Buenos Aires: Becoming a Deadly Haven (Avoid "Restaurant 36")

Buenos Aires:
Becoming a Deadly Haven
(Avoid “Restaurant 36”)


I just returned from Buenos Aires, Argentina, and it is getting worse by the minute. When you have a good thing, everyone thinks it will remain that way by momentum in Buenos Aires, it never does. I am writing this article for a few reasons: one, I hope the officials of Buenos Aires wake up, and two; it is becoming dangerous for Americans to go there.
I suppose it is dangerous in any big city in South America, the officials are more corrupt, and it is always harder for these countries to accommodate the American tourist, they have a different way of thinking, and it is not service related, more than it is: give me the dollar, and once received, the services then melt down. They do not necessarily think of the future, but rather the present.
I’ve been in just about every country a few times in South America, in Buenos Aries twice. It is a beautiful city that seems to have a tinge of Paris and Madrid melted into it. The dollar is not bad 3.16 pesos to the dollar. But it is a world no longer safe to walk around with your wife. The tour folks in South America, just as soon wash their hands of you once they pack your package together, should you deal with a South American Tourists Companies, and we have dealt with them in Lima going to Buenos Aries, and several other South American cities. The American Embassies are more helpful, and have emergency numbers 7/24; you will need to know the numbers, for your guides will not know them.
Most of the hotels, in Buenos Aries are not equipped with staff that can speak English and Spanish (let’s hope you can or your guide), and if robbed, and there are twice as many robbers in Buenos Aries than Lima, I do believe, and there are many in Lima, so be careful, for the police will simply try to talk you out of doing a report, saying in essence, “What for, it’s just a simple robbery, and no one was hurt.” Do not go walking anyplace in Buenos Aries without a bodyguard or group of people, it is no longer safe.
There were two robberies in a ten minute span, when we were by the train station, which the police told me and my wife to not go in, in fear we’d not return out of the station alive. I asked the police why they would not go into the station to look for the robbers, and they simply refused, as did the desk clerk refuse to do the report at the police station.
My recent trip to Buenos Aires was in April, 2007. My previous one was five years ago, and it has gotten worse. The authorities and the people blame the Peruvians for much of the turmoil, coming into Buenos Aires, I blame the city per se, and everyone is pointing fingers and taking no blame. I feel the police are in on the payoffs here, because robbery is taken so lightly.
In the nightclubs, they no longer cater to the customer; I went to several of them, as I had down years back. When my steak turned out to be a lower class of meat, for a higher class of dollars, that was on the menu, the manager fought with me; this was at the “Restaurant 36” by Congress, downtown Buenos Aires. I asked him to go talk to the cook (maybe he made a mistake), and he refused, and he said,”We have a good reputation.” My wife said, “You had, and now it is going down the drain, because your cooks are more correct than the customers, whom are simply your Ginny Pigs.”
A few other pizza places had the same attitude. I am sorry to be so negative, but it is simply a fact, until they start making the customer priority, it is neither safe, nor going to be a good experience for the traveler to such places.

Incidentally, I talked to the tourists that were attacked, the woman was all bruised up, and the gentleman was all cut up, it is a shame this once beautiful city is becoming no more than a haunting house for mischief. You guide may tell you it is safe to walk anyplace in Buenos Aires, do not take him at his word, it is not so.

Iraq, Swimming in Blood (4-21-2007)

Iraq, Swimming in Blood


Let them swim in their own blood (I am talking about Iraq). I am not sure if winning a war in Iraq is a good premise, the war has been won, trying to force feed them into democracy, is another adventure, and even though you can make them say uncle, even Hitler knew, you cannot change their hearts and minds, even Hannibal knew this, and did not go into Rome, lest he slaughter everyone, and he would have had to do that. On the other hand we are not obligated by any mandate to rebuild a new world for the Arab ungrateful state, let them swim in their own blood, if that is what they want. Let them fight with Iran, and whomever; the world seems to look the other way when they do, and condemn the US when we do. In an article on CNN, one of the neighbors said he didn’t like the wall that was being built in his neighborhood, protecting them, saying, it is only a few terrorist here and there, I would expect with that kind of talk, he is one of them.

