Three Men and A Writer

There I was in Tarifa, Spain. A story idea came to me, so I fired up the notebook. Leaning against the wall for support, I scribbled away without noticing these three guys until later.

Take notice to the shape of the arch above me. This is called “mudejar” architecture, which derives from the Moorish occupation of Spain. The arches continue past the supporting columns giving that distinct bump.

I would guess these men were old enough to be my grandfather’s age. They had quite a conversation going, very animated. No doubt they solved a few of the world’s problems and decided where they were going to have their afternoon drink. I’ve had the good luck to be counseled over the years by many people much older than myself. If you’re willing to listen, they’ll teach you as much as you can learn. For the price of drink, it might be more valuable than a college course or funnier than an hour of stand-up.

Published in: on June 8, 2008 at 6:51 pm  Leave a Comment  
Tags: ,

At the Edge of Europe

Here is a photo taken in southern Spain. I stopped for an ice-cold Coca-Cola on the way from Vejer de la Frontera to Gibraltar. In the background, across the strait is Africa. This is the edge of Europe, where one continent ends and the other begins.

Coca-Cola is my favorite soft drink, and I taste the local mix wherever I happen to be. It varies slightly from country to country, even town to town. In Spain, I understand that real sugar is used instead of corn syrup. The flavor is exceptional, the carbonation fantastic, and refreshment divine. For all the talk of wine being a popular refresco in Spain, I noted plenty of Coca-Cola being served, much of it in returnable bottles. It is interesting to find this American icon in so many locales. From Jamaica to Switzerland, Aruba to Canada, Cozumel to California, I have yet to be somewhere without it.

No matter what the location, I have a photo of myself taken with a can or bottle and keep an archive. Over the coming years I’ll be expanding the photo archive to include the people who serve and sell this beverage. With each photo I’ll include a brief description of them or a quote they would like attached.

As always, ENJOY Coca-Cola, ICE-COLD.

Published in: on June 8, 2008 at 6:36 pm  Leave a Comment  
Tags: ,

Welcome to The Bent Page!

Welcome to The Bent Page, a blog about reading, writing, and the world around us.

My motto is, “It’s a small world but big enough for me.” One way in which our world expands and contracts is through the written word. It may be a blog, a book, a newspaper, or a note left on the fridge. The macro and micro world come into focus from far away or in the palm of your hand.

The written word has been around for several thousand years, and despite great effort, has yet to be perfected. It’s a work in progress, one I happen to enjoy. And that’s why I started this blog, to give an outlet to some of my creative writing endeavors. Hopefully they’ll pique your interest enough to open a dialog, which is one of the best features of a blog. Ideas can be exchanged from around the world through the convenience of cyberspace.

For more information or to check out excerpts from my books An Island Away and Bonk’s Bar, check out my website www.danielputkowski.com. There’s also information there about book signings and other events.

Published in: on June 8, 2008 at 5:47 pm  Comments (1)  
Tags: , , , , ,