EDGAR BEAN: FRENCH EFFECTIVITY TO REACH GOAL

Edgar Bean in Carcassonne, his hometown

Edgar Bean. Football Player. France.

I'm Edgar Bean from Carcassonne, Occitan, in the south of France. I'm a professional football player who adores Pelé. I have played in some professional teams but no one of them has offered the most important thing that I was searching: happiness and time to improve. I'm travelling around the world with my family, The Beans, and i must admit that staying with them is much more excited that a World Championship Finale. It's not important for me to achieve the Ballon d'Or because I have something more important than this, a better treasure: my family.

-Good morning, Edgar Bean, and thanks to attend us.

-Good morning. It's a pleasure.

-Well, to start this interview I would like to know how you define yourself.

-I'm a football player, and then I'm a sportsman, an athlete, someone who must take care of his body because it's my work tool. I'm very competitive and I like fair play. I don't understand violence in football or in sport in general. Violence is the failure of dialogue and respect.

-How do you feel being a member of The Beans.

-It's a great and big family. We're always together and we try to help each other because we believe in common work.

-How is a normal day with The Beans?

-There isn't a normal day. Every day is an opportunity to do something different and exciting but basically, we are learning English and this is the centre of all.

 -How long have you been studying English?

-Since Primary School but when you don't live in an English-spoken environment is very difficult to remember and practise all things that you've learnt. France is a country with great language diversity but governments along the history haven't appreciated this and they have created linguistic policies in a favour of French and against the rest of the European languages: Breton, Alsatian, Basque, Occitan, Catalan, Romanesque, Corsican... The most part of French people are bilingual but the knowledge of English is very low. Curiously, the second most spoken language in France is Arabian, of course as a result of colonisations and immigrations. France must change its mentality if the country wants to be competitive from the point of view of languages.

-What part of France are you come from?

-From Carcassonne in the south east. My hometown was one of the most important cities and cultural centres during the Middle Age. It was the centre of Catharism, the movement that explains and gives sense to the most important events during that time. Carcassonne is recognized as a Human Heritage by the UNESCO and it's also the place where was filmed Robin Hood, The Prince of Thieves with Kevin Costner, Mary-Elizabeth Mastrantonio, Alan Rickman, Morgan Freeman and Sean Connery.

-How can a French footballer arrive to success?

-Working hard and believing in you. Being constant and accepting good advice and refusing bad ones.

-What can you explain about your life with The Beans?

-Well, we're sailing in the same boat and we have the same objective. We're working very hard to reach it.

-And after?

-Life continues. Every Bean will take his/her path and this family will have been a good experience, something to remember with a big laugh.

-Which is your best memory with the family?

-It's not possible to choose only one but, perhaps, I would choose our visit to Rio de Jaineiro because I had the chance to stay in Maracana. The dream comes true. I'm a great fan of Pelé, for me, one of the best football players of the history, if not the best. Visiting this stadium was a mystic experience that I will never forget.

-You have said, you like reading and watching cinema. Could you talk about the last book that you have read?

-I've read an interesting book about Diego Armando Maradona, the Argentinian football player who could arrive to be the best but chose the worst paths and finished fighting against lots of personal problems.

-And your favourite film?

-I like lots of films but one of my preferred is Balto, a film about a Siberian husky and sled dog who led his team on the final leg of the 1925 serum run to Nome, in which diphtheria antitoxin was transported from Anchorage, Alaska, to Nenana, Alaska, by train and then to Nome by dog sled to combat an outbreak of the disease. It's a wonderful film about how animals help us to survive in extreme situations.

-What would you say to children who want to be a professional footballer?

-Football is a sport and every sport needs discipline, effort and follow the trainer instructions. You don't play alone. You belong to a team and you must work for it because you must work together. If the team wins, all people win and if the team loses, all people lose. Partnership, confidence, honesty and trust are very important to arrive to be not only a good football player but a good person. Sport must create good people because you can arrive to be a mirror for thousands, millions of other children and you must offer strong values.

-What do you like to improve in football?

-For one hand, I think new technology must applicate in professional leagues because, it's a pity, but in these levels, football is a big business and you can lose a lot of money only because of a wrong decision of the referee. Technology could be the solution like in the American Football League. For other hand, I think we must work very hard to impulse female football. In general, female presence in sport is underestimated and it's a terrible mistake. We must change it.

