While the World Series of Poker (WSOP) heats up in Las Vegas, earlier this month at the Latin American Poker Tour (LAPT) in Lima Peru I encountered players who embraced a completely different flair for the game than their North American counterparts.

“The Latin American style is more experimental, more passive and 100% more emotional,” explained

Maria Mayrinck

Brazilian poker queen Maria Mayrinck. “Latin blood is hot and people–myself included–still have a hard time separating the ‘technical’ aspect from the ‘emotional’ aspect. In time this will change. It’s only because it’s still such a young sport in Latin countries.” Poker is traditionally not a part of Latin culture–it’s a new sport but growing fast. ”I’d say the main difference is the North American style of play is much more technical and cold,” Mayrinck reasoned.  ”North American players are more used to playing live poker being they’ve done so since they were little, since poker is a part of their culture.”

With blinds raised to $2,000-$4,000, players throw in chips with fiery passion. The LAPT is lively and emotional; full of eccentric characters and much gesturing at tables. After winning a big hand, players occasionally jump out of their chairs and yell things like “Whammo!” Actual cheering erupts from railbirds. Players run over to greet fans. Applause. Passionate screams in Spanish. A group of fans wave a Colombian flag. They chant: “Colombia! Colombia! Colombia!” Hugging. Kissing. High fives.

“Latin American poker is like a soccer match. You celebrate every pot you win, like every goal you score. It’s still new and exciting,” Mayrinck informed. “Latins are very emotional and loud when they are cheering for the fellow countrymen. When there is a Brazilian at a final table, even if it’s someone you’ve never met, you instantly consider him a part of your family and root for him accordingly.”

Logic be damned. Go all in in Peru.

One disadvantage Spanish speaking players have is that the poker language is primarily in English: online tutorials, research sites, Internet tournaments, etc.

“All the math background that North Americans have, the Latin Americans don’t have really,” said Angel Guillen–the second Mexican in history to ever win a WSOP bracelet. “We’re still in the process to understand that technique of the game. Only the good players have it and not the general players.” Guillen feels the more successful Latin players are those who get a chance to gain experience by playing in the international tournament circuit. “In Latin America you develop a feeling for players–reading body language, knowing when someone is bluffing, knowing when they are holding a good hand,” he said.  Explaining about his compatriots’ strengths: “Latin Americans are all warm, kind people. When playing poker at tables you feel how they are changing their temperament–you know when a guy is angry or emotional. You perceive emotion around the table.”

As the blinds increase to $1500-$3,000, the top LAPT players make their way towards the final table. When all in, players stand up in front of their large, colorful fortresses of chips–as if in a sign of respect to the god of chips. “Vamos! Vamos! Yah! Yah!” Players  jump up and punch their fists in the air when they win.  Much joy. Much emotion. A celebration of life.

So what’s the most emotional thing Angel Guillen has ever done during a tournament? With a sly smile, he said, “I’ve thrown a chair in the air when I won a $10k pot.”

Now that truly isn’t being shy about your emotions when it comes to a major poker victory, taking home one sweet pot, and celebrating life.

Harmon is a real life hipster and world wide traveler. Fortunately, he gave us permission to use this story, which originally ran on the Huffington Post.

Follow Harmon Leon on Twitter: www.twitter.com/harmonleon

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After Brazil paid for one of the most famous statues of Jesus — known as Christ the Redeemer — the Holy statue (well, there are holes in His hands, feet and sides) made the list of new Seven Wonders of the Worlds.

You can vote for your pick of New7Wonders.com — a site dedicated to showcasing the world’s beauty, both man-made and natural.

As for Jesus, he was due for a shower/sand blasting. And looks much better.

Photo by Boss67 @ Flickr under Creative Commons License.

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The ancient Inca city resting at 8,500 feet in the Andes continues to survive, but at least now tourists can make their way up to it.

According to the AFP, about 1,000 tourists joined the celebration (and Susan Sarandon, who was in Peru protesting for the rights of left handed orphans) of Machu Picchu opening its gates again.

In January, record rainfall had washed away parts of the rail road tracks that helped bring tourists to the mysterious city that evaded the Spanish conquistadors but not their small pox.

Through the years, Machu Picchu remains an enigma. No one has fully explained how the city was built or exactly why it was located where it was. The Incas — a civilization ahead of its time — is often criticized for not having ever developed the wheel, but if they were around today, they might say the wheel is overrated in the mountains and they never had to close the city for inferior train track building.

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The pool is massive — so much so that the resort uses small boats to navigate around. Builders created it in 2006 as a way to lure tourists who desired more deck space — which this pool also has about the most — at least we’re guessing.

All told, the pool is:

3,323 feet long (more than half a mile)

115 feet deep (about 11 stories)

It spans 20 acres of space and uses 66 million gallons of water (taken right from the Pacific) and is typically 16 degrees warmer.

While the pool does not have its own tide, it does require about $4 million a year to keep clean. And if you think its big, you haven’t seen the skimmer the giant pool boy uses.

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Whenever Sanford’s viagra wore off, we hope he took some time to enjoy all of the trappings of Buneos Aires, the nation’s capital. We also hope he took time to read the Mixology of Argentina, where he could have learned about the Matrie, a wonderful drink any self respecting hipster needs to order today — it’s a delicate combination of Passion Fruit Juice, gingerale and vodka. 

He also may have wanted to check out the State Department’s advisory on the place he was visiting – which says it’s a pretty safe country to visit.

Apparently, Sanford, a cheating hipster, knows how to spot a good deal — he bought a last minute ticket and headed to South America during the off season. Wise move Mr. Govenor.

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