Text: Francisco Collazo
Photos: Francisco Collazo, unless indicated otherwise
**

Photo: Tambako the Jaguar

The night is cold and clear. The light of the moon is brighter than the lights of Times Square and Las Vegas, combined. The aluminum color of the roofs throw reflections of moonlight back against the city’s sky. New York is illuminated.

Up on the roof of the building where I live, I can’t stop thinking about the moon’s mysteriousness and its influence in our lives since ancient times.

Our fascination with her has produced poetry, books, songs, and stories. More than one nation and state have her emblazoned on their flags. And until now I’d never really stopped to ask “Why?” She gives light in the darkness of night. She teaches us when to plant our crops and when to harvest. She helps light paths and beautifies the night. She’s also been attributed with influencing the irrational behavior of “lunatics.”

The moon is part of our culinary patois: croissants, “half moon punch.” It’s part of our identity; famous people carry its name as their own, like the Mexican actor Diego Luna, and the Queen of Spain, Maria de la Luna (1396-1406). We name places after it: streets in Havana and San Juan, for example.

Tonight, I stop to think of all these things and remember with pleasure so many special experiences beneath the moon.

**

Photo: Pandiyan

Es fría la noche, muy brillante y clara. La luz de la luna alumbra mas fuerte que las luces de Times Square y Las Vegas, todas ellas juntas. Los techos de color aluminio ayudan a desprender destellos afarolados sobre el cielo de la ciudad. Nueva York se alumbra en todos los rincones.

Subido en el techo del edificio donde vivo no pude dejar de pensar en lo misterioso de su existencia, y de su influencia en nuestras vidas desde tiempos remotos.

La fascinación por ella produjo poesías, libros, canciones e historias. Mas de una nación o estado las tienen en sus banderas. Y hasta hoy no había podido pensar por que? Ella nos alumbro las noches y nos refrescó los días cálido en el desierto, nos trajo bonaza y nos dijo cuando empezar la cosecha. También nos guió el rumbo y nos embelleció la noche. Inclusive es responsable por la conducta irracional de los “lunáticos” como les llamanos en Latino América a aquellos que no se comportan de manera racional desde hace ya muchos siglos, que si conoces la historia, sabrás quienes son.

También esta en nuestros platos y bebidas: emparedados, o sándwiches medialuna, croissant. Ponche media luna y hasta en apellidos de personas famosas, como el artista mexicano Diego Luna y la Reina María de Luna (1396-1406) de la corona de Aragon, España. Y recientemente la recuerdo haberla visto en nombres de calles, una en La Habana, y la otra en San Juan. Pero esta noche me dejó perplejo. Esta noche se quedó en mi memoria con muchas gratas experiencia en que pensar debajo de…..claro está, esa luna!

Text: Julie Schwietert Collazo
Mexico & Colombia Photos: Francisco Collazo
Cuba Photo: Brayan Collazo
**

Back in December, Lola Akinmade invited me to participate in the Tripbase Best-Kept Travel Secrets Project. Time got away from me and I never followed through.

Earlier this week, Katie Erica, the writer who started the project, invited me to participate- again- so this time, I won’t let her down!

The idea behind the project is to crowd-source an epic list of travel writers’ favorite places, preferably places that are “secret.”

Now you can argue whether sharing “secret” places is a good idea, as the excellent writer David Page did in the article “Travelers’ Omerta: Is There No Place We Should Keep Secret?” It’s a valid question and one that leads to important reflections.

But the places where I travel aren’t really secret. They’re pretty much in plain view for everyone to see and visit… they simply choose not to.

So here are my three “best-kept travel secrets” and my defense of why you should visit each of them:

Mexico City, Mexico

If I could have any job other than the one I have, it would be a full-time evangelist for Mexico City.

Seriously, this is THE most exciting city on the planet, and if you know me or read my writing regularly, you know I don’t use words like “most” or “must-see” frequently.

I will spend my life trying to write a more persuasive, poignant description of Mexico City than David Lida, but until then, I’ll simply cite him with gratitude for articulating my exact feelings about “el DF”:

“I had been utterly seduced by the constant sensations of contrast, surprise, even tumult.”

“[I]t has absorbed and swallowed all the centuries of its history, yet most of them are still in evidence in some regurgitated form on the streets.”

“Mexico City is constantly improvising a new invention of itself.”

I could go on and on, but do yourself a favor and read Lida’s book, First Stop in the New World: Mexico City, The Capital of the 21st Century. Start reading his blog. And then, put Mexico City on the top of your travel list.

And once you’re there, make sure you witness the daily flag ceremony in the Zocalo. Go to a lecture at Casa Lamm and then visit their restaurant for an overpriced but totally worth it martini (try carambola). And throw yourself into a visit to Mercado San Juan like it’s the most important thing you’ll do all year. Just don’t forget your camera.

CUBA

First, understand this: Cuba is not closed.

It’s very much open for tourism and business and even if you’re an American you can go there.

I explain how in “How to Travel to Cuba and Why You Should Do It Now.”

I guarantee that you’ll come back from Cuba a changed person, one who has begun to understand what a complex nation it is, one that exists outside of all the polarized rhetoric about it. And if you don’t, well, I’ll take you out for dinner and we can talk about it.

What should you do while you’re there? I’ve written about some favorite Havana attractions for TravelMuse and favorite nightlife spots for Matador.

3. Mompox, Colombia

You’ve got to be determined to get to Mompox. You have to cross a river in a sketchy boat, then take a motorbike or sturdy vehicle to this UNESCO World Heritage site.