Because of this drawn out war, our president has not paid all that much attention to South America, where we used to have friend, and we have oil interests, and the Arabs are moving into, and we are losing it. And the dollar is crap all over the world, it should be higher than the Euro, which is a sorry currency since it has nothing to back it up but America’s security, and so we pay for that likewise. And our resources are being drained, and our soldiers stretched to the maximum. The only smart thing the president has done lately, is slap China’s hands, after China has drained all the jobs out of America, with their little trinkets: everything says “From China” From the Canadian boarder, to Lima, Peru.

If it is his intentions to break America, he is doing a good job of it. If you want to do the job right, do it right, take down Iran, like we did Iraq, and then go on to Syria, and we might be able to enslave Iraq, as it was before? If not, get out of the pot, it’s too hot, and try to stop pleasing everyone. And stop condemning our soldiers for killing, it goes with the territory, you teach them how, and condemn because of public opinion 7000-miles away, as the enemy cut heads off with no discretion. You fight fire with fire.

Right or wrong, the people of Iraq, and Baghdad, look like a bunch of rag pickers, there is nothing left to the people, its land and its city. If dignity to them is living with a corrupt government, and enslavement, who is to say America can offer more to their contentment. America is in North America, not in the Middle East. Had the president left Iraq, he would have went down in history as winning two wars, now I would think, history will nominate him as the one president that brought America to its knees.

St. Lucia Defies The Great Panda Bear (China) for Taiwan

Yes, the Great Panda Bear has spoken!

St. Lucia’s (and its Government in St. John) in the Caribbean Sea is defying the Great Giant China Panda Bear, who demands they bow before them, and say uncle, kind of like that. In essence, they are telling them what they can and can’t do—China that is; in this case, they do now want them (St. Lucia) to allow a delegation from Taiwan to enter their port. I kind of think this game of: you do as I say, as the Chinese Government has bullied the world away from Taiwan for 50-years, should stop.
Even the United States adheres to a lot of that rhetoric. They said, China says to the small government, whom do not seem to fear the Big Panda Bear: we can remain friends if that is what you want, otherwise, hit the road. China says: “We wish the St. Lucia government not to allow the delegation to enter into St. Lucia because this delegation will be severely detrimental to the Chinese-St. Lucia friendly relations” now is that a nice way to talk to a friend. I don’t think St. Lucia’s cares all that much for the Chinese junk they been trying to flood every country in the world with. Good luck China, I think you met your match. St. Lucia’s Foreign Minister Rufus Bousque wants to keep good relations with China, I do hope he does not persuade his government to reverse its decision to not allow the delegation, I think this is a first in a long time, and will capture the attention of many, lest Taiwan end up being another Tibet, and China I fear would live it to be under their heels.

Cho Seug-Hui, vs. Gun Control

Cho Seung-Hui, vs. Gun Control


All the gun control people are going to run on this one I suppose, let it rest, I do not see any room for an argument here. A non American shot a lot of people perhaps with two guns; guns he got legally, and had he not got them, the old story goes, he would have anyhow. But the other side of the story is also is worth looking at, seldom brought out too, had some of the students guns of their own, the story might be a little different today. I am from Minnesota, and have a Permit to carry a gun, and in most cases I feel safer with it than not. And when in a store, I’m sure the robber doesn’t know who has a gun and who doesn’t in Minnesota, and so he has to guess, but once you put gun control into the issue to the point of restricting it to mostly law enforcement, the bad guy knows he has no competition, he is free to do as he pleases.
I also have a license to carry in Peru. I took a psychological test, and a shooting test, and a three day background test, and was given one. And again, with my ailments, I’m glad I got one, because it would be hard for me to defend myself otherwise, nowadays. The robber picks on women, old folks, and those a tinge lame, he or she does not fool around with the strong and able, and gun totting fellow; the same thing for dug addicts. This is a very sad case, happening of course, and will take long to heal for the families involved, and I am sad for them. Not sure if there is really an understanding to all this killing, people want to analyze it. Anger out of control, is often displaced. And anger will come out one way or another; fortunately, there were signs, but unfortunately, nobody paid much attention to them except a teacher that could do little about it. In this case, the killer had too many rights, with out responsibility to balance them. A psychological test would have helped prior to purchasing those guns, and a three day wait to review the sale (in Peru, the even keep your gun under lock and key until the test is reviewed, and the score in the shooting is complete). I guess I don’t call that gun control, simply normal precautions, like getting a drivers license, you just don’t get it when you apply for it, there is a process. No man or woman should be denied a gun, if indeed he shows a pattern of cooperation and responsibility, and pass the tests (our 2nd Amendment says so).

