No green gills but memories are still a little hazy...

Now I know that this post´s attachment seems to be getting away a bit from Bolivia, I mean, it´s a booksale in Melbourne for god´s sake. However, I´m sweetly hungover from my lack of alcohol last night, and the greeting at Cerebritos - "My place" - by the owners. The funny little one swirling around, hands in the air as I walked in, in a "HE HAS RETURNED!!" kind of way and asking if I´d been viaje or trabajando and that made me feel all special! I also met a leatherclad death metal lead singer from La Paz called Felix ("I am the Cat"), who I think wanted to sleep with me after he finished his Terminator - a 2ft long glass of Vodka, something and something... very colourful! (pretty sure that "¿Estas solo?" means more than "do you want to drink together") . We agreed that the girls in the bar were pretty and that Metallica and AC/DC were worthy of pointer and little fingers being extended and shaken about, and ascertained whether I liked cigarettes ("¿Tu gusta cigarillos?") and I found my Spanish was good enough afterall to shimmy my way (and Felix´s) into a group of those girls playing the dice/drinking game so popular here and then them loving that I come from such a pais peligroso/dangerous country!! Felix left after making sure I promise to see his band at La Cueva next time I´m in La Paz. Can´t repeat the name of his band, if you´re interested, due to the certainty of offending some readers. He´s right - the girls are pretty, regardless of the motives for Felix to state such, but the Johnny Cash song rings through my head each night... "I find it very very easy to be true, I find myself alone when each day is through, yes I´ll admit that I¨m a fool for you, Because you´re mine, I walk the line...."

Anyhow, this attachment does relate to Bolivia - The DaVinci Code has been translated and is everywhere, including here *sigh*. It´s Sunday and I have to go to La Cancha (the biggest market in the universe!) and get a cheap shirt or two.

Love, Miguel.

p.s. the picture is one taken from the balcony of our hostel on Isla de Sol at 8am when the festival troupe mentioned in the Titicaca review decided to bring their merriment to the world!









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Bookshop to attempt Da Vinci Code world record

A Carlton bookshop is hoping to capitalise on the critical backlash against The Da Vinci Code at its Big Red Book Fair this June.

On Saturday 17 June, Trades Hall"s New International Bookshop will attempt a Guinness World Record for the largest collection of unwanted copies of the Dan Brown bestseller.

"We've already received great support from the public," said Bookshop Co-ordinator Seb Prowse, "but we must clarify this is quite separate from other attempts being made. We are not trying to stop people reading, and we are certainly not about to start burning books."

A source close to the Bookshop suggested The Da Vinci Code was "too lightweight to start a proper fire".

Mr. Prowse reacted angrily to suggestions the record attempt was a gimmick to promote a title whose sales had finally begun to drop off. The recent cinema release of an adaptation starring Tom Hanks had opened up a new market, he suggested.

"In today's world, who can afford to sit through a movie that long?" he asked. "Our message is simple. Save time: read the book.

"In another industry first, Mr Prowse plans to use the Big Red Book Fair to launch an entirely new product line: Books Not Written by Dan Brown.

"The public will decide whether this initiative sinks or swims," said Mr. Prowse. "We have a small window of opportunity before the publication of Brown's next book, and we need your support. Anyone still in possession of books from the pre-Da Vinci period should contact us immediately.

"The Big Red Book Fair11am Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 June Trades Hall, cnr Lygon & Victoria Sts, Carlton

For more information, or to donate books, phone 9662 3744 or email nibs@nibs.org.au

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