Appetite, situat en una perpendicular a l’avinguda Antic Regne de València. Abans era una empresa de catering però s’ha transformat, molt encertadament, en un xicotet i acollidor restaurant de la ciutat de València.

Vam ser tres comensals i vam demanar 5 tapes dentre la selecta carta de tapes orientals, les ensalades, star dishes i i el wok.  Dos postres. Un Potros per beure i aigüeta…

Va estar encertat. Tot i els efectes de la grip i el cansament, ho vam passar molt bé i ens vam anar a casa, sobretot jo, amb la panxa ben plena.

Venerable Father Agnelo de Sousa: Son of Goa *Dr.Ivo da Conceicao Souza Introduction: We seldom think of our own sons and daughters living a saintly, holy life, with the power of God. Goa has produced marvelous people. We think of Venerable Father Agnelo de Sousa and of Blessed Father Joseph Vaas. Yes, there are many who have not been, and will not be, canonized. Our parents will surely be among the chosen. In spite of our strenuous efforts, Father Agnelo de Sousa is still on the way to he altar. Father Agnelo revealed himself as a shepherd, a preacher, a confessor and an administrator. We shall reflect on his human existence within the Goan context: Anjuna, Rachol and Pilar. His Family: Faith… Rachol: Pilar: Born on January 21, 1869 at 7 p.m. in the ward of Ganvaddi of Anjuna, in the taluka of Bardez, to Miguel Arcanjo Mariano de Sousa and Maria Sinforosa Perpetua Magalhaes, he had to be baptized privately at home soon after his birth, as there was danger for his life. Then on February 13, 1869, he was solemnly baptized with the name of Agnelo Gustavo Adolfo de Sousa, by Fr.Joao Baptista de Sousa, Asst.Parish-priest of Anjuna, with the permission of the Vicar-in-charge, Fr.Valentim Constantino Fernandes. His god-father was Gustavo Adolfo de Frias, from Mapusa, through his proxy, Esmeraldo Felicissimo Jesus de Sousa, from Anjuna, , and the god-mother was Ana Piedade Angelina de Brito, from Anjuna. Since he was born on the day of the feast of St. Agnes, Virgin and Martyr, the child was given the name of Agnelo, a “little lamb”. There is much in the name: Agnelo was gentle, peace-loving, humble, obedient, lover of silence. From among nine children, eight boys and one girl, he was the sixth child of his parents. The atmosphere of faith and love, in which Agnelo grew together with his parents, instilled in him apostolic spirit. His mother would give catechetical instruction to the children of neighbourhood. Agnelo lost his father, when he was only eleven years old (on May 6, 1880), and his mother, two years later, on May 22, 1882. On her deathbed, his mother summoned her children round her and, pointing out to the picture of the Mother of Jesus, told them: “My darling children, I am about to leave you for good. From now onwards your true Mother is our Lady, to whom you should turn in all your needs”. Agnelo grew in his great devotion to the Virgin Mary. Agnelo studied in the government primary school in the village of Anjuna, where he learnt Portuguese from Fr.Inacio Valeriano Rebelo with flying colours. One of his uncles, Fr.Lazaro Fortunato Sousa, seeing his zeal in the catechism classes, prophesied: “Agnelo will one day be a virtuous Priest and a renowned Preacher”. He was an angel of peace among his classmates. Sensing his priestly vocation, his eldest brother, Fr. Manuelinho, asked him regarding priesthood, to which question Agnelo answered affirmatively. Therefore, Fr.Manuelinho sent him for Latin classes, conducted in the parish of Anjuna by Fr. Luis Jose Pais. After two years, he joined the “Aulas Filiais” (Affiliated Classes) of Rachol Seminary at Mapusa; and, later on, he went to the Patriarchal Seminary of Rachol for studies in Theology. He was a proficient and a well-disciplined student. After completing the Theological Course on March 22, 1893, he was invited by Fr.Jose Joaquim Lourenco de Sousa, from Khobravaddo, Calangute, Bachelor in Theology (on 13.3.1897) and his erstwhile professor at Rachol Seminary (1883-1901), to tutor to his nephews at his own house at Calangute. For three years he taught Latin and Portuguese to several children in and around Calangute, without any remuneration, until he moved into the house of his cousin, Felicio Santana de Sousa, at Gauravaddo in Calangute, and continued to teach there, where in August of 1896 he had twenty-five students—ten for Latin from the Patriarchal Seminary of Rachol, two for Latin from the National Lyceum and thirteen for primary instruction in Portuguese. Only one of them was a girl, studying Latin for Lyceum. He was muttering prayers, whenever he had to address her…(and there is a tradition that he would cover his eyes with umbrella when he had to teach girls…) After teaching for four years in Calangute, Agnelo received the Minor Orders on December 22, 1895, and was ordained Sub-deacon on December 19, 1896. As the Portuguese Government forbade religious societies in Goa, but he ardently desired to join a Religious Order, Agnelo made up his mind to seek admission in the Society of Missionaries of St.Francis Xavier at Pilar. After being admitted as a candidate in the Society of Pilar on July 17, 1897—the feast day of Our Lady of Pilar, patroness of the Convent and of the Society—he was ordained Deacon on December 18, 1897, by the first Patriarch of the East Indies, Archbishop Dom Antonio Sebastiao Valente (1882-1908), at the Convent of St. Monica, Old Goa, and five months later on May 22, 1898, he made his first profession as a member of Missionary Society of Pilar, in the presence of the Superior, Msgr.Lucio Vaz, the successor of Fr.Bento Martins, the Founder and first Superior of the Society in 1887. Agnelo was ordained a Priest on September 24, 1899—the feast of Our Lady of Merces—by the Patriarch-Archbishop Dom Antonio Sebastiao Valente, at the Cathedral See of Goa. He offered his First Eucharist at the Monastery of Pilar, in the presence of the Members of the Society, friends, relatives and people from the surrounding villages. The Missionary Society of St.Francis Xavier: In 1759 the Marquis de Pombal, Sebastiao Jose de Carvalho e Melo, suppressed in Portugal and its colonies the Jesuit Society, till in 1835 all religious orders were banished from Goa. All foreign missionaries had to leave their religious houses, their properties were confiscated to the State, their institutions left without personnel. At this juncture, the Goan Diocesan priests stepped into the breach, till in 1882 Dom Antonio Sebastiao Valente came to Goa as Archbishop and became the first Patriarch of the East Indies. A charismatic