Bogota Blogger

I went to a reception to celebrate the publication of a book of poetry by Maria Gomez Lara, who’s seventeen. Her book is called Preguntas para el Azar, which translates roughly to Questions about Chance (or Luck, or Randomness, or Fate). The reception was held in an old colonial house in La Candelaria called Case Poesia de Silva (Silva Poetry House), named after a famous Colombian poet. They have all kinds of readings and receptions and seminars there, and Maria goes frequently to their happenings.

Oh, did I mention that she was my student this year? 

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The guy who works on my bike is the best. His name is Mauricio, and I met him on the Ciclovia, where he sets up on the Septima where Calle 84 intersects and goes up to the Circunvalar. Here he does routine and minor maintenance for folks on the spot, and this way he meets clients to do more extensive work. He’s basically a domicilio bike maintenance guy.

His English is minimal, but he’s a super-nice guy and finds a way to communicate. He also knows bicycles inside out and is an avid rider himself. He’s told me about weeks-long trips he’s taken alone or with friends all over Colombia, which of course means up and down mountains and up and down again.

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