Can a Bulldong and a Cat play together? (China vs. Japan)

Will China and Japan mend their differences? (No!)

Will a bulldog and cat play together? Is the question, if they do mend their differences, there is an ulterior motive, and the motive will be on China’s behalf, and in China’s interest? Japan should arm themselves, and quickly, remembering what happened to Tibet. They could be on China’s future menu—China is still hungry over Japanese oil, in the Japanese Sea, and other things. I always hear of miner things breaking up long term goals for peace, such as Japan going to a temple site, that produces China’s anger; I don’t much care about China’s anger, nor should Japan, China is not a saint, never has been, and is more corrupt than Japan is now. They have enslaved Hong Kong, and scared Singapore to repentance, threatened Taiwan (and is waiting to enslave them), butchered Tibet’s people, and sucked dry the World Trade Organizations kindness by flooding Europe, South and North America, with cheaply made items, at our expense; on the other hand, they have taken the liberty of grabbing everything America has without paying for it, just duplicating it and selling it, and doing nothing about it. Getting along with China is a must, as it is with Russia, and the USA, but I would recommend it be on equal terms. China has bullied the world community in scorning Taiwan, for simply wanting to be unattached to a bulldog. Who wouldn’t; if I was Japan, I’d be putting nukes all over its islands, and then invite China for dinner, and show them how easy it is to aim them in China’s face, as they have done to Taiwan, but we all have short memories, do we not. There will be a future showdown, and will the USA be available, and willing to help Japan? Self interest is stronger than the devil himself, which is what Japan should be worried about: don’t count on anyone. And look at China’s track record. Be careful who you sup with. Even if China promised Japan, to deliver the whole Forbidden City to them on a silver platter, I’d still look for the hidden motive, and arm myself quick (it is too late after the fact). If they are not accountable to anyone now, mending bridges is simple saying; I will not bite you today.

The Narrative Dialogue and Meeting of:Historian Maria Rostworowski and Poet Dennis L. Siluk (in Spanish and English)

SPANISH VERSION


Diálogo Narrativo y Reunión
de :
La Historiadora María Rostworowski y el Poeta Dennis L. Siluk


Por Dennis L. Siluk
(Traducido por Rosa Peñaloza de Siluk)


Avance: Una reunión histórica, puede ser llamada esta entre la renombrada historiadora, María Rostworowski (de Diez Canseco), de Lima, Perú, y Dennis L. Siluk, poeta y novelista (quien vive parcialmente en Perú, y en su tierra natal Minnesota, EE.UU.); María tiene medio siglo investigando y estudiando el pasado histórico del Perú, y una audiencia mundial con sus incontables libros sobre su cultura, tradiciones, y datos históricos; algunos libros traducidos del español al inglés (por ejemplo, “History of the Inca Realm”).

La madre de María era una dama peruana y su padre era de Polonia, como fue mencionado durante la reunión entre ella y Dennis. María nació en Barranco, Lima, Perú; cuando tenía cinco años ella fue con su familia a Europa—y vivió en Francia, Polonia, Inglaterra y Bélgica, y volvió al Perú cuando tenía 19 años. Similar a la experiencia de Dennis, en la que él se enamoró de Perú (particularmente del Valle del Mantaro, y ahora ha venido a Perú a radicar parcialmente)

Ella se casón con un polaco en Polonia, así como Dennis se casó con un peruana de Huancayo, Perú, aventurándose en Lima, en 1999, cuando ellos se conocieron y se casaron unos meses más tarde, en febrero del 2000.

María se volvió una historiadora autodidacta. Así como María, el entusiasmo que tiene Dennis lo han conducido a explorar Perú y escribir seis libros sobre sus costumbres, tradiciones y cultura, en forma poética, y recibir reconocimientos de la Universidad Peruana Los Andes, en Huancayo, por su contribución cultural; además, le concedieron la Gran Cruz de la Ciudad de San de Jerónimo Tunán y fue nominado Poeta Laureado de la ciudad, y le fue concedido el Premio Nacional de Perú, “Antena Regional”: El Mejor del 2006 por promover la cultura.