Goan priest, Fr.Jose Mariano Clemente Bento Martins, from Orlim, offered his services and threw the seeds of the Missionary Society of St.Francis Xavier. The Society was founded on September 26, 1887, and Fr.Bento Martins was appointed its first Superior for a term of five years. Fr.Bento and his companions worked in Valpoi, Satari, and in the chapel of Agonda, in the taluka of Kanakon. By a Decree of February 4, 1890, Dom A.Sebastiao Valente transferred the residence of the Missionaries of the Society from the district of Kanakon to the Old Monastery of Pilar. His Priestly Ministry: Fr.Agnelo spent the first ten years of his priestly life, almost buried in the recesses of the Monastery at Pilar. Like a hermit, he lived in an atmosphere of faith and silence, and grew in the virtue of love. On September 8, 1908, the day of the Nativity of Our Lady, Fr.Agnelo made the solemn promise of perpetual dedication to the service of the Society, on the steps of the altar of Our Lady of Pilar, in the presence of his Superior and brother-members of the Society. Soon after his perpetual profession, Fr.Agnelo was appointed Confessor of the students of the Seminary of Rachol on August 18, 1908, by Dom Teotonio Manuel Ribeiro Vieira de Castro (1931-1940), Bishop of Mylapore and Administrator of the Archdiocese of Goa. Meanwhile, he resided in the church of Siroda, as an Assistant to fellow-members of the Society of Pilar, to Fr.Jose Nicolau Sousa, and later to Fr.Possidio Gracias, who were successively Vicars of Siroda. A Missionary: By the Decree of December 10, 1909, Fr. Agnelo was appointed as Missionary Vicar of Kumpta in North Kanara (now in the diocese of Karwar), by the new Patriarch of Goa, Dom Matheus de Oliveira Xavier (1909-1929), and took charge of his post on January 6, 1910. He served the missionary parish of Kumpta, for a short period of seven years, till May 21, 1917, when he was transferred to Sanvordem in Goa, as an Assistant to the Parish-priest, Fr.Alcuino da Costa. Very little has been recorded about his work among the people of Kumpta, but there is a tablet on the walls of the church of Kumpta regarding his work. As a shepherd, Fr.Agnelo built a community of faith and a community of love. A Preacher: Fr.Agnelo was known as a saintly preacher throughout his priestly life through is sermons, retreats and missions. During his preaching ministry, from the year 1908 till 1927, he covered almost every parish of Goa. He became a “martyr to preaching”—proclaiming the Word of God, even in his acute physical suffering, until he died—that was his last sermon on the day of Vespers of the Sacred Heart of Jesus—his greatest devotion—in the Patriarchal Seminary of Rachol. He died at his post as a preacher. Through preaching he drew men and women to God, to his Son, to a renewed life. He would preach with unction, what would render his preaching effective. What was attracting others was that he had within his heart what he wished to share with others. His sermons at Kumpta were simple, like sparks of fire. He touched the hearts of the people. He preached what he lived. He would pray before the Blessed Sacrament or lean on his bed with the Cross in his hands as a preparation for his sermons and spiritual talks. Prayer would give him courage to preach the “crucified love” (cf.1 Cor 2:2; cf. Ga 6:14). He was preaching frequently in Calangute, particularly for the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. Once my father, Bernardino da C.Souza, retained and reproduced in an article what Fr. Agnelo preached: “Bhavando, Tumi rabonakat ki dusro vaurtolo mhunn tumchea pasot hea sonvsarant ani tumkam vhortolo mhunnon sorgar. Vortota pisai, bhavando, pisai. Apapnnem vauronk zai sorgincho mokutt zoddcheak”. His voice in the pulpit was like the roar of a lion (particularly when preaching on Death and Final Judgment), by contrast with the gentleness and humaneness, like a lamb (“Agnellus” that he was), in the confessional, as he himself explained it: “We are fishermen in the pulpit—we splash the waters in order to drive the fish into the net; when in the confessional, we gather them”. He was devoted to the Eucharist, to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, to Mary, Mother of Sorrows, and to the Guardian Angel. Spiritual Director: Fr.Agnelo was appointed Spiritual Director of the “internal” students (“internos”) of Rachol Seminary on May 20, 1918, at the request of its Rector, Msgr.Ganganelli da Piedade Rebelo, when he was serving as Assistant to the Parish-priest of the Mission of Sanvordem, and appointment that was confirmed by the Patriarch of Goa, Dom Matheus de Oliveira Xavier. On April 15, 1920, while he was confirmed as Spiritual Director of the Seminary, he was also appointed Director of the Apostleship of Prayer in the same Seminary, where he served till the end. Fr.Agnelo was a “model” in his times, depending on his temperament and mentality. There was a consensus in assessing him as “humble, prayerful, self-denying and saintly”. He was a father, teacher, friend and guide to the seminarians, entrusted to his paternal care, to whose training he devoted himself wholeheartedly. They would hang on to his lips, without getting tired of listening to him, since he was clear, sincere, convinced of what he was saying. Road to perfection for the seminarians was, according to him, to be enamoured of their duties as students and as priests-to-be. “As seminarians, so will the priests be”. He was devoted to the Sacred Heart and would say: “We have to burn ourselves somewhere, either in this world with love of the Sacred Heart of Jesus or in the next life in hell”. He would inculcate in them love for the Apostleship of Prayer, as an efficacious means of “winning souls to God”. It is to be on records that by 1920 Fr.Agnelo placed a picture of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in the upper corridor of Rachol Seminary, near the staircase, where the professors would come together on Fridays, to pray the prayer of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. He would walk through the Seminary corridors, with downcast eyes, with hands in the pocket, praying the Rosary. Fr. Agnelo impressed one and all as being “gripped by God”, leading the students by the force of his example. He would inspire and influence in a charming way all those who came in contact with him. He would console the seminarians and render stability to their priestly vocation, as well encourage those who would like to embrace the religious life. He would recommend them to read the “Imitation of Christ” of Thomas