Saturday, March 29, 2008

“Wow, You Look Like Barbies!”



Believe it or not, this is what a six-year old boy told us, with amazing audacity, one evening, at the hotel’s restaurant. Suffice it to say, it made my night!

My husband had stayed in the room, waiting for a phone call, so my two daughters (7 and 4) and I went to dinner on our own.

We’ve been sitting down for a short time when this boy came to our table, took a good look at each of us in turn and then said, “Wow, you look like Barbies!” (Well, we all have long hair… He! He! He!) He then took a step towards my older daughter and said, “Wow, you really look like Barbie!” (Without false modesty, she is indeed very beautiful. We keep getting compliments for her everywhere we go – it’s almost embarrassing.) Then he turned on his heels and went back to his parents’ table, leaving us flabbergasted.

There are some children who behave and look more mature than their age, and this little boy was definitely one of them. In fact, he was more like a miniature adult, from his face with a big nose (his features curiously made me think of the 1930’s gangsters) to his clothes, from his bold words to the incredible self-assurance of his movements.

But, hey, nothing like a little boost to one’s vanity, every now and then…

And now for some more pictures…

This is a view from our terrace (looking north-west), on the sixth floor of the hotel. Nothing above us but the sky and the pelicans. Two walls were made of glass. I could hear the sound of the waves from the room…


A cactus tree...

A rainbow (from our terrace, looking north)...

A sunrise (also as seen from our terrace, on the south-eastern side)...

The latest addition to my collection of Che Guevarra t-shirts...

18 comments:

Unknown said...

Well, young people tend to be more honest.

Unknown said...

Gorgeous shots, Barbie - I mean, Vestper :-)!

I love the honesty of children. I was in a department store the other day and a mom was trying on a pretty awful brown poncho. She asked her little boy (he must have been about 8) what he thought.
He replied, "I'm not judge of fashion opinion."
To which she said, "Well, I just wondered what you thought."
"Look," he said, "I'm just a small boy eating ice-cream, don't ask me!"
I thought it was priceless - at multiple levels.

Akasha Savage. said...

My daughter is almost 15 now, and I know I am bias, but she too is a beauty. She gets comments and stares from blokes everywhere we go. She is already 5ft 6ins tall (she gets that from her 6ft 4ins father!), has shoulder length blonde hair, big blue eyes, and a figure and legs to kill for. The trouble is, she is still very innocent and naive, and I think this makes her all the more appealing to men!! You wait 'til your girls get older.....

Lisa said...

That boy sounds like the main character in a novel! The way you've described him he's become very real in my imagination. The photos are just gorgeous. Apparently you and your girls are too :)

Bernita said...

Delightful boy!

Chris Eldin said...

Oh, what a reportoire he'll have when he's older!!! So cute!

And who is che guevara? Should I know (cause I don't)

SzélsőFa said...

What a cute boy with all that honesty :))
That's a lovely story!

You do what with tshirt with a picture of a gangster on it?
He was a damned communist for God's sake, wasn't he?

Akasha Savage. said...

I have a tee-shirt with Che Guevara on it. He's a cult icon these days. If you've never seen Motorbike Diaries, the film about him in his twenties, you should. It's excellent viewing. :)

Hoodie said...

I've decided I can't look at your blog for a while. The jealousy is becoming unbearable. ;)

Ello - Ellen Oh said...

Hey Barbie Girl! A family of Barbies! That is too sweet! And what awesome pictures. I am so green with envy. I am so wanting summer here already!

Vesper said...

They are, Ropi, and I find it refreshing.

Thank you, Vanilla! The boy you heard, hmmm... a bit cheeky. But you're right - priceless! :-)

I fear that, Akasha...
Che has mythical stature - he was already a legend by the time he was murdered in Bolivia. I haven't seen the movie, but I will look for it. I wanted to buy the book.

Thanks, Lisa, I'm glad you liked the picture. That boy is something!

