebrations. <p></p><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Here are some of the things that happen. </div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">One of the most popular New Year’s traditions is the burning of a family’s “año viejo” (old year) or monigote. Ecuadorians fill old clothes with sawdust to create these figures that can look like a real person or an imaginary character with the addition of a mask. The monigote figures represent the old year that is <span style="font-family: inherit;"><a style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit;" tabindex="-1"></a></span>burned in a bonfire at the stroke of midnight. Families sometimes create their monigotes to look like hated politicians that they hope will not be around next year. Some monigotes represent more traditional values, relating to religion or a personal meaning created by the family members. Some are purely for fun, such as cartoon characters and superheroes! </div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The next tradition is to throw a letter into the fire that contains a list of all the things you hope to leave behind in the “old year.” Many people write about any hardships they have had or things that have stressed them out. </div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuZjgk2_92YCylImCWaPo2K3mUNLPfDUG3815jauD0kM9-HFWesfQRgrwIRYz_8mg481TNMS7908yqfM5cTta378lpQvaH6DR4Ek_au6cDFrzx4DsbWqj_9BHPTT9i9FGYPJ8KlhSfl62dCjxJ6_DqUQifISeLYjG56Zvj7_ts1Y6ArvwtBHdo/s5712/NYE%20Bonfire.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5712" data-original-width="4284" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuZjgk2_92YCylImCWaPo2K3mUNLPfDUG3815jauD0kM9-HFWesfQRgrwIRYz_8mg481TNMS7908yqfM5cTta378lpQvaH6DR4Ek_au6cDFrzx4DsbWqj_9BHPTT9i9FGYPJ8KlhSfl62dCjxJ6_DqUQifISeLYjG56Zvj7_ts1Y6ArvwtBHdo/s320/NYE%20Bonfire.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />Another interesting feature of Ecuador New Years celebrations are the "viudas" (the widows). Every year, men across the country will dress up in drag as widowed women, usually stuffing their clothes with balloons, donning elegant high heels and tiny skirts. Then, they take to the streets and collect money from the cars on the streets. Why are there so many widows? Because the effigies are almost always men, which leaves a lot of women without a husband. <span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" style="display: inline-flex; font-family: inherit; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><img alt="🤣" class="xz74otr" height="16" referrerpolicy="origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/tf1/2/16/1f923.png" style="border: 0px; object-fit: fill;" width="16" /></span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">The "Viudas" are very insistent and will block the streets and dance in front of cars until someone pays their toll. They tend to start first thing in the morning of New Year's Eve and continue throughout the day.</div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">Another lighthearted tradition is related to the color of the underwear that you use as the clock passes midnight. Red is predicted to bring you love in the coming year, while Yellow brings prosperity.</div><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNM1my_ux1FbjDWaATf-Rx0UWPQ8jYacc2YttDr3-pwyRp5_foY2hMzTbFEHal4fx2uyCLiX067NY7tcknou4ZNYJJjeIOunlwkG9MNRTxBeMo1u2PEjs1R_lQobyf4lcWOYaC2sYZTeddhrll5lbStzq0mndc8CEBxGl5WSEqUOQBk_uxBLMQ/s1649/NYE%20Banner.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="1649" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNM1my_ux1FbjDWaATf-Rx0UWPQ8jYacc2YttDr3-pwyRp5_foY2hMzTbFEHal4fx2uyCLiX067NY7tcknou4ZNYJJjeIOunlwkG9MNRTxBeMo1u2PEjs1R_lQobyf4lcWOYaC2sYZTeddhrll5lbStzq0mndc8CEBxGl5WSEqUOQBk_uxBLMQ/w640-h204/NYE%20Banner.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></div></div>Cordeliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12689035328319541616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25214592.post-695075014478267152024-01-04T14:47:00.007-05:002024-01-14T20:05:32.842-05:00Crossing the Equator<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu_AAPxU_wRtnZfrmnRt4cE8HEC_JmOoZoAZBQZg4kreT1_TDKfNyY2rn9vCaLCGAI4Ax9e9nmb89yCMf_5A-ych_qrYv6b4JZy5pH0sI3IZJKQJQoa05jdV15hGRIcOjlgbfQTpDOgorg7wbUlEHqKX7mjZgjzgvm12tAJVA_O3CKs8k8FQiZ/s4296/Equator.