trompos and the sorts.

i dedicate this post to trompos. this fun little children’s toy is seen in many variations throughout cultures of the world, but ah yes… in colombia it is quite the rage. i decided to try and learn this craft and ended up just barely grappling with the basics. oh, and i also took a trompo to the face (an honest accident, thanks to the colombian police).

i decided to make it my mission to have the people teach me. so i asked doormen, children, police, and old people to show me the tricks of the trade. it wasn’t entire unsuccessful, but i have a long road ahead of me if i ever hope to make it professionally.

this first photograph is of enrique (the doorman in ben’s building). he really got into it, which i found to happen for many of the adults when a trompo is placed in front of them.

enrique giving lessons to benjo.

next i found some colombian police officers. apparently it is illegal to take snappies of them so unfortunately i had to be surreptitious in my style. sorry friends, feet only for this one.

a little while later a couple of kids approached me and offered me lessons. “gordita” was the ringleader of this tribe.

i really enjoyed this kid a lot. he was really excited to meet foreigners. and dang, just look at that smile. trompos ARE fun!

and then there was this guy. he knew all the tricks and he was easily the hero of trompos. just admire those moves! he even did a hand to hand exchange with me (yes while i was snapping that piece of work!).

hand to hand

so yes. trompos. thats where its at. if you want to play with one, give me a yell. i have piles of them now.