True, Bernita. :-)

Yeah, just imagine, Chris! :-)

Ernesto "Che" Guevara was an Argentine medical doctor who became a revolutionary with Fidel Castro. There's a good article about him at www.time.com/time/time100/heroes/profile/guevara01.html

Szelsofa, yes, very cute boy, I'm glad you enjoyed the story! :-)
But I'm also sorry if I've offended you with the last picture. I know how deeply Eastern Europe was hurt by "communism". Unfortunately, sometimes there's a huge gap between ideas and practice...

Oh, Hoodie, it's like it's never been... Think of me as burried in waist-high snow and you'll feel better... :-)

Ello, thanks! :-) Don't be green, you have cherry flowers, we have ice flowers... :-)

SzélsőFa said...

Well, thank you for your kind words, Vesper. I appreciate them.
But...you did not offend me Vesper, I was just surprised. I know it's sort of trendy to have him on tshirts and anything, but the mentality he had, the aggression he supported is so far away from your nature Vesper. It kind of shocked me to see you drawn into this trend, that's all.

And finally, it's not communism I oppose it's the way people in power used the idea to get power and the way they distorted it, and let suffer millions of people.

Anonymous said...

Vesper - nice pictures and cool shirt. The pool looks very relaxing and I love the sunrise photo.

“Wow, You Look Like Barbies!” he he.

I'd have to use that as a pickup line if I wasn't you know, married and old. :)

Paul

Vesper said...

Szelsofa, thank you for coming back on this... I agree with what you say, my dear friend.
I have a wild side, but I'm not following a trend. While I deeply disagree with any form of violence, I think that the ideas that Che had are valid. The poverty in Latin America (and elsewhere in the world) is unbelievable. Unfortunately, as you said, good ideas were seized by those in power and used only for their own good. It's always like that, and everywhere...

Paul, thank you! Good pickup line, you're right! :-)
We have things to learn from the kids... :-)

Taffiny said...

Beautiful pics.
Ah I am longing for just such a trip, and for someone to call me Barbie!
Hmm.. reality makes both quite a stretch, but of the two, best I focus on the possible within my lifetime, blue sea vacation. :)

Tell Paul he can still use the line, he just has to use it on his wife and daughter.

Taffiny said...

by the bye,

I am glad for the info shared on the shirt issue. I myself had wondered why you were drawn to the shirts. Those shirts really upset Bob (my husband). I am glad to know where you are coming from on this.

I can not be pro socialism or communism, though as ideas, they sound sound, in practice...well they do not go at all well, so I don't think I could ever feel safe moving toward them.

Personally I like the idea of a base provided to everyone, so no one is freezing, starving, homeless, or without necessary medical care, but then I like capitalism on top of that base of necessity, so what one has above it is up to their own endeavors and accomplishments. I think capitalism helps drive people forward, and creates new ideas, inventions, and medical progress. Plus as a creative person, I think it leaves more space for the arts, because there are more products created for every price level, from designer to discount. (and people are employed all along the process).

These are just some thoughts I have on it.
I'm not sure what the best way to do things is, I just want whatever works and is truly good for people, today, tomorrow, 80+ years from now. (and I think that is what most people hope for, regardless of stated political view)

Hope you don't mind that I babbled on about it here, and hope you don't take any offence to my ideas.

Vesper said...

Taffiny, thank you for your comments and thank you for coming back to discuss this and share your thoughts. No offence, on the contrary...

I think capitalism helps drive people forward, and creates new ideas, inventions, and medical progress.

I very much agree with you, and that is certainly what happens in the western world. What about the rest of the world? Africa, for instance? I am no expert in sociology so all I have is what I feel. Unfortunately, I think that no social system we've seen until now, regardless of its name, has the answer for everybody.

Taffiny said...

Yeah.

No system we've seen regardless of its name has been the answer for everybody.

I am glad you were not upset with me for saying whatever I was thinking about it.

:)