tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25114479768450425562024-03-13T21:42:11.106+03:00the little goldfishla elfahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17246939661416381636noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2511447976845042556.post-4808384729622023772013-09-07T16:42:00.003+03:002013-09-07T16:42:43.593+03:00Emerging markets - MalaysiaIf you wonder why emerging markets are so trendy, read a bit about Malaysia's economy <a href="http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/opinion/2013/09/02/the-malaysian-quandry/">In this site</a><br />
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la elfahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17246939661416381636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2511447976845042556.post-77520128783975436032011-03-23T22:39:00.000+02:002011-03-23T22:39:57.304+02:00Man, I love flying.<div style="text-align: justify;">Man, I love flying.<br />
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When have you seen a Spaniard on time? Well, when you are flying being on time is not enough, you have to be there 2 hours in advance, TWO. One reason is that now you spend at least 20 minutes repacking your bag if it happens to be a pound overweight, or arguing with the lady at the counter that if the plane is empty a couple pounds wont make it go down.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
Then there is security, which can take for ever. On one hand you have those people who beep five times, first the keys in their pocket, then the cellphone, oups some coins etc and when you think they are done then there are liquids in their bag which they had forgotten about..... But hey dont blame the guy, even experienced travelers can take a while. No shit, now they even get you naked. Last time I was going to fly I was so worried about security that I took the following steps: 1. Bought a new pair of socks since so many people were going to see them. 2. Waxed my legs, in case the officer wasn't happy with me removing my shoes and belt and he asked me to take off my pants. 3. I started a diet and daily exercise, in case after streaping I was requested to get a body scanner.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
Usually once you are done with the check-in and the security you still have an hour before boarding. Such a waste of time. But hey, there are ways to kill some time. Duty free shops, most of us tend to visit them, we smell perfumes and try on sunglasses and leave empty handed. There go 10 minutes. 50 more to kill. There is also that shop that sells books, but their selection tends to be awful. I mean, who reads all those biographies? Most of them are either about Obama, Clinton and Bush or nobodies whose names I have never heard before. Then there are those self help books. How to be happy, How to love yourself. Secrets to an awesome life full of friends, Love yourself and others will follow. Really? I Have been bored to death in an airport a million times and never have I considered even holding one of those books for ten seconds.<br />
I must admit I enjoy looking at the front cover of international newspapers, I try to compare them and if I have no clue what it says then I compare the main picture. There goes another minute of my time, plus 2 more going through books. 47 more to kill. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Going to the bathroom even when you have no need can take up to 10 minutes in line for women plus another couple minutes to pee and wash your hands. 35 left. Taking a walk usually can help killing another 10 minutes, and if you have a coffee -for which you pay 8$- there go another 15. 10 minutes left for boarding, if it was to be on time for once ever. Surprisingly people are queuing already, some of them have been standing up since before my visit to the bathroom.... I am a late boarder. I don't make the plane wait for me, that never, but I usually wait for all the freaks to stand in line and take their seats and once the room is almost empty I finally approach the gate. I always think if my life was a movie and the love of my life -Mr A- was to chase me to the airport, ours would certainly be a happy ending because I would still be seating in the boarding room, not like in real movies where usually the person is already in the plane.<br />
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Once in the plane I do certain things that most people probably would never realise. I always empty the seat pocket in front of me and if I travel alone I put the magazines in the pocket of the seat next to mine. Bottle of water, book and iPod go in the now empty pocket in front of me. Then I place the pillow in the tiny space between the seat and the window (i always try to get a window seat). I then put on my seat-belt and earphones, even if I dont play music. I do not like when the person next to me tries to start a conversation. My flights are usually of at least 5 hours and if you give people a chance they will tell you their entire lives. I am not kidding, once this guy even showed me his holidays' pictures. It will never happen again. I find that Sky Mall magazine is much more entertaining to be honest, and you can close it and be done with it whenever you want. The magazine is very funny if you read it the right way. Here are some examples...