-Thank you very much, Edgar Bean.

-You're welcome.

It's like everything in football, and life. You need to look, 

you need to think, you need to move, you need to find space, 

you need to help others. It's very simple in the end. 

Johan Cruyff

KATRINA AND THE BEANS: BEING THE BEST CANDIDATES

The Beans receiving their prize in Lisbon

The Beans are still enjoying their victory in the last Eurovision Song Contest. The family did a great interpretation demonstrating a great teamwork and coordination, skills that you need if you want to success in the labour world.

Their amazing interpretation was TT immediately and fans around the world expressed their admiration about The Beans and their wonderful song. One of them was Katrina Leskanich, winner of this contest in 1997 representing the UK.

Katrina has offered The Beans the possibility of joining her in her next tour in Hong Kong. The family is astonished with the news and after some hours of deliberation, they have accepted. Then, it's official that The Beans are going to leave their lifestyle, their travels and their parties and they're going to join Katrina in this new adventure.

More information: ABA English

The Grandma is very happy with this decision because she has always trusted in her family and she knew they were the best candidates to do whatever they wanted because, yes, they can do it! She isn't going to stay with them in Asia because she prefers to return to Barcelona and start new business with new partners. She thinks that she has already done all her work with the family and now she's going to be in contact with them thanks to the 2.0 technology.

The secret of The Beans's success is easy to explain: sacrifice, effort, happiness, teamwork, partnership and commitment. 

All of them have got this common success thanks to their individual efforts which applicated to a common goal have been the best way to reach their objectives. If you want to be a good candidate, you must have an elaborated CV, a good resume and especial communicative skills that allow you to get an interview over. These are the most important clues in labour insertion and these are the keys that have helped The Beans to reach the victory in this contest.

More information: Citizens Information

Katrina Elizabeth Leskanich (born April 10, 1960) is an American musician, author and former lead singer of British pop rock band Katrina and the Waves whose song Walking on Sunshine was an international hit in 1985 and in 1997 won the Eurovision Song Contest for the United Kingdom with the song Shine a Light.

Katrina Leskanich

Leskanich was born in Topeka, Kansas. She is of Irish, German and Czech ancestry. Her father was a colonel in the United States Air Force, and Katrina and her five siblings (four sisters and one brother) moved frequently as children. After she was born, they moved from Kansas to New Mexico, and then California, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Stuttgart, in (then) West Germany, and the Netherlands before arriving in the United Kingdom in 1976.

The band's earliest incarnation was as The Waves, a group that played in and around Cambridge, England, from 1975 to 1977 and featured guitarist Kimberley Rew and drummer Alex Cooper. For the first Capitol album, the band re-recorded, remixed, or overdubbed 10 songs from their earlier Canadian releases to create their self-titled international debut album in 1985.

More information: Quizlet (I)

The Katrina and the Waves album was a substantial critical and commercial success, and the group had a worldwide hit with the song Walking on Sunshine. A Grammy award nomination for Best New Artist followed, as did constant touring, both of which helped to spur sales of new releases.

The Beans during their winner performance

In 1997, after having somewhat faded into obscurity, the band won the Eurovision Song Contest 1997 for the United Kingdom with Shine a Light, the same song that Katrina has chosen, this time, to sing with The Beans. 

The first video of this song is now avalaible and we can offer the exclusive of its premiere. Under the direction of Antonio Bean and The Grandma's production, Katrina sings with Paqui, Elisabet and Cristina Bean with a chorus formed by Ana, Nereyda and Natalia Bean, a choreography created by Carol Bean and a fantastic melody performanced by Tania Bean with the drums, Anton Bean with the keyboards, Óscar, Edgar and Estefanía Bean with the guitars and Manuel Bean with the bells. The result is a beautiful and unforgettable version of the 1997's hit Shine a light.

More information: Quizlet (II)

The new version is stronger than the older because every Bean offers his/her colour to it and as a result, you can enjoy a powerful song with deep lyrics full of commitment, energy, happiness, effort, teamwork and coordination, an amazing song mixed of gospel, folk and pop rythms which is going to steal your heart and you mind. 

