Nicaragua - Day 13- Managua (Carlos Mejia Godoy)

Today was my last day in Nicaragua, and it was a great one.

This morning started off early with a 7 am television appearance on Channel 2. It was the Nicaraguan version of Better Connecticut! I felt very at home. :)

The folks on the show loved us, and were so nice. It was a really great experience.

Later on in the morning, we gave a master class and lecture at the local music conservatory. Am I qualified for something like that? Absolutely not. But I decided that I'd talk to the kids (they really are kids) anyway.

Here's what I told them, and here's what I'll tell you:

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I've been a musician for 15 years. It's been hard, and it's still hard, but it's how I make my living and I love it. Being an artist, being a musician, is a job.

It's a real job, and no one can tell me, or you or anyone else that it's not.

If there are people in your life who don't believe in you, or don't take you seriously - stop listening to them. 

Surround yourself with people who believe in you, and never give up, because the world needs more art. It needs more beauty. It needs you.

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So there you have it - my college lecture in a nutshell.

After my final lunch of pinto gallo and plantains (amongst other things - I've just really been enjoying them as a staple) our afternoon was spent getting ready for our final concert, which was in Managua, at Casa de Mejia Godoy.

It was remarkable meeting Carlos Mejia Godoy - Nicaragua's troubadour. He's loved. He's beloved. And he's hilarious.

My emotional moment tonight came as we were singing one of his most popular songs, Nicaragua's unofficial national anthem, Nicaragua Nicaraguita. 

I was standing next to him, singing his song, and couldn't help but feel this man's love for his country and its people. Of course, I couldn't help but think about how much I have loved these two weeks, and have loved this country and these people. It was a powerful moment.

Zooming in on the video screen shot of us - it's clear that Carlos didn't mind having someone else sing his song. What an honor.

Well, we just toasted to a successful trip over some Nicaraguan rum, but the stories are only just beginning. 

I'll have more of a chance to reflect tomorrow during my travels - and of course, stay tuned for the videos to come. This has been an incredible two weeks.

Viva Nicaragua!

Nicaragua - Day 12 - Managua (Ernesto Cardenal)

So some days...you may find yourself in Nicaragua. And on one of those days, you may find yourself face to face with a 90 year old poet named Ernesto Cardenal.

That would be my day today.

This morning, we were invited to come and sit with one of Nicaragua's most famous poets, and I was invited to sing a song for him. It's a musical setting of one of his poems, and it was an honor.

He was sweet, gracious, wore a cool beret and crocs.

When we asked him how long it took him to write this particular poem (video of me singing the song here) he said with a wave of his hand...'just a few minutes'.

Then he told us who the poem is about - all I have to say is - some woman named Claudia really missed out!

Anyway - that was the start of my day. Sitting with this professor of poetry.

Following that, we went to the city center in Managua to have a musical exchange with the Municipal Band. They were great!

I had to snap a photo, and some quick video of the group playing Sir Duke by Stevie Wonder. Bet Stevie never knew he had such a huge following in Managua, Nicaragua!

And tonight - I leave you with this. My latest travel session. I had an early evening, and thought you'd enjoy my friend, Paco Godoy's beautiful arrangement of Ernesto Cardenal's poem. (Lyrics and translation below.)

Tomorrow - I'll be on Nicaraguan television, and singing with Carlos Mejia Godoy - the (un)official troubadour of Nicaragua!

By Ernesto Cardenal:

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Al perderte yo a ti, tú y yo hemos perdido
Yo, porque tú eras lo que yo más amaba,
Y tú, porque yo era el que te amaba más.
Pero de nosotros dos, tú pierdes más que yo:

Porque yo podré amar a otras como te amaba a ti,
Pero a ti no te amarán como te amaba yo.

Cuando los dorados jardines florecieron
Nosotros dos estabamos enamorados
Todavia guardan las rosas su aroma
Y nosotros ya somos dos extranos.

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When I lost you, you and I both lost
I, because you were what I loved the most
And you, because I was the one who could love you most
Between the two of us, you lose more than me.

