godfather of soul

This photograph was taken in January 2004 the day James Brown was released from prison. Mr. Brown holds the distinction of being the most recognized living entertainer in the world.

at the gym

Flex benching

napalm

The first photograph gained much notoriety in 1972 during the Vietnam War.
The children are victims of a Napalm bomb explosion.
The children have ghastly horrid screams on their faces because the chemical sticks to the skin and burns the flesh.

The second photograph shows the screaming little naked girl today.

Distrito Federal

As in the US, the Mexican government operates from an independent territory not associated with any of the federated states. That federal district alone houses over eight million people. But Mexico City in the broader sense discussed here encompasses the entire metropolitan region of 17 million persons covering almost 5000 square meters making this one of the top five metropolitan regions in the world. The capital is also totally land locked. Like most major urban epicenters this city has the myriad of issues usually associated with high urban living when such a large population is concentrated into such a small area. The city rests on a plateau over 7000 feet into the sky so the air is a bit thin also. In the vernacular: The pollution, the crime and the poverty are extreme. So why not just go to the Yucatan or Baja California or Acapulco? That’s a good question.

Mexico, D.F. is a fascinatingly historical entertaining and cultured place of great weather with really warm and friendly people who are in absolutely no rush to get anywhere. The central streets are wide fabulous boulevards with huge awesome fountains depicting great battles and heroes. The buildings are a combination of a unique European and indigenous architecture unparalleled anywhere on this continent. The works of Diego Rivera are everywhere. His home is a splendid celebration of life and art. The food is cheap and wonderful and very hot! The city folk love to stay up late and party. The value for your US dollar is amazing. The merchandise is boundless. Hire a tour guide to drive you around town. It is also best to stay clear of the police.

For those not faint of heart go see a bullfight. It is an amazing bloody dramatic spectacle you will not believe. Do have your tour guide drive you to Teotihuacán outside the city and walk to the top of the Temple of the Sun. Behold the panoramic view and relive the human sacrifices performed there in the early centuries just after the birth of the Christ by heads of state atop this massive monument built to placate some pagan god of antiquity. The experience and the lower levels of oxygen will make you light headed and will take your breath away. Lastly, as with all the places we have visited are the people who inhabit the locality and these Spanish speaking descendents of the native American’s who inhabited this part of the world before the Europeans conquered them are a sight to behold. There you will see the rich dressed in white lace gowns and black tails as they perform the Hat dance all night in fancy ballrooms while the poor lie on blankets in the street begging for money with babies in arm.