C'mon, the version is also now avalaible in ITunes and Amazon Music. Download it now and enjoy with us!

Teamwork requires some sacrifice up front; 

people who work as a team have to put the collective 

needs of the group ahead of their individual interests. 

Patrick Lencioni

OH HAPPY BEANS! FILL US WITH THE LIGHT OF DAY...

The Grandma tasting Natalia Bean's pizzas

This morning, The Beans have visited Deloris Van Cartier, aka Sister Mary Clarence, and Miriam Bond in San Francisco. Before visiting them, the family has revised a new theme of English grammar: the Present Perfect and its clues For & Since.

Natalia Bean and Paqui Bean have surprised all the family with some delicatessen and the family has participated in a contest to choose its best speakers: Antonio, Edgar and Óscar Bean have won the little contest although it hasn't been easy because of the great competence of the rest of the family.

More information: Present Perfect

After a personal reading of Christmas Carol, the family has continued talking about interesting and deep themes that affect everyone and about how to confront them. Without any kind of doubt, a good aptitude and a strong trust in us are good options to overcome these difficult moments that one day or another are going to appear but meanwhile enjoy every day with your loved people like if it was the last of your life.

Antonio Bean's old selfie in Saint Paul Church

Antonio Bean has contacted with Deloris Van Cartier, an old friend, whom he hasn't seen since 1993 and whom has worked with him for many years helping people who needed another chance in Saint Paul Church, in San Francisco.

Deloris Van Cartier has offered her help to The Beans. She's going to be their musical director in the new song that the family is going to compose to introduce it in the next Eurovision Song Contest in Lisbon.

More information: Since-For

Ok, Beans! Relax. Ok?

Take a deep breath. Be fine.

Don't worry. You're ready?

Sister Mary Clarens / Deloris Van Cartier

In 1968, Deloris Williams was a young girl who attended a Catholic school. Her wisecracking and disobedience exasperated the nun, who warned her that people like her tended not to do so well.

By the early 90s, Deloris Van Cartier was divorced and working as a lounge singer in Reno. She was carrying on an affair with casino owner Vince LaRocca. When Vince gave her his wife's fur coat she decided that she had enough of Vince and went to break up with him. 

Deloris, her chorus, Antonio Bean and The Grandma

In Vince's suite Vince was interrogating his young driver and confirmed that he had spoken to the police. Vince had the young driver executed right as Deloris came in to the suite.  

Deloris managed to get out a few words of apology for an earlier argument before exiting the suite. Vince decided he couldn't have her as a witness and had his soldiers chase after her. Deloris managed to escape and took a taxi to police headquarters where she told the police what she had seen. Lt. Eddie Souther revealed that Vince was a major mob figure. 

He asked Deloris if she would testify against Vince, but she was too frightened to do so. Souther told her that if she agreed to testify he would hide her in the last place on Earth Vince would ever look for her.

The next day the pair arrived in San Francisco. To Deloris's considerble horror, she realized that she was going to be staying in the convent attached to St. Katherine's Parish. The Reverend Mother was none too thrilled about the prospect, but the pastor Msgr. O'Hara said that the convent would have law enforcement protection, and that the Reno police department was giving them a considerable donation.

Reverend Mother took Deloris in. After telling her not to smoke and having her dress in a habit, Reverend Mother informed Deloris that while she was in the convent she would be known as Mary Clarence.

More information: Sant Paul Catholic Church

At first Deloris had a rough time adjusting to the structure of convent life, of having to get up before dawn, of small and plain meals, and of working in the church and convent. She found the convent closed off from the neighborhood. The choir at St. Katherine's was in sad shape. Despite the difficulties of having to conform to Catholic communal living she did make friends with many of the nuns there, especially the shy Mary Robert and the boisterous Mary Patrick.  

Antonio Bean with Saint Paul's Choir

Deloris snuck out to a bar one night followed by Mary Robert and Mary Patrick. Coming back they were caught by the Reverend Mother. She nearly called Souther to ask him to make alternative arrangements for Deloris, but decided instead that for the remainder of her time there she would sleep and sing. Within minutes of arriving in the choir room everyone realized that Deloris had an excellent grasp of music theory, and former leader Mary Lazarus agreed to step aside. The following Sunday the choir sung Hail Holy Queen in the traditional manner followed by a fast paced rock and roll performance of the hymn. People in the street overheard the choir and came in to see what was going on. 

