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Friday 4th
We'd planned to go to NY for the week to coincide with Mels birthday, and she just happened to mention that the Boston Congress was happening the weekend before, so we 'may as well' go to that as well. I agreed.
Our flight left about 45 minutes after the scheduled departure of 4pm on the Friday, and we landed at Newark Airport in New Jersey at about 7.30pm EST. Did the long-winded immigration thing, then caught the Air Train to Dollar car rental.
Sorted the car out, and made sure we got Satnav as well, then we were on our way in our nice new Chrysler Sebring.
It took us a while, and many wrong turns, just to get out of the airport, then we were on our way through New Jersey, across the George Washington Bridge, then onto the interstate through the Bronx. It was Friday evening, which is a notoriously busy time to be driving in the New York area. So, traffic was very busy and I was trying to get used to driving on the right, etc…
It's about a 4 hour drive from Newark to Boston, and we made good time.
The Boston Salsa Congress was held this year in the Boston Marriott Cambridge, across the river from Downtown Boston. We got there and checked in at about 1am, went to our room, had a quick freshen up and change, then went downstairs to the party. To say we were tired would be a severe understatement!!
Choco (The co-promoter) and Marlon "International" Mills were at the entrance and greeted us, then we made our way through to the main room. Unfortunately, we missed the live band for that evening (Grupo latin Vibe), but the dancefloor was in full swing and the atmosphere was great. We stayed for about an hour, before tiredness got the better of us.
Saturday 5th
Breakfast, then we went though to the Congress area. The event essentially takes over an area of the hotel, with a long corridor outside the main room used for vendors. The main party room, which holds well over 1000 people, is partitioned into two during the day for the workshops.
All of the workshops were very well attended from what I saw, and included classes from Hacha y Machete, Joel & Ana Masacote, Nelson Flores, Al Espinoza, and many more.
We had a new 'SalsaMafia' t-shirt design done before we went out and took some samples with us to give to a few of the teachers, who wore them in classes and around the congress in general.
Mel did a couple of the classes (I only had a party pass), then went out before a quick bite to eat then some rest before the evenings events.
Fully refreshed, we caught the second half of the evenings performances, and I got to see one of may favourite shows by Masacote. After that, it was a short break while the chairs were cleared away, then the party began.
 The live band this evening was Ensalado de Pulpo, which is Gilberto "Pulpo" Colon Jr and his band. They performed the majority of songs from the new 'Hot Bread' CD which really rocked the dancefloor. Pulpo enjoyed himself so much, he played an extra song, kicking in the piano intro while the DJ had started to credit them over the mic at the end of their set.
Then, it was time for the DJ's to do their thing, and the music here was great!! My favourite DJ's from this event were DJ Rob Suave and Dave Montreal
We stayed until near the end, then called it a night.
Sunday 6th
We spent Sunday hanging out around the Congress area, and got a few interviews for the site. Mel did a couple more classes and a one-to-one, dinner nearby, then the evening was upon us again.
We missed the shows this time (Sorry Marlon), but made it to the party. Again, some really great music!
Monday 7th
Big Breakfast, checked out, then the 4 hour drive back from Boston to NY. Dropped the hire car off, then Airtrain to the station, followed by the train to Penn St Station in Manhattan.
We'd again rented an aprtment for our stay in NY, the other side of Manhattan this time, on the Upper East Side a few blocks from Spanish Harlem. We caught a cab from Penn Station, sorted the keys, had a quick freshen up, then jumped into another cab to El Barrio Music Center.
We were greeted by Lou and Frankie, and spent some time catching up and going through cd's. While were were in the store, we saw Cheo from New Swing Sextet ride past on his bike. Lou called him and got him to pop into the store. Chatted to Cheo about the Salsa Kingdom festival which they're playing at, and he made us promise to take them on a trip to see the Beatles sights in Liverpool while they're over.
Bought some cd's, then popped back to the apartment to settle in properly.
During the evening, Lou took us out to dinner at an Italian on 3rd Ave, a short walk from the apartment. No Salsa for us tonight.