</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">- <a href="http://www.skymall.com/shopping/detail.htm?pid=203198583&c=10700&v=&ddi=/products/90/1c/0c/203198583gx2.jpg">The Cat Toilet Training System</a>, in 3 steps you can teach your cat how to use a toilet! what would we do without such a thing?</div><div style="text-align: justify;">- <span id="goog_247123591"></span><a href="http://www.skymall.com/shopping/detail.htm?pid=203649989&v=1">Hidden Litter Box<span id="goog_247123592"></span></a>... Loos like a real clay pot, they say, which you can place in your living room and no one will notice if you don't tell them. Well, that is if your friends cant smell.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">- How could I forget the <a href="http://www.skymall.com/shopping/detail.htm?pid=203453959&c=5481">Polar Fleece Footed Pajamas</a> for adults.....<span class="blk18bld noSpace"></span> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Or the <a href="http://www.skymall.com/shopping/detail.htm?pid=102719324&c=10440">Italian Armor Sculpture</a> for $975</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">But talkative people are not the worst. There are crying babies, fat people who take half of your seat -and you had to get rid of 2 extra pounds from your luggage-, the guy that always has the light on in overnight flights, the one sitting behind you who seems to be boxing with your seat. Either that or he really dislikes you and he is set on not letting you rest. The mean air-hostesses who think they are the queens of the plane. And my favorite, the one time you get an aisle seat you have next to you that guy who needs to pee every 25 minutes and thus makes you get up twenty times per flight. Why he didn't take the aisle seat beats me.<br />
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But you know what? Flying is not that bad, waiting for your bags once you have landed can be even worse. You might wait there, standing up, with people all around you going crazy and fighting with their carts like being closer to the belt will make their bags come out earlier... And sometimes after 45 minutes there are no more bags and yours are no where to be found. The airline can't locate them at the moment and they send you home or to your hotel with the promise to contact you soon. And that's after they made you leave stuff at the check in on the other side of the world. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">But at least if you are lucky you will have a loved one waiting for you in the arrivals lounge.... and you will think "man, I love flying", while forgetting about all of the above. </div><br />
la elfahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17246939661416381636noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2511447976845042556.post-41733235702861148792011-01-31T17:47:00.005+02:002011-02-01T03:12:13.753+02:00Adam in Cairo<div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Life back in Spain isn’t very exciting and thus I haven’t been updating this blog. However, Mr. A is in Cairo and unfortunately that is quite a thrilling story to follow. I just wish he was out of there already. He is safe and in the airport trying to get out, which I guess is good enough at this point.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TUa2qwUdPRI/AAAAAAAATcg/uWhv2MfWmos/s1600/CIMG9480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TUa2qwUdPRI/AAAAAAAATcg/uWhv2MfWmos/s320/CIMG9480.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">It all started a week ago when Egypt was celebrating a national holiday: Police Day. I remember a couple days before the holiday Mr. A was telling me that he found such a holiday quite absurd and even annoying in a country with a dictatorship. A country where policemen are most often corrupted, and usually feared rather than respected. Mr. A even made a joke stating that instead of being a holiday that policemen can enjoy it always ends up being the day they work the hardest to control protests all over the country.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Protests were thus expected but no one anticipated what was about to happen. Suddenly the whole country realized that kicking out a bad leader can be easy: you “just” need thousands of people protesting in the streets, like Tunisians did a few weeks ago. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">After 30 years of oppression, Egyptians have finally understood that they all have a voice. One voice might not be heard, but put together thousands, hundreds of thousands, and the message will be clear and loud. And the message is that they want Mubarak out. They do not want a change in the government; they want him out, his son out, his ministers out. They want a new country. They want to be able to choose their future, even their present.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TUb2oDszDmI/AAAAAAAATdM/z8vxKo4YdRY/s1600/Page+2_rev2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TUb2oDszDmI/AAAAAAAATdM/z8vxKo4YdRY/s400/Page+2_rev2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The protests have been quite peaceful. Protesters in general do not have weapons, they are not attacking the police or the army, they are being loud, and that is all. I have received a translated copy of a booklet that is circulating all over Egypt on how to behave in the protests and one of the main ideas is to not use violence. Also they want to get the Police involved and the army, and they suggest shouting slogans such as “The Police and the People stand together!!”