Where did she go?

[almaty 19]

no problemo, there are allot of ken fans on this thread.

I'm sure there are. Clearly from the numbers of posters, reading his little work of fiction.

None the less I am entitled to ask without being told to stfu.

Brother almaty is on one of his "stfu noob" binges. he is kidding.... me thinkssssss

I don't give a fiddler's if he is off on an idiotic binge. I didn't see it that way and I don't appreciate it.

stfu..you made your point ...i hate noobs

[cdneh 3,112]

no problemo, there are allot of ken fans on this thread.

I'm sure there are. Clearly from the numbers of posters, reading his little work of fiction.

None the less I am entitled to ask without being told to stfu.

Brother almaty is on one of his "stfu noob" binges. he is kidding.... me thinkssssss

I don't give a fiddler's if he is off on an idiotic binge. I didn't see it that way and I don't appreciate it.

stfu..you made your point ...i hate noobs

[Chica Yeyé 41]

oh cdneh... well, if you can't take a joke, you can't take a joke. kthxbai

now almaty, stfu persian shoe. NOW.

[Brad and Vika 129]

no problemo, there are allot of ken fans on this thread.

I'm sure there are. Clearly from the numbers of posters, reading his little work of fiction.

None the less I am entitled to ask without being told to stfu.

Brother almaty is on one of his "stfu noob" binges. he is kidding.... me thinkssssss

I don't give a fiddler's if he is off on an idiotic binge. I didn't see it that way and I don't appreciate it.

OMG...Don't....Do...It...Brad....Too...Easy.... STFU STFU STFU STFU!!!! MuaHAHA

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Brad! STFU immediately, or you will be excluded from Ken's future posting mwahahahahaha

p.s. brother, the siggy is getting huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge. rearrange them pics dooood.

Edited February 20, 2009 by *Len*

[Brad and Vika 129]

Brad! STFU immediately, or you will be excluded from Ken's future posting mwahahahahaha

p.s. brother, the siggy is getting huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge. rearrange them pics dooood.

Nevaaaa!!!!!

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Brad! STFU immediately, or you will be excluded from Ken's future posting mwahahahahaha

p.s. brother, the siggy is getting huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge. rearrange them pics dooood.

Nevaaaa!!!!!

noob.

[almaty 19]

i hate noobs.. and by the way..stfu brad and len

[Chica Yeyé 41]

i hate noobs.. and by the way..stfu brad and len

i hate burro abusers, so stfu Dean. HA!

[Brad and Vika 129]

i hate noobs.. and by the way..stfu brad and len

i hate burro abusers, so stfu Dean. HA!

Super noobs, both of you stfu

[Ban Hammer 13,252]

i hate noobs.. and by the way..stfu brad and len

i hate burro abusers, so stfu Dean. HA!

Super noobs, both of you stfu

everyone stfu except for ken and fellow pizza lovers

[Ken y Leidys 20]

Okay...I'm back. Let's continue...

After meeting with Leidys parents, and getting to know her cousins, aunts and uncles, we headed to a nearby street corner. Carnavales had already kicked off in the center of El Prado, and tonight (Saturday), it was the Gay Parade.

As Leidys and I headed to our favorite, intimate club - Sweet Chalet, crowds of people in the thousands made their way along busy avenues to see the men in drag, and surgically-transformed men into women walk this particular parade route.

Guacherna Gay

[Ken y Leidys 20]

The next morning, I arose early to get one of my free breakfasts downstairs at the Moorish-themed restaurant. As I walked down the hallway, I was greeted by a beautiful Costeña with long, straight black hair, cream skin, nice thick lips, and an airy blue dress the color of the skies above her native Nuevo Soledad barrio. When she smiled, braces revealed her age - about 21. Her name is Monica, and she joined Benoit downstairs for breakfast - I was alone.

Monica laughed when she read the Carnival-themed slogan on my new t-shirt. 'Cajonero' is a Coastal term for, "Man that divorces and marries again and again to be with different women." I sat across from Benoit and Monica again this particular morning, Benoit being a 50-something with two children, divorced, living in 10-below zero Quebec.

On this second greeting with Benoit and Monica, I spoke at length about the wonders of Barranquilla. The restaurants to fit all budgets, all pallets. Benoit asked me to name some of my favorite foods. "Chinese, Lebanese-Arabic, Thai, Indian, Coastal Mexican...Coastal Colombian, of course." Benoit visibly tensed as he explained how fortunate I was to enjoy these delicacies with Leidys. Monica fixated at the carpet at the feet of my table, looking unhappy. Benoit then mentioned, "Monica only likes Colombian Comida Tipica. She won't try anything else." Meat and rice, salad and a South American potato called Yuca round up what is known country-wide as Comida Tipica. A normal plate of food similar to what I was served growing up with my family. My mother comes from eastern Tennessee, and if you substituted the Yuca for Corn Bread, you have East Tennessee supper.

Benoit went on to complain that Monica's pallet is not as adventureous. Leidys and I later spied Ben and Monica sharing some laughs in the hotels' lobby on our way back to Leidys house for a fast meet and greet one last time. Leidys' Grandmother was asleep on Saturday night, but now - being Monday (noon), she returned the joke about me offering to wake her on Saturday night with a cold glass of water poured in her bed. Now, Grandma was poking hard back at me. We all laughed, but I was slightly uneasy. Inside the family home where four generations all habitate, I felt a strong sense of hierarchy combined with a gentle calmness. I thought of nine year old Luis as being a friend as I spent my childhood with kids like him, running on lush, green lawns by day with cousins, catching fire flies after eating southern dinner. The kind of food that vaguely reminded me of Comida Tipica served universally in this seaside, port city.

Leidys' family

[Ken y Leidys 20]

Leidys with mother

The next morning after initially meeting Leidys' family, we took a taxi to Downtown Barranquilla to find some souveniers. Besides the ubiquitous coffee and Juan Valez mugs, I tried to find a Carnaval sombrero to wear.

Besides costing $45, the hats were too small on me. My Flex-fit baseball cap easily fit atop the hat band area. Showing a fast comparison, and how slim my choices were.

[Ken y Leidys 20]

Downtown with the locals

These two gentlemen fashioned themselves after the FARC guerrillas who are terrorizing the southern jungles along the Ecuadorean, Peruvian and Venezuelan borders. When they asked for $3 US to take photos with me, I was really caught off guard. "Sorry guys, I only have Pesos" is the excuse I gave them. They thanked me, reminding me how happy they would be to finally have a good meal between them.