A Kempis. Fr.Agnelo would be concerned, not only with the “spiritual” life of the seminarians, but also wit their holistic well-being, including their material wants. He would help them even financially, chiefly those coming from less privileged families. Once he told one of the Seminary professors to “be scrupulous in failing him (the student), for thereby he suffers the loss of his money, of his energy and of the year of the priesthood”. He lived as an example and died a good death, which was the “apotheosis of his saintly life”. His Death: He was feeling weaker in spite of medical care provided by Dr.Victor Dias, the “beast of burden” (“mon’zat”, as he would call his body) could not stand any longer the strain of his work, austerity and vigils. He had already a presentiment of his death drawing near. While he was preaching the Novena of the Sacred Heart , having reached the last day, at Vespers of the Feast, on November 19, 1927, Fr.Agnelo could not continue to preach, ended it earlier, knelt in the pulpit for a final thanksgiving prayer, lost balance, was borne away in a helpless, but conscious state. Laid on a bench in the corridor of the church at his request, Fr.Agnelo received with folded hands the benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. He had suffered a cerebral thrombosis with paralysis of the left arm and leg. While the Seminary physician, Dr.Joao Filipe Figueiredo, was urgently summoned and medical treatment at once imparted, the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick was given by Fr.Bruno de Menezes, Professor of Liturgy and Gregorian Chant. He received from him also the Holy Viaticum and then lapsed into a coma, on the day of the Feast of the Sacred Heart, at 5 a.m. on November 20, 1927, as he had already during his life expressed a desire. Seminarians were near his bed, two by two, trying their best to attend to him throughout the night. Some of them spoke to me about his death: Fr.Walter Mathias, SJ, my Spiritual Father in Rachol Seminary, and Fr.Ludovico A. Figueiredo, my friend who was a Parish-priest in Ribandar church. He did not have even a shirt in his box for the burial. Such was his self-annihilation and his love towards the poor. One could hear everyone saying: “He was a saint; a saint has died!” He was regarded as “illuminated”. The solemn funeral revealed the admiration of people from all walks of life and from all corners of Goa for him. Everyone would agree with the Parish-priest of Rachol, Fr.Manuel Albuquerque, who after the last rites, exclaimed: “ I have just laid a saint to rest”. On January 10, 1939, after twelve years, his bones were transferred to the Monastery of Pilar, which since then became a renowned pilgrimage centre, from where Fr.Agnelo is radiating his powerful message to the world. Man of Faith and Love: I remember having heard during my Seminary days about two episodes of his priestly life. Once when Fr.Agnelo was in Panjim together with his relatives, a young urchin came to him, lifted up his cassock, and exclaimed in fun: “I wanted just to see whether you are a man or a woman”. Fr.Agnelo remained calm and silent, amidst protests on the part of his companions. Another time, when he was Vicar in the missionary parish of Kumpta, at dead of night some drunk troublemakers from the parish knocked at his door and demanded the parish accounts. They had taken to the court a previous Parish Priest over the accounts, but the Judge had acquitted him. Now they had decided to harass Fr.Agnelo. But being mild and gentle by nature, he received them like a gentleman and asked them: “Would you like to see the accounts? Well, that is but fair and proper. The money is yours and you have every right to examine the accounts. Here is the account book”. The poor drunkards were flabbergasted. With apologies, the trouble-mongers went away. Fr.Agnelo was a model of accountability, he revealed his acumen as an able administrator. When his colleagues spoke to him about the decline of vocations for their Society, Fr.Agnelo assured them: “Be not afraid. The Society is not going to die. The finger of God is here!” His Physique and Character: Being gaunt of frame, frail, weak in health, melancholic look, with downcast eyes, eating frugally for God’s love, Fr.Agnelo would not “impress” through his physique, but he would influence through his keen sight and spiritual looks. He would look lovingly at his seminarians, like Jesus (cf. Mk 10:21: “And Jesus looking upon him loved him—the young man”). Simple, humble, unassuming, austere by nature, obedient to the Superior, even if it be a stick (or of wood), not photogenic, never hitting the headlines nor facing the floodlights, he had stubborn courage of his convictions in action. In the Vineyard of the Lord all are, in the ultimate analysis, “unworthy servants” (cf. Lk 17:10). Fr. Agnelo was cultivating the presence of God, finding him in every person and place (cf.Acts 17:28: “In him we live and move and have our being”). He would repeat some of his short, pithy maxims, full of simplicity and wisdom. Let me quote some of them: “We ought to be saints in order to attain our goal”. “There is nothing better than to be a saint, even the bones of saints are venerated”. “By amusing ourselves we cannot reach heaven, the saints were not fools to do penance”. “Holiness does not consist in hearing Masses, in receiving Holy Communion many times, in reciting many Rosaries, but in this: turn from evil and do good”. “Trust in God and rest like a dog at the feet of the Master”. “We ought to obey our Superiors, even if they were of wood”. “One must not leave off a good action on account of the criticism of others”. Very few readers will know that Fr.Agnelo was smoking “beedi” (canudo, Indian cigarrette), which he was jocularly saying that it is his “vice”… Conclusion: His Process of Beatification is going on in full swing. Miracles have been recorded from the beginning. In the past, the reports were given by the physicians who have treated the patients. Now, for a long time, they are given by the patients themselves. Let us walk in his steps without losing our own individuality, but by incarnating the Gospel values, which our Venerable Agnelo lived and proclaimed: faith and love… *Fr.Ivo da C.Souza is Professor of biblical exegesis and sociology in the Patriarchal Seminary of Rachol. He has delved deeply into the life of Fr.Agnelo de Sousa. As a seminarian, Father Ivo was writing for India’s Call on subjects for young folks: “Hi! Young Folks”. We thank him and hope that he will continue to write for our review…