María, en Lima se conoció y se casó con don Alejandro Diez Canseco, su verdadero amor y juntos condujeron una vida muy orientada a la cultura, quizás como Dennis y Rosa Peñaloza de Siluk lo han tenido estos años pasados, ya que Rosa ha viajado alrededor del mundo varias veces, y por muchas partes de Perú.
Aunque la mayor parte de las poesías culturales de Dennis es sobre muchos aspectos de Perú, otros son sobre el Guerrero Wanka y la Guerra del Pacífico, Dennis siendo un Veterano de Vietnam decorado de la guerra (1971), y también poesías sobre el Valle del Mantaro; como con María, en mayor grado es sobre el Imperio Incaico.

María, puede quizás ser llamada, o mencionada como la “Josephus” de Perú; mientras Dennis ha sido referido en Perú, como Julio Verne (refiriéndose a todos sus viajes y libros relacionados con viajes, y su estilo cultural de poesía, y sus escrituras), y de vez en cuando, como el Poeta Trotamundos, denominado por los periódicos y revistas en Perú.

Y ahora para la narración y reunión:



El Diálogo Narrativo y Reunión


Nosotros (mi esposa Rosa y yo) llegamos al edificio del Instituto de Estudios Peruanos a las 10:50 de la mañana del día Jueves 22 de Abril del 2007, en Lima, Perú (Jesús María); justo después de acabar de llegar hablamos brevemente con la persona encargada de la seguridad, y nosotros estábamos ya con veinte minutos de retraso para la reunión, debido a que nuestro taxi se malogró en plena carretera (Panamericana) y tuvimos que salir de allí a buscar otro taxi en la calle transversal. Mientras nos apresurábamos a subir las escaleras, llegamos a una pequeña oficina, que el guardia nos había indicado, allí estaba ella sentada detrás de su escritorio, yo la reconocí al instante, había visto una fotografía de ella, ella lucía lo mismo, pensé que era una fotografía de cuando ella era más joven, por eso estuve sorprendido, ella lucía más joven de lo que pensé: ella llevaba una blusa de seda multicolores (negro, rojo y blanco principalmente). Ella tenía 91 años, pero parecía más bien de 67 años, pensé que estaba muy conservada. Ella, María dio la vuelta por su escritorio, saludándome y a mi esposa, mientras nos pedía que nos sentáramos, en aquel momento le di dos de los libros que había escrito sobre Perú, ella leyó los títulos verbalmente, mientras miraba cada uno, los leyó en inglés, “Spell of the Andes”, y “The Magic of the Avelinos”, después ella sonrió (más adelante le diría a una amiga, refiriéndose a los libros “son maravillosos”), podía ver que ella estaba orgullosa de ser peruana, aun cuando yo averiguaría que ella tenía raíces polacas por el lado de su padre, y peruana por el lado de su madre.

Yo sabía que era muy difícil conseguir una cita para hablar con ella, ya que ella había estado enferma una semana antes, y no permitía a muchos visitantes, en primer lugar, lo que fue confirmado por un número de personas antes de mi llegada, e incluso el guardia estuvo sorprendido que ella me permitió visitarla, así que me sentí más que afortunado.

“Siéntese por favor”, ella dijo con su delicada mirada fuerte, pero ojos suaves y severos.
Mientras me sentaba la pedí que firmara uno de sus libros para mí, “Historia del Tahuantinsuyu”, y mientras me puse a firmar mis libros para ella, ella dijo modestamente con un poco de humor, “Intercambiaremos firmas”, y otra vez vino esa sonrisa misteriosa, que era cálida y natural.

(Durante los pocos minutos siguientes me levanté, y mi esposa Rosa, tomó dos fotos de ella y yo, y yo se los mostré en mi cámara digital, y ella me miró un tanto y dijo, “tengo 91 años”: No dije nada, quizás nada que decir, ella lucía 25 años más joven. Ella lucía muy bien para su edad.)

Después vino, conversación suelta sobre la comida de Huancayo, ya que yo había empezado ese tema diciendo que “mi esposa era de allí”. Me gusta “cuy colorado”, le dije, y ella contestó, “¿ha probado cuy chactado?” y contesté, “¡Ah si…la esposa del profesor Pedro de Huancayo lo hizo para mí, estaba muy bien!” Entonces añadí, “me gusta Huancayo pa…pa…” y antes de que yo pudiera terminar la oración, ella me preguntó, “quiere decir, ¿papa a la huancaina?” Sí, reafirmé.

(Pienso que María estaba descubriendo, que amaba a Perú y a sus culturas misteriosas tanto como ella lo hizo, atrás cuando primero descubrió esta tierra antigua.)

