27. Aug. 2010
Empa Mundo Empanada:
It’s not saying I went here or there, boasting about these places, escaping something nor any other ill conceived notion you might have about me that drives me to travel. It’s today. It’s going to Empa Mundo and eating empanadas as if I’d bought them at an Argentine bakery. It’s the weathered, white-haired (save the short dark strips running crescently along the outside of his ears ) Argentine owner that offers free conversation to those interested enough to delve into his life. It takes very little to get him to talk, and takes almost no time to tell he is one of the good guys willing to share something genuine. The conversation starts effortlessly as does with ‘place.’ This is the foundation of all travel. The beginning and often end in this more profound circular journey. Where are you from? And as it is a limitless and circular conversation for which I am guilty, but in no way an expert, and not had a drink tonight to start pretending. Neither will I dictate here our conversation because, like all, it was more brilliant than written justice will do it. I will write down the most striking point in my opinion and the rest remains where best we harbor all great experiences and relate them over many future pints.
At some point in our conversation, on an un-provoked ‘where’ on which he ‘tangented,’ he noted his own accent, as we were speaking in Spanish, his understandingly being Argentine. Argentines (or debatably Argentineans) have a unique and pronounced accent, especially those from Buenos Aires (Porteños). As he is from there, he, however, had neither the thick Porteño nor much of any Argentine distinction to note. It isn’t missing, just refined into a diplomatically invented neutral accent. The old proprietor is a living ambassador of good-will; a man well-worked that worked well in his 20 + years and countless grand opening all over the world for Nabisco. As he traveled the globe, speaking English where was due (with his phonetically honed “Johnny Carson” harmony), and Spanish where was done in his accent neutral, non-presumptuous tone. Reasons, as we are all well aware, being that an accent, before a hand shake, can make or break a first and sometime only impression in a relationship, especially in business. Most people never have to think about or deal with languages or accents but, for those of us that do, pronunciation is key. Simplified: If your words are easy to understand, people are comfortable talking to you, can get to know you better, and think you are smart (though conversation can steer that last one to think otherwise).
On the 2 night, 1 day Dallas halt:
Late Boston Market dinner with wine at house after to catch-up the times, witty banter recordings on my video camera during a Dallas city drive and Bush house search, Argentine Empa Mundo lunch, maté (Argentine tea drank through a straw) sipping afternoon study, late afternoon tour of the University of Dallas, and a wine/sake martini night cap and musically centered discussion (Highlight: 99 Red Balloons) with friend Kevin and roommates Nik and Anne
More than a stopover, I’d call it an ‘arrival;’ that calm, comfortable place/relaxing period between departure and return. For laymen the best part of travel and for me a sojourn from ‘windowscaping’ down another one of America’s trails. And now off to Tennessee state number 29.
.s.
