From Paris to Prague and from Rome to Dakar
Whenever I travel abroad I am always amazed (and easily remained) at the level of influence Black urban American culture has had on the rest of the world.















Graffiti art is everywhere.
Hip hop is everywhere.
Black is everywhere.










Quality dressing rooms, with ¨"moderately upscale" refreshments, and a lady in waiting.....wow!










Such a beautiful concert hall....and an oh so enthusiatic and appreciative audience.











Quality instruments....always...and only!












Sound check before the concert.

Always slightly aloof....never obtuse!

Really....I´m just a shy, quite, reserved "all about business" kinda person....been that way all of my life....and I´m cool with it.....most people just don´t get that about me.





A plane-side view of Sao Paulo. Tall buildings literally encompass the aiport landing area.











Ah...the buffet....did take pictures of ALL of the other grazing stations....was trying to be circumspect and discrete.










Dessert station.












More of the salad station. Sorry....but for all you meat and cooked food lovers out there.....I did not take pics of the hot food station!










My plate before.












My plate after.
(Can´t wait to get back to Chris....my trainer!!)











Vagner, a bellman a the Sao Paulo Holiday Inn, was very taken by the notion of a gospel singing group from America.

What really tripped me out is when he started singing lyrics from his favorite American gospel songs! Yup...he´s very much into his Christian church in Brazilian

(Yes...I do my own postcards....it has become one of my "new things")










One of the best luxury buses so far.....with reclining leather...and personal hi-def headphones..etc..










Yeah...thats me trying to take a widelens shot.












Traffic in Santiago....notice....NO SUV´s!!!












The mountain ridges are quite impressive and most plentiful here!

















The snow capped mountains!!












A promotional sing....down in busy Santiago subway station. I was surprised to arrive and see microphones, speakers, and a half dozen men with camera´s and other digital equipment.









I was even more surprised when 100´s of people began to flood the station....stood motionless as we sang two spirituals....then erupted in joyous applause shouting "more.... more". When then did an gospel song....and jubilation filled the air!








Look at the expression on there faces!!! Can you see it? They were really engaged.

Should be a very interesting concert on Saturday.

So...I've been promising myself (and about a half dozen other people) that I would start blogging again....and its been on my list of "Things to Do" since the start of the New Year.

I will still maintain my pictorial review style of journalism....but....wth the hope of being consistent....concise...and colorful....at the same time....more comprehensive....contemporary...and compelling.....I am going to try a new approach to my blogging......in that....I will strive to make them......ETC...as in.....extended tweet conversations.....lol. Since this one is the first installment in nearly 2yrs....it may be a bit long. In any case.....here goes!! (btw...be sure to reply....and let me know how I am doing)

REFLECTIONS IN RIO
[What Am I Doing Right Now? (WAIDRN?)
Sitting here in a 9th Floor room of the Windsor Florida Hotel....snacking on some sushi from the Estação República Restaurante...and drinking chilled grape juice from a local supermarket.....good Lawd this some good sushi!!....oh why didn't I remember to get a fork!!]






Momentous Moments
I had a horrible 10 hour flight from JFK to Rio (with a stop over in Sao Paulo)...seated smack-dab in the middle of a 5 person row on a completely full (and overbooked) American Airlines big bird. In all my years of travel....I can only NOW attest that AIR SICKNESS is a very real (and disgusting) experience! No...I will note do a full tell-all here and now....hit me up if you should like to hear all of the nasty details.












Harlem Jubilee Singers
Guided by the artistic excellence (and fatherly care) of Professor Gregory Hopkins, this group is REALLY going places!....(never mind all the places they've already been!!)...and I am just happy and humbled to be counted among them!

A great aggregation of singers....ministers....professionals....beautiful black people!!...(beautiful...better...blacker...people!!)

THE PICTORIAL REVIEW
Here are just a few street scenes...and rooftop wonders....I promise more pics on Tuesdays.


OMG....the food at this place.....buffet....NOT at all like in America though. Everything was like fresh....gourmet...and GOOD! Oh yeah...and it's all you can eat!

