Short stories of a long journey

Tag: Latin America

  • Inés, the loving Grandmother

    Inés, the loving Grandmother

    And in the looking-glass of the other’s pain, her soul itself, reflected…   Her Grandmother Inés, was a very dear figure in Dora’s life.   She possessed a great empathic insight and knew how to treat her like a fellow companion; she didn’t treat her like a little girl nor like a grown-up (for little Dora…

  • Dora, the young girl

    Dora, the young girl

    In spite of the surrounding concrete, the flower grew, and with a smile, it challenged the world…   On occasion, certain gestures the child made reminded her so strongly of Dora’s mother: such a likeness, especially at that age: oh my darling daughter, how soon you left us. May you rest in peace…   Dora’s favourite spot…

  • On the road to San Gil

    On the road to San Gil

    San Gil is a bit more than then 60 kilometres to the south from  Bucaramanga, the capital City, as the crow flies or on a straight path. The bus to Bogotá makes that journey of amazing Santanderian landscapes in a little more than a couple of hours of abrupt and tight curves, as it skirts the Chicamocha Canyon,…

  • During the week ends

    Since she was a child and after the death of her mother, for an interval of various years, the young Dora was sent to the city of San Gil and to the town of Barichara, both belonging to the Santander Department, in the north-east of the country.   At the plaza    Barichara, Santander. Colombia It was…

  • Miss Rosario’s chocolate

    Miss Rosario’s chocolate

    And why are the angels so sad, momma?  Because the good one die, and the bad ones keep on running around. Miss Rosario had a lifetime of serving as a teacher; she had performed at her position, as the Science Professor, for more than thirty of her seventy eight years that summed up her age. Sanctimonious,…

  • When am I going to die, momma?

    When am I going to die, momma?

    When am I going to die, momma? Oh, my child… what would you say, if I told you that for you darling, it’s going to take a long time! Walkabout          Route 9, Jujuy, Argentina The years go by; like the mileposts on the highway, they turn into a succession, which ‒passing right…

  • Can the bad ones become good ones, momma?

    Can the bad ones become good ones, momma?

    Can the bad ones become good ones, momma? Ay my darling, it’s easier to cook a sancocho without broth nor yuccas! The girl felt the tears overflow ‒sliding softly‒ as if caressing her hot, flushed face‒,     while in her mind a torrential cascade of images followed one after another, in a fluid and…

  • The bad ones never die, momma?

    The bad ones never die, momma?

    The bad ones never die, momma? They die darling, only they they’re so busy with their wrongdoing, they take longer.     Without any doubt, Bucaramanga’s traditional cemetery is the Central Cemetery. The main access to the cemetery is on 45th street. And it’s a portal with a lively canary-yellow façade, decorated with white ledges.…

  • And why are they so sad, momma?

    And why are they so sad, momma?

    And why are they so sad, momma? Because the good ones die and the bad ones keep on running around.   Miss Rosario had a lifetime serving as a teacher; she had performed as the Social Science Professor, for more than thirty of the seventy-eight years of her long life. Pious (and maybe a bit sanctimonious) with a…

  • And why do the angels cry, momma?

    And why do the angels cry, momma?

      Speechless, she heard her friend narrating the death of Miss Rosario. The ossuaries          Bucaramanga City Cemetery, Santander. Colombia She was no more, no less, her favorite teacher. She was more than a teacher: on occasions she was their councilor, always tenderly trying to guide them by the right path. The…