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3647" data-original-width="4296" height="544" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu_AAPxU_wRtnZfrmnRt4cE8HEC_JmOoZoAZBQZg4kreT1_TDKfNyY2rn9vCaLCGAI4Ax9e9nmb89yCMf_5A-ych_qrYv6b4JZy5pH0sI3IZJKQJQoa05jdV15hGRIcOjlgbfQTpDOgorg7wbUlEHqKX7mjZgjzgvm12tAJVA_O3CKs8k8FQiZ/w640-h544/Equator.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Made it to the Equator. In a way Ecuador feels so far south from NY, but half the world lies south of here!</span></p><p></p>Cordeliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12689035328319541616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25214592.post-74291933422511142262024-01-04T14:43:00.001-05:002024-01-14T14:46:07.927-05:00Otavalo Market<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpPWP2AM04jRN-u28BODr84od6fYYtNRE2_wYvJSHwTbQbO4YwAGQq4bbxiMWJmFhFg1JbFWWDzget0ePcfruChZex5uN223iKtThysjVF0nW2I3LMfZRzeaLCr1vnYg7cz0k1Wzsa-cfkIt5TxinW1CLJmAb6_w2seld-z_vaVy-G8XMUiRNZ/s1800/Otavalo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1198" data-original-width="1800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpPWP2AM04jRN-u28BODr84od6fYYtNRE2_wYvJSHwTbQbO4YwAGQq4bbxiMWJmFhFg1JbFWWDzget0ePcfruChZex5uN223iKtThysjVF0nW2I3LMfZRzeaLCr1vnYg7cz0k1Wzsa-cfkIt5TxinW1CLJmAb6_w2seld-z_vaVy-G8XMUiRNZ/w640-h426/Otavalo.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">One stop was to the Otavalo Market, the largest market in Ecuador and the largest market of its kind in South America. The Otavalo Market dates back to pre-Incan times when locals bought, sold, and traded woven products, food, and other products in the market. These days the town still fills up on Saturdays with indigenous people from all over, who come to buy and sell. There was some great people watching!</span><p></p>Cordeliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12689035328319541616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25214592.post-27180321425675752012024-01-03T14:34:00.002-05:002024-01-15T13:56:32.158-05:00Christmas Eve in Banos<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikpNUjfpExRhIO5gU3tciWX8eOyqJQPTwFcgmVNsedVhNzBY6fjAQm8RrfC81ht5nsAn6T0E6OSgREhAScOG_KAVB7alb-SQ5g76qQxQ9R6Ro7jrezimXIXMkK2x4LJUjC2YSWVPaVjfpWE209mV-wA5uCou1zcH-EbTyezbsFmZUfb4_2WVXN/s1543/Christmas%20in%20Banos.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1543" data-original-width="1288" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikpNUjfpExRhIO5gU3tciWX8eOyqJQPTwFcgmVNsedVhNzBY6fjAQm8RrfC81ht5nsAn6T0E6OSgREhAScOG_KAVB7alb-SQ5g76qQxQ9R6Ro7jrezimXIXMkK2x4LJUjC2YSWVPaVjfpWE209mV-wA5uCou1zcH-EbTyezbsFmZUfb4_2WVXN/w534-h640/Christmas%20in%20Banos.jpg" width="534" /></a></p><p><span style="text-align: justify;">In Ecuador, Christmas Eve is the time for celebration. I was in Banos and bumped into this family gathering to process around the town. More and more characters kept arriving and they finally set off. It felt like a lovely way to honor the holiday.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p></p>Cordeliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12689035328319541616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25214592.post-20778125753615629352024-01-02T14:11:00.001-05:002024-01-14T19:22:23.762-05:00<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijqpOv319vr_1Z_d7hO77haDUwcYUiWFdDAeGEI-gcPxfO5OUCgwsRETV-99UtGU-Zf-XFvFOkxSWuNZdlaeUZNVoiCts7oO_IxeKBkfcAwcvMPcoYUsY8UVzxJ66IW7qwxkLx8nPy0xCzyu331Opwd5dsOkRaLfXm2zgMCxwfIMu7ShixiYZL/s3965/Swinging%20in%20Banos.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2976" data-original-width="3965" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijqpOv319vr_1Z_d7hO77haDUwcYUiWFdDAeGEI-gcPxfO5OUCgwsRETV-99UtGU-Zf-XFvFOkxSWuNZdlaeUZNVoiCts7oO_IxeKBkfcAwcvMPcoYUsY8UVzxJ66IW7qwxkLx8nPy0xCzyu331Opwd5dsOkRaLfXm2zgMCxwfIMu7ShixiYZL/w640-h480/Swinging%20in%20Banos.