The Reverend Mother was quite unhappy and was going to have Mary Lazarus resume her leadership of the choir. However Msgr. O'Hara stepped in and said that the music was heavenly, and it was bringing people in to church. Deloris convinced him to let the nuns go out in to the neighborhood, helping to clean up the area and make it much more liveable. On Sundays a church that had only had a dozen or so attendees at Mass was filled to capacity. Deloris was nearly exposed when a TV crew visited, but Vince had been distracted when she appeared on TV for a few seconds.

More information: People

Meanwhile Pope John Paul II was visiting the states and heard about St. Katherine's choir. He decided to make the time to visit the parish. Upon the decision of the choir to let Deloris select the music instead of a traditional program for his visit, Reverend Mother decided she had enough and was going to hand in her resignation. Deloris offered to go in her place but Reverend Mother still was planning to resign.

Tate, a corrupt officer on Vince's payroll discovered where Deloris was hiding. Vince sent his men Joey and Willie to bring her back to Reno. After Deloris was kidnapped, Reverend Mother revealed the truth to the convent that Mary Clarence was not a nun, but a singer named Delores Van Cartier. The nuns of the convent all flew to Reno to rescue Deloris.

Antonio Bean with Deloris Van Cartier

Vince confronted Deloris, who faced her former lover calmly and without any outward signs of fear. The Deloris they faced now was nothing like the woman who fled a few motnhs ago. Vince tried to have Joey and Willie murder Deloris, but they found they couldn't do it, fearing their souls in jeopardy for killing someone who might have actually become a nun. Deloris managed to knock over both Willie and Joey and escaped through the casino. Vince chased Deloris through the casino as the other nuns of the convent arrived. As a group they tried to escape but Vince cornered them. Before Vince could shoot Deloris Lt. Souther shot him in the arm. Vince cursed her as he was being dragged away by cops, Deloris simply responded with, Bless you.

More information: Charactour

The Reverend Mother found a renewed sense of purpose and since Deloris would soon be leaving decided she needed to stay. Deloris returned with the nuns to St. Katherine's where in front of a packed house they performed for the Pope, who was quite pleased with what he saw. Deloris directed the choir at several concert engagements in the coming months. 

Nowadays, Deloris is going to direct The Beans in their next goal: be the winners in the 2018 European Song Contest. 

Let's go Beans! We can do it!

Melt the clouds of sin and sadness,

drive the dark of doubt away.
Giver of immortal gladness.
Fill us with the light of day.

Henry Jackson van Dyke Jr.

A MICROTALE: CRIS & EDGAR BEAN IN LOMBARD STREET

Edgar & Cristina Bean in Lombard Street

She was exhausted. The car had broken in the worst  moment. She pushed it again and again. Then, a new hope appeared in the horizon. She felt she was saved. Edgar was walking to her quietly. When he arrived next to her, she cried "Edgar!" and he, like a brave hero, turned to her and say "Hello!" before disappearing into the same horizon that he had arrived.

Lombard Street is an east–west street in San Francisco that is famous for a steep, one-block section with eight hairpin turns. Stretching from The Presidio east to The Embarcadero, with a gap on Telegraph Hill, most of the street's western segment is a major thoroughfare designated as part of U.S. Route 101. 

The famous one-block section, claimed to be the crookedest street in the world, is located along the eastern segment in the Russian Hill neighborhood. It is a major tourist attraction, receiving around 2 million visitors per year and up to 17,000 per day on busy summer weekends, as of 2015.

The street was named after Lombard Street in Philadelphia by San Francisco surveyor Jasper O'Farrell.

More information: San Francisco City Guides

Lombard Street in San Francisco

Lombard Street's west end is at Presidio Boulevard inside The Presidio; it then heads east through the Cow Hollow neighborhood. For twelve blocks, between Broderick Street and Van Ness Avenue, it is an arterial road that is co-signed as U.S. Route 101. Lombard Street continues through the Russian Hill neighborhood and to the Telegraph Hill neighborhood. At Telegraph Hill it turns south, becoming Telegraph Hill Boulevard to Pioneer Park and Coit Tower. Lombard Street starts again at Winthrop Street and ends at The Embarcadero as a collector road.

