tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91280042024-03-12T23:56:53.758-04:00Life in travelArmenian Poetry Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07284524734367282551noreply@blogger.comBlogger260125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128004.post-79976246503824428862010-07-16T06:55:00.001-04:002010-07-16T07:00:02.917-04:00Friday's flight<h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" data-ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="UIStory_Message">Next up: the Caribbean city of SANTA MARTA with my Peruvian colleague Renato Sandoval. </span></h3>Armenian Poetry Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07284524734367282551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128004.post-69860531112208175852010-07-15T20:07:00.002-04:002010-07-16T07:00:02.917-04:00Thursday<h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" data-ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="UIStory_Message">This evening read in tiny Municipio del Carmen de Viboral. Le centre culturel était charmant ainsi que le publique. Քաղաքը երկու հարիւր հիսուն տարիէ ի վեր գոյութիւն ունի։ A couple of women said they were moved to tears when hearing my work. </span></h3>Armenian Poetry Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07284524734367282551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128004.post-3560446268552185782010-07-14T18:00:00.000-04:002010-07-16T07:00:30.919-04:00Wednesday<h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" data-ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="UIStory_Message"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">This morning read at Theatre Ateneo with Nathalie Handal (Palestine), Indran Amirthanayagam (Sri Lanka, E.U.) and Gémino Abad (Phillipines). We had schoolchildren and "ladies who lunch" with a few tourists thrown in. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;">I got very good feedback here too.</span></h3><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A blue haired young woman approached me and said, "I loved hearing your Arabic".... I was sorry to disappoint her that I was reading in Armenian!</span></span><br />
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<h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" data-ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="UIStory_Message"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Then had a wonderful lunch with my Spanish reader, Lina.We ate a traditional meal and it took me hours to digest it but it was delicious.</span></span></span></h3><div><span class="UIStory_Message"><br />
</span></div>Armenian Poetry Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07284524734367282551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128004.post-62053373415162771742010-07-13T21:00:00.004-04:002020-12-27T07:04:07.373-05:00Municipio de Caldas, Casa de la Cultura<div style="float: right; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lola_koundakjian/4792696939/" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4078/4792696939_a39f53eba3_m.jpg" style="border: 2px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></span></div><div style="float: right; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px;"><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></span></div><div style="float: right; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px;"><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></span></div><div style="float: right; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px;"><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></span></div><div style="float: right; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px;"><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></span></div><div style="float: right; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px;"><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><br /></span></div><br />Rafael Patiño Góez (Colombia), Lola Koundakjian (Armenia), Obediah Michael Smith (Bahamas), Nathalie Handal (Palestine).<div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1whn_9RGbYG65VQQe6WmQSjmo9hQJtVulCsaBwn36idEEgajYRfWqeFrhxwLfkVlyA2wVZ7KLkFh33bcmaF59oplNkwnIEhZJ3gnJJiW0ksrZehghnTunD824HtnxUKWtZJigtw/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1whn_9RGbYG65VQQe6WmQSjmo9hQJtVulCsaBwn36idEEgajYRfWqeFrhxwLfkVlyA2wVZ7KLkFh33bcmaF59oplNkwnIEhZJ3gnJJiW0ksrZehghnTunD824HtnxUKWtZJigtw/" width="320" /></a></div><br /><br /></div><div><div>Municipio de Caldas, Casa de la Cultura</div><div>Originally uploaded by Lola Koundakjian</div></div>Armenian Poetry Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07284524734367282551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128004.post-89242003711308079382010-07-13T21:00:00.002-04:002010-07-14T08:46:49.408-04:00Tuesday<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the morning, I was interviewed for Tele Medellín. Very curious to know when/if it will be broadcast.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A couple of videoclips have appeared in the festival's website.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.festivaldepoesiademedellin.org/pub.php/es/Intro/index.htm</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The website evolves at all times, so catch it if you can, if not Youtube has the XXth festival's videos long term. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Luis Eduardo Rendón was kind enough to give me the DVD anthologizing past festivals. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This evening's reading was at the Casa Culturale of Municipio de Caldas, with Rafael Patiño Góez (Colombia), myself, Obediah Michael Smith (Bahamas), Nathalie Handal (Palestine).</span>Armenian Poetry Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07284524734367282551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128004.post-10051922372239555112010-07-12T20:14:00.000-04:002010-07-12T20:14:17.575-04:00Monday - day off<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've read every day since my arrival but today was a time off for many of us. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Verónika Zondek (Chile) and Carlos Villagra Marsal (Paraguay) and I went around the city, discovered the metro and its teleferic system. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I did a little window shopping for local goods but only bought two nice t-shirts. I am planning to get some things later on though.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;">Tomorrow: planning to go to the Museum of Modern Art of Medellín, in the morning, as I have a reading in the PM.</span></span><br />