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; text-align: start; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Travel is my happy place - Banos, Ecuador</span></div><p></p>Cordeliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12689035328319541616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25214592.post-86260141529463792282023-12-31T17:37:00.002-05:002024-01-17T15:54:04.182-05:00Farewell 2023<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0yLgdU0_juWAKj0avFBgqDoEnYGicJtVwUdxdJEk4beGngX1KeB56I3z0bRXDYQrAqVqZg8gUGBHjJpBG50WWZUm4aWqa_D206PcQf0MxkppBIXjOqoKLdZCHVa5cP3iGosyS5P4FZbMUbOeixcz6NZo6uUhRyRPgQUPLVQv81hc_gG1FXIsJ/s1800/Final%202023%20Collaga.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1198" data-original-width="1800" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0yLgdU0_juWAKj0avFBgqDoEnYGicJtVwUdxdJEk4beGngX1KeB56I3z0bRXDYQrAqVqZg8gUGBHjJpBG50WWZUm4aWqa_D206PcQf0MxkppBIXjOqoKLdZCHVa5cP3iGosyS5P4FZbMUbOeixcz6NZo6uUhRyRPgQUPLVQv81hc_gG1FXIsJ/w640-h426/Final%202023%20Collaga.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4913986430285388866" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 660px;"><span face=""Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 16px;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Time keeps moving faster and faster. December flew by so fast I didn't have time to write my Holiday Letter till now! Wow! 2023 was a pretty good year for me, but it sped by feeling more like a month than a year! I was considering skipping this letter this year, but if I don't force myself to reflect on the past year, I'm afraid it will all just be forgotten and I will speed into 2024.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">In short, my life has stabilized after the daily excitement of the Pandemic. I'm still working at NoHo Business Improvement District and enjoying the energy, fashion and trend setting on the streets there. Then I am still living in Jackson Heights, Queens, possibly the most diverse area in the world. Each day I get to travel the world on my way to and from the subway. The incredible differences between NoHo and Jackson Heights are sometimes exhausting for a curious person like me. I have to keep my eyes open to enjoy both areas' richness. In one day, I can see supermodels in haute couture and indigenous women in their traditional dress.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">I rang in 2023 in <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/25214592/8626014152946379228#">Havana</a>, my favorite place. Then I focused a little on visiting the United States. An early visit to <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/25214592/8626014152946379228#">Miami</a>, my third, finally showed me the pulse everyone talks about. I went to <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/25214592/8626014152946379228#">Houston</a>, for my first time, for their Art Car Parade, which was amazing! Hundreds of decorated cars and another interesting micro culture. I headed to <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/25214592/8626014152946379228#">Minneapolis and St. Paul</a> for a conference and made time to visit Prince's home, Paisley Park, George Floyd Square, explore Somali culture and, of course, drive by many lakes. In the summer, I had long weekends in Cape May, NJ and <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/25214592/8626014152946379228#">Maine</a> for some beachy vacation charm and then was off to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10102513983403996&type=3" target="_blank">Chicago</a> for the Annual Downtown Association Conference. My stepfather's family was from Chicago, so I've spent a lot of time there and every time I peel off another layer.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">Of course, I also did some international travel. First to Bermuda on a cruise, but not just any cruise, a <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/25214592/8626014152946379228#">Broadway Cruise</a>, which was definitely the highlight of my year. Some of you can imagine how marvelous it is to fill a cruise ship with Broadway people. Nights by the piano singing songs. Special performances by Kristen Chenoweth, Alan Cumming, Laura Benanti, Randy Rainbow and more... I also ended the year on a South American roll. First to sweet, beautiful <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/25214592/8626014152946379228#">Montevideo, Uruguay</a> and dynamic Buenos Aires, along with a special stop at a guacho festival in <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/25214592/8626014152946379228#">Argentina</a> in November and then another trip in December to spend the holidays in <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/25214592/8626014152946379228#">Ecuador</a>.