Lombard Street is known for the one-way block on Russian Hill between Hyde and Leavenworth Streets, where eight sharp turns are said to make it the most crooked street in the world. The design, first suggested by property owner Carl Henry and built in 1922, was intended to reduce the hill's natural 27% grade, which was too steep for most vehicles. 

More information: San Francisco Travel

The crooked block is perhaps 180 m long and 125.7 m straightline, is one-way and is paved with red bricks. The sign at the top recommends 8 km/h. The segment normally sees around 250 vehicles per hour, with average daily traffic reaching 2,630 vehicles in 2013. During peak times, vehicles have to wait up to 20 minutes to enter the Crooked Street segment, in a queue that can reach Van Ness Avenue. The Powell-Hyde cable car stops at the top of the block on Hyde Street.

 A city is not gauged by its length and width, 

but by the broadness of its vision and the height of its dream.
 

Herb Caen

THE BEANS IN SAN FRANCISCO: WE ARE THE DREAM

Cupid, Roman God of Love

Today is Saint Valentine. Saint Valentine, officially Saint Valentine of Rome, is a widely recognized 3rd-century Roman saint commemorated on February 14 and since the High Middle Ages is associated with a tradition of courtly love.

All that is reliably known of the saint commemorated on February 14 is his name and that he was martyred and buried at a cemetery on the Via Flaminia close to the Ponte Milvio to the north of Rome on that day. It is uncertain whether St. Valentine is two different Saints. Several different martyrologies have been added to later hagiographies that are unreliable.

The Roman Catholic Church continues to recognize him as a saint, listing him as such in the February 14 entry in the Roman Martyrology, and authorizing liturgical veneration of him on February 14 in any place where that day is not devoted to some other obligatory celebration in accordance with the rule that on such a day the Mass may be that of any saint listed in the Martyrology for that day. 

Saint Valentine is commemorated in the Anglican Communion, as well as in Lutheranism. February 14 The Lutheran Service Book, with its penchant for the old Roman calendar, commemorates Valentine on this date. 

More information: History.com

The Beans have just arrived to the Hotel Palace in San Francisco where they're going to stay during their visit. For the moment, they're going to rest a little and take enough force to continue their visit in this wonderful side of California. 

Old memories of The Grandma with Janis Joplin

The Grandma has decided to visit Vesuvio Café, a long-time city favourite, place that has welcomed authors, musicians, artists and other free spirits through its doors since 1948, artists like Janis Joplin, someone who The Grandma adores. Drawn to the Beat movement, and later to psychedelic rock, Janis Joplin was just another patron who loved to hang out and chill behind its doors. 

More information: San Francisco Travel

Some members of the family are remembering their firsts dates, something very special in a day like today, meanwhile The Grandma is evokating the past again and thinking strongly, that French is the most beautiful language to sing love songs.

Manuel & Cristina Bean

I remember my first date with Cristina. We met in a fantastic restaurant in the downtown and I was waiting for her very nervous. Suddently, Cristina appeared. It was like a dream. She wore a beautiful long white dress -she seemed a bride- and all stopped. Time stopped. World stopped. The waiter stopped. It was an incredible sensation. I was flying. A big scream returned me to the real world. It was a Cristina's scream. Her dress had become red and she was angry. The waiter had fallen over her and the Rioja wine finished on her beautiful dress.

I don't remember a lot about that day. I only remember that Manuel had asked for me a date thousands of times. He was very heavy, very persistent. At the end, I accepted and I wore the most beautiful dress I found inside my wardrove. I was a little nervous but I kept calm when I saw him, just before that waiter fell over me. We had dinner. At the beginning, it was a little uncomfortable to wear that red wine dress but finally, I only had eyes for Manuel. It was like a dream. Since that moment, he is my Cari.