She’s spiritual, literary – even architectural.

Thanks to Arthur for suggesting Pilar as Name of the Day.

You might name your son Arch or Gable.  But Pillar probably wouldn’t make the cut for either gender.  A pillar is a vertical support structure, often of stone or brick.  Pillars can stand alone – as in a monument – or be part of a building’s support structure.  Pilar is simply the Spanish translation of pillar.

Except that it means so much more.  Back in the first century, legend has it that the apostle James was trolling for converts in Zaragoza.  His efforts were falling short.  In the midst of his despair, James was visited by Mary.  His vision showed her atop a pillar held aloft by angels and so she became known as Nuestra Señora del Pilar or María del Pilar – Mary of the Pilar.

James went back to winning souls, this time with better results.  He later built a chapel on the site of her apparition before meeting his death by martyrdom.  Visit Zaragoza today and you’ll find the seventeenth century Basilica of Our Lady of the Pillar.  It’s much grander than the original structure, but more notably, it is believed to be the first church ever consecrated to Mary.

Other churches – and places – bear the name throughout Latin America.  Pilar has caught on as a girls’ name, mostly amongst speakers of Spanish and Portuguese and often as a compound name.

She picks up her literary edge from none other than Ernest Hemingway.  Hemingway penned For Whom the Bell Tolls back in 1940.  It’s the story of Robert Jordan, an American charged with blowing up a bridge during the Spanish Civil War.  Pilar is the strong-willed, capable wife of guerilla leader, Pablo.

Pilar was also Hemingway’s nickname for his second wife, Pauline, and the name he chose for his boat.

When the book was adapted for the big screen in 1943, Greek actress Katina Paxinou won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Pilar – lending a patina of Hollywood sophistication to the name.

All of this combines to make Pilar a surprisingly accessible choice.  Pilar is frills-free but still decidedly feminine.  She’s a subtle spiritual choice, and her literary association is fairly well-known.  If Atticus is fair game for boys, why not Pilar for girls?

The only hurdle faced by parents choosing Pilar is pronunciation.  In Spanish, she sounds something like pee LAHR.  American English would probably deliver something closer to peh LAHR – pretty, but not necessarily intuitive.  Odds are that your daughter would hear her name rhymed with Miller more than once.

And yet it might just be worth the risk.

Kate del Castillo, has been doing some schmoozing lately from Las Vegas to the Latin Grammy’s. Latina Magazine did a piece on what is inside Kate Del Castillo’s make-up bag. It turns out that Kate is a lil Recessionista. Most of her beauty products cost less then $50 bucks and you can probably buy them pretty much at any pharmacy or store.  Check it out:

Aura Cacia Sweet Almond Oil Organic, $12, auracacia.com

L’Oréal Paris Infallible Never Fail Lipcolour Compact in Cerise, $12

L’Oréal Paris Collagen Moisture Filler Day/Night Cream, $17

Obagi Nu-Derm Healthy Skin Protection SPF 35 #6, $44, lovelyskin.com

Clinique All About Lips, $20, department stores nationwide

Source: Latina

El Ing. Walter Causarano Martínez, Gerente Comercial de la Administración Nacional de Electricidad (ANDE) dijo a Radio Fe y Alegría que la fuerte tormenta que se precipitó ayer derribó 8 torres metálicas de transmisión de la entidad estatal en Pilar, departamento de Ñe´embucú.

Dijo que prevén reponer las torres en 48 horas. Esta situación afecta la red de trasmisión del suministro de energía eléctrica. Agregó que en las zonas urbanas ya se normalizó el servicio. Además, se registraron otros inconvenientes en el suministro de energía eléctrica en las localidades de  Misiones, Paraguari y Central.

Escuche Audio:

Breathe easy now, Singapore. The troubles that Ris Low have done are now far behind. Meet the new Miss World who will represent Singapore in the Miss World finals in South Africa.

Ladies and germs.. meet Pilar Arlando.

Ms Singapore 2009 - Pilar Arlando

Yes, Singapore. Breathe easy now. She’s prettier and better at interviews. Well, almost.

Good luck and God bless.