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;">The toxicity of the world these days definitely troubles me, but I'm trying hard to keep busy and distracted versus letting it get me down. I'm not stupid enough to hope that 2024 will be less toxic, but I'm hoping November Trump will lose again and maybe fade. Fingers crossed. I plan to hit the campaign trail starting later in January to at least try to get better local candidates elected. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="color: red;">Click the links to see photos and write ups on my blog and Facebook.</span></i></b></p></span><div style="clear: both;"></div></div><div class="post-footer" style="background-color: #f9f9f9; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(238, 238, 238); color: #666666; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 10.8px; line-height: 1.6; margin: 20px -2px 0px; padding: 5px 10px;"></div></div><br /> <p></p>Cordeliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12689035328319541616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25214592.post-39855518113130683372023-11-13T17:25:00.002-05:002024-01-14T19:23:52.050-05:00Buenos Aires, Argentina<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhanIqYZE0qlnanhyphenhyphenDTCJj2mLiW2aUElg5Cir93YLkkRdb9Q7cBxNtBpwI4FgZhPGt9jNSCpcnF95B_iT8cVDntvdw4cB5txVOy5VVrRm3V6Za_n9qEGqh8O7xgMG6adSBVQjUStj7yLmOhc1ZtfwdeM2Yy6xypUX3HMe0bdWAb1V_mT8GgzNE6/s3677/Buenos%20Aires.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2758" data-original-width="3677" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhanIqYZE0qlnanhyphenhyphenDTCJj2mLiW2aUElg5Cir93YLkkRdb9Q7cBxNtBpwI4FgZhPGt9jNSCpcnF95B_iT8cVDntvdw4cB5txVOy5VVrRm3V6Za_n9qEGqh8O7xgMG6adSBVQjUStj7yLmOhc1ZtfwdeM2Yy6xypUX3HMe0bdWAb1V_mT8GgzNE6/w640-h480/Buenos%20Aires.JPG" width="640" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Buenos Aires has been on my bucket list forever. It’s a place that often comes up when I ask backpackers I meet from all over the world, if there was any city they have been to that they could see themselves living in. I now get it. It’s vibrant, architecturally significant, sometimes called the Paris of South America, the food is cheap and varied, the cultural offerings seem deep and the cost of living is way less than comparable world cities. </span></span></p><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial;">It was an interesting time to <span><a style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="-1"></a></span>be there. There is a run-off election today for President and everyone was talking about it. Of course I love that. People say Argentinians always like to protest and complain about their economy. Right now their currency is in a terrible inflation spiral, which sure justifies their angst and while it’s bad for them, it was great for someone traveling with US dollars. </span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial;">I’m sad I didn’t get to see a futbol game, but loved seeing all the Messi and Maradona fervor. I felt a little extra interest in Catholicism since this is where Pope Francis is from. Mostly I loved the chance to find a new city’s heartbeat. </span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto"><span style="font-family: arial;">As always, I feel lucky to experience a place in person. Each stop makes the world a little smaller. Thank you Buenos Aires!</span></div></div>Cordeliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12689035328319541616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25214592.post-17575322172078904852023-11-13T17:18:00.008-05:002023-11-28T10:45:30.121-05:00<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFdt51uwocuoSU09JLB5dcPvgZ6mTN41cTOWLvn-7lvmiAS-8XDw6fNe0FtWIQGmMsPDPP1QEa21IqkMpTpo3UwXBildWOnSx0mWyRLrYFEEa5FzM9OYkVuQdm005g9nB5OtY5g89DqMgVBHABCAXSD2-8I-OyzXxvtzxIQ-RwWtQH4nt4ImAG/s1800/Argentina.