3. The street art was in Cartagena.
The girl was not.
Why did I mix the two parts of this
journey? Because I could!
4.
5. For more than 50 years,
my mother has sponsored
children in poverty-stricken
areas, sending money and
letters through nonprofit
organizations.
Siempre palante: Always forwards
6. The parents often
pull the kids out of the
(health care, education,
clothing, clean water) programs
so the kids can work.
7. We visited Marta(not her real name),
one of Mom’s sponsored kids,
in a community outside of
Cartagena, Colombia.
8.
9. It looks like Marta,
got all dressed
up to meet us.
Mom in purple and Marta in coral.
“Si no hay agua, no hay voto” means “If
there’s no water, there’s no vote.”
10. We briefly visited
her home. It was
roughly the size of
the living room in
my California
apartment.
Photo: Floor in Marta’s living-room.
11. The community:
dirt roads, scary-high
unemployment,
donkey-pulled carts,
no running water.
A truck brings water.
Most days.
12. Marta’s mother and I shared
hesitant smiles.
“Do you have kids?” she asked.
When I said, “no,” we were
both silent again.
It would’ve been an instant
bond if I had been a mother.
13. My mind went blank.
What was something
universal I ask or say
that didn’t remind her
of the differences
between us?
Sculptor: Hector Lombana
14.
15. We hired a tour guide in
Cartagena. He talked a LOT,
insisting that we listen to every
one of his pearls of wisdom and
see every little thing.
It was enough to make a sane
person take crooked photos.
18. The gifts from this trip:
- the pleasure of
being with family;
- the adventure of travel;
- greater awareness of how
others live.
I try to remember—more
often—to be grateful
for what I have and
to help others when I can.
19. The gift from this
Cartagena guy:
a reminder to stop and
enjoy something that
catches your eye.
20.
21. Click on the photo for
URBAN ART in
SALEM
slide show.
Click on the photo for
GRAFFITI in
CAMBRIDGE
slide show.
Click here for
more art, artists,
and stories:
ZeeTravelTales.com