Por Pilar / by Pilar

Recién llegada a Munich, esta galilera-mamá-viajera tiene muy presente al equipo Alpaca*. Como suele suceder despues de un viaje: su corazón se ha dividido.  Esta aquí y allá, con JetLag incorporado. Para sentirse mejor hace una lista de 12 lecciones aprendidas, para l@s futur@s galiler@s-viajer@s…

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Just arrived in Munich, this traveller-galilera-mother has the Alpaca* team always on her mind. As usual, her heart is divided. It’s here and there (still with some traces of jetlag). To make her feel better, she has written a list of twelve lessons she has learnt, and wants to share it with the next GalileoMobile travellers…

Aqui van:

1. Tener en efectivo la moneda local(o en su defecto algunos dolaretes). ayuda para hacer llamadas de emergencia (y no tan urgentes), tomar taxis, comer alguito (…) y  sin morir en el intento.
2. Un mapa y un par de llamadas confirmando datos sobre el lugar al que se llega pueden ayudar a entrar en la probabilidad de SI llegar al lugar correcto, a la hora correcta por el medio correcto, y en buen estado.
3. Indicaciones dadas por los locales como “Si, es cerca”, “por allá”, “unas cuadras abajo”, “mas tardesito”  pueden no corresponder a lo que nos imaginamos. Las percepciones de espacio y de tiempo pueden ser tan distintas.
4. Con los intensos ritmos y (en ocasiones) recónditos itinerarios de GM, los problemas de comunicación (teléfono, internet, etc) son muy frecuentes. Esto hay que recordárselo a los seres queridos de antemano, para que no se preocupen. De verdad, con un océano de diferencia, es muy importante.
5. Un PenDrive “bien dotado” puede salvar tu día (En él, material para las actividades, stellarium, videos, Carl Sagan, imagenes, música, varios),
6. Un PenDrive con textos “pre-escritos” y algunas fotos puede agilizar la comunicación con quienes esperan noticias tuyas.
7. La compu, la cámara (o lo que sea que lleves que se enchufe), debe llevarse “con todos los juguetes” : sus respectivos adaptadores y accesorios.
8. No sobra llevar unos paños húmedos (tipo para los bebes) para el tema del aseo “en seco”…
9. Tener puesta la camiseta GalileoMobile ( y llevar consigo las cartas oficiales) además de abrir algunas puertas, da sensación de confianza (!).
10. Hay que prepararse. En los lugares equinoxiales, el mismo dia puede si/no llover y hacer mucho calor/frío. En la mochila ha de haber algo abrigado, ropa ligera, cremas hidratantes, de protección contra el frio, para el sol, lentes oscuros y muy buena onda.
11. Cada cual maneja y lidia sus manías (alimentos, medicamentos, aditamentos, etc). Llevar consigo el café, la pastilla para el mareo o la cobijita motosa favorita marcan una gran diferencia en este viaje.
12. Se necesita memoria. Memoria para no dejar pasar detalle, registro o recuerdo. Es un viaje irrepetible. Un proyecto maravilloso. Se necesita mucha memoria para retener con  buena resolución y alta fidelidad las miradas alegres de quienes nos esperan, aquellos lugares que no imaginamos, con sus propios colores, sabores, dolores y amores. Cada kilómetro de Galileomobile lleva en un secreto en su andar.

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Here they are:

1. Cash in local currency (or some dollars) is very useful. It allows you to make emergency calls (or simple phone calls), take taxis, eat something some time.
2. A map of the place you want to visit and a couple of phone calls to the local contacts help to be sure that the team will arrive at the right time, in good condition.
3. Some phrases used by the locals, such as “Si, es cerca”, “por alla”,”unas cuadras abajo”, “mas tardesito” might not be precise. Their perception of time and space might be different from ours.
4. Problems in comunications (telephone, internet) are always present, and can be enhanced with the hard  work days and the long trips one has to do. Let the people you love know just for their peace of mind, (an ocean in between really makes a difference).
5. A good loaded pen drive can save the day (activities material, stellarium, videos, pictures, music…)
6. A pen drive with pre-written e-mails and some pictures can make things easier when you need to comunicate with those who are waiting for news from you.
7. Computers, cameras (or whatever needs electricity), must always be carried with adaptors and cables.
8. Wet wipes (like those for babies) are strongly recomended, especially for the times where no shower is available.
9. Wearing the Galileo t-shits and having always the official letters give a feeling of confidence.
10. You have to be ready for equinoxial places. The same day can be cold and then warm. It might rain and then the sun might shine, so take your creams, sunglasses, warm clothes, light clothes, and a good will.
11. Everyone takes care of everyone’s stuff (food, medicines). Take some favorite personal things with you. That  might help.
12. A good memory is needed, for taking note of every detail. This trip is unique. A wonderful project, and it’s important to keep in our minds the eyes of all those who waited for us in places we never thought to see before, with their own colours, flavours and loves. Each mile of the Galileomobile has a secret within.

Let the stars keep on shining in the path of the GalileoMobile.

Que el brillo del las estrellas siga guiando los destinos de GalileoMobile.

Hasta Galileo!

* Equipo Alpaca: fracción de GalileoMobile, que se encuentra en América del Sur.

the pilar´s reflex looked like its other half in an other dimension

]]> http://voicesfromcsm.wordpress.com/2009/10/30/spanish-volunteers-work-with-osca/ Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:27:18 +0000 voicesfromelsalvador http://voicesfromcsm.wordpress.com/2009/10/30/spanish-volunteers-work-with-osca/

In September two volunteers from Spain came to CSM to replace Teresa who had been working with OSCA. This Spanish NGO program is run through the Fundacion Segundo Montes. Maria and Pilar aare both university graduates who studied horticulture.