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFdt51uwocuoSU09JLB5dcPvgZ6mTN41cTOWLvn-7lvmiAS-8XDw6fNe0FtWIQGmMsPDPP1QEa21IqkMpTpo3UwXBildWOnSx0mWyRLrYFEEa5FzM9OYkVuQdm005g9nB5OtY5g89DqMgVBHABCAXSD2-8I-OyzXxvtzxIQ-RwWtQH4nt4ImAG/w640-h480/Argentina.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><p></p>Cordeliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12689035328319541616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25214592.post-1879117421991598792023-11-13T12:16:00.015-05:002023-12-06T10:22:49.429-05:00Photos from Argentina<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_XYqpJUko2NMgYrXEse3PPoHWgWSn3GDsEiQ4nz63BxnmIQQdVG4DwrE6qCXTyqvBBRSMt5jYSTkft0QPWf6R15OKMME1kBVjYJFnP7OxpcgYJQt3VZwa5PebUFulCo5dcHlYoZgfwzIL_P94VEGxzsxzreYIUBfI5bk8Xz-87jKu3sfc9nxH/s1800/Argentina%20Trip.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1800" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_XYqpJUko2NMgYrXEse3PPoHWgWSn3GDsEiQ4nz63BxnmIQQdVG4DwrE6qCXTyqvBBRSMt5jYSTkft0QPWf6R15OKMME1kBVjYJFnP7OxpcgYJQt3VZwa5PebUFulCo5dcHlYoZgfwzIL_P94VEGxzsxzreYIUBfI5bk8Xz-87jKu3sfc9nxH/w640-h480/Argentina%20Trip.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #e69138; font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><b>Click <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=cordelia.persen&set=a.10102523816373646" target="_blank">HERE</a> to See My Photos from Argentina</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="color: #e69138; font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This includes Buenos Aires and San Antonio de Areco</span></b></div><br /> <p></p>Cordeliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12689035328319541616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25214592.post-6581985735318718902023-11-12T17:12:00.002-05:002023-11-28T10:45:07.628-05:00Dia de la Tradicion Gaucho Festival - San Antonio de Areco<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ4ZJSyjcVrgDJxLSgGNSc0suBQEFc18g3-5XctUi3pEBhnkPoniA3j5WK0nbPnA0kuRhzmPDF8kZc-PsHP0SzMRzPVLehIdK2eZK1J0EFF6dR0cD-S-_UK50k3Puv1RPoOYLWzbVijgsutJSXvlbcH-oWReTcNV94pIrr6D2knhj39LiBA_U-/s1497/Dia%20de%20la%20Tradicion.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1081" data-original-width="1497" height="462" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ4ZJSyjcVrgDJxLSgGNSc0suBQEFc18g3-5XctUi3pEBhnkPoniA3j5WK0nbPnA0kuRhzmPDF8kZc-PsHP0SzMRzPVLehIdK2eZK1J0EFF6dR0cD-S-_UK50k3Puv1RPoOYLWzbVijgsutJSXvlbcH-oWReTcNV94pIrr6D2knhj39LiBA_U-/w640-h462/Dia%20de%20la%20Tradicion.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div class="xdj266r x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">These days when I travel I often try to find a more local event to dig into to try to get a better feeling of life in the place. So when Rhea asked me if I wanted to travel around now, I googled festivals in early November and out popped Dia de la Tradicion in San Antonio de Areco, Argentina, out in the farm and ranch lands outside Buenos Aires. This annual festival is the largest gaucho festival in the country, where they come and participate in a huge horse parade that <span style="font-family: inherit;"><a style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit;" tabindex="-1"></a></span>weaves through the center of the little town, enjoy evenings of music and dance and participate in rodeo competitions. We met a large group of gauchos who came on horseback traveling for 5 days to get there. Although I have no hard numbers we estimated well over a 1000 horses groomed and glowing with gauchos riding and leading them, dressed in their traditional dress with elaborate belt buckles and their ornate gaucho knives, many passed down through generations, tucked into their belts. The whole experience was quite awe inspiring. </div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: left; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div dir="auto" style="font-family: inherit;">For instance seeing the parents riding side by side with their young children dressed almost the same, passing