. They encourage citizens to invite their neighbors and coworkers to join the protests always using positive persuasion.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TUb2mWvsLRI/AAAAAAAATdI/ymuUyPxr94I/s1600/Page+1_rev2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TUb2mWvsLRI/AAAAAAAATdI/ymuUyPxr94I/s400/Page+1_rev2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TUb2kDL--pI/AAAAAAAATdE/-5qLJuxZOsE/s1600/Page+22_rev.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TUb2kDL--pI/AAAAAAAATdE/-5qLJuxZOsE/s400/Page+22_rev.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I must admit at first Mr. A seemed to be happy to be witnessing such a moment. He was part of History, even if he was living it all from his balcony. Him and 4 friends/coworkers had all taken refuge in their apartment, in Zamalek, a small island full of embassies, hotels, and wealthy people. A rich neighborhood just a few blocks from Tahrir Square (the square is outside the island, on the other side of the Nile).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TUa25UlDelI/AAAAAAAATck/BDAbldXBBpM/s1600/CIMG9457.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TUa25UlDelI/AAAAAAAATck/BDAbldXBBpM/s320/CIMG9457.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">No one saw this coming in Egypt because we all have the idea that Egypt is a stable country. And it is, Mr. A has lived there twice and he loves the country, he enjoys Cairo, but he will tell you it is a poor country. It is a country full of unhappy people, oppressed people, poor people. It is said that over 50% of the population lives with less than 2$ a day, that makes over 40 million people.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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The problem with Egypt is that it has had the support of Europe and the US for a very long time. Egypt has a strategic location, between Africa and the Middle East, in the Mediterranean and next to the Gulf, thus the stability of Egypt is key in order to maintain stability all over the region. Also, the peace treaty they signed with Israel years ago has somehow maintained “peace” between other Arab countries and Israel. Egypt has without any doubt the most powerful army in the region and Israel needs to have a good relationship with them. But if Israel looses that, there will be trouble. That is also why Israel has remained quiet until today, but finally they have decided to officially support Mubarak. I don’t think Egyptians and other Arabs in the region will appreciate that support.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Anyways, going back to the streets of Cairo, Adam tells me that it is amazing to see the amount of empty cans of tear gas in the street. He says there are thousands; anywhere you look you find them. However the streets of Zamalek have been kind of calm the last few days because protests are downtown and not in their island.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TUa3IRuKtuI/AAAAAAAATco/nMNtTbfDZqQ/s1600/CIMG9459.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TUa3IRuKtuI/AAAAAAAATco/nMNtTbfDZqQ/s320/CIMG9459.JPG" width="320" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">They have been able to leave the house a few times without being at risk. They had to buy food and water, also some alcohol as he admits after 5 days without internet, without phone, and trapped at home, you start getting very bored. ATM machines have no money, thus there is no access to cash. Nevertheless, most shops are closed. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">At night everything is different and dangerous. They have not left the apartment at all after the curfew. Lets put it this way, the protests are peaceful but there are people taking advantage of it. Since there is no police in the streets there are people robbing houses, hotels, shops etc at night. Neighbors are organizing themselves in groups to protect their private property in whatever way they can. There are gunshots at night and it is terribly scary, especially in a rich neighborhood as Zamalek.<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">Mr. A tells me that mosques instead of calling to prayer they are sending safety messages, asking people walking in the streets at night to be sure to identify themselves so that their neighbors don't take them for burglars. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Mr. A also tells me that at night, well, as soon as the curfew starts (today 3pm Cairo time) he can see people in the streets with knifes, sticks and even samurai swords!! These people are the ones protecting their private properties.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">It is a fact that Egyptians are being kind and not aggressive. This is not against tourists, not at all. Actually people are not at risk because of the protesters, the risk comes from those vandals that are robbing houses and shops and taking advantage of the chaos.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TUb2vbD85YI/AAAAAAAATdU/vScSaV3ggcE/s1600/Page+10_rev.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="282" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TUb2vbD85YI/AAAAAAAATdU/vScSaV3ggcE/s400/Page+10_rev.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Please note that it asks for protesters to carry a flower to show they are protesting peacefully.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TUb2sD0_HNI/AAAAAAAATdQ/E-UhsKe1k-g/s1600/Page+4_rev.