Tuesday 8th (Mels Birthday)
Got up late and headed downtown for breakfast/brunch. Mel wanted to go to the Brooklyn Diner, which we'd been to last time we were over. Got my bearings a little wrong and took us round in a circle before finding the diner right by where we'd started.
From there, we went to Capezio so Mel could stock up, then caught a taxi to El Barrio and Mel went to get her nails done while I went to El Barrio. Mel popped in with her shiny nails and we hung out there for a while.
We decided that I might need a bigger suitcase as a result of all the shopping we'd done (CD's and Mambofateegz clothing which we'd picked up for the shop), so got a rather large one from a place in Spanish Harlem for $35.
 We'd been invited to the launch party for the new CD 'Pulpo's Hot Bread' by Gilberto Colon Jr and his band that evening. The project is headed up by Chris Soto of the Mambo project, and the event was great - very busy, with a whole host of musicians and press in attendance. Mel took the camera and the 'girl with the british accent' (If you've got it, use it!) managed to get a load of great photos.
Victor (HYM) and Joel (Masacote) had both made the drive from Boston to support Chris.  Joel got a little lost on the way, ending up on 172nd st in the Bronx, but got there eventually.
We managed to get a video interview with Pulpo between sets, in the band room downstairs. Oscar Hernandez sat in on the interview and made a cameo appearance. We also managed to interview Jamie Maestro and the guys from Nuevotec who returned the favour by interviewing us about the Salsa Central project. Not sure I like being the other side of the camera!
Overall, the event was a great success and we were really proud of Chris, who is our team member in the US.
 We stayed until the end, chatting with Lucho Cueto of Black Sugar Sextet, then Joel drove us and Lou to Club Rush, which is where Marlon is holding Tuesday nights while the Link Lounge is being refurbished. We stayed there for a while, Lou and I chatting at the bar while Mel did her thing.
Wednesday 9th
 Got up late, then had breakfast at a place not far from the apartment, then caught a cab to B&H to buy me a camcorder. Got myself a nice little HD number, then we walked up towards Times Sq. On the way, Mel spotted a nice handbag which she bought (yes, she can be very girly when she wants to be), then we went to Foot Locker where we got Mel a nice pair of Shox and a pair of trainers for her friends newly born daughter.
Back to the apartment to drop the bags off, then we caught a cab to El Barrio for our daily fix of CD buying (we're like a pair of junkies when we're in NY).
Once we were done there, we caught the subway to Burke Ave in the heart of the Bronx, and waited for Mels aunt to pick us up, as her family were taking us out for dinner to celebrate her birthday.
We'd actually caught the wrong train (the track splits during rush hour) and ended up a little further away. We waited near the station for her aunt, and it was starting to get dark. I stuck out like a sore thumb, and got a few strange looks!!
Eventually, we got picked up and went to a Japanese Steakhouse in Pelham. Our food was cooked in front of us, then Mel received a Japanese rendition of Happy Birthday, before we left and were dropped back at the apartment.
I'd been chatting with Jose from la Excelencia for the last couple of months about an interview and we had decided that a video interview would be best. We'd managed to arrange for them to come round the apartment this evening.
Jose (songwriter and conga player), and Julian (arranger and timbalero) turned up as agreed at 9.30pm. Did the interview, then they stayed and chatted for a while before leaving at around midnight. These guys are inspirational and had some great stories!
Thursday 10th
Breakfast at the same place, then a cab to El Barrio. The driver was new to the job and took us the wrong way up lexington Avenue, despite me shouting "No, don't turn here, it's one way… No, Stop, No…." etc. We had 5 lanes of traffic oncoming, so he did a swift turn and got us back on track. Eventually, we got to El Barrio and didn't tip the driver!!
Said our goodbyes and headed back to the apartment to finish our packing. Chris Soto picked us up at 2pm, then had to pop by Casa Latina and El Barrio, before heading downtown to Alphabet City to a vinyl record shop. After that, Chris drove us to the airport and we said goodbye.
Checked in, and had to pay $100 because both our suitcases were well overweight (I wonder why!!). Caught our overnight flight back to the UK.
Friday 11th
Landed at 8am and drove home. Another trip over!!
Many thanks to all the guys for their hospitality!
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