down traditions as their parents and grandparents did. Or being in the local downtown park and seeing groups of horses moving in every direction. </div></div></div><p></p>Cordeliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12689035328319541616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25214592.post-24501878046789851252023-11-12T16:18:00.000-05:002023-11-29T16:21:50.818-05:00Celebrating Dia de la Tradicion<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='554' height='460' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxxtW39lenpyPkpZTbCHm026lUvbcbJwmdPHYfGctM7P25mPgWbfhj3VWsOuhfqrJcqdMH42KatKGk' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /> <span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">I really enjoyed the traditional music and dances. Difference musicians performed all night and the locals were happy to join the dances. Dia de La Tradicion, celebrating gauchos in San Antonio de Areco, Argentina.</span><p></p>Cordeliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12689035328319541616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25214592.post-43741154894276490122023-11-04T16:53:00.007-04:002024-01-14T19:24:51.717-05:00A Weekend in Montevideo, Uruguay<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBPKd0bxG7XCVa1X45edQMrm2ec3yHRFLD_feLUUEajXwQQmjYJ2JaCB6NKpPIrXXrEmdTvkz_aLaqxh9DjxNGiRQK1USjNrj0M9VLzii6y4uuHhrUBEXYVbKGAdNY83CTr9kkRwbAgaoYKMu78O_GAptGT5G5h9tpmghF7ZG9AZNREoc-hHnl/s4032/Uruguay.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBPKd0bxG7XCVa1X45edQMrm2ec3yHRFLD_feLUUEajXwQQmjYJ2JaCB6NKpPIrXXrEmdTvkz_aLaqxh9DjxNGiRQK1USjNrj0M9VLzii6y4uuHhrUBEXYVbKGAdNY83CTr9kkRwbAgaoYKMu78O_GAptGT5G5h9tpmghF7ZG9AZNREoc-hHnl/w640-h480/Uruguay.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; text-align: start; white-space-collapse: preserve;">We stopped for a weekend in sweet, historic Montevideo, Uruguay, a little city by the sea. Its highlights are incredible architecture and a 13 mile rambla along the coastline, the longest continuous sidewalk in the world, where we passed beaches and crashing waves and many many people enjoying their mate. We happened upon the opening of the latest show at Espacio De Arte Contemporaneo, an arts institution in a former prison, and got to sip Uraguayan wine, another highlight, </span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; text-align: start; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit;" tabindex="-1"></a></span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; text-align: start; white-space-collapse: preserve;">with lots of exciting creative people. And… the pastries… dulce de leche is now a definite favorite on my list!</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><p></p>Cordeliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12689035328319541616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25214592.post-80878621484122225982023-11-04T15:58:00.000-04:002023-11-27T17:03:42.893-05:00Photos from Uruguay<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigriKncjqdoE9YCmOphGHKYB9wAiU2r3VOBxFFDKKc6y2YhZTRHlOl7wL5VTtUQSipMJNSuGW9aPA0OrwhIt4sRjgdInUe1J3v4dzJbSqLgmkz2G52AQ2XrKIFaUqBZJKFp4KWh4YHiJ7MZU9ADeldQ8Ex9azKPI0LgSqSlgIFzLN6vhBtlr-p/s1799/Uruguay%20Photos.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1285" data-original-width="1799" height="458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigriKncjqdoE9YCmOphGHKYB9wAiU2r3VOBxFFDKKc6y2YhZTRHlOl7wL5VTtUQSipMJNSuGW9aPA0OrwhIt4sRjgdInUe1J3v4dzJbSqLgmkz2G52AQ2XrKIFaUqBZJKFp4KWh4YHiJ7MZU9ADeldQ8Ex9azKPI0LgSqSlgIFzLN6vhBtlr-p/w640-h458/Uruguay%20Photos.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;">Click <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=cordelia.persen&set=a.10102528074136056" target="_blank">HERE </a>to See Photos from Uruguay</span></b></div><br /> <p></p>Cordeliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12689035328319541616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25214592.post-77870831582978986732023-10-01T16:37:00.003-04:002024-01-17T13:37:15.414-05:00Chicago<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-wBzdFov7qMOKZMA1Uub5N2skrjqvFdJuPuZhVBk9EWHCwvQ1FKR5nLvNTQGV-7Baesr8QYrAdnLecFV8lkAo4nYdtUK44GHMwxA_uVQn0O4h5Yj_nLcYTFFVi00UpGNADOxAi-67EyXi8oXVf4KJwLl3Qr91gjVCqCtrfEC_noVd0HQy7bDA/s1799/Chicago.