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TUb2sD0_HNI/AAAAAAAATdQ/E-UhsKe1k-g/s400/Page+4_rev.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Things are out of control now and thus our office decided yesterday that Mr. A and the whole team should be evacuated. The US government, no disrespect, isn’t doing much. They might be saying on TV that they are, but as far as we are concerned they are being useless. It is true that it is a complicated situation, but I can tell you things aren’t being taken care of properly. For instance, when Mr. A called the embassy a couple days ago he was told to call Washington DC to deal with it. Keep in mind phones were working on and off, and of course an international call is a very expensive one. Other people called the embassy and got an answering machine advising them to visit the embassy’s website for more info. Keep in mind Internet has been down for almost a week now!</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">So our office decided they should all leave the country together and booked them tickets for today. They left their apartment as soon as the curfew was off this morning since they knew getting to the airport would be difficult. What they didn’t expect was that the toughest would actually be getting inside the airport. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Thousands of people are trying to access the terminal, many of them don’t even have a ticket but they are so desperate they are trying everything they can think of to get on a plane. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">After a couple hours they made it inside the terminal, checked their bags and went to their boarding gate. This sounds easy, but it was a lengthy and tiring process. They were told there was no guarantee they would take off. And indeed their flight got canceled.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">A bit later they were told they could perhaps take a different flight which was supposed to take off many hours earlier but it had been delayed. They didn’t make it to that flight either. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">As of right now they seem to have tickets in a plane that could take off in 30 minutes. No one knows where their bags are, but that is just the last of their concerns.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">So cross your fingers and lets all hope they will be out of Egypt tonight.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">As for the Egyptian people, courage!!<br />
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* Hopefully Mr. A will be here tomorrow and we can add some of the pictures he has taken in Cairo.<br />
</div></div>la elfahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17246939661416381636noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2511447976845042556.post-75194671423348556862010-12-08T17:12:00.000+02:002010-12-08T17:12:38.266+02:00Petra, the lost city<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">* All pictures on this post by la elfa</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Last weekend Mona and I decided to take a short, and cheap, trip to discover the lost city of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Petra</st1:place></st1:city>. Little did we know that it would end up being a terribly long, and expensive, adventure. However, it was such an awesome discovery that it was worth all the pain, problems, delays and money.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">To begin with our bus to <st1:city w:st="on">Amman</st1:city>, the capital of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Jordan</st1:place></st1:country-region>, was delayed and once we finally left the driver decided to take a rest after just 30 minutes driving (the trip is supposed to take just 3 hours). At the Syrian border a very corrupted, selfish, arrogant guy confiscated my passport saying my visa was expired, when he realized that wasn’t true he argued I had overstayed in the country, another lie, and then he had an issue with my residency…. It took an hour and a bribe from the bus driver for the guy to let me leave the country!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">When we finally made it to <st1:city w:st="on">Amman</st1:city>, over 3 hours late, we discovered there were no buses or shared taxis (very common way of transport in this part of the world) to go to <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Petra</st1:place></st1:city> that night, it was too late. We had a 5 star hotel paid in Petra and hated the idea to have to spend the night in Amman, not only because of the money, also the waste of time involved! To make the story short, hotels were expensive in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Amman</st1:place></st1:city> and someone offered to arrange a car and driver for us. After discussing the pros and cons (many more cons btw, taking into account we were two girls, foreigners, we were approaching midnight and had to drive 3 hours across the desert) we finally decide to take the risk.