For I can love another as I loved you,
But no one will love you like I've loved you.

When the golden gardens bloomed
We were in love
The roses still have their aroma
But you and I are now strangers

Nicaragua - Day 11 - Leon!

Today was amazing... But I have to keep this short because I'm getting up early tomorrow morning to meet an awesome poet, Ernesto Cardenal! 

This morning we were psyched to find out that we were featured in one of Nicaragua's largest papers!

After some master classes (I was asked to lead some vocal workshops on my next visit...guess I'm coming back!) we started getting ready for tonight's concert, which featured our Grand Community Choir of Nagarote.  

It was the kids' first tour!

They were psyched and did an amazing job. There were other bands and choirs tonight, and it was so cool seeing all of these musicians come together to celebrate music and art.  

It was like a mini-festival! 

At the end of the night it was time to say goodbye to our dear friends from Nagarote. Luckily, they all took a bus together, so I got to have a little 'goodbye train'.  

I'm already scheming my return trip... 

Tonight was awesome. It was an honor to sing a poem set to music by one of Nicaragua's favorite poets, in the park named after him.  

So- what do you do when you're in Ruben Dario's  park and the concert is done? 

Ruben Dario selfie! 

Goodnight / Buenas noches! 

Nicaragua - Day 10 - Nagarote farewell

Today was full of more music, more tours, and a good-bye to Nagarote…

The morning started off with a visit to SosteNica, Eco-Center, which is an amazing project in Nagarote, working to make farmers and small family gardens more sustainable and more productive.

It’s an incredible project, and you can check it out here.

One of the coolest things they showed me (besides the kitchen stoves, compostable toilets, and water capturing system) were these seed balls!

They’re little pods that you can just throw anywhere and things will grow! (You can also be organized and plant…but it sounds like so much fun to just throw seed balls everywhere.)

After that - I got a chance to see how people in Nagarote make quesillo - a traditional dish. I even tried a little.

It was awesome seeing tortillas and quesillo made right in front of my eyes. And it was made my serious professionals - these women learned from their mothers, who learned from their mothers, etc.

And last for today was a little thank you show from the kids at NicaPhoto. They gave us a performance - they danced, sang, and recited poetry. It was really beautiful.

To finish the show- my new friend, Katharine presented me with this beautiful necklace. I’ll be wearing it the next time you see me!

Tomorrow- a meeting with the mayor of Leon, and concert in Ruben Dario park (I’ll be singing a setting of one of his most famous poems!)

Nicaragua - Day 9 - Managua / Concert in Nagarote

So my morning started out like this...

For the record, I'd like that to become my every morning.

We started our day at the Flavio Galo School of Music in Managua for a master class/musical exchange and it was so great. People sang and played along, and it was a really interesting experience. Turns out - I'm a huge fan of the marimba!

After the class, we took off for Nagarote, and on our way - stopped for some photos featuring my latest obsession - Nicaragua's volcanos, Momotombo and Momotombito. Here I am with fellow singer/songwriter Lu Miranda. (We've been roommates this trip and have been harmonizing a lot!)

After some volcano photos (and stepping into the lake!) we were off to Nagarote for our first official Nicaraguan concert as the Intake Ensemble.

When we arrived, the kids were so excited and so ready. They came running up to us to show us their outfits, and to ask (for the millionth time) which song we were going to sing first. It was amazing to see how psyched and how proud they were.

You could see their eyes widen as the crowd grew and grew.

Given the fact that there was no sound system when we arrived (we were in the central park of town, so speakers were necessary), and that no one knew how to operate the lights - the fact that we started a mere hour late is some kind of miracle, I think.

The concert was awesome - people love the songs, sang along, and had a great time.

And the kids were spectacular. They sang their hearts out, the crowd adored them, and at the end of the night you could see how their self-confidence and pride had grown in just six songs.

The end of the night included autographs, many many photos, and lot of hugs.

I am smitten.

Nicaragua has a new fan.

More to come tomorrow.

ps…these girls put their hair in dreads just for tonight! So we took a rasta picture…