Part Seven: Buenos Aires, Argentina,

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Day Twenty

I had a restful sleep in the guest room that had definitely seen better days (it had a decidedly sloping floor and crumbling window frames!). Towards the latter half of the temple morning program, I gave a reading from my biographical work on the life of Srila A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada. After breakfast, I met Pablo, who had invited me to Argentina, and we discussed the plans for my visit. Pablo headed up the Buenos Aires branch of Alimentos para la Vida ( Food For Life), a world wide movement providing nourishing, sanctified food to all in need. (http://www.ffl.org/)

Pablo explained that at the end of my ten-day visit to Buenos Aires we would be staging a massive festival called Sabores del Mundo - Tastes of the World - at a posh downtown convention centre featuring live music and sumptuous food, all in aid of raising funds for Food For Life. Pablo had invited five musical groups to play at the event: Atmarama Dasa was flying in from Spain to play his inspiring devotional, classical guitar. Also appearing on the night would be "Xeiti Novo", a Celtic music band, Irupe Tarrago Ros, a 'world music' group, an all-girl spiritual gospel group called Sheprays, and 108 Sonidos, a world fusion ensemble. Quite a line-up! Pablo's plans were certainly grand, and his enthusiasm was infectious. He showed me the glossy brochures advertising the event, and I appreciated the work he had put in so far. And there would be a lot more to do before the night!

At 10.00 we headed off for a scheduled meeting with Carolina Garcia Huidobro, the events co-ordinator of the venue, the Multiespacio Darwin. On the way we drove past the shopping area of Abasto and a few other famous landmarks. Carolina showed us all around the colossal expo-hall, and our group began to discuss ( I had no translator - oops!) how we would set up the rooms, the stage, the food booths etc. I was intrigued at the mellifluous rendition of Spanish spoken by the proud young portenos around me. Argentine Spanish, called Castellano, is spoken with an Italian accent!
I could barely pick up the gist of the conversation, but it was great to listen to!

After the long, animated discussion (of which I understood little) Pablo and I excused ourselves, and drove downtown, past the famous Plaza De Mayo, for a scheduled newspaper interview with an old friend of Pablo's, Marcello Franco, Editor-in Chief of Clarine.com, the on-line edition of one of Argentina's most well-known newspapers. The interview with the well-educated Marcello was up-beat and stimulating to say the least, and he enthusiastically promised to promote the event. After a very late lunch, the day was practically done.

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