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I’ll tell you something funny before I keep going. The few times I am scared being home alone in <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Madrid</st1:place></st1:state> I sleep with a bottle of wine next to my bed. I always tell myself a knife would be useless as I would be too scarred to use it, however I would not hesitate to hit someone in the face or head with a bottle of wine, and I am sure it would be painful for the one being hit! So I told Mona this story and since we had bought a bottle of wine in the Duty Free, we put it in the seat, between our two bodies, just in case. Needless to say we didn’t need it. The driver ended up being a very nice and sweet old man who actually has a son studying in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Petra</st1:city></st1:place> and he was happy to spend the night there with him. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I must admit the first 30 minutes of the trip I was so scarred I prayed whatever prayers I could remember from my childhood, while I kept telling Mona it would be ok. The driver seemed a bit upset to see us so scarred!! And as soon as we relaxed he started chatting a bit with us. The sky of the desert at night is absolutely gorgeous and all those stars in the sky made me and Mona feel much better. Then we saw hamsters and foxes along the road, and that was a nice excuse to chat with the driver, who ended up becoming our “guide’, telling us stories about the few towns and villages we drove through.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">We arrived to the hotel at 3am, we had left our office at 3:30pm, and we were exhausted but so happy to be there! We woke up early the next day, and that was tough, we both love to sleep, but we had to since the sun goes down at around 4pm this time of the year and by five it is pitch-black outside. We had a nice breakfast and drove to the entrance of the ancient city of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Petra</st1:place></st1:city>, where a 70USD entry fee has to be paid. Yes, it is expensive, but part of that money goes to preservation of the site, which as you will now discover is breathtaking (both literally and figurately). Here begins the real story of our amazing trip to Petra, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">the lost city </i>(even though it covers hundreds of square miles, Petra was completely unexplored, lost, and hidden by the Bedouins, from 1189 to the 1812.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">As you enter the site you can ride a horse for 5 minutes to the beginning of the siq, which we did. Little did we know that this half mile doesn’t represent much compared to the 15 miles we were about to walk…</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5DRJzNnGI/AAAAAAAATJQ/jHG64yHnXxg/s1600/Desfiladero1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="121" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5DRJzNnGI/AAAAAAAATJQ/jHG64yHnXxg/s320/Desfiladero1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP-HNQtzCWI/AAAAAAAATM0/w6KRpwd5ID4/s1600/Petra+December+%25284%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP-HNQtzCWI/AAAAAAAATM0/w6KRpwd5ID4/s320/Petra+December+%25284%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5DScT2QsI/AAAAAAAATJU/XRxA12XaQuk/s1600/Desfiladero2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="139" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5DScT2QsI/AAAAAAAATJU/XRxA12XaQuk/s320/Desfiladero2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The siq looks like a crater but actually it was not created as the result of time and water like most people think, but by tectonic forces. The siq is almost a mile long and it is in itself a masterpiece of nature. You might remember it from the Indiana Jones movie, I didn’t. To be honest I didn’t know much about what to expect in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Petra</st1:place></st1:city>, I just knew I would love it.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5DXQgBzhI/AAAAAAAATJY/0lykcMRkHeQ/s1600/Desfiladero3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5DXQgBzhI/AAAAAAAATJY/0lykcMRkHeQ/s400/Desfiladero3.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5DgfGa0oI/AAAAAAAATJk/DROr2AKITxY/s1600/Desfiladero5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5DgfGa0oI/AAAAAAAATJk/DROr2AKITxY/s400/Desfiladero5.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5EPFIHgmI/AAAAAAAATKQ/_5QD8CwzbsU/s1600/Desfiladero7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5EPFIHgmI/AAAAAAAATKQ/_5QD8CwzbsU/s400/Desfiladero7.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The siq offers the most amazing and dramatic landscape ever. Its walls can reach over 600 feet up, and its wide varies from just 6 feet to 60 in some places. The colors of the rock go from golden to pink, from red to black, sometimes even blue. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5EZ4ypVZI/AAAAAAAATKg/XOCzghJrz8k/s1600/Desfiladero12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5EZ4ypVZI/AAAAAAAATKg/XOCzghJrz8k/s320/Desfiladero12.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5EEc303mI/AAAAAAAATKE/B_OFmcy-SfE/s1600/Desfiladero14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5EEc303mI/AAAAAAAATKE/B_OFmcy-SfE/s400/Desfiladero14.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The shapes of the rock and walls also vary in so many ways that they are sometimes difficult to understand by just looking at them. I found myself touching the rock many times, the texture kept changing as well.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5EW9kpn6I/AAAAAAAATKc/HMl-Qu5Ve74/s1600/Desfiladero11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5EW9kpn6I/AAAAAAAATKc/HMl-Qu5Ve74/s400/Desfiladero11.