Altos de Chavon / the "Heights of Chavon"

Altos de Chavon is a place where you walk into an old Spanish village of ancient times. It was built to simulate a lost age of long ago. This interesting place is located in La Romana, Dominican Republic. Its name came from the Chavon River which lies beside it.  In 1976 a group of  Dominican artists and craftmen started the construction of this architectural landscape. Within its walls of masonry, steel and stone a school of design and an archaeological regional museum  are hidden. Also, it contains a 5000-seat amphitheater  where famous entertainers like Frank Sinatra, Carlos Santana, Julio Iglesias, Gloria Estefan, Sergio Mendes, Dizzy Gillespie, Air Supply, Pilobulos, and the Dance Theater of Harlem have performed.

This place was built and is taken care of by the Altos de Chavon Cultural Center Foundation. Their objective was to promote many art forms and help launch new art professionals in the Dominican Republic.

It is a beautiful place where you can spend a nice afternoon or a whole semester.  It was built so as to inspire and it definitely does.

The "Vejigantes" of Puerto Rico

In the Festival of Santiago Apostol (Apostle St. James) which takes place in Loiza every year, a group of people dress up in costumes of vibrant colors and horrifying masks becoming "Los Vejigantes" who represent the enemy Moors. The Saint also represents the Yoruba Orisha of Sango,  a god of the Yoruba people of Nigeria and therefore veneered by the African ancestors of Puerto Ricans (the slaves at the times of Spanish conquests).
 
The masks of the Vejigantes are the most impressive part of their costume. The vejigante masks are an example of the fusion of the African and Spanish cultures which created the cultures of the islands of the Caribbean and thus, Puerto Rico's.  The masks are made from paper mache, coconut shells, metal and gourd plant. They are characterized by large horns and vibrant colors. The vejigantes masks have become a form of "artesania" or native art form.You can find some samples of masks at (http://www.elcoquigifts.com/maskvejigante1.asp).
 
There are many towns in Puerto Rico that have festivals where vejigantes appear, but there are two main towns which are most famous for their grand festivities. These are the towns of Loiza and Ponce ( http://www.bombaboricua.com/Vejigantes/Vejigantes.htm). These towns received more influence from the African slaves and thus is shown in this ritual consisting of a mix of vibrant colors; festive, loud music; vivacious dancing, playfulness and laughter.  

Write your name like an Egyptian!

Hello all! I just found this site and its very interesting. It is suppose to translate your name into Egyptian letters. Just click here (http://www.kids.msn.com/kidz/feature.aspx?id=/kidz/content/getsmart/discovery/writehiero). I hope you like it too!