I have a dream / Chanter la vie by ABBA (French Version)

I was visiting another little town in Denmark. Denmark is a wonderful country full of beautiful tales and nice people. I was travelling with some friends and we decided to visit a little church. When we entered in the religious place, an intensive light focused on him. Antonio was there, at the end of the central corridor, with the Holy Bible in his hands, reading Apostle John. I remember his words: 'And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth' (1 John 5:6). It was like a dream. Since that moment, I knew I wanted to stay the rest of my life with that handsome man, although I realized it wasn't going to be easy to share my life with a Protestant preacher. I'm Portuguese. I'm deeply Catholic, but as Apostle John says: 'The Spirit is the Truth'.

It was another day in the church. There's an enourmous crisis of faith in European citizens nowadays and Danish people aren't an exception. There weren't a lot of people in my little chappel but suddenly, the door opened and Ana appeared rounded by a sacred light. She was like an angel, a God's revelation. She was a God's present. I knew it immediately. It was like a dream. Since that moment, I realized I could follow the paths of God in different ways, it wasn't necessary to explain the God's words inside an empty church. I must go out and explain them around the world, but I wasn't going to do it alone: I wanted to share the rest of my life with Ana. She's a God's blessing.

La chanson d'Hélène by Mísia (French Version)

I'm a professional football player and although I'm French, I'm a great fan of Real Madrid, perhaps because one of my favourite players has been Zinedine Zidane. It was the first time I visited the Santiago Bernabeu. I was very lucky because I was going to watch a derby: Real Madrid against Futbol Club Barcelona. I was very excited and happy. The anthem sounded and everybody stood up and started to sing and wave their flags. Everybody? No. In one of the corners of the stadium, near me, a beautiful woman looked the scenery with incredible open eyes. It was like a dream. It seemed that she wasn't very comfortable there and I felt a strange feeling of helping her to stay better. I left my seat and walked between dozens of people to arrive to her. I embraced her. I embraced Eli. Since that moment, we share our lives and two wonderful kids. By the way, my team won 2-1. ¡Hala Madrid!

I was scared. Thousands of thousands of people were shouting and singing to cheer their team. All the stadium was covered by an intensive white colour except me. I was very proud of wearing my blue and maroon t-shirt, which symbolize the colours of my football team. Yes. I'm a Futbol Club Barcelona's supporter and I was watching the Derby in the stadium of the rival thanks to a contest that I had won eating a packet of fried potatoes. I was alone and I have to confess that I didn't feel very well. Suddenly, Edgar appeared from the crowd and embraced me. It was like a dream. Since that moment, we share our lives, our football discussions and I demonstrate everybody that to love someone is not a question of age but heart and feelings. I don't remember the final score. It doesn't matter. Visca el Barça!

La Vie en Rose by Marlene Dietrich (French Version)

We are the dream - Muriel Casals

FLYING FROM RIO DE JANEIRO TO SAN FRANCISCO, CA

Johan Cruyff, The Flying Dutchman

Today, The Beans have continued their English classes reviewing some aspects of the Past Simple with the irregular forms. 

After doing some exercises, the family has adviced Edgar Bean, who has an offer to play in the Brazilian Football League, to continue with the family and try to find a better offer in the European Leagues. The family has been discussing about legends like Pelé, Cruyff, Beckenbauer, Buffon and Messi, people who have changed football forever.

Tomorrow, it's Saint Valentine and some Beans have been talking about their memories about their first dates after reading a little more of Charles Dickens's Christmas Carol.

More information: Past Simple (Irregular Verbs)

The family is flying from Rio de Janeiro to San Francisco, California. It's a 16-hours flight again, and The Beans are a little exhausted because of the rythm of the Carnival in Rio. This is the main reason because some members of the family have decided to read some English grammar books and some English novels that Eli Bond-Bean and Natalia Bean bought in their last staying in New York.

Download Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe

San Francisco, officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the cultural, commercial, and financial center of Northern California. The consolidated city-county covers an area of about 121 km2 mostly at the north end of the San Francisco Peninsula in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The Grandma at the Summer Solstice Festival (1967)

San Francisco was founded on June 29, 1776, when colonists from Spain established Presidio of San Francisco at the Golden Gate and Mission San Francisco de Asís a few miles away, all named for St. Francis of Assisi. 