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</span></span>Armenian Poetry Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07284524734367282551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128004.post-4265712030506764312010-07-12T20:08:00.005-04:002010-07-12T20:11:43.844-04:00Medellín<div style="float: right; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lola_koundakjian/4787857928/" title="photo sharing"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4121/4787857928_3164d4b0e8_m.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></span></a><br />
<span style="margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lola_koundakjian/4787857928/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Medellín</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
Originally uploaded by </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/lola_koundakjian/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lola Koundakjian</span></a></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Colombia, still struggling. Anti-gun protest in Medellín, today.</span>Armenian Poetry Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07284524734367282551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128004.post-23905954405504622312010-07-12T20:08:00.004-04:002010-07-12T20:10:54.434-04:00Medellín, the metro<div style="float: right; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lola_koundakjian/4787227357/" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4139/4787227357_f527db6b2d_m.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lola_koundakjian/4787227357/">Medellín, the metro</a><br />
Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/lola_koundakjian/">Lola Koundakjian</a></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 15px;">Verónika Zondek (Chile) and Carlos Villagra Marsal (Paraguay)</span>Armenian Poetry Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07284524734367282551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128004.post-51765418672913934862010-07-12T20:07:00.004-04:002010-07-12T20:12:25.926-04:00Medellín, the metro<div style="float: right; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lola_koundakjian/4787231831/" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4078/4787231831_872e014c18_m.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lola_koundakjian/4787231831/">Medellín, the metro</a><br />
Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/lola_koundakjian/">Lola Koundakjian</a></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;">Poet Carlos Villagra Marsal (Paraguay) and myself.</span>Armenian Poetry Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07284524734367282551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128004.post-38135597225284420132010-07-11T11:00:00.001-04:002010-07-12T20:06:42.180-04:00Honda Y Cruz<div style="float: right; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lola_koundakjian/4787847530/" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4138/4787847530_2d16585f26_m.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lola_koundakjian/4787847530/">Honda Y Cruz</a><br />
Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/lola_koundakjian/">Lola Koundakjian</a></span></div>Three of us read our work at a settlement on the outskirts of Medallín. With me in the picture are several of the local poets who read at the 'open mike' session afterwards.Armenian Poetry Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07284524734367282551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128004.post-73709926675207013402010-07-11T00:10:00.001-04:002010-07-12T20:12:44.599-04:00Parque de los Deseos<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lola_koundakjian/4781367239/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4082/4781367239_142ec5b9e4_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lola_koundakjian/4781367239/">Parque de los Deseos</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/lola_koundakjian/">Lola Koundakjian</a></span></div><br clear="all" />Armenian Poetry Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07284524734367282551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128004.post-9513177175035943432010-07-11T00:09:00.001-04:002010-07-12T20:12:44.599-04:00Parque de los Deseos<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lola_koundakjian/4781989308/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4077/4781989308_07561e1382_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lola_koundakjian/4781989308/">Parque de los Deseos</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/lola_koundakjian/">Lola Koundakjian</a></span></div><br clear="all" />Armenian Poetry Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07284524734367282551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128004.post-50889567543523940282010-07-11T00:08:00.001-04:002010-07-12T20:12:44.600-04:00Parque de los Deseos<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lola_koundakjian/4781363151/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4075/4781363151_9fb401ca5c_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lola_koundakjian/4781363151/">IMG_3241.JPG</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/lola_koundakjian/">Lola Koundakjian</a></span></div><br clear="all" />Armenian Poetry Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07284524734367282551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128004.post-86360829826813176112010-07-11T00:07:00.000-04:002010-07-11T00:07:57.203-04:00Saturday<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">July 10, 2010</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After breakfast, we all got passes to go to the municipal museum. The 3rd floor was dedicated to Botero's work. I really like the modern wing, and the special exhibit.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was asking Luis Andres Rendon about the 7pm reading, because I wanted to hear the poets in that program and got asked to substitute for the author from Bangladesh who couldn't make his trip. So I had an hour to find a replacement for Lina who was sick. My reader Beatriz and I practiced and I went up to change. </span><br />
