It just never fails! Whenever you’re in a great hotel, the time of departure comes quickly. We had to say goodbye to the Hotel Oro Verde in Guayaquil so that we could head to Riobamba. I was actually excited about the ride because I would have an opportunity to really see the country. I’m usually not hard to please when in group situations because I understand that we all have to do whatever is needed to make things work out. I must say though, this one threw me for a loop:

We had to travel with our luggage and equipment in a somewhat small van. In addition to that, the third row was taken out for storage and we picked up two people for the journey. It was a very cramped ride, but somehow we all adjusted. I did as I normally do, fell asleep as soon as the van got about 10 miles out of the city. I actually slept most of the way there, but I did wake up long enough to snag this pic:

» Read more: Ecuador Part 2 – Riobamba

Marc makes friends everywhere we go! I think that’s the spirit of The Rhythm Road! Let’s let the video speak for itself:

AFAR presented a Master Class at Orquesta Sinfónica in Guyaquil. During our presentations, we are always trying to find a way to convey our thoughts that is easily translated. Sometimes you find yourself saying the same thing three different ways to help the translator. This time was different!

This guy was on top of everything! We couldn’t believe it! Most times you find that older people don’t really embrace Hip Hop so that made everything even more unbelievable. As it turns out, he had a cheat sheet!! Check out a few of the Spanish Hip Hop Terms:

• A.K.A. – también conocido como…
• Beat Box – caja de ritmos.. » Read more: Lost In Translation???

We arrived in Guayaquil, Ecuador after a very long day of travel. I was very tired, but it was kind of cool to be able to say that I was in three different countries in one day (we left Venezuela and had a layover in Panama)! Our travels began at 10:00 am and ended at 11:00 pm. These kind of days always seem much harder on paper, but it’s kind of fun going through all of the different airports and meeting many different people.

I couldn’t see much of the city because it was almost midnight and very dark outside. That’s the only thing I dislike about taking a night flight to a new place. It’s very hard to get a feel for the city when you can’t really see much. I didn’t have to wait long because we had a very early appointment to meet the Embassy officials and do TV promotions. On the way to the TV station I was able to snag this shot:

That’s pretty much how the whole city looks. It’s a nice mix of old and new. Guayaquil isn’t the capital, but it is one the major cities and it sits on the coast. I’ve begun to love traveling to cities outside of the capital because it’s always there that you find great people starving to hear hip hop. The shows always tend to attract large, enthusiastic crowds. In the end I always find that the biggest complaint from them is that they don’t really have an opportunity to experience live Hip Hop shows and hear more contemporary music. So on behalf of those cities that we’ve been to that often get left out, I just want to thank The Rhythm Road and the State Department for making these kinds of programs available to the people that will appreciate it a lot! I really wish that the people that program our programs could see first hand how much this program is appreciated.

We did an interview with a local TV station to promote the show later that night. The band had to be very flexible because they couldn’t accommodate a full band in the studio. I’m proud to say that AFAR has performed our first acoustic set, with only two guitars and one of which only have 5 Strings.

» Read more: Ecuador Part 1 – Guayaquil

We left Caracas yesterday headed for Guayaquil. It’s kind of interesting the way things played out. The day before, we were all trying to decide what time to leave for the airport because people were on the radio trying to organize another March against the government. Things are always a little crazy around the city whenever there is a March. Needless to say, we made it safely to Ecuador and it turns out we left just in time. I got to the Hotel and and checked my email to find my girlfriend asking me if I was okay because she had seen this on the net (Warning, the pictures may be graphic):

Published: 11/7/07, 11:25 PM EDT
By SANDRA SIERRA

Link to original article here

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) – Gunmen opened fire on students returning from a march Wednesday in which 80,000 people denounced President Hugo Chavez’s attempts to expand his power. At least eight people were injured, including one by gunfire, officials said.

Photographers for The Associated Press saw at least four gunmen – their faces covered by ski masks or T-shirts – firing handguns at the anti-Chavez crowd. Terrified students ran through the campus as ambulances arrived.

» Read more: Just In Time…

Between this year and last year, I think this is the first time I’ve ever been a little worried about our travels. In so many ways the things going on here greatly resemble Zimbabwe, yet I don’t feel as safe here. I’ve read so many books and articles about the Civil Rights Movement in the United States and in Harare, but I have never been in the midst of one while it was occurring. The students here are protesting in opposition to the government and their efforts to re-write the Constitution and re-shape the quality of life here. As the students have been showing their solidarity, the government has had it’s own set of supporters that have tended to always show up and act as aggressors towards the students. We were out trying to see the town on our rest day and some students got together and started an impromptu rally in the city center. The Embassy official with us immediately began to rush us away so that we would not be misconstrued as opponents to the government’s rule and potentially treated harshly.