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5Dc-2IIKI/AAAAAAAATJg/cRcqfFxjY4k/s1600/Desfiladero4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5Dc-2IIKI/AAAAAAAATJg/cRcqfFxjY4k/s320/Desfiladero4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5E_hGWWsI/AAAAAAAATLE/4HTopkPhJgo/s1600/Desfiladero15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5E_hGWWsI/AAAAAAAATLE/4HTopkPhJgo/s400/Desfiladero15.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I wish I could describe better what I experienced then, and even though pictures are not as impressive as reality, I hope the ones posted here convey the message. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5DkwlkrRI/AAAAAAAATJo/EfZUMCUK_OE/s1600/Desfiladero10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5DkwlkrRI/AAAAAAAATJo/EfZUMCUK_OE/s400/Desfiladero10.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5EGPxRolI/AAAAAAAATKI/zPVv7sM6lUo/s1600/Desfiladero8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5EGPxRolI/AAAAAAAATKI/zPVv7sM6lUo/s400/Desfiladero8.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5EbUQhwDI/AAAAAAAATKk/ki818f9O9Mw/s1600/Desfiladero13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5EbUQhwDI/AAAAAAAATKk/ki818f9O9Mw/s400/Desfiladero13.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">It gets to a point when you are completely stunned and absorbed by the siq, and then the most surprising and shocking image appears: the siq suddenly narrows to around 4 feet and the two walls seem to be about to touch each other, but they don’t, and that is when you realize just in front of you lays the Treasury. You discover it almost by coincidence, what a magnificent surprise, with its golden color and grandiose size. It is like a mirage caused by the heat and the hike.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5DpwmGl0I/AAAAAAAATJs/Y8BMCTkuNBo/s1600/Tesoro+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5DpwmGl0I/AAAAAAAATJs/Y8BMCTkuNBo/s400/Tesoro+1.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5DtNAW3uI/AAAAAAAATJw/XSs_I1GRklw/s1600/Tesoro+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5DtNAW3uI/AAAAAAAATJw/XSs_I1GRklw/s400/Tesoro+2.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5Er8OXFTI/AAAAAAAATKw/ZH2EcbQ7roY/s1600/Tesoro+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5Er8OXFTI/AAAAAAAATKw/ZH2EcbQ7roY/s400/Tesoro+3.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The Treasury was built by the Nabateans, like the rest of the city, and it is one of the most famous, better preserved constructions of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Petra</st1:place></st1:city>. Actually, it is not a building itself, since it is carved in the sandstone rock of the mountain!! The Nabateans soon realized that there land tended to suffer many earthquakes and thus buildings didn’t last long, thus they came up with this remarkable technique. They would carve the rock from top to bottom to do the façade first, and then they would excavate the inside of rooms.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p><br />
</o:p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5DxxCowuI/AAAAAAAATJ0/641gt0bAXh0/s1600/Tesoro+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5DxxCowuI/AAAAAAAATJ0/641gt0bAXh0/s320/Tesoro+4.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5D159A2_I/AAAAAAAATJ4/vyHEw0vuXKo/s1600/Tesoro+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5D159A2_I/AAAAAAAATJ4/vyHEw0vuXKo/s320/Tesoro+5.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5EUcPISpI/AAAAAAAATKY/2FAkUHqisrc/s1600/Tumbas2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5EUcPISpI/AAAAAAAATKY/2FAkUHqisrc/s320/Tumbas2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">This is another reason why in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Petra</st1:place></st1:city> there are no remains of houses. The Nabateans lived in tents, just like Bedouins still do today. So the main buildings we find today were the Treasury, the Theater and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Great</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Temple</st1:placetype></st1:place> and hundreds of tombs, including the Royal Tombs. There are so many tombs that for a very long time visitors assumed <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Petra</st1:city></st1:place> used to be a Necropolis. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5FClC8wSI/AAAAAAAATLI/uo-wQtodyQE/s1600/Tumbas1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5FClC8wSI/AAAAAAAATLI/uo-wQtodyQE/s320/Tumbas1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">To be honest, the majesty of the Treasury and the uniqueness of the siq were so impressive that I couldn’t expect to be even more impressed by what was to come. As you keep walking down what used to be the main street of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Petra</st1:place></st1:city>, then a quite important city for traveling merchant caravans, you reach the Theater. It was built over 2,000 years ago by the Nabateans and it could host 3.000 people. Then the Romans rebuilt and expanded it, to host 8.500 people, one third of <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Petra</st1:place></st1:city>’s total population! The Theater is also carved on the rock.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5Gi_uz93I/AAAAAAAATMU/drt47RijpUo/s1600/Teatro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5Gi_uz93I/AAAAAAAATMU/drt47RijpUo/s320/Teatro.