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<strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7:00</span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">p.m. </span></strong><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Park de los Deseos. Cl. 71 # 52-30. </span></strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Asian Poets .</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Ak Welsapar (Turkmenistan), Gemino H. Abad (Philippines), Hala Mohammad (Syria), Lola Koundakjian (Armenia), Imtiaz Dharker (India).</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The event went very well. It was very well attended despite the rain. </span>Armenian Poetry Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07284524734367282551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128004.post-68302851423978723072010-07-09T23:00:00.006-04:002010-07-11T00:14:31.326-04:00Friday<div class="UIIntentionalStory_Header" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIGVd2DOwuRmAC0AwBca100MrKx605aMhwoRBzeUMYZCsktNTM8W8ZMauJF5F1f7_Pu2jriV52P7wI9f6n812Lcp9veSyXHuHiN5-5YsDn73Q4e1FoAErimlifaqfSVh_xbpuz2A/s1600/1_El+Colombiano.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><s><i><b><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIGVd2DOwuRmAC0AwBca100MrKx605aMhwoRBzeUMYZCsktNTM8W8ZMauJF5F1f7_Pu2jriV52P7wI9f6n812Lcp9veSyXHuHiN5-5YsDn73Q4e1FoAErimlifaqfSVh_xbpuz2A/s320/1_El+Colombiano.jpg" /></b></i></s></span></span></span></span></a></div><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" data-ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><s><i><br />
</i></s></span></span></span></span></h3><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" data-ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">July 10, 2010</span></span></span></span></span></h3><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" data-ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span> </span></span></span></span></h3><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" data-ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Today met with my reader, Lina after breakfast and then worked on a translation for a new poem. </span></span></span></span></span></h3><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" data-ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Je suis allée faire un tour dans la ville et a pris des photos de plusieurs sculptures de Botero. </span></span></span></span></span></h3><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" data-ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Այս գիշեր 7-ին պիտի կարդամ գրադարանի մը մէջ։</span></span></span></span></span></h3><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">7:00 p.m. Biblioteca Pública Bernardo Arango Macías del Municipio de La Estrella. Carrera 60 # 82 Sur-45. </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Héctor Fagot (Colombia), Lola Koundakjian (Armenia), Esteban Moore (Argentina), Udo Kawasser (Austria).</span></span></span></span></div><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" data-ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></span></span></span></span></h3><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" data-ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">PS: Our group pictures are on the front page of El Colombiano newspaper! </span></span></span></span></span></h3></div>Armenian Poetry Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07284524734367282551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128004.post-59845546040442156342010-07-08T23:00:00.000-04:002010-07-09T11:58:37.526-04:00Festival kick-off<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This morning, there was a photo opportunity and press conference at the hotel. I had great opportunities to chat with Mohammed Bennis (Morocco), Caroline Bird (UK), Patricia Jabbeh Wesley (Liberia), Koumanthio Zeinabou Diallo (Guinea). These last two ladies, I translated for them back and forth between English and French during lunch.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the afternoon, all the poets boarded two busses which took us to the open air amphitheater. Thousands of people attended to hear us; they were a most enthusiastic audience. The event lasted FOUR hours and it rained, but nothing deterred these poetry lovers.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After the opening ceremonies we headed back to the hotel for a late dinner and a party. There was latin jazz and much dancing. </span>Armenian Poetry Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07284524734367282551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128004.post-57314283913440745722010-07-08T21:17:00.000-04:002010-07-09T12:19:21.200-04:00Opening Ceremonies<div style="float: right; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lola_koundakjian/4777032837/" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4118/4777032837_7e78f4c2e8_m.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lola_koundakjian/4777032837/">Opening Ceremonies</a><br />
Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/lola_koundakjian/">Lola Koundakjian</a></span></div>Mohammed Bennis at the International Poetry festival of MedellínArmenian Poetry Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07284524734367282551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128004.post-44199620543567688662010-07-08T21:00:00.001-04:002010-07-09T12:18:57.123-04:00Opening Ceremonies<div style="float: right; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lola_koundakjian/4777031881/" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4140/4777031881_2a4ec3dce8_m.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lola_koundakjian/4777031881/">Opening Ceremonies</a><br />
Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/lola_koundakjian/">Lola Koundakjian</a></span></div>Nathalie Handal (Palestine) at the International Poetry festival of MedellínArmenian Poetry Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07284524734367282551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128004.post-43135062692163808682010-07-08T21:00:00.000-04:002010-07-09T12:13:52.825-04:00Opening ceremonies<div style="float: right; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lola_koundakjian/4777653938/" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4098/4777653938_1de6798893_m.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lola_koundakjian/4777653938/">Opening ceremonies</a><br />
Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/lola_koundakjian/">Lola Koundakjian</a></span></div>Yevgeny Yevnushenko (Russia) during his performance readingArmenian Poetry Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07284524734367282551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128004.post-46149326860439650412010-07-08T18:00:00.002-04:002010-07-09T12:18:36.254-04:00Opening Ceremonies<div style="float: right; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lola_koundakjian/4777030917/" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4135/4777030917_4ea5117a53_m.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lola_koundakjian/4777030917/">Opening Ceremonies</a><br />
Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/lola_koundakjian/">Lola Koundakjian</a></span></div>Lola with Moroccan poet Mohammed Bennis, just before the start of the evening's programArmenian Poetry Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07284524734367282551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128004.post-45279311616133444082010-07-08T18:00:00.001-04:002010-07-09T12:13:33.778-04:00Opening ceremonies<div style="float: right; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lola_koundakjian/4777017257/" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4098/4777017257_8b4b365fd9_m.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lola_koundakjian/4777017257/">Opening ceremonies</a><br />
Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/lola_koundakjian/">Lola Koundakjian</a></span></div>Readers arriving at the International Poetry Festival of Medellín.Armenian Poetry Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07284524734367282551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128004.post-91570991843499431702010-07-08T18:00:00.000-04:002010-07-09T12:08:20.803-04:00Opening ceremonies<div style="float: right; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lola_koundakjian/4777640780/" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4099/4777640780_a437fc54bc_m.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lola_koundakjian/4777640780/">Opening ceremonies</a><br />
Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/lola_koundakjian/">Lola Koundakjian</a></span></div><br clear="all" />Armenian Poetry Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07284524734367282551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128004.post-66748677680085581812010-07-08T10:30:00.000-04:002010-07-09T12:13:33.778-04:00Press Conference at the Gran Hotel<div style="float: right; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lola_koundakjian/4774847981/" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4097/4774847981_6a065fe749_m.jpg" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 2px; border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 2px; border-right-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 2px; border-top-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-top-style: solid; border-top-width: 2px;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lola_koundakjian/4774847981/">Press Conference at the Gran Hotel</a><br />
Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/lola_koundakjian/">Lola Koundakjian</a></span></div><br clear="all" />Armenian Poetry Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07284524734367282551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128004.post-16000036740340214632010-07-07T22:00:00.000-04:002010-07-08T15:33:34.669-04:001st impressions of the International Poetry Festival and Medellín<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">First of all: I am so happy that it's cooler here, after a week of 36C in NYC.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The flights were without any issues. As you may be aware, in this part of the world, it's sunset at 7pm so we landed in the dark, with an overview of the valley where Medellín is situated. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's a large city, population is 2.4 million. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The airport reception was very well organized and warm, same at the hotel. I was handed a package and a late dinner was waiting for us.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Everything is pretty much Spanish but I was able to understand how to open the hotel room (wand action) and set my mini-vault, so I am ahead. We have several young translators with us all the time. There is a woman assigned to reading my work in Spanish throughout the festival and I can't wait to meet her tomorrow. There will be a press meeting in the morning, then the festival kicks off.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Citibank, Hooters are here [!] otherwise it's reminiscent of my last trip in the region, and Barcelona, with palm trees, beautiful weather, tropical flowers and fruits, warm people and very friendly atmosphere. The hotel has all the amenities, including free Wifi. The Botero museum is nearby.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My welcome package had a poster, a t-shirt, festival brochure with my readings highlighting my five appearances in Medellín, plus the closing ceremonies where I will read just one poem. There is also an additional side trip to another festival in a small town called Santa Marta which will involve a plane ride on the 16th to this northern part of the country.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I arrived, one of the poets from Venezuela, Gustavo Pereira, was amongst the guests waiting for the van to get us to the hotel, and when I introduced myself he informed me that 30 years ago he had been invited to Yerevan by the Writer's Union. It's a small world!</span>Armenian Poetry Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07284524734367282551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9128004.post-86591541441618591902010-07-07T21:21:00.000-04:002010-07-08T16:37:00.027-04:00Greeting by Festival members<div style="float: right; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lola_koundakjian/4774802805/" title="photo sharing"><img alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4120/4774802805_65b87c20dd_m.jpg" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/lola_koundakjian/4774802805/">IMG_3080.JPG</a><br />
Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/lola_koundakjian/">Lola Koundakjian</a></span></div><br clear="all" />Armenian Poetry Projecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07284524734367282551noreply@blogger.com0