If the word spreads that a protest against the government is imminent, it is highly likely that the President here will shut down the streets and halt all transportation so that people cannot travel to the protest sites. It’s a bit unsettling for me because I’m in a foreign land and I can’t effectively speak the language. In addition to all of that, I don’t get the feeling that they like Americans. I have stories that support my belief, but I’ll save that for another time.

» Read more: Reflections…

Before I really begin to write, here’s another gratuitous mountain shot:

I’m telling you, they’re everywhere!!!!

So, now that we’ve finished with that. We were riding to a show the other day and I saw a McDonalds sign. Some would think it it was unbelievable to travel so far just to eat at McDonalds. So I talked myself out of it. We finally arrived at the show and guess what? We were playing at a 90 degree angle to a McDonalds. The whole entire show had me looking at the golden arches and thinking about those fries, uh, I mean papas fritas. Anyone that knows me know that I believe in signs and wonders, but once again, I talked myself out of it.

So we travel the very next day to Valencia, Venezuela for another show… and the hotel was right around the corner from a McDonalds and the venue was right across the street from another McDonalds. At this time, I was ready to give in. As luck would have it, our hosts had already prepared lunch for us and they ended up taking us out to dinner when everything was over. Not to be undone, I figured I would get the food and take it to the room for the next morning. I run to the restaurant and guess what I see:

People everywhere!!!! No time to make moves because our hosts were ready to leave!!! So needless to say I was very sad. I just needed something that reminded me of home. I solemnly got in the van this morning, with no breakfast as I had intended and fell asleep. But when I woke up, there it was:

I had a Big Mac and a Coke. When it was all said and done, none of my “adventure” was worth it. It was fun though, it gave me a sense of home.

Here are some pictures from the shows in Venezuela the past couple of days:

This is backstage at the show in Caracas:

» Read more: Mickey D’s, Coke and Shows…

Continuously hearing all of this Spanish is really a great motivator for seriously learning the language. Although, I must say not being able to verbally communicate your wants and desires encourages you to get your “sign” language up to par. This way everything isn’t completely lost in translation. Ha, and I’m sure I do a good job of mangling up the little Spanish that I do know… but my rolling “R” game is on point! Believe that!

Yesterday was a travel day from Bogota, Colombia to Caracas, Venezuela. Let me tell you that I have been on at least 5 flights, both international and domestic within the last week and I’ve learned a few things…

1. Always wear sunglasses… they hide the look of uncertainty as you’re trying to figure out which way to go in the airport. They also help other people feel more comfortable when they stare at you. It makes them feel as if you can’t see them looking.
2. Addendum to item 1 – When you carefully position yourself in your seat on the plane, the glasses hide the fact that you are sleep and you don’t feel as bad waking up right when the stewardess arrives with the drink cart
3. Always fill out that little Customs Declaration sheet when you first get it because when you fall asleep you won’t remember that you were supposed to do it until you’re standing in line.
4. You can’t gage whether you should eat your food from the fact that the person next to you swallowed his/her food without chew breaks. When in doubt, just ask for peanuts and water.
5. Unbuckle your seatbelt and stand up as soon as the plane seems as if it has landed. Even if the door hasn’t been opened yet and no one is moving, people seem to get angry with you for still sitting in your seat. Also, you will meet up with these same hurried people in about 10 minutes at the baggage claim where the luggage won’t come out for another 15 minutes.
6. Remember where you put the Customs Declaration Sheet.
7. Be nice the Customs Officer… It may save you about 15 minutes.

Keep these things in mind and your flights will always be great!!!

We had our first incident of potentially lost luggage this week. Cymbals and a guitar mysteriously showed up on an employee elevator. Also, a separate guitar case had some of the metal molding ripped. Everything’s safe and in one piece so we’re cool. We just hope things can stay this way for about 21 more days!

Things got a little boring at the airport so uh:

» Read more: In Those Hills…

AFAR has spent the past week in Colombia and it has been a blast!!! We’ve seen three different cities (Cartagena, Barranquilla and Bogotá), and they all have their own wonderful personalities. Colombia is definitely a place that I plan to explore more on my personal vacation time. Bogotá is a city in the mountains and in my opinion there is just something majestic and romantic about seeing these great natural structures rise from the earth to the sky. As a child in school I read about the Andes Mountains and heard about Colombia, but I never imagined that I would have the opportunity to be here. It’s such a great blessing! More pics for you to see:

AFAR and the US Ambassador to Colombia, William Brownfield… He’s a Texas Longhorns fan!!

» Read more: Hasta Luego Colombia!