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">A little later are the Royal Tombs. To be honest the façade is the most impressive part of the tombs, even though once inside you do wonder how they were able to excavate those huge rooms in the rock of the mountain. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5GX1JTRRI/AAAAAAAATMM/zaSDGI523s0/s1600/Tumbas+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5GX1JTRRI/AAAAAAAATMM/zaSDGI523s0/s320/Tumbas+5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5Gdr9xC6I/AAAAAAAATMQ/HJh8IqT7HaY/s1600/Tumbas+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5Gdr9xC6I/AAAAAAAATMQ/HJh8IqT7HaY/s320/Tumbas+6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I won’t tell you everything about <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Petra</st1:place></st1:city>, you probably don’t want to read all about it, and it is better if you just decide to discover it yourself. However, let me tell you just a few more things. About 15 years ago archeologists started working on the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Great</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Temple</st1:placetype></st1:place>, and so far their discoveries are fascinating. My favorite is probably the capitols of columns shaped as elephants. Elephants! I had never seen anything like it, and for all I know they might just be unique to <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Petra</st1:place></st1:city>.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5E4eL9eYI/AAAAAAAATK8/sH6ONEz3e8A/s1600/Gran+Templo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5E4eL9eYI/AAAAAAAATK8/sH6ONEz3e8A/s320/Gran+Templo+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5E7nbQ0rI/AAAAAAAATLA/7ELjZFV6S5U/s1600/Gran+Templo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5E7nbQ0rI/AAAAAAAATLA/7ELjZFV6S5U/s320/Gran+Templo+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">After the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Great</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Temple</st1:placetype></st1:place> you need to decide if you are a conformist tourist, or an adventurer. We like to believe we are adventurers and thus decided to make it to the Monastery, the most amazing place in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Petra</st1:place></st1:city>. To be honest, it takes a huge effort and loads of energy, of which we were starting to run out, and many people just decide to finish their visit here. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5FIBnkg2I/AAAAAAAATLM/tmvRB3sRwsI/s1600/Subida+Monasterio+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5FIBnkg2I/AAAAAAAATLM/tmvRB3sRwsI/s400/Subida+Monasterio+1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5FST3dT0I/AAAAAAAATLU/Nk8IpE2-1VI/s1600/Subida+Monasterio+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5FST3dT0I/AAAAAAAATLU/Nk8IpE2-1VI/s320/Subida+Monasterio+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The path to the Monastery is steep; it has over 900 steps rock-cut and climbing them takes around 50 minutes, thus many choose to ride a donkey. We refused to use a poor old and tired donkey for obvious reasons, and also because it didn’t look too safe (Susan, if you are reading this, imagine ten times worse than that volcano in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Philippines</st1:country-region></st1:place>!!).</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5GOJfh7qI/AAAAAAAATMA/rOH1jhUDnFQ/s1600/Subida+Monasterio+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5GOJfh7qI/AAAAAAAATMA/rOH1jhUDnFQ/s400/Subida+Monasterio+6.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5GSbutOdI/AAAAAAAATMI/6DHy2_x20rA/s1600/Subida+Monasterio+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5GSbutOdI/AAAAAAAATMI/6DHy2_x20rA/s400/Subida+Monasterio+7.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5E1MVvGnI/AAAAAAAATK0/AXx_8ggSfiY/s1600/Petra+December+%2528136%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5E1MVvGnI/AAAAAAAATK0/AXx_8ggSfiY/s320/Petra+December+%2528136%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The hike is absolutely gorgeous, the views are breathtaking most of the time, and if you can manage to bargain and walk at the same time you will find Bedouin kids and women along the way selling all kinds of souvenirs.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5FYtgRQuI/AAAAAAAATLY/4xcK6_fKOg8/s1600/Subida+Monasterio+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5FYtgRQuI/AAAAAAAATLY/4xcK6_fKOg8/s320/Subida+Monasterio+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5FcDDeX_I/AAAAAAAATLc/TSxixp2eXKQ/s1600/Subida+Monasterio+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5FcDDeX_I/AAAAAAAATLc/TSxixp2eXKQ/s320/Subida+Monasterio+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5FnIgNjAI/AAAAAAAATLo/789bbRPAfhM/s1600/Subida+Monasterio+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5FnIgNjAI/AAAAAAAATLo/789bbRPAfhM/s400/Subida+Monasterio+5.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">When you finally make it to the top you will find, magnificent, splendid and glorious, the Monastery. The place deserves every drop of sweat, every breath, every bit of energy you have used on the way.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5GIT3O3MI/AAAAAAAATL8/YRENNvSQg0s/s1600/Monasterio+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5GIT3O3MI/AAAAAAAATL8/YRENNvSQg0s/s400/Monasterio+3.