The California Gold Rush of 1849 brought rapid growth, making it the largest city on the West Coast at the time. San Francisco became a consolidated city-county in 1856. After three-quarters of the city was destroyed by the 1906 earthquake and fire, San Francisco was quickly rebuilt, hosting the Panama-Pacific International Exposition nine years later. 

In World War II, San Francisco was a major port of embarkation for service members shipping out to the Pacific Theater. It then became the birthplace of the United Nations in 1945.

Download Solomon's Mines by Sir H. Rider Haggard

After the war, the confluence of returning servicemen, massive immigration, liberalizing attitudes, along with the rise of the hippie counterculture, the Sexual Revolution, the Peace Movement growing from opposition to United States involvement in the Vietnam War, and other factors led to the Summer of Love and the gay rights movement, cementing San Francisco as a center of liberal activism in the United States. Politically, the city votes strongly along liberal Democratic Party lines.

Download A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur Court by Mark Twain

Success is no accident. 

It is hard work, perseverance, 

learning, studying, sacrifice 

and most of all, 

love of what you are doing or learning to do. 

Pelé

NOSSA SENHORA DO MONTSERRATE & PÃO DE AÇÚCAR

The Beans in Parque Lage & Edgar Bean in Maracanã

Yesterday afternoon, after visiting Christ Redemeer, The Beans went to Parque Lage, a public park in the city of Rio de Janeiro, located in the Jardim Botânico neighborhood at the foot of the Corcovado.

The land was formerly the residence of industrialist Enrique Lage and his wife, singer Gabriella Besanzoni. During the 1920s Lage had the mansion remodeled by Italian architect Mario Vodrel, with interior paintings by Salvador Payols Sabaté.

In the 1960s the land became a public park, with walking trails through subtropical forest. The Escola de Artes Visuais do Parque Lage and a café open to the public operate from the former mansion.

Later, the family visited the Estadio Mario Filho, aka Maracanã, because Edgar Bean wanted to know the most important Brazilian football stadium, place of unforgettable moments oferred by all the Brazilian football stars playing with their national team, especially Edson​ Arantes do Nascimento, aka Pelé, one of the most important players of the history of this sport.

More information: Visit Rio

Today, it's February, 12, an important date if you live in Barcelona or you're a science fan. For one hand, Barcelona celebrates the day of one of its three patrons, Santa Eulàlia. The Grandma, who is a special fan of this Mediterranean capital although she's Andorran, has wanted to remember this virgin and has asked for the family to visit Nossa Senhora do Monserrate do Rio de Janeiro, a Benedictine abbey in Rio where another popular virgin is adored.

The Beans at Nossa Senhora do Monserrate

The Abbey of Our Lady of Montserrat, more commonly known as the Mosteiro de São Bento is a Benedictine abbey located on the Morro de São Bento in downtown Rio de Janeiro. The Mannerist style church is a primary example of Brazilian colonial architecture in Rio and the country.

The abbey was founded by Benedictine monks who came from the state of Bahia in 1590. It is still operational today, along with the Colégio de São Bento nearby. The college, established in 1858, is one of the most important traditional educational establishments in Brazil and claims many famous alumni. The abbey includes the Faculdade de São Bento, with courses in theology and philosophy that are recognized by the Ministry of Education. Theological studies at the monastery are also affiliated with the Pontifical Atheneum of St. Anselm in Rome.

More information: Lonely Planet

For other hand, today is the 209th birthday of Charles Darwin the English naturalist, geologist and biologist, best known for his contributions to the science of evolution. Charles Darwin was in Brazil. He arrived in Salvador during the summer on February 28, 1832, after visiting Cabo Verde.

To homage this trip of Charles Darwin to the Brazilian lands, the family  has decided to visit Pão de Açúcar or Sugarloaf Mountain, a peak situated in Rio de Janeiro at the mouth of Guanabara Bay on a peninsula that juts out into the Atlantic Ocean. Rising 396 m above the harbor, its name is said to refer to its resemblance to the traditional shape of concentrated refined loaf sugar. It is known worldwide for its cableway and panoramic views of the city.

More information: Visit Brasil

The Beans climbing up to Pão de Açúcar

The mountain is one of several monolithic granite and quartz mountains that rise straight from the water's edge around Rio de Janeiro.

