One of my goals whenever I live in a different country is to be able to do things like a local, buying or asking for something with only a few, short words. I always try to use hand gestures, head tilts and one or two quietly said words to get what I want. There is something about the lack of verbal communication that communicates what I want in a way only someone that KNOWS how to order something would order it.
One of my favorite restaurants is on a dusty road on the way up a hill next to the school where I work. In a past blog entry I wrote about how when you eat on the street there is usually a very big bowl of some carb based food (rice, pasta, ground up corn mush balls etc) and a sauce. This restaurant is different in that instead of one pot of sauce there is a table with around 20 large cooking pots full of sauces of all type of color and texture. There are green sauces that have a stringy snot like consistency (gumbo…. HATE!), red sauces with chunks of assorted fats or curled up rolls of skin (actually learning to like both skin and fat), and various colored liquids with chunks of meat (of various quality). The sauce I always go for is the first one on the far right of the table: Antelope (here known as Biche).
When you walk in the door you enter a concrete room about 10 by 20 feet. On one side are two low tables about 8 feet long. Each table has two long benches on either side that sit only a few inches bellow the eating surface. This means that everyone sits, semi-hunched over their metal bowl of carb and sauce, massaging and then gently tossing the food from hand to mouth. On each end of a table sits a large plastic, multi-colored bucket filled with water, a plastic basin and cup. When you sit down at a table you fill the cup with water, position the basin in front of you, and using your left hand pour the water over your right hand while rubbing all the fingers in order against your palm.
I walk in, turn to the round motherly lady manning the pots, and order with a total of seven softly spoken words:
"Riz cent francs. Biche trois cent." (I then sit down and say to one of the young waitress girls) "Castel."
I sit down at my favorite spot (far right of the table directly across from the entrance with my back against the wall) and wait for my food and beer.
By the time I am done washing my hands the first glass of beer has been poured and placed on my left and my shinny stainless steal food filled bowl put in front of me.
When I first started going to the restaurant I always ate my rice and antelope with a spoon that the ladies automatically put in all bowls for foreigners. The other day I sat down to my usual meal and without thinking, put the spoon on the table, and started mixing the rice and sauce with my hands. After eating my first bite of food I realized that I wasn’t eating the way I have been eating for so long. I instinctively picked up my spoon and took another bite. It didn’t taste right. There was something about the metal mixing with the spicy flavor of the sauce, the warm sticky alive feeling of the rice being marred by the dead spoon that I put it, now dirty, back on the table.
I’m waiting for the day when the waitress notices the clean spoons and eventually treats me like everyone else.
GRAPHIC WARNING: The video in this story includes content that some may find disturbing.
Kingston’s stepfather Hugh Oulds is struggling to come to terms with what happened.
“How would you feel if that was your son? If you had woke up in the middle of the night, you don’t have power, and you didn’t even know that your own son was laying in the house, suffering?” Oulds said.Oulds said he can’t begin to imagine life without Kingston. Oulds described him as a normal kid who loved to eat McDonald’s Happy Meals and play video games.
“I’m still trying to figure out what I’m going to do tomorrow whenever I go to sleep and I don’t hear him say my name,” Oulds said. “Or when I come through the house and he’s not there to ask me to turn on Fortnite.”
Oulds said it’s heartbreaking that kids aren’t allowed to be kids anymore.
“Be kids and have fun. And be able to come outside and play and not have to worry about stuff,” he said. “But you can’t even do that, because who knows what’s going on outside. And your kids might get hit by a stray bullet because of somebody else’s drama or what else is going on.”
Kingston is the third juvenile killed in Lynchburg since the start of the new year.
“The community is gonna come out and we’re going to have to push back. And that’s what it’s gonna have to take for us to stop this senseless violence,” the group’s president, Shawn Hunter, said. “We got babies dying. So, if the babies are dying asleep, can you imagine, all of us are at risk.”
Oulds is scared his son will go without justice if neighbors don’t speak up.
“Yeah, it’s the same old story. It don’t matter if it’s here or another place or wherever it’s at. Wherever it happens at, it’s always the same old story. Somebody gets shot, nothing happens because nobody is going to say anything,” Oulds said.
One Community, One Voice will host a vigil in Kingston’s honor Wednesday night at 6 p.m. at Greater Peaceful Baptist Church in Lynchburg.
