My book of the day is The Kingdom of this World/El Reino de este Mundo, by Swiss/Cuban Alejo Carpentier. Alejo is not from Haiti but his story is. He actually grew up in Havana and took exile in France. This intellectual, influenced by European Surrealism, was one of the pioneers of Magic Realism in Latin America. The Kingdom of this World was published in Spanish in 1949 and it is about the history of Haiti before and after Haitian revolution against French colonizers. Carpentier uses the voice of slave Ti Noel to narrate the four chapters of this short novel, not exactly interrelated, but connected as a whole. In the face of disillusionment following independence, Haitians turned to their African traditions and rituals to give their lives meaning... History is an important legacy that can help us understand the present. El Reino de este mundo was published in English in 1957.
The Rideau Canal is Ottawa's waterway. Inaugurated in 1832, this UNESCO World Heritage Site connects the city of Kingston with Canada's Capital city. It is perfectly navigable during the late Spring, Summer and early Autumn... Once it freezes it becomes the longest skating rink in the world (7.8 K). I went skating on it today and it was awesome. You can see families, kids, visitors, volunteers flying over the smooth surface of the ice... mind the bumps though!
Tip of the day: When skating in the Canal (a MUST DO when you vist Ottawa in the Winter time), do not miss a great cup of hot chocolate and especially... our famous beavertales (more on this delicious pastry when I talk about Winterlude!
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1 comment:
I didn't get to see any of your twirls!
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