The girls work mainly with the FSM but have been collaborating and supporting OSCA as well! Yesterday at the temple, Pilar gave a presentation about organic farming and its benefits to youth of OSCA. Behind the temple there is a plot of land where the Pastoral eam planted pineapples in April (with help from the USF students delegation). There is some more space and the OSCA youth are getting organized to learn about hortilculture and start planting.

They decided yesterday to plant cilantro, tomatos and cucumber and will start cleaning up the land on Tuesday at 4pm with the help of Pilar.

Por Pilar/By Pilar

13.10.09. 9:00 am. Iquique, Chile.

Cuando se conforma un equipo de trabajo, conciliar diferencias y llegar a acuerdos es todo un tema: se hace camino al andar. Responsabilidades, estilos, formas, tiempos, espacios, decisiones importantes:

- ¿A quién le toca chequear su correo donde los pakistanies?

- ¿Quién compra las frutas y el pan para el desayuno?

- Al fin, ¿a qué hora vamos a salir rumbo a Colchane?

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When a working team is created, it is not easy to make decisions and to overcome differences. On the road we build our own road: responsibilities, different styles, space and decisions to make…

- Who has to read e-mails in the Pakistan store?

- Who gets some fruits? who gets the bread for the breakfast?

- When do we start our way to Colchane?

En los caminos del Altiplano / On the roads of Altiplano (the High Plains)

13.10.09. 7:00 pm. Vía Colchane/ On the road to Colchane.

La tripulación de GalileoMobile sintió el cambio de altura. El balance: varias paradas, varios “apunados” (malestar estomacal, dolor de cabeza, mareo etc.). Recorremos varios kilómetros sin señalización, ni iluminación. Sabemos que quizás no haya luz en el pueblo. Nos están esperando. Es tarde. Estamos inquietos. Ha sido un día difícil para todos, para todas.

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The GalileoMobile crew felt the high altitude. As a result, we did several stops and there were some “apunados” (stomach aches, head ache, dizziness etc). We went through several miles without streetlights or traffic signals. We know the chances of finding no electricity in the next village. Its late.They’re waiting for us and it make us a bit nervous.  It has been a hard day for us all.

13.10.09. Entrada la noche. Casa parroquial, Colchane / Deep in the night, Colchane’s church-rectory.

“Buenas noches, nosotros somos GalileoMobile, disculpen la tardanza (…)”. En la oscuridad aparece Mauricio. Su atuendo nos indica que fuera de los autos hace mucho mucho frío. Con un fuerte apretón nos saluda, nos presenta, nos acoge. Me sobrecojo. Hemos llegado muy lejos. Alrededor de la fogata, maestras, maestros y estudiantes nos ofrecen un abrigado e inolvidable recibimiento: cantos, saltos, comida, miradas. Observamos a Júpiter, jugamos con las constelaciones, contamos historias. Es más de lo que nos esperábamos. En medio de una maravillosa noche nos vamos a dormir.

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“Good evening, we are GalileoMobile, sorry for being late (…)”. In the darkness appears Mauricio. The way he is dressed tells us that outside the car the temperature is really low. He greets us with shaking hands, introduces himself and recieves us in a friendly manner. I was amazed. We got really far. Around the fire, teachers and students offer a warm and unforgetable welcome: songs, dances, food, sights. We watched Jupiter, we played with the constellations, we told stories…more than what we expected. After that lovely night, we could only seek for some rest.

El cielo desde Colchane / The sky in Colchane

14.10.09. 10:30 am. Liceo Tecnico Profesional, Colchane

Esta jornada trabajaremos con al menos 60 niños de jardín a tercero básico. En la mitad del patio escolar Eva, Miriam y Phillipe coordinan las actividades solares. Los chicos hacen fila para ver el sol por el telescopio (debidamente protegido) y luego para ver posters en 3D.  Se ven muy emocionados, hacen preguntas, proyectan el arcoiris en sus camisetas. Víctor y yo estamos ubicados frente a la “Ventana astronómica” (mural informativo y con actividades relacionadas con la astronomía). Tomamos de las manos a los niños y les invitamos a simular los movimientos del Sol y de la Tierra. Empezamos a desarrollar las actividades de nuestra cartilla Galileo. Seguimos sin pausa y con sed hasta las 2 pm. Estamos contentos. Fue una jornada muy intensa y productiva. Vamos a almorzar y a alistarnos para la observación en Cariquime.

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This new day we worked with at least 60 kids from first to third level. In the middle of the school’s yard, Eva, Miriam and Phillipe develop solar activities. The kids form a line to see the sun through the telescope (with the appropiate filters) and then to see 3D posters. They look really excited, ask questions, and project the rainbow on to their t-shirts. Victor and I are in front of “la Ventana Astronomica’ (astronomical window), a wall with astronomical information. We take children’s hands and we mimic the movement of the sun and the earth. We make activities taken from our Galileo handbook. Thirsty and without rest we keep on working untill 2 pm. We are satisfied. It was a very intense and productive day. We are going for lunch and then we’ll get ready for the night at Cariquime.

14.10.09. 7 pm. Cariquima, Chile.

La pintoresca arquitectura de este lugar del Altiplano contrasta con nuestro telescopio naranja. El equipo GalileoMobile se instala mientras conversa con uno de los primeros habitantes de Cariquima, el padre Eugenio. Avanza la tarde. Desciende la temperatura. El público ahora está conformado por los y las estudiantes internos de origen Aymara. En medio de la exposición  una cosmogonía (desconocida para nosotros) relacionada con la edad del sol nos recuerda las distintas maneras que hay para relacionarse, pensar y explicar el mundo en que vivimos. Entre tanto, los fuertes vientos sugieren suspender la observación e impulsan al equipo a regresar a la comuna de Colchane. Es hora de alistar maletas para el viaje a Putre. Último destino de la primera parte del viaje en Chile.