I am telling you....EVERY little thing I put on my plate was GOOD!!

(Lord...why is the company making us take all of our meals here!!!??...lol....)



Just a supermarket here in Brasil....1 block from the hotel











From the rooftop












Another from the rooftop

























If you look really really really really hard...you can see the world famous symbol of Rio de Janeiro...the Cristo Redentor


I promise to get a much closer view before we leave






MEMORY TOUR,, Fall 2009 In due consideration of the brevity of life....and all the good that is in it....many of you will recall...that a few months ago....I embarked on a journey...a "memory quest"...if you will. My goal was (and still is) to connect with as many old family, frat, and friends whom I hold dear....(and hopefully...to meet and connect with some new ones on the way!!)....and to make as many wonderfullicious awesomstupendous memories as our time together....mutual interest....passion for one another would allow.

In the past 2months....I've traveled by Greyhound, Megabus, Delta, and Northwest....American, SUV....and a couple times on foot!

I've seen Baltimore, Phily, Chicago and Milwaukee....Ann Arbor, Lansing, Detroit and New York......and a few places in between.

5 cities in Mexico and now 2 in Brazil....and may get to London still!

I've attended luncheons and diners....rehearsals and church services...family days...and a funeral.

From the monotonous to the momentous......from the simple to the sublime....I have done...(and am doing) all that I can....(within the confines of my somewhat expanded sense of comfort...mind you)....to connect with YOU!!....(and/or people who may know....lol)

It has been GREAT and is getting better!

IN THE LIFE....Get the picture?
Here below are a few pics representing memories made over the past few months....moments of life!! If you DON'T see yourself represented anywhere below......just hit me up...so we can GET YOU IN THE PICTURE!!!..!! :-)

Lost one of my dearest fraternity brothers. RIP AP! Love and fraternal always.

Pascal J. Hall
(Dec. 24, 1979 - Aug. 26, 2009)









I have my AP Khalil S. Thomas to thank for the tip on Megabus. Now I am telling anyone who will listen! GO where you want to go!! (and leave Greyhound alone!!) LOL

Had an oh so GREAT time in Milwaukee! Maybe next time I can get some pictures!!!!?? lol







Visiting with some of the brothers of the Epsilon Chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., as the do a final rehearsal before a stepshow.

BTW...be sure to check out the website...its hot!!








Trying out the wide lense on this camera....clearly....I need more practice. Let me know when you want to be a subject for me. :-)










Crossing the campus and ran into Brother Harun Ecohols. (I still don't really know what actuarial science is!!...lol)










About 7 Alpha minutes later....ran into Brother Brandon Littlejohn..."the hope and heart of Epsilon"....(my words....NOT his.)










Ran into Mike Fowler (5years, wife, 3 kids and at least 2 zip codes later). Great to be reconnected! Keep doing your thing young man!!










Eric E. Poole, my young Outlaw G5.....a paragon of hospitality! (no offense Paragon...lol). Thanks again lil bruh!!

















Panchero's with my AP Marty Weiss. A Rock...(in every sense of the word)...both to chapter...and to me Personally.










A carnival scene from Zacatecas, Mexico.












THE NEXT TIME
Ok....I have dozens more pictures from the Memory Tour...but....(even though you may not be able to tell).....I have been working on this post for the last 3hours!!! It is 5:45am here in Rio. I'm about to go BACK to bed.....I gotta sing a concert tonight!! Will post more later. Be well


Well....I THOUGHT I would be able to sleep....ended up going to the fitness center....getting on the tread mill and working on the music for my February recital for about 30 mins...(Lord I miss my trainer!!!).......time is now about 8am...think I will jump in the sauna for a bit. Yeah yeah...I know....who wants to saunatize in steamy Rio de Janeiro....??? LOL

By the way...this here is Chris Warden (my trainer and good peeps) on Halloween. Respect 'mon. Now you know....most of us could NOT have pulled this one off. And yeah....IIIIII may not look it yet...but HE really is hardcore...the real deal.