Hola OSers. Today I took a trip to the countryside here in my hometown Cali. I met with a local artist I wanted to interview and he invited me to see his country house. The sun was up in the sky, humidity in the order and mosquitos everywhere... but, what you are about to see is just PARADISE...Enjoy... 
This post is all about images. I decided to interview a local artist and I ended up being introduced to the most amazing trip I have ever done in years. The name of the artist is Fabio Berrío, 61, from Manizales, a city built in the montains of Colombia five or six hours away from Cali, my home town and his place of residence for now. I´m not going to bore you with words... just enjoy the photos
ok ok... I will write some captions ....
The interview started at Fabio´s workshop in Cali. We decided to just have a chat (he decided it) talk about life and stuff and me taking some notes and snapshots. Here in this photo he is carving gooses in a piece of wood. Matilda is next to him. She is the sweetest.
Here´s one of his creations. A painting of a Heliconia. I love the bright colors in it. 
This mirror wooden frame is also his creation. The delicate details make it impossible to recreate. He´s got a real talent with the wood.
Here are the kitchen cabinets made by him. Ponies, flowers, colors, it looks so unique and beautiful. But I don´t know if it is tedious to take care of. 
Another of his creations... this one is painted on a satellite Tv dish. One of his recycling examples of what art can do for the enviroment.
Another Heliconia but this one is carved on wood. The tropical colors kept calling my attention. At this point I was thinking about a decoration catalog with his creations.
Here are the gossip pears. He said that´s the name of this carve... but honestly I didn´t get it. But I loved it. I want it in my dinning room.
One of his master pieces. Is not because I´m gay that I like this kind of painting. What I like about it is the color. 
Here´s a part of his realism face... so far we´ve seen his journey through nature, the human body and now here´s his attempt of portrait the reality of his country house.
Another piece of perfection by his hands. I loved this cabinet. He has it for storage at his workshop. So perfectly done.
I found this piece of delicios art hidden behind the cabinet I just showed you. I loved it... and yes this time I like it for the erotic reasons.
More erotic human body painting. This one evokes the scent of men here in Cali. They smell like sweat and cheap perfume. Not that that is a bad thing.. oh no... it is actually sensual, the musk after a day of work under the sun. 
Fabio next to his master pieces (according to me of course. He says those are not his master pieces) I just asked him to stand by the easel.
Another piece of his erotica face... this one is placed above the entrance of his house here in Cali. 
This triptych placed by the entrance door says hello and wishes you a farewell in his house in Cali. This is the first part of the interview with Fabio. Tomorrow we are off to his country house. Let the trip begin.
First we had to take a bus at the main bus station here in Cali. It had plenty of space when we left the station but just a couple of blocks ahead there were a lot of people waiting and this is how the bus looked. It was packed. 
We met a Christian U.S. citizen missioner working here in Cali. He has to travel back and forth from Cali to this little town Pance where Fabio´s country house is placed. This gringo old man was talking in English to everyone in the bus and no one was understanding anything ... but they all were laughing with shyness. They weren´t trying to be rude they just didn´t get any word coming from the gringo´s mouth. He was a sweet old man though.
Here we start to go up the mountain. The road was getting narrow whereas we moved closer to the river side. 
The buses crossed eachother with just inches between them. Scary but real...
A one side road to the country side next to the mountain. It felt dangerous due to the speed this bus driver was reaching. He was fast.
Next to Fabio, the artist and enjoying the trip on a rocky road. 
I took this picture from the bus. We were literally driving through the river. 
The artist leading the way to his country house. 
An old bridge we had to cross to get to the other side of the river where the house is.
There is the artist at the end of the bridge leading the way... yes sir I am crossing I swear... give me a minute ok? 
This is the river from the bridge 
The artist ahead of me. Damn.. this man has energy.
Here´s the house. Sinai. This is the name of the house. I asked him why the name? and he said... I just like the sound of the words... hum... ok....
I tried to capture the river behind me but... yea.. FAILED!
Here we start the tour around his house. This is the main entrance. 
Here´s another side of this artist. The religious side. Catholic mysticism. Not my favorite part in someone´s character but I have to be respectful of his believes.
The main entrance from inside. 
This is a special leisure space. He listens to the oldies here. The wooden stairs take you to the second floor´s guest´s room.
This is the first guest´s room. The one with the balcony. The whole house is made from guadua.
One of his creations. An old wardrobe painted by Fabio. Heliconias again. This is a real piece of art that I´m sure would have an excellent welcoming in the market.
The guest´s balcony. That green sight is what the visitors to this temple of peace come to enjoy.
More sexy paintings
This is his bedroom. he made the bed himself.
This is the main bathroom. Guadua all over. He painted the toiletseat... 
The bathroom´s ceiling
Bathroom
He makes a sweet drink for the hummingbirds. I didn´t have the time to stay and see them coming.. pitty. Next time. 
This is the view from the balcony. Imagine the peace up here.
The view of the canyon. From the balcony. Colombia is green, 40 percent of its territory is rain forrest
From balcony 
Another of his paintings
I don´t know what to say about this except that he got it from his trip to Cuba once. 
Another bedroom
Fabio placed a banana in front of the main entrance and he asked me to stay there and wait for couple of minutes. The visitors started coming dressed with the best feathers they had. It was an amazing show.
Here´s another guest that came to the banana party
Look at this one.. isn´t it amazing?
More visitors.
Nature is amazing. Isn´t it?and at the end of the trip.. the moon wished me a safe return home and it was the end of the experience and the start of this storyline
By Mauricio Betancourt 2011 ©
Photos by Mauricio Betancourt 2011 ©
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Comments
(You spent 12 hours on the bus, round trip?)
`R
EP! Yay!!!!!
Lezlie
Hugs baby
@Sheila: Hola amiga. I am actually setting everything up to see if he would be willing to work more so we can come up with a catalogue or something... I think his creations have a good chance in the market
@Leepin: Thanks.. and no-- not 12 hours... just two....
@Vlad: I´m glad you are here today... thank you for your comment...
@L: If it weren´t for you... that E gave me a headache... hehehe
I love you
R
@Willie: Thanks... come here and I will show you my country.. you will love it
@ScanMan: there you are... you have to come here K... come come come here... bring your wife too
@Maryway: Your sweet presence is so refreshing.. I like it when you stop by....hugs
@Sheba: Thanks... there wouldn´t be good photos if it wasn´t for the perfect scenario.... hugs
Rated with hugs
I loved the painting on the satellite dish. That was an ingenious place to put art.
Gorgeous in general.
@Designanator: Thanks for being here... I´m glad you liked it
@Kosher: There you are... this country of mine is just amazing... If I could I would invite you all to see it... maybe some day we can have an OS party here in Colombia... what do you think? and about the sattelite dish paiting... yes.. he might have a good idea there right?
@Christine: Yes.. I love Fabio´s art... he is amazing. Thank you for being here...
Too bad politics and politicians screw up the world.
No mosquitos is about the only thing good about winter here in WI.
I'd love to visit your country.
In fact, I'd love to visit a lot of the world.
Too bad my country has made enemies out of my Canadian friends by forcing us to have a passport to visit them.
The old claim of "world's longest undefended border" now smells bad.
♥
It seems such a beautiful haven of peace and serenity.
That would make a great title for a poem, no crees?
Gracias otra vez por haber compartido tu patria. I love how *feliz* you look in the pictures here... no me sorprende que los pajaros te dan paz...tu tambien tienes alas, sabias?
besos, darling Mauricio.
Thanks for the story, and your photos are fantastic!