Jose Feliciano and the Ventriloquist

Crystal Symphony has spent a couple of days out at sea, so communication has been limited.
The last time Robin was on dry land, he ventured into Puntarenus, Costa Rica.
He proceeded with caution after the bus driver told him a few facts about the area.
Costa Rica has 36 types of poisonous snakes, they have anti venom for 35 of them, so advised not getting bitten by a sea snake....

Not to be deterred Robin continued into town where he found an interesting shop.
His ability to spot guitars at more than 100 paces is legendary.
From a great distance he saw a very old shop, with some dusty guitars hanging in the window.
His heart leapt.
Could there be a priceless guitar hiding in the back of this place? Maybe even one of Barrios's very own...
But he was to be disappointed.
The shop was full of guitars, all very old and tired, and all without strings. (For the non guitarists amongst you, guitars should never be left stringless.)
I breathed a sigh of relief.

Meanwhile, back out at sea, life on board Crystal Symphony continues.
Robin has been enjoying the company of a friend he made some time ago, and occasionally their trips coincide. His name is Mark Merchant and he is a comedian and ventriloquist.
He's a very funny man, I know because I've watched his DVD, 'Naked in a Full Length Mirror'.
They have also enjoyed attending each others very different performances.
Not only that, but they have managed a couple of games of paddle tennis, and eaten out together a few times.
He, like Robin, has travelled extensively and worked with many interesting people.
On one occasion Mark spent a few weeks opening for Jose Feliciano in Los Angeles.
Jose Feliciano is a guitarist, born in Purto Rico, who has managed a successful career despite being blind from birth.

After the first week, Mark and Jose still hadn't met.
But as Mark walked past Jose's dressing room, his voice called out, "Is that you Mark?"
He went inside.
Jose continued, "Hey, good to meet you man, you are a great ventriloquist - I haven't seen your lips move once."
Nice.

Anyway, Crystal Symphony will be arriving in Acapulco later today. I'm not sure if Robin will go ashore this time as his second, and final, concert is tonight. But it's only a couple of weeks since he was there anyway.
Mind you, I seem to recall that he liked it very much, so maybe he will allow himself a short excursion.
We'll see.

William Walton, Julian Bream and the Paraguayan Harpist

A worried man pre-concert:



Relieved and rehydrating post concert:



Robin continues to receive positive feedback after his final concert, and, consequently meets some interesting people.

One enthusiastic lady introduced herself as, 'a Misionera', which is a girl from Misionera, in Argentina. This was prompted by Robin performing Federico Bustamente's 'Misionera', in the concert.

He has also spent some time talking to a Paraguayan harpist, and they whiled away many hours discussing the virtues of South American music and Barrios in particular, along with comparing their nails and various treatments....
The harpist had an interesting tale, he once met William Walton and Julian Bream in a restaurant on the Mediterranean island of Ischia. Walton had by this time moved there from Oldham, a very wise choice I'm sure.
The three talked for some time, and Julian Bream gave him his latest CD which contained, amongst other things, Walton's Bagatelles.

Robin later went out to dinner with a ventriloquist and I imagine they enjoyed a few 'gottles of geer'.

Barrios, Miss Bimps and Milly, the Musical Dogs

We have decided that we have very musical dogs.
It isn't surprising really, since puppy hood they have grown up surrounded with all types of music.
This morning was a prime example.
Robin was practising in the music room and my faithful friends were by my side as I worked.
The music stopped, the dogs pricked their ears up, then Robin appeared, with guitar and sat down.
The dogs sat down.
Robin started to play.
He wanted to run through 'La Catedral' by Agustin Barrios, to an audience of one (which was me) and two Labradors.
Miss Bimps and Milly put their heads on their paws resigned to the fact that their morning walk was about to be delayed.

La Catedral is in three movements, Preludio, Andante Religioso and Allegre Solemne.
At the end of the fist movement I was spellbound and the dogs didn't move.
The second movement, still nothing.
At the end of the final movement both dogs got up, and did the nearest they could to clapping their paws, by wagging their tails and circling Robin as if they were rounding up a flock of sheep.
As they used to power of positive thinking to stalk their prey, Robin gave in to the pressure, put his guitar away, and took them for a walk.
But how did they know the piece had finished?
I can only assume that we have very knowledgeable and musical hounds...

Here they are, Miss Bimps:



and Milly:

Robin Hill Turns to South America

Sometimes I can't quite believe how lucky I am, and today is one of those days.
The sun is streaming through the window and I've just been listening to a selection of some of the most vibrant, ebullient, rhythmic, melodic and lively music you can imagine.
See if you can guess the theme, here's some of the composers:
Jorge Morel, Federico Bustamente, Dilamando Reis, got it yet?
No, well here's a few more:
Villa-Lobos, Antonio Lauro, Agustin Barrios and Pernambuco.
Answer:
They are all South American.
The reason is that Robin is deep into his practice for ExCel starting on Sunday afternoon, all day Monday and Tuesday. As he will be on the Brazilian Springs stand we felt a South American feel would be appropriate.
As the whole exhibition is an international food and drink event I'm sure there will be plenty there to satisfy all the senses.
I must now get back to my eavesdropping, all that music and it's not even lunchtime!