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The picturesque architecture of this place contrasts with our orange telescope. The GalileoMobile team prepare themselves while talking to one of the first inhabitants of Cariquima, Father Eugene. The night comes down and the temperature drops. The public now consists of the students with an Aymara origin. In the middle of  the presentations, they describe their ideas (unknown to us)  concerning the age of the sun and this reminds us that there are many different ways to interact, think and explain the world we live in.  Meanwhile strong winds suggest to stop observations, and take the team to the rectory of Colchane. It’s time to pack suitcases for the trip to Putre. Final destination of the first part of the trip in Chile.

Esperando su turno para el telescopio / Childrens waiting to use the telescope

First, congratulations to reader Photoqulity for a successful showing of her work Fuzzhead by DP at the Newport News Fall Festival of Folklife.  Her bibs rock!

Now, back to our regularly scheduled programming.

True fact: I can recite the original text of Where the Wild Things Are.  From memory.  (And yet I regularly forget my PIN number.  Go figure.)  

Parlor tricks aside, it sounds like Spike Jonze has managed to turn Maurice Sendak’s beloved classic into an appealing children’s movie.  Best of all?  He got to name the monsters! Fritinancy linked to an interview with Jonze and Sendak about christening the five Carol (male), Alexander, Ira, Judith and Douglas.   But we all know that the name to get the biggest boost from this flick is probably the already popular Max – he of the wolf-suit, who could soar in the 2010 rankings.

Speaking of heights, unless you were under a rock, surely you caught the not-flight of Falcon, the boy who ran up a bill with NORAD in a balloon built by his daredevil Dad.   (Except not.  It turned out Falcon was on terra firma the whole time.)  No, you’re not imagining it, either – Daphne du Maurier penned an all-but-forgotten novel titled The Flight of the Falcon back in 1965 – but her main characters were Aldo and Armino.  Falcon has brothers named Bradford and Ryo, and the whole family recently featured on an episode of Wife Swap.

While we’re talking television:

• On FOX’s high school musical Glee, quarterback Finn suggested a baby name to cheerleader Quinn: Drizzle.  Quinn was not impressed;
• On the baby shower episode of 18 Kids and Counting, grandma-elect Michelle fixed Mackynzie’s name on the sheet cake after the bakery biffed the spelling.  The first, I’ll bet of many such incidents.

In real life, non-reality-TV baby  names:

• Bewildertrix wrote about the Boo phenom.  I have yet to spot it in the US, but apparently there’s an epidemic of girls with names like Daisy Boo elsewhere in the English speaking world.  And she spotted a Kherington – as in Fame!  Of course, hers was a middle name – Brooke Kherington;
• In News from the North, parentcentral.ca reports on a new baby named Briese Lively.  The first name is a friend’s surname, pronounced Breeze.  I can’t help think that Briese would’ve benefitted from a more restrained pick in the middle spot;
• From Canada to Russia, with love … Nancy posted about the most popular names in Vladivostok, Russia, where the As have it – Anastasia, Alexandra, Anna, Alexander and Artem share the top spots, along with Vladislav  - can you imagine being Vladislav from Vladivostok;
• Speaking of global names, Laura Wattenberg posted on the Global Hit Name You Haven’t Noticed - Matthew.  And Matteo, Matthias, Mate, Mathieu …

A few other notes:

• Actress Nia Long’s son (he’s eight) is called Massai Zhivago.  Call me crazy, but I love it;
• Real World alum Rachel Campos-Duffy (back from Season Three, San Francisco, when we were all watching) grew up and became an occasional guest host of The View, the political conservative they call on when their regular reality-star-alum/political conservative isn’t available.  I might not agree with her, but I like the names she and husband Sean picked – and they’ve had a lot of practice.  Baby #6 is on the way – the first five are Eva Pilar, Xavier Jack, Lucia-Belen, John-Paul and Paloma Pilar;
• Now that’s how to name twins! Arrested Development actor Jeffrey Tambor and wife Kasia have welcomed Hugo Bernard and Eli Nicholas, little brothers for Eve Julia and Gabriel Kasper.  Then again, dad has plenty of experience.  He’s 65;
• SNL’s Bill Hader and wife welcomed daughter Hannah Kathryn.

But the big starbaby news of the week is the arrival of Lou Sulola.  Check out Nameberry’s Pamela Redmond Satran’s slideshow up at The Daily Beast, listing the many celeb babies given names that range from gender-neutral to gender-bending.

And lastly, I’m headed to New Orleans for a friend’s wedding this weekend.  The Names of the Day posts will continue as planned, but if I do post a Sunday Summary, it will be brief!

Mirar que decoracion tan bonita se puede hacer con la base donde se guardan las palomitas del maiz.

About a month ago, my friend Nicki Thompson sent me a link to info about the celebration of la Fiesta del Pilar in the Spanish city of Zaragoza.

I’ve never taken part in a Spanish festival before, so I was intrigued. My excitement grew as I read that Zaragoza celebrates the religious holiday with free concerts, outdoor theater, dancing, tons of food and fireworks. The fact that it’s a national holiday, ergo a three-day weekend with plenty of time to travel, clinched it for me.

The Saturday morning before the festival (which took place on Monday, Oct. 12), I boarded a bus to Zaragoza with my friends Lauren, Liz and Jake. The nearly four-hour trip was made easier by the beautiful surrounding terrain and a trippy Denzel Washington movie, which I periodically watched, albeit on mute because I didn’t have headphones to hook into the feed. (Incidentally, I just IMDB’d that and found that the movie was “Deja Vu”).

