San Sombrèro. Caribbean, Carnival and Cockroaches
The book of San Sombrèro. Caribbean, Carnival and Cockroaches (original title: San Sombrèro - A Land of Carnivals, Cocktails and Coups ) is a parody from the series of jetlag travel guides by the authors Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner and Rob Stich , written as a fictional travel guide . It describes San Sombrèro as a Central American country that is supposed to unite all the negative clichés of this area. San Sombrèro is an allusion to the sombrero ( Spanish : sun hat). The book is the successor to Molwanîen. Land of the Bad Smile , parodied by the travel guide to Eastern Europe , and Phaic Tǎn. Land of the convulsive smile , referring to a fictional country in Southeast Asia .
content
Formally, the book with chapters such as history , culture and focus on touristic interesting (or especially avoid values) places like a typical travel guide built. Characteristics that correspond to the cliché of Central American banana states are satirically covered . Each section is additionally commented on by a member of the authors, who is made up of a colorful mixture of adventurers, ecology-conscious, medical professionals and other "experts" (one of whom is said to have disappeared during his research on the political system of San Sombrèro).
Representation of the fictional country
According to the invented site plan, San Sombrèro is roughly in the position of Panama and is divided into the five provinces of Guacomala , Lambarda , Maracca , Polluçión and San Abandonio and the capital Cucaracha City .
The entire travel guide highlights the country's political instability (the shortest term of office was held by a president who was shot during the swearing-in ceremony), the constant - sometimes even legally required - smiling and dancing of the population, the close family ties (at births next to the mother always the husband and if possible the biological father present) and the very religious, albeit very laxly interpreting culture.
Fictitious authors of special articles
Four imaginary people (“Helena Ddø̈rk”, “Corey Watts”, “Tina Payne” and “Philippe Miseree”) are named as authors of special articles, each representing different forms of travel philosophy in exaggerated form.
- "Helena Ddø̈rk" appears as an "expert on ecotourism", whose first departure from her home country was difficult due to her demand for a "passport made of recycled paper, which was printed with non-toxic ink, preferably produced by local collectives".
- "Corey Watts" is said to have been dropped as a baby, whereby his fall, which is only slowed down by the umbilical cord, makes him "unofficially the youngest bungee jumper of all time".
- "Tina Payne" portrays the overly cautious traveler who " secured a Kevlar money belt with two padlocks".
- “Philippe Miseree” is portrayed as a “professional traveler” who values authenticity. His motto is: "If your long-haul journey is not arduous and at times terrifyingly uncomfortable, you run the serious risk of turning it into a vacation."
criticism
San Sombrèro combines all the lovable and negative clichés of Latin American vacation countries: happiness, idleness, religiosity, military regime, mixed ethnic culture, unstable conditions and crime. The language is closely based on Spanish and, with a few different accents and a few terms borrowed from Indian languages, is reminiscent of the Creole languages of the Caribbean . The recurring suggestion of these characteristics can be received as entertaining slapstick humor, but can also be perceived as boring. With its form of humor, the book is aimed at people with a penchant for sarcasm , irony and black humor .
literature
- Santo Cilauro, Tom Gleisner, Rob Sitch: San Sombrèro. Caribbean, Carnival and Cockroaches , Heyne, 2007, ISBN 978-3-453-12116-4