El Gomero or Gran Gomero is the famous rubber tree here in Recoleta Park. The renowned La Biela Restaurant is just off to the left in this photo, and the history here runs deep and rich.

This is where I walked on a balmy Sunday afternoon in February 2007. I'd been through most of the arts and crafts fair, and flea market displays, passed other sidewalk entertainers shown herein, and approached two minstrels at the edge of the big tree. The younger of the two touted their CD, asking for a few pesos, and telling me that it contained nineteen songs. I struggled with the spanish, and he asked me how to say "nineteen songs" in English. They sang Lejana Terra Mia for me, and I frivolously recorded it on my little pocket camera while I sipped a Quilmes. It may or may not make you smile; it always makes me smile, but I am partial. If you can handle about 4MB, and have about two and a half minutes click here to see and hear this recording. These memories warm the very cockles of my heart.