Upon our arrival in Zaragoza, the foursome hoofed it from the bus station to our hostel, soaking up the warm weather and making a pitstop for tapas.

While Lauren took a recharging nap in the hostel, Liz, Jake and I acquainted ourselves with the city.

We encountered free entertainment, beautiful architecture, whacky fun and the just plain trippy:

This band of percussionists rocked the simple, but groovetastic method of drumming.

The basilica dedicated to la Señora del Pilar, whom the festival honors.

I got this!

This parade was so weird and interesting!

I felt like I got my money’s worth in that first afternoon, and that anything more was just gravy. So one can imagine how excited I was that I still had two days left in that thriving bastion of culture.

I have very few regrets from the weekend, but one of them occurred that first night. The official schedule said there would be fireworks at 9:15 p.m., but we weren’t sure because we asked a native and she said there wouldn’t be fireworks that night. Turns out she was wrong.

While stopping in a store near the central plaza, we heard the explosions of fireworks.We quickly left the store. We could hear the fireworks, but our view was blocked by the closely-knit buildings.

We booked it as fast as we could to the plaza, but our task was hindered by the mass of people standing between us and the perfect nightcap. In a disappointing twist of fate, we made it to the plaza mere seconds after the fireworks stopped. Oh well.

After sampling a free rock concert in the plaza, candied apples and hot dogs, we called it a night.

The guy pulled Lauren out of the crowd to dance Aragonese style.

The next day brought even more free cultural fun. The four of us viewed Francisco de Goya paintings in a museum, checked out the collection of local food and wares, and listened to a traditional Aragonese band. (Zaragoza is the capital of the region of Aragon).

Me in front of the palace. It had a bridge over what used to be a moat!

The highlight of Sunday afternoon was definitely the Aljaferia, a palace that once served as the home to Muslim caliphs and later to Catholic kings. It’s one of the last buildings of its kind left in Spain, outside of Andalusia.

I also love Islamic architecture

By late afternoon, our feet were aching and our stomachs were growling. We decided to utilize the hostel’s kitchen and fix an economical pasta dinner. Ingredients: noodles, pre-made spaghetti sauce, bread, grated parmesan cheese. Total cost of a dinner for four: 4.77 euro. Man, I love being a cheap college student.

After dinner, our night was just beginning. We took a city bus to Zaragoza’s version of German Oktoberfest, held at the local carnival/amusement park. We were disappointed to find that Oktoberfest was being celebrated in one big tent, outside of which stretched a ridiculously long line. It was about a two hour wait to get inside the tent, and I was in no mood to do that.

Around and around and around we go, on the ferris wheel

We decided to go on a few rides before we made a final decision about the beer tent. First, we went on the ferris wheel, which was one of the fastest and most exciting ferris wheel rides I’ve ever experienced. I decided to try to take some artsy photos, some of which turned out kind of cool.

A ride similar to the Sea Dragon at Michigan’s Adventure also caught my eye. It was basically a roller coaster that went forward and backward several times, up and down a sort of half-pipe track. Lauren isn’t a fan of coasters, but she stepped up her game and rode with us. It definitely made us all feel that pull in the pit of our stomachs, the feeling that you either love or hate. I love it.

We roller coastered like Egyptians

By about midnight, Liz and I were ready to head back to the hostel for shut-eye because we wanted to rise early for a mass on the official day of the festival. Lauren and Jake decided to wait in line to get into the Oktoberfest tent. No one had any regrets about their choice.

The church in the quiet darkness before the 6:30 a.m. mass

My alarm went off at 5 a.m., and I sat up and realized that Jake was still not back from Oktoberfest. Liz came down the hallway to meet me, and we walked downstairs to the hostel entrance just as Lauren and Jake stepped out of a cab. Lauren bid us goodnight, but Jake decided he wanted to go to mass.

In retrospect, Jake probably needed more sleep.  He almost nodded off and slid onto the woman sitting next to us.

Although he was posing here, this is a dead-on approximation of his state at mass

I give him props for going, though. Even though he was basically there in body, not in mind, he can still say he went.

After mass, the crux of the weekend commenced: la ofrenda floral. This is basically a huge procession of people from all over the country, decked out in traditional clothing, who bring flowers to the altar in the center of the Plaza del Pilar. It took all day to completely fill the offertory altar. Quite impressive.

La ofrenda floral at the beginning of the day...

Traditionally-garbed people bring flowers to the offertory altar

...the finished project

After watching the procession for awhile, the three of us headed back to the hostel to catch up on some sleep. By mid-afternoon, we were ready to check out of the hostel and have our last hurrah in the heart of the city. We lounged by the river, saw the inside of another cool church, grabbed a quick lunch, and listened to some more traditional music as dancers performed choreographed numbers while playing the castanets. It was another day filled with sights and sounds that I’ll never forget.

Choreographed dancing while playing the castanets. That's talent.

Three days is definitely not enough to truly soak in and understand a different culture, obviously, but we packed as much fun and cultural experiences into those three days as was humanly possible.

Zaragoza was a good life choice.

Me on a bridge over the Rio Ebro, behind the basilica.

Street seller of hats and cachirulos in Zaragoza (Spain) during Pilar Holidays

Canon EOS 450D + 55-250 IS

Flickr | Panoramio | Photoblogs | Cool Photoblogs

Living Statue on the streets of Zaragoza (Spain) during Pilar Holidays

Canon EOS 450D + 55-250 IS

Flickr | Panoramio | Photoblogs | Cool Photoblogs

Ya tenéis disponibles las fotos del viaje a Cádiz. Si alguno queréis que incluya alguna más ya sabéis donde hay que mandarlas.

Nos vemos moteros.