Penitence in Quito

It's Easter and I'm reminded of one of the most interesting Good Fridays I have had, in Quito, watching the traditional parade of penitents. It is an extraordinary sight that would be very easy to belittle or misunderstand. This extract from The Nine Horizons is one of two pieces in the book that arose from a long journey to Ecuador, which I still believe to have been one of the most interesting and beautiful countries I have visited.

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Published on April 03, 2015 20:33 Tags: easter, ecuador, holy-week, quito
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message 1: by Alexandra (new)

Alexandra Sellon I will read your blog now that I have found it again...I saw awhile back you had written about Milton Feher, a wonderful person whose classes I attended on and off for many years...and I love what you wrote about him, but am now so glad to find your blog again on Goodreads!


message 2: by Alexandra (new)

Alexandra Sellon Dear Mike Robbins, I love what you wrote about Milton...I look forward to reading more on your blog!! Alexandra Sellon


message 3: by Mike (new)

Mike Robbins Hi Alexandra, I certainly remember that - it's a piece called Uptown and the Bronx, from the same book.

How nice that you knew Milton Feher. I only met him briefly that one time, and it was only a year or so before he passed away, but he was charming. I can't claim to know a huge amount about him, but I understand his techniques made a real difference to some people, both those in physically demanding stage roles but also people who, like him, had to deal with arthritic or related problems that can cause constant pain. It struck me as a courageous and positive response to his own arthritis.


message 4: by Alexandra (new)

Alexandra Sellon Dear Mike,
Am so happy to read your message here, and don't know if I told you when I wrote awhile back...(it was some months ago I think) that I have also written about Milton in my own blog...I have a nice picture of him in the post, and told what it was like to be in his classes (I came and went a few times over the years from when I first found him in about 1963...and then moved out of New York when I married, and came back to his classes when I went through divorce and moved back to NY...you can find my blog by going first to the website: Aksellon.com and click on blog...the Milton post is second to the last post...very best to you from Alexandra Sellon


message 5: by Mike (new)

Mike Robbins Alexandra wrote: "Dear Mike,
Am so happy to read your message here, and don't know if I told you when I wrote awhile back...(it was some months ago I think) that I have also written about Milton in my own blog...I h..."


I absolutely will take a look, Alexandra. Thank you.


message 6: by Alexandra (new)

Alexandra Sellon Again...Mike,
I have quite a bunch of files in folders and zip-lock bags in my apartment which probably should thin out and try to discard, yet often find a treasure of good stuff in one or another folder, and came upon (while preparing for a visit from daughters and grandchildren) two file folders of clippings and brochures and wonderful stuff about Milton Feher. I would be happy to make copies of some of these and send to you via your publisher, if you should like. Your description of meeting him seems exactly as most of us in those classes would have remembered upon first encountering Milton...never an ordinary person and always evincing his own unique mode of living!


message 7: by Mike (new)

Mike Robbins Hi Alexandra - Seeing your message, I thought maybe I could do a blog post about him. But I had to think about that - I liked him very much when I met him, but I didn't really know him myself, and I shouldn't really write about him. If you do, though, let me know and I will post the link on my public pages and tweet it. That would be nice.


message 8: by Alexandra (new)

Alexandra Sellon Dear Mike, I will tell you how to find my blogpost about Milton: go first to the website: aksellon.com & see at top of home page the word "Blog"...click on that and go to the 3rd post down, dated September 1, 2014, titled "Milton Feher and Other Innovative People"...there are excerpts from things written about him (by journalists who came to the class), things he wrote (of which I have some excellent examples in my folders!), and a couple of things I wrote about him and being in the class (he liked them because it was something coming back to him with his own special coloration and wordage)...I think you will like the picture of him standing like an Egptian figure...that probably was when he was in his 40s or 50s...but he was continually working on the connection with the earth from the time I first went till the last time I was at the class. 'Tis a pleasure to be talking to you...Best from Alexandra


message 9: by Mike (new)

Mike Robbins OK, found it - this is rather nice! I'll read it properly over the weekend, and post a link to it from my sites (I've got the specific link, it's http://alexandrasellon.blogspot.com/2...). Thanks Alexandra.


message 10: by Alexandra (new)

Alexandra Sellon Thanks, Mike...many cheers from Alexandra


message 11: by Alexandra (new)

Alexandra Sellon Dear Mike, wondered if you had a chance to look at my blogpost about Milton Feher...have been having problems with my computer and not sure am receiving messages...frustrating to be at the mercy of electronic powers-that-be, but still, wanted to tell you I like your blog, your way of thinking, and want to read your books, particularly am interested in the stories of English folk...I read often English mysteries by wonderful writers who are more novelists than mystery writers...will be ordering that book of yours from Amazon, and send you best wishes meanwhile...Alexandra Sellon


message 12: by Mike (new)

Mike Robbins Alexandra wrote: "Dear Mike, wondered if you had a chance to look at my blogpost about Milton Feher...have been having problems with my computer and not sure am receiving messages...frustrating to be at the mercy of..."

Hi Alexandra - yes, I did read it, with great interest, but you've reminded me to put a link to it from the page on my own blog. I hope some people will find their way to your page from it and learn more about this most interesting man.

I too love the long-standing tradition of the literary detective mystery! It's a hard thing to do well. I suppose it sort of originated with Wilkie Collins's The Moonstone, but I'm also an admirer of Agatha Christie. Years ago I used to spend evenings in the Baron Hotel, where she wrote Murder on the Orient Express.


message 13: by Alexandra (new)

Alexandra Sellon Dear Mike, Here are a couple of my favorite mystery writers:
Alan Bradley, the Flavia DeLuce series...the first one I read was The Sweetness at the Bottom of the Pie...which won several big mystery awards: the Agatha Award, the Macavity Award, and several others, including the Spotted Owl Award for Best Novel...!
Others of my favorite writers are Catriona McPherson, a bunch of books set in Scotland and featuring main character Dandy Gilver, these very entertaining; Deborah Crombie, many books over years with Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James, married pair of Detective Inspector and Detective Superindendent in London; Helen McInnes, also long list of books, but am reading now "Friends and Lovers"...also set in Scotland and fascinating; finally, an American writer I love: Susan Wittig Albert, her series about the Darling Dahlias, a USA depression-era book about a garden club in a town called Darling, Alabama...wonderful people with the crime woven in, and the stringency of times re: money and butter and suchlike...yet they are always cooking and baking despite limitations and sharing meals and the drama of life...this series my favorite kind of comfort-reading... have a whole bunch of other writers I like a lot and look for in paperbacks so can always have a pleasing one in my pocketbook on trains, etc. I don't buy magazines but do buy paperbacks, a kind of indulgence but a worthy one... am looking forward to your book shortly via Amazon...sending very best wishes! Alexandra


message 14: by Alexandra (new)

Alexandra K. Hello Mike Robbins...I seem to be having trouble navigating Goodreads and reading your blogposts, but I hope to figure it out and read current things you're writing...have ordered one of your books and hope to receive soon...very best from Alexandra, the Milton Feher admirer!


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