The Peacemakers helped the family pay for a hotel and are collecting food for the family. Anyone who would like to help the family is asked to contact Lynchburg Peacemakers or donate online.
No arrests have been made at this time in connection to the shooting. However, police said early Tuesday there was no active threat to the community.
In a released statement, Lynchburg police called Kingston’s death a “senseless tragedy stemming from a violent criminal act that has no place in our community.”
They also asked members of the community to come forward with any information they have regarding the shooting, stating that Kingston and his family “deserve nothing less.”
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call police at 434-455-6155 or Crime Stoppers at 888-798-5900. Anonymous tips can be submitted online at P3Tips.com or by using the P3 app on a mobile device.
2. Die-hard film fans will love Madrid for its cinemas
Film aficionados in Madrid have an embarrassment of riches. Movie theaters in Madrid have a multitude of offerings, with both old and new films available. For example, the Cines Renoir Plaza España offers a selection of classic films, while Cines Callao has a wide variety of new releases.
What’s more, Madrid is also home to several festivals that celebrate the world of film. The San Sebastián International Film Festival, for instance, is one of the most prestigious movie events in Spain. Each year, the festival celebrates the world’s best independent movies. Other prominent festivals in Madrid include the Sitges Film Festival, Seville European Film Festival, and FICX Madrid Film Festival.
Finally, the city also has an abundance of movie-related attractions. Visitors can pay a visit to the cinemas of renowned directors and actors, such as Pedro Almodóvar or Antonio Banderas. They can also bask in the atmosphere of classic Madrid cinema houses such as the Cine Doré and the Cine Monumental.
Overall, Madrid offers an array of spectacular cinematic experiences. Die-hard film fans will love the city for its abundance of movie theaters and festivals.
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3. But there's more to the city than just movies
But there’s more to the city than just movies. Madrid is also home to numerous cultural experiences, exquisite eateries, and exciting nightlife. The city hosts a variety of entertaining events such as concerts, plays, and stand-up comedy.
Madrid also has plenty of other attractions, from art museums to historical sites. The Prado Museum is one of the most famous, and is home to some of the greatest works of art from the Spanish Golden Age. For a more modern spin, the Reina Sofia Museum is the place to go for contemporary art. Meanwhile, folks interested in the city’s long and varied history will want to check out spots like the Royal Palace.
Shoppers can get their fix at the Gran Vía and Conde Duque street markets. Meanwhile, Goya street and El Rastro offer an abundance of clothing and accessories. Madrid has a number of excellent restaurants as well, ranging from casual eateries to swanky fine-dining spots.
The city also has a bustling nightlife. Party-seekers can check out some of Madrid’s iconic clubs, such as Sala El Sol or Kapital. To top it off, the city’s many bars offer a variety of alcoholic drinks to quench your thirst.
Whether you’re in the mood for a movie, a museum, or a night out, Madrid has something for everyone.
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4. Madrid is a great place to live if you're a movie lover
Madrid is a great place to live if you’re a movie lover. Not only does the city offer excellent venues for viewing films and top-quality cinemas, but there are also plenty of film festivals and events you can attend.
The Sitges International Film Festival takes place every year in October and showcases some of the latest in cinematic innovation. The festival celebrates independent and avant-garde works from around the world.
Other events also take advantage of Madrid’s many outdoor spaces. Parks like Retiro and Casa de Campo regularly host movie screenings during the summer months.
If you’re a film buff, you can also explore Madrid’s many cinemas. The Círculo de Bellas Artes offers a range of classic and contemporary films in its art cinema, while the Renoir Princesa often shows indie flicks. Madrid’s cinemas also regularly show masterpieces of Spanish and Latin American cinema.
If you love movies, then Madrid is the place for you. With its plethora of film festivals, cinemas, and outdoor screenings, you’ll never be at a loss for something to watch.
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5. So what are you waiting for? Get packing!
If you’re a movie lover, Madrid is the ideal place for you. It has everything you’re looking for to satisfy your cravings. From film festivals to outdoor screenings and indoor cinemas to independent film theaters, Madrid has it all.
Don’t wait any longer - get packing and head to Madrid! You’ll love the amazing variety of films the city has to offer. A trip to Madrid promises to be a movie lover's dream come true.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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