The mountain is protected by the Sugarloaf Mountain and Urca Hill Natural Monument, created in 2006. This became part of a World Heritage Site declared by UNESCO in 2012.

The name Sugarloaf was coined in the 16th century by the Portuguese during the heyday of sugar cane trade in Brazil. 

According to historian Vieira Fazenda, blocks of sugar were placed in conical molds made of clay to be transported on ships. The shape given by these molds was similar to the peak, hence the name.
 

A glass-walled cable car called bondinho capable of holding 65 people, runs along a 1,400 m route between the peaks of Sugarloaf and Morro da Urca every 20 minutes.

More information: Lonely Planet

Past vs. Present with The Grandma

The original cable car line was built in 1912 and rebuilt around 1972–73 and in 2008. The cable car goes from a ground station, at the base of Morro da Babilônia, to Morro da Urca and thence to Sugarloaf's summit.

Meanwhile The Beans take advantage and visit this wonderful place and discuss about the occupational hazards of constructing an incredible structure like this on the top of a mountain, The Grandma takes profit and resolves some business in the Carioca capital before joining to the family on the top of Pão de Açúcar, a place very special for her, who as a great fan of James Bond and as a member of The Bonds family, can not forget Moonraker and the scene filmed here, in the bondinho.

More information: Interfaith Worker Justice (US)

Tonight, the family is going to enjoy the last night of carnival because they're going to travel to San Francisco, California, tomorrow morning.

A man's friendships are one of the best measures of his worth.
 

Charles Darwin

THE BEANS ADOPT A PET: COMPARING SOME OPTIONS

The Beans' pets

Today, The Beans have continued their English classes rewieving some examples of question tags in present simple and the comparative adjectives.

The Grandma has explained a story about the possible origins of Saint George and the Black Virgins and the family has thought about it in their compositions.

Download Animals Vocabulary

The day after visiting the zoo, the family has another goal to reach. They have adopted some new pets with particular characteristics and they need to find a better place from them. It's not an easy work but it's easier if you have enough money to cover their needs.

More information: Question tags & Comparative Adjectives

This afternoon, The Beans have visited the Brooklyn Museum. David Bowie left us in a day like today two years ago and the Museum is preparing a new exposition in his honour next March. The Grandma, who is a great fan of Bowie, still remembers his fantastic concert in the Madison Square Garden in 1997.

Past and present in the Brooklyn Museum

The Brooklyn Museum is an art museum located in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. At 560,000 52,000 m2, the museum is New York City's third largest in physical size and holds an art collection with roughly 1.5 million works.

Located near the Prospect Heights, Crown Heights, Flatbush, and Park Slope neighborhoods of Brooklyn and founded in 1895, the Beaux-Arts building, designed by McKim, Mead and White, was planned to be the largest art museum in the world. 

The museum initially struggled to maintain its building and collection, only to be revitalized in the late 20th century, thanks to major renovations. Significant areas of the collection include antiquities, specifically their collection of Egyptian antiquities spanning over 3,000 years. The museum also has a Memorial Sculpture Garden which features salvaged architectural elements from throughout New York City.

More information: The Brooklyn Museum

In the evening, The Beans are going to watch the NBA basketball match between the New York Knicks and the Chicago Bulls in the Madison Square Garden. Edgar Bean, who is a great sportman, is very excited with this proposal because he's a great fan of Carmelo Anthony and in his opinion, the Knicks are better, more original and twenty years older than the Bulls. The Grandma still remembers those incredible nights with Pat Ewing.

Michael Jordan & Pat Ewing, the best

The Knicks are an American professional basketball team based in New York City in the borough of Manhattan. The Knicks compete in the NBA as a member of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. 

The team plays its home games at Madison Square Garden, located in the borough of Manhattan. They are one of two NBA teams located in New York City; the other is the Brooklyn Nets. The team, established by Ned Irish in 1946, was one of the founding members of the Basketball Association of America (BAA), which became the NBA after merging with the rival National Basketball League (NBL) in 1949. Along with the Boston Celtics, the Knicks are one of only two original NBA teams still located in its original city.

 Anxiety and spiritual searching 

have been consistent themes with me, 

and that figures into my worldview. 

But I tend to make my songs 

sound like relationship songs. 

David Bowie