BUENA VISTA SOCIAL CLUB

If we talk about Latin America these days, most likely Cuba comes first to our minds. For that reason, our virtual musical trip today will take us there, with the sounds of the legendary Buena Vista Social Club.

Havana collage

Buena Vista Social Club is a Cuban band, whose name was inspired by a 1940’s member club in La Havana. It was created in 1996 by Cuban musician Juan de Marcos Gonzalez and American guitarist Ry Cooder, but included as well traditional Cuban musicians, who had performed at the original Club: Compay Segundo, Ibrahim Ferrer and Ruben Gonzalez, among others.

Buena Vista Social Club bvsc_02

The recording of this band was a great success, and inspired German director Wim Wenders, who captured two live concerts in Amsterdam and New York, interviews to the musicians together with images of La Havana for a documentary, also named Buena Vista Social Club.

Both the recording and the documentary started what many called “Cubamania”, inspiring people to get acquainted with cuban music and salsa dance. Although the original band only performed live twice, some members of the original group (Guajiro Mirabal, Aguaje Ramos and Barbarito Torres) continue to perform together as a part of the Orquesta Buena Vista Social Club, while Omara Portuondo and Eliades Ochoa have their own group.

Here it goes then, my personal tribute to La Havana and Buena Vista Social Club with this amazing live presentation at the Carnegie Hall of New York…

For more info, check the official site of the band

Home

 Photo credits
Peter Hubler, Flickr.com; Ramon Rosati, Flickr.com; Artur Staszewski, Flickr.com; Franck Vervial, Flickr.com; Alfredo Miguel Romero, Flickr.com

MY PERFECT BEACH

The summer is gone, and maybe this is why I started dreaming about being on a perfect beach, lying under the sun while sipping a piña colada… Turquoise, calm, warm water and powdery sand, a calm and exotic environment…. this is my idea of the perfect beach….

These are 5 beaches I’ve been to and I crave being there right now!…

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Playa Paraiso, Cayo Largo, Cuba

No wonder why is called Paradise Beach. With its stunning turquoise waters and its sugar-like sand this amazing beach, located in the island Cayo Largo, south of Cuba, makes you easily believe you’re in paradise…

Tulum, Yucatan, Mexico

Located in the Riviera Maya, about 145 km south of Cancun, this unique beach combines the beauty of the Caribbean sea and the imposing view of Mayan ruins…

Elafonissi, Crete, Greece

Amazing and exotic, with shallow turquoise waters that give you the feeling of being in a lagoon, and fine white sand that becomes occasionally pink …

Jericoacoara, Ceara, Brazil

Small fishing village, located around 300 km west of Fortaleza, it became a National park in 2002. Secluded beach, getting there is already an experience, which will reward you with an endless exotic beach, with huge dunes, palms and a beautiful sunset…

Mauna Kea, Big Island, Hawaii

An absolutely gorgeous beach. The sand is fine and soft, you feel like you are walking on powdered sugar!  The water is warm and there is great snorkelling…

 

Do you agree with this list? Which one is your perfect beach?

 

Photo credits:
Playa Paraiso: Fabio Massarenti, Flickr.com; Tulum: Jeff Stvan, Flickr.com; Elafonissi: annie_stru, Flickr.com; Jericoacoara: Stefano Liboni, Flickr.com; Mauna Kea: jdan57, Flickr.com.