But if you do, it will be worth the effort, especially if you plan a visit of a week or longer.

Colombia’s legendary river, the Magdalena, runs right through the town, which is rumored to be the inspiration for novelist Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s imaginary town of Macondo. There’s not a raucous nightlife here, or dozens of museums, but there are lots and lots of stories.

If you visit, book a bed at Matador contributor Richard McColl’s La Casa Amarilla, which Francisco and I tended for a month in 2008.

**
What are your favorite travel “secrets”? Share them–or not!–in the comments.
**
And be sure to check out the blogs of these writers, who I’m “tagging” to participate in the Tripbase project:

Hal Amen: WayWorded
Donna Arioldi: Prepare for Crosscheck
Megan Hill: See.Write.Live.
Reeti Roy: Clickety Click Click
Michelle Schusterman: MusicTravelWrite

Text: Julie Schwietert Collazo
Photos: Francisco Collazo
**
One of the (many) projects we’re working on is a photo essay about botanicas–those one-stop shops for all things mystical that are as common as bodegas (corner delis) in neighborhoods like El Barrio and the South Bronx.

Much more to come on this subject, but for now, a couple of photos that hint at some of the themes that we’ll be exploring:

Text: Julie Schwietert Collazo
Photos: Francisco Collazo
**

In case you missed it, I recently collaborated with Indie Travel Podcast to produce a New York City Travel Guide that takes you through the city like a local.

You can read the transcript or listen to the podcast on ITP or download the podcast via iTunes.

A commenter responding to the article mentioned that one of his favorite places to eat is the Central Park Boathouse, a rather upscale restaurant tucked so far into Central Park that it’s easy to forget you’re in New York City. In fact, sitting on the wide porch with its enormous columns having dinner a few years ago, Francisco and I felt like we were in the antebellum South.

Francisco happened to take a picture of the restaurant today:

What’s your favorite place in New York City? Leave your response in the comments.

To see more Central Park photos, visit Francisco’s Flickr photostream.

PLEASE NOTE: It appears that there is a temporary problem with the Matador server; therefore, I’m posting the evening update on my own blog until Matador’s back up and running.**

A sidewalk shrine set up in front of a Haitian restaurant in Flatbush, Brooklyn. Photo: Francisco Collazo

[Editor's Note: Due to scheduled maintenance of the MatadorNetwork, we were unable to publish this update last night.]

Many readers have written to say how frustrated they are that they can’t be on the ground in Haiti, that it’s painful for them to sit at home, watching the rescue effort on TV, and “doing nothing.”

But as independent journalist Ned Sublette wrote today in his daily email digest, Nedslist, “Watching disaster porn on TV is my definition of powerless.”

There’s something all of us can do, and there’s no need to feel powerless. Here are a few options, all of which are being spearheaded by Matador members or readers who responded to our initial call for volunteers. Read on… you’ll likely feel more clear about your own role in the recovery effort, and you’ll definitely be inspired.

1. Donation sites in New York City are being verified.

I spent today verifying the donation sites that are on the list provided by the Haitian Consulate. Only one of four sites visited is actively accepting donations, and that is Roland Realty, which is located at 907 Nostrand Avenue in Brooklyn. You can drop off donations of non-perishable food, clothing, and small household items at Roland.

Matador will be coordinating a sorting and packing day with American Airlines, The Society for the Advancement of People, and Roland Realty next week. More details to follow in future updates.

2. Matador contributor Gabriela Garcia announces opportunities to help in Miami. Other opportunities are announced in central Florida.

For anyone in the Miami area: We are taking donations of medical supplies, food, and blankets (clothing and building materials will be accepted later on as the warehouses are overwhelmed and the most items are going out first). The first shipment leaves Monday aboard the USS Comfort.

The drop off location is 7230 NW Miami Court in Little Haiti. Donations are being accepted on Sunday from 9am-3pm and Monday from 1pm-5pm.

Andrea Brown of central Florida reached out to Matador as a coordinator for local donation efforts in the Orlando area. Please follow her on Twitter (@aharbrown) for updates in that region.

3. Matador is sharing the information of medically qualified volunteers with Partners in Health.

Partners in Health has been working in Haiti for more than 20 years. We have been in touch with PiH since Wednesday and have agreed to share our list of volunteers with medical credentials with PiH.

More than 180 people who responded to Matador’s initial volunteer request, in addition to 70 Haitian American doctors who contacted Matador, will have their information made available to PiH. If you are among these people, please DO NOT contact PiH directly, as they are overwhelmed with calls. If they need your assistance, they will follow up with you directly.

Other volunteers without medical experience will remain on our volunteer list for a future trip to Haiti to assist in recovery efforts.

4. A Matador volunteer arrived in Port-au-Prince and reports he was able to get supplies to Bresma orphanage.

Vladimir Tilus was one of the first readers to respond to Matador’s call for volunteers. A former serviceman with experience serving in Port-au-Prince, Vladimir was determined to return to the city to assist in rescue efforts.

He reported that he arrived in Port-au-Prince last night. This afternoon, we asked Vladimir if he could try to deliver water and food to the children of the Bresma orphanage, as they had run out of water completely and food was running low. At 10:37 EST tonight, Vladimir wrote to say that he had reached the orphanage and was able to deliver both water and food. Though the kids are not out of danger yet, these critical supplies will help them hang on a bit longer.

We will continue to keep you posted with updates as new information is available.

Thank you for your continued support.