“¿Cuál es su origen?” ella me preguntó, sabiendo que yo era de Norteamérica.
“Ruso e irlandés”, le contesté, añadiendo, “y su apellido no es...peruano ¿no?
“Ciertamente no”, dijo ella, “es polaco”. Entonces añadí, “Yo también soy polaco de parte de mi abuela, ruso de parte de mi abuelo, e irlandés de parte de mi padre”. Un tanto repitiéndome yo mismo.

“Es una mezcla” comentó ella. Creo que omití el decir que era polaco debido a eso, demasiado condimento en el pastel. (Y hablamos brevemente sobre esto, cómo la vida en mi clan familiar, sacó el polaco y ruso en el círculo familiar.)

Después, mi esposa y yo la invitamos a tomar desayuno diciendo, “Martina va a ir el miércoles a tomar desayuno (y su amigo)”

“¿Quién es Martina?” dijo ella, con una pizca de ingenio, ella estaba muy dinámica para ser una mujer de 91 años.
Mi esposa le explicó, que ella era del Centro de Antienvejecimiento en Lima, y ella reconoció el nombre enseguida, diciendo, “hay una reunión la próxima semana allí”. (Pensé, qué memoria tan aguda, mejor que la mía)
“Estoy muy vieja para desayunos” dijo ella, “tengo que comer comida especial, pero gracias por la invitación”

Entonces comprendiendo que el tiempo había pasado rápidamente, simplemente dije, en voz baja; “No deberíamos de tomar más de su tiempo, usted ya nos ha dado la mayor parte de este, y estoy seguro que usted tiene muchas cosas que hacer” y entonces nos disculpamos, y ella dijo en seguida, “encantada de conocerlo”, ella estaba de pie, cuando habló, y ahora comenzó a sentarse, mientras nosotros comenzamos a marcharnos.

Esta fue una reunión muy cordial, y una que siento, sacó la predecibilidad de una persona, una que no está encerrada en una caja debido a la profesión de uno. Esto fue bueno pensé: hay una gran humanidad sobre esta renombrada historiadora.



ENGLISH VERSION



The Narrative Dialogue and Meeting of:
Historian Maria Rostworowski and Poet Dennis L. Siluk

By Dennis L. Siluk
(Translated by Rosa Peñaloza de Siluk)



Advance: A historical meeting, it can be called between renowned historian, Maria Rostworowski (de Diez Canseco), of Lima, Peru, and Dennis L. Siluk, Poet and novelist (who lives part time in Peru, and part time in his home state of Minnesota, USA); Maria has a half-century of investigating and studying Peru’s historical past, and a world wide audience with her countless books on its cultures, traditions, and historical data; a few books translated from the Spanish into English (i.e., “History of the Inca Realm”).
Maria's mother was a Peruvian lady and her father was from Poland, as was brought out during the meeting between her and Dennis. Maria was born in Barranco, Lima, Peru; when she was five-years old she went with her family to Europe—and lived in France, Poland, England and Belgium, and returned to Perú when she was nineteen-years old, similar to Dennis’ experience, in that he fell in love with Peru (particularly the Mantaro Valley, and now has come to Peru to retire here part time).
She married a Pole in Poland, as Dennis married a Peruvian from Huancayo, Peru, adventuring in Lima, in 1999, they met, and married a few months later, in February of 2000.
Maria became a self-taught historian. Like Maria, Dennis’ enthusiasm has lead him to explore Peru, and write six books on its customs, traditions, and culture, in poetic form, and receive awards from the Los Andes University, in Huancayo, for his cultural contribution; in addition, he was awarded the Grand Cross of the City of San Jeronimo, and appointed Poeta Laureado of the city, along with Awarded the National Prize of Peru, "Antena Regional": The best of 2006 for promoting culture.
Maria, in Lima she met and married Alejandro Diez Canseco, her true love and together they lead a very culture-oriented life, perhaps like Dennis and Rosa Penaloza de Siluk have these past several years, for Rosa has traveled around the world several times, and throughout Peru.
Although much of Dennis’ cultural poetry is on many aspects of Peru, a great deal is on the Wanka Warrior and Pacific War, Dennis being a decorated Vietnam Veteran, of the war (1971), and the Mantaro Valley, as with Maria, to a great extent is on the Inca Empire.
Maria, She perhaps can be called, or referred to as the Josephus of Peru; as Dennis has been referred to in Peru, as the Jules Verne (referring to all his travels, and books relating to travel, and his cultural style of poetry, and writings), and at times, the Globe-trotter Poet, dubbed by the newspapers, and magazines in Peru. And now for the Narration, and meeting:




