Charly García's Concert at the Luna Park...

"As musicians and ordinary people, we want to thank the audience..."

With those words, the mythical Charly García wrapped up his two-hour-long concert yesterday, in front of 3000 amazed spectators...

Surrounded by an outstanding group of professionals (Fabián "Zorrito" von Quintiero, Rosario Ortega, etc.), the immortal artist proved, once more, that he is and has been the Great and an important subject of Argentina's idiosyncrasy. The Argentine people have and always will love him, despite his many faults, setbacks and health issues. He has genially intervened in the past thirty years of our History and his rock is still excellent, as his always-inspired songs. His voice, however, feels lower and coarser now. The lights and set design were amazing and everyone celebrated the guest appearances by Nito Mestre and David Lebón.

I was also delighted by his constant funny remarks, as when he asked the audience: "Do you think I'm crazy?"

A great night indeed.

Waiting for the show to start...

In Buenos Aires, Laurencio Adot's Runway Show...

Ferragosto...

Since you've been asking, here's a brief wikipedic explanation of the Feast of Ferragosto...

Ferragosto is an Italian secular celebration that takes place on August 15th and which is usually an excuse to travel to vacations spots such as the beach or mountains.

The term Ferragosto derives from the latin expression Feriae Augusti (Augustus' rest) indicating a festivity set up by the Emperor Augustus in the year 18B.C. which was an addition to the existing and very ancient Roman festivals which fell on the same month, to celebrate the harvest and the end of the main agricultural tasks.

In the Catholic tradition, Ferragosto coincides with the celebration of the day in which Virgin Mary is taken to Heaven. 

In many cities and towns, local festivities are organized to celebrate that day and those to follow.

In Montepulciano, many tourists come to town to rest and escape from the heat of August in Italy.

The main event is the Bruscello, which means "arboscello," small tree branch.

Il Bruscello Poliziano has been taking place, since 1939, between the 12th and the 15th of August, in the Cathedral's Sagrato, in Piazza Grande.

The Bruscello is a type of popular Tuscan theatre, recited and sung by amateur actors. The themes vary year after year (epical representations, historical events or famous plays), and the scripts, costumes and set design are the work of the "bruscellanti," a group of people that do all this just for the love of tradition.

This year I saw "Orpheus and Eurydice."

But all comes to an end, and it's time to leave Montepulciano and its Ferragosto, to go to other countries and find new things to tell you...

Bye bye Olympics...

After more than two weeks of enjoying the amazing London 2012 Olympic Games, and feeling a bit like athletes and brothers, tonight we watched an incredible musical stravaganza during the Closing Ceremony.

I feel sad that it's over now, but see you all again in Rio 2016...! 

Summer Ecstasy...

Some time ago I used to measure time with Summers: how many have passed, and how many are to come. Then I've realized that you could have many Summers in one same year... and that in less than a 6-hour flight, I could have one at my request!

And for me, Summer and pleasure, Summer and ecstasy (which means, in Greek, to exist outside oneself) are synonyms. Some examples...

1. Sunset on the Greek island of Santorini. To see how the Sun, resembling a ball of fire, drowns in the turquoise waters of the Aegean Sea, projecting a pureness of light almost mystical.

2. To read the newspapers on a clear and sunny morning of June or July, seated at a table at the Cafe Le Senequier in St. Tropez, while I have a cold mint. And see the movement of the Harbor, the peacefulness before the agitation of the afternoon and the nightlife...

3. To witness what it feels to be the first, the one that marks the beginning of the season, when, by early December, I go to have lunch at La Huella in José Ignacio. I know all what's about to come: the parties, the tourists, the traffic jams, the summer scandals, the summer romances, the IT looks... But, for now, there's no-one and I'm the only one able to admire the strength of the waves, that come and go...

4. To swim among the rocks of Il Pellicano, in Porto Ercole, Tuscany. A unique place. The sea is cold and I feel like I can re-born as Aphrodite. 

5. The uncontrollable pleasure of leaving Paris, in an early November morning, so sad, grey and rainy, to land, only 10 hours later, at the Guanahani Hotel, in St. Barth, where the sun shines, it's 28°C outside and there's still much of the day to enjoy...

6. To eat grilled octopus, with lots of lime juice, at a restaurant on Agios Beach in Mykonos. And loose my sight on the horizon...

7. To walk the Tuscan hills around Montepulciano, in the Italian "estate" and feel small again. To smell the hay, the heat, the sun. To admire the hundred-year-old olive trees and the vines which, soon, will be loaded with grapes, rich in nectar.

8. To enjoy the narcissistic pleasure of watching oneself on the many mirrors of the Charlie Trotter restaurant, in Palmilla, Mexico. And see how my salmon dress enhances my tan...

9. To eat a juicy fig, hand-picked by me from its tree, in a wild garden on the Island of Panarea. To feel with my hands how it was brought up by the Sun, leaving its taste and heat in the fruit. And to think how wonderful the Summer is...

10. To take a yoga class at sunset at the Como Shambala, in Parrot Cay. To advance with the different postures as night falls, till I reach the final relax in the semi-darkness. And be in peace with myself...

I wrote this piece of the last issue of Mustique Magazine. I hope you've enjoyed it!