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1799" data-original-width="1439" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-wBzdFov7qMOKZMA1Uub5N2skrjqvFdJuPuZhVBk9EWHCwvQ1FKR5nLvNTQGV-7Baesr8QYrAdnLecFV8lkAo4nYdtUK44GHMwxA_uVQn0O4h5Yj_nLcYTFFVi00UpGNADOxAi-67EyXi8oXVf4KJwLl3Qr91gjVCqCtrfEC_noVd0HQy7bDA/w512-h640/Chicago.JPG" width="512" /></a></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: helvetica; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Last week I went to Chicago for the annual International Downtown Association Conference. It was a chance to dig deep into the city with friends, colleagues and family. I loved the history, the soaring architecture and all the yummy food!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #e69138; font-family: helvetica; font-size: large; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Click <b>HERE</b> to see more pictures!</span></p>Cordeliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12689035328319541616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25214592.post-49134656014855984542023-07-09T13:48:00.001-04:002023-08-15T13:52:40.196-04:00Traveling in My Own Neighborhood<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmMU3m-9732AcrjvcYIZLpncMCzlc2mNWsAwpwlM5ZVLxNGLOSCMMGgB2xQMQZdjb3376Bteu0FgDZpwR9hknKgKlRKrzbaQrW1FFYYSBuKb3u2GxJxTt68TvVJlzwfnvg3qOsXBJ0boLrKM0CBOBEctO1TKVpON-rH8f-VmAW1qJL08Ti2wRp/s1290/colombian%20and%20ecuadoran%20festival.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1285" data-original-width="1290" height="638" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmMU3m-9732AcrjvcYIZLpncMCzlc2mNWsAwpwlM5ZVLxNGLOSCMMGgB2xQMQZdjb3376Bteu0FgDZpwR9hknKgKlRKrzbaQrW1FFYYSBuKb3u2GxJxTt68TvVJlzwfnvg3qOsXBJ0boLrKM0CBOBEctO1TKVpON-rH8f-VmAW1qJL08Ti2wRp/w640-h638/colombian%20and%20ecuadoran%20festival.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Meanwhile I know it makes it easier for me to stay home and yet still look like I’m traveling, living where I live. I had the Colombian Flower Festival Parade one block away and an Ecuadorian Summer Festival a few subway stops away today. Lots of culture and home resting again by 5! And since their flags are almost the same I could even theme dress for both events! #Queenslife</span></div><p></p><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif; font-size: 15px; white-space-collapse: preserve;"></span>Cordeliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12689035328319541616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25214592.post-33759289485189103592023-05-14T14:30:00.000-04:002023-05-30T14:41:24.990-04:00Visiting the Twin Cities - May 2023<p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFswTOY564OFHmmG2a0WQaEdOkvDE2Od_Ne3PQO-YMAjY3kPzCPiA4ukEpRWr3h8IFxCEUeZZLT7_IONWNfhN_3qY5hs9x4ekfmrXYDkoJsh0X4dntH5SB6bJM6s5kLtmdiv_kLSXLPg8Y5d-kStLtPLbu5Mi1Jgp1mbbJsm_qaWFcEFJQeQ/s1798/Twin%20Cities.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1198" data-original-width="1798" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFswTOY564OFHmmG2a0WQaEdOkvDE2Od_Ne3PQO-YMAjY3kPzCPiA4ukEpRWr3h8IFxCEUeZZLT7_IONWNfhN_3qY5hs9x4ekfmrXYDkoJsh0X4dntH5SB6bJM6s5kLtmdiv_kLSXLPg8Y5d-kStLtPLbu5Mi1Jgp1mbbJsm_qaWFcEFJQeQ/w640-h426/Twin%20Cities.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />I’m trying to see as much of America as I can. The Twin Cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul have always been on my bucket list, so I jumped on the chance to attend the International Downtown Association’s conference there and learn about the city from my kind of people, BID folk! They took me on walking tours and shared drinks on rooftops where we talked shop. Luckily I roped in a colleague/friend to extend the trip, so we would have time to dig a little deeper. Naturally we <span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit;" tabindex="-1"></a></span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "system-ui", ".SFNSText-Regular", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;">visited Prince’s home Paisley Park, ate a Juicy Lucy, walked beside one of the 10,000 lakes, explored their varied arts scene, strolled the skyways, were wowed by the mighty Mississippi, dove into the Somali and Hmong cultures and visited George Floyd Square to wrestle with that piece of history. All in all, it was a full and satisfying trip. The United States are varied and it’s always interesting to scratch a little deeper.