The Narrative Dialogue and Meeting



We (my wife, Rosa and I) arrived at the building about 10:50 AM, Thursday, morning, March 22, 2007, in Lima, Peru (Jesus Maria, district) at the cultural center (Peruvian Learning Instituted); right after we arrived we talked briefly with the guard, and we were already twenty-minutes late for the meeting, our cab was stranded on the highway, and we had to jump off it, and catch another on the side road. As we hurried up the stairs, we came to a small office the guard had pointed out to us, there she was sitting behind her desk, I knew her instantly, had seen a picture of her, she looked the same, I thought it was a younger picture at the time, so I was surprised, she looked younger than I thought she was: she wore a silk like multi colored blouse (black, red and white for the most part). She was 91-years old, but looked more like 67, I thought, well kept. She, Maria came around her desk, greeting me and my wife, as she asked us to sit down, at which time, I gave her two of my books I had done on Peru, she read the titles verbally, as she looked at each one, read them in English, “The Spell of the Andes,” and “The Magic of the Avelinos,” then she smiled (later on would say to a friend, “These are marvelous books…”), I could see she was proud to be a Peruvian, even though I would find out, she had Polish roots, from her father’s side, and Peruvian from her mother’s.
I knew it was most difficult to get a visit to see her, she had been sick a week before, and did not allow many visitors, in the first place, thus confirmed by a number of people prior to my arrival, and even the guard was surprised she allowed my visit, I felt more than lucky.

“Sit down please,” she said with her strong looking frailness, soft but stern eyes.
As I sat down I asked her to sign one of her boos for me, ‘Historia Del Tahuantinsuyu” and as I went to sign my books for her, she said, modestly, and with a little humor, “We shall interchange,” and again came that mysterious smile, that was warm and unspoiled.

(During the next few minutes I stood up, and Rosa my wife, took two pictures of her and I, and I showed them to her on my digital camera, and she looked at me somewhat, and said, “I’m 91-years old:” I didn’t say anything, perhaps nothing to say, she looked 25-years younger. She looked good for her age.)


Next came, loose talk about the food from Huancayo, since I had brought up the subject of my wife being from there, “I like Cuy Colorado,” I told her, and she replied, “Have you tried Cuy Chactado?” And I replied, “Oh yes…Professor Pedro’s wife in Huancayo made it for me, it was very good!” Then I added, “I like Huancayo po…ta..” and before I could finish the sentence, she corrected me, “You mean, Papa a la Huancaina?”
“Yes,” I confirmed.

(I think Maria was finding out, I loved Peru and its mysterious cultures as much as she did, back when she first discovered this ancient land.)

“What is your origin?” she asked me, knowing I was from North America.
“Russian and Irish,” I said, adding, “And your name isn’t Peruvian...?”
“Of course not,” she said, “it’s Polish.” Then I added, “I’m Polish also, from my Grandmother’s side, Russian from my Grandfather, and Irish, from my father.” Somewhat repeating myself.
“It’s a mixture,” she commented. I think I left out the Polish because of just that, too many spices in the pie. (And we talked briefly on that, how my extended family life, brought out the Polish and Russian in the family circle.)

Next, my wife and I invited her for breakfast saying, “Martina,” was going to be over Wednesday for breakfast (and her friend).
“Who is Martina?” she said, with a speck of wit, she was quite lively for a 91-years old woman.
My wife explained, she was from the Center of Anti-aging, in Lima, and then, pondering a bit on the name, and center, she recognized the name, saying, “There is a meeting next week there.” (I thought: what a sharp memory, better than mine)
“I’m too old for breakfast” she said, “I have to eat special food, but, thank you both for the invitation”

Then realizing the time had gone by quickly, I merely said, in a low voice; “We shouldn’t take anymore of your time, you’ve already given us much of it, and I’m sure you have things to do,” and so I excused us, and she said promptly, “Nice to meet you,” she was standing, when she talked, and now started to sit down, as we started to leave.
It was a most cordial meeting, and one I feel, brought out the ordinariness of a person, one that is not locked into a box because of ones profession. This was good I thought: there is a great humanness about this renowned historian.