Meeting Ricky Martin & Puerto Rican Parade

admin — Sun, 08 Jun 2008 17:11:00 GMT

6/8/08

The month of June in New York City comes with a wide
selection of events. Shakespeare in the Park, Bryant
Park Film Festival, Central Park Summer Stage, River
to River Festival, Pride Week, the New York Asian Film
Festival, and one very significant event that brings
into the city over two million people celebrating
their heritage: The National Puerto Rican Day Parade.

On June 8th, if you happen to be in Manhattan, go to
5th Avenue, from 44th to 86th street where you'll be
able to enjoy the heat of the summer with the music of
Salsa along the way.

The good thing is that for one day, every Hispanic in
the city is Puerto Rican. I've been there a couple of
times, and had a good time. It is very crowded and
it's better t use mass transit. The traffic is simply
impossible in the city! Although the last time I was
working covering the event, and I ended up really
exhausted!

This year I want to go to check it out. The King of
the Parade will be no other than Ricky Martin!
I can imagine that the whole avenue will be filled
with women screaming to the King, calling for his
attention, searching for his smile.

I remember when I went to a Ricky Martin Concert at
Madison Square Garden, before his Grammy performance
that made him famous in the United States. I went with
two friends at the last minute. We were surrounded by
women of all ages. Behind us there were 3 generations
of Latinas: the abuela, the mother and the young girl.
They were all screaming like maniacs when Ricky came
out to sing. I enjoyed the concert, but the screaming
neighbors gave me a very bad headache!

I actually got the chance of meeting him face to face
at a Café in Manhattan. I saw him, he went into the
restroom (it was only one restroom) and I waited
outside. I didn't make a big fuss, or even asked for
his autograph. But I “recognized” him, and we shook
hands. Yes, he washed his hands!

So, this year, I'll be Puerto Rican on the 8th of
June, I'll check out Ricky Martin, take some pictures
of him and then I'll be back to being another Hispanic
resident of New York City.

Sally de la Puerta

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Meeting Ricky Martin & Puerto Rican Parade