Monday 23 November 2009

How do you mend a broken heart?...



poem and photo - © Jesús Montero


How do you mend a broken heart?

How do you begin a brand new start?

How do you commence to heal the scars?

When you’ve just said that enough is just enough.


How do you face the empty nights?

How do you get used to the dimming lights?

How do you outswim a wave of tears?

When all you’re sailing through is a sea of fears.


How do you survive being in the limelight?

How do you get through the sleepless nights?

How do you come to terms with the fact,

That your life’s journey, calls for a major rewrite.


poem and photo - © Jesús Montero

Monday 16 November 2009

Buzzing streets of London...


poem and photo - © Jesús Montero

Buzzing streets of London,

In the early hours of a Monday.

Crowded buses.

Hizzing kettles.

And the soothing taste

Of a morning coffee.

Fingers pointed

At the empty taxis

As the drizzle tickles

The cheeks

Of Londoners.


poem and photo - © Jesús Montero

Sunday 8 November 2009

COCOMAYA...review


COCOMAYA: chocolate doesn’t taste better than this!


photos and text - © Jesús Montero

It is not by sheer accident that we associate CHOCOLATE with decadence and luxury.

Back in the XVI century, Hernán Cortés and his fellow conquistadors were the first Europeans to witness this when they strolled down the busy markets of Tenochtitlan, the old capital of the Mexica (Aztec) empire.

The Mexica people were so fond of it that it became their national luxury drink: XOCOLATL – chocolate.

Cocoa beans circulated as money in the buzzing markets of the old Mexican city and throughout the rest of the country. The population treated the beans with the same adoration as we treat today market values like oil, gold or diamonds in the stock market. Quills filled with gold dust – the conquistadors report - were also used as an exchange medium by the Mexica, but these were not as highly regarded nor had the common acceptance or the utility of cacao beans.

The Spaniards were also the first ones to witness and to record how servants brought the Mexica ruler, Moctezuma “in cup-shaped vessels of pure gold, a certain drink made from cacao”.

Like I said, it is not by sheer accident that luxury dust seems to rub off each time we get our hands on a piece of good chocolate.

COCOMAYA, a new chocolate establishment which has just opened in London, seems to know all of the above and I was most impressed by it during my first – of many more to come – visit to this little gem of chocolate perfection in central London, earlier this week.

It is a luxurious dust of decadence that rubs off the golden cups and saucers they use to serve their delicious hot chocolate in. Drinking from those cups you feel pampered like a present day Moctezuma.

The drop scones with cream and jam were light like puffy clouds and its size – which many may find petite – was, I found, most pertinent. Their small, almost bite size pastries, were delicious and perfect as an accompaniment.

It was also the Spaniards who first noted, back in the XVI century, that water doesn’t taste better than when drunk after a good cup of hot chocolate.

The jug of water we were treated to by Jane, at COCOMAYA’s discretion, was truly a sublime way to complete my visit. Flower petals, mint leaves, fresh raspberries and citron slices turned a simple jug of H2O into a drink of Perignon proportions.

COCOMAYA, chocolate doesn’t taste better than this!

*************

COCOMAYA (£16 for 2 people) 12 Connaught Street - London W2 2BS

photos and text - © Jesús Montero

Tuesday 3 November 2009

Solace...


Marilyn on silk fabric

photo and poem - © Jesús Montero


SOLACE


Solace is a back-stabber.

It tells this,

But does so.


Solace is a back-stabber.

It tells you yes

When it means nope.


Solace is a back-stabber.

It says hope

But does woe.


Solace is a back-stabber.

Comes in rushing

And leaves on tip-toe.


Solace is a back-stabber.

It gives you wings

Then comes a blow.


Solace is a back-stabber.

Looks like Marilyn

Leaves like Monroe.


photo and poem - © Jesús Montero