</span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #e69138; font-size: medium;">Click <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=cordelia.persen&set=a.10102442683998576" target="_blank">HERE</a> if you want to see more photos from my trip.</span></b></p>Cordeliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12689035328319541616noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25214592.post-16514448749144795792023-05-13T14:38:00.003-04:002024-01-14T19:26:51.739-05:00Reflecting at George Floyd Square, Minneapolis<p style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVWrPDPaqb5_SCmiuURwAz2_yrqvJqAbKWICX46HynqOiIUtiWC3wJAa53jTHJzgRu9dSxka75JJhpN96IIViaoZ2dkebV0BmY_i6FgZgStKvMe11C2o_T0L3rzErGztpzVcrmOCv0pflRr8N9vdilrCFZfO5Q8yieWTOSpYWiCL2lIqkP0w/s1800/George%20Floyd.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1350" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVWrPDPaqb5_SCmiuURwAz2_yrqvJqAbKWICX46HynqOiIUtiWC3wJAa53jTHJzgRu9dSxka75JJhpN96IIViaoZ2dkebV0BmY_i6FgZgStKvMe11C2o_T0L3rzErGztpzVcrmOCv0pflRr8N9vdilrCFZfO5Q8yieWTOSpYWiCL2lIqkP0w/w480-h640/George%20Floyd.JPG" width="480" /></a></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; text-align: left; white-space-collapse: preserve;">When I was in Minneapolis, I felt like I needed to take a thoughtful visit to George Floyd Square. It felt weird because it’s not a museum, it’s a place people live their daily lives, and yet, it’s now a place where a very important, disturbing piece of history took place that has become an active memorial. Plus I mean, after all, I was there for a BID conference that focused on the City and this event was under the surface and yet not mentioned very much. Also I am an </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; text-align: left; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><a style="color: #385898; cursor: pointer;" tabindex="-1"></a></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; text-align: left; white-space-collapse: preserve;">experiential learner, so I went…</span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">While I was there multiple locals came up to talk to me to explain their perspective on the place or to tell me what wasn’t being done to improve people’s lives or the behavior of the police and also to tell me to be careful and not get hustled. The interactions were hard to process on their own. I left wondering what good could come out of this or if being put in the spotlight would actually really disturb most of these people’s lives. I can’t really explain what I mean, but I feel like I needed to share more of the complexities vs just posting pictures. </span></div></div><div class="x11i5rnm xat24cr x1mh8g0r x1vvkbs xtlvy1s x126k92a" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; margin: 0.5em 0px 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div dir="auto"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">In addition, on a larger level, I feel like there has been so much tumultuous stuff going on over the last few years and that we all keep moving on instead of fixing things. We put on our blinders instead of getting together and attempting to make important hard change. It makes me feel a little hopeless. </span></div><span class="x3nfvp2 x1j61x8r x1fcty0u xdj266r xhhsvwb xat24cr xgzva0m xxymvpz xlup9mm x1kky2od" style="display: inline-flex; font-family: helvetica; height: 16px; margin: 0px 1px; vertical-align: middle; width: 16px;"><img alt="😣" height="16" referrerpolicy="origin-when-cross-origin" src="https://static.xx.fbcdn.net/images/emoji.php/v9/t2e/2/16/1f623.png" style="border: 0px; text-align: justify;" width="16" /></span></div></div></div><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p>Cordeliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12689035328319541616noreply@blogger.com0