Mystery Caravan

A "Sheela na Gig." It?s a long story. Ask any pavee.

Esgrima Criolla. A photo of Argentine Pampas gauchos (c 1895) training with Armas Blancas or white (edged) weapons (eg. facon vs daga) The Argentine facon modified in Mexico became the Bowie knife in the USA . Compare these weapons with weapons wielded by navajeros on the Iberian Peninsula .

Another dirty song. The lyrics are considered "dirty" by conservative Vlach Romanies.

Yet another dirty song. American Vlach Rom Gypsies will not sing this song in mixed company due to lyrics they considered shameful.

A knotted string amulet from Egypt (circa 1800 BC). A hedgehog on a knotted string. Perhaps the forerunner of the Gypsy amulet against ghost attacks? See Gypsy folklore for "Dead Man's String."

Member patch.

Member patch.

Member patch.

Gypsy Punker. RockyHorrorUrbanRenfaire-EcstasyPoweredGypsyMusic. A NYTimes photo

More Gypsy Punk. Happy Fourth of July! A NYTimes photo.

Paprika (and her daddy). A lurid novel of supposed Gypsy life by the eccentric creative genius Count Erich von Stroheim, (whose life story challenges Freud's hypothesis that "A cigar is just a cigar.").

The Lady in Black. Oracular tattoo on the inside, left, ankle of a mysterious character in Part One of "Stevies" three part unfinished manuscript titled The Road to Poona.

Colorful, yes! But perhaps way too much leg display for a traditional American Romni. Singoalla (1949) here for obvious reasons has a good grip on her salvavirgo (literally "preserver-of-virginity") which as depicted here is clearly a dagger and not a clasp-knife (a navaja)

A berry tiny crew. USA Scottish Traveler lassies.