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">And if you still have some leftover energy, save it, or recover having a tea or a coke in the bar that is strategically located there. Then walk an extra mile to the lookout that promises <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">views to the end of the world</i>. It is absolutely striking and peaceful since very few people make it all the way here. It might not be the end of the world, but it is fabulous and impressive, and from here you can see <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region> and the Palestinian territories!</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5Fxk10p6I/AAAAAAAATLw/ljQbrf-hUTM/s1600/Vistas+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5Fxk10p6I/AAAAAAAATLw/ljQbrf-hUTM/s320/Vistas+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5F6okYk4I/AAAAAAAATL0/KwCdpbl9XLY/s1600/Vistas+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5F6okYk4I/AAAAAAAATL0/KwCdpbl9XLY/s320/Vistas+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5GBH27OTI/AAAAAAAATL4/xAdTIDswljk/s1600/Vistas+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TP5GBH27OTI/AAAAAAAATL4/xAdTIDswljk/s320/Vistas+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">And now, after walking all these miles, get ready to turn around and walk back through the same path because the entrance to <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Petra</st1:place></st1:city> is also the exit! It is as if you had to go back and make sure you erase your footprints from the sand of the desert.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Petra</st1:place></st1:city> is certainly one of the most exciting, unique and magnificent places I have ever visited.</div>la elfahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17246939661416381636noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2511447976845042556.post-42963789721070575802010-11-05T18:50:00.001+02:002010-11-05T18:53:26.116+02:00Surreal BosraTraveling around Syria is like taking a (<b>fun</b>) History class. Actually it is more of a combination of History, Art and even Religion. <br />
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A couple weekends ago my friend Mona and I had the chance to visit Bosra, a town 100 miles south of Damascus, near the border with Jordan. I had heard wonderful things about it and I must admit I was worried about being disappointed. The main attraction of Bosra is its Roman amphitheater, and I have seen so many already….. However, Bosra definitely <b><i>is</i></b> special. Take my word for it, this place <b><i>is </i></b>amazing.<br />
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As usual in Syria location was key to the development and success of this city. It existed already in the 14th century <b>before </b>Christ, but it was probably <b><i>only </i></b>20 centuries ago when it flourished the most due to the construction of a mayor road that linked Damascus with Amman (Jordan’s capital). This road is actually quite different that the one that goes to Palmyra. You actually see vegetation here, plenty of it. There are plantations nearby the road, and there are dozens of stalls selling all kinds of fresh fruits and vegetables.<br />
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Another difference between Palmyra and Bosra is the color of the stone used to build each city. While Palmyra is very light, almost the same color as the sand of the desert, Bosra is made of a much darker stone, almost black. The city was built by the Romans following their traditional grid design, but all that remains of the city are ruins, except for the amphitheater, but I will talk about it later on.<br />
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Like I said before, Syria is a lesson of Religion, and as such Bosra has taught me a few interesting things. One of them is that the city was an important stop for religious and commercial caravans that would travel around the region and to the two holy cities of Islam: Mecca and Medina. As such, Mohamed, the Prophet, stopped in this city when he was 12 during a trip with his merchant uncle. In fact one of the oldest mosques in the world is built here, in the place where Mohamed’s camel knelt. But the most significant event that happened here is that apparently it was here that his future was revealed to him: a local priest, Bahira, was having a theological discussion with Mohamed when he announced to him his future vocation as a Prophet. <br />
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Bosra also hosts the ruins of what was one of the largest Cathedrals in the region, a masterpiece of Christianity because it was one of the first buildings that combined a square base with a round dome, back in the 6th century. There isn’t much left of it.<br />
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Going back to the amphitheater, main reason for my trip, it is said to be the best preserved in the whole wide world. And it seems true, at least to a non expert such as me. Like I said before, I was afraid this place wouldn’t really impress me too much, come on, I have seen so many Roman ruins before that I am almost bored of them. OMG, seriously, you cannot imagine how magnificent the place is. Above all, you need to understand these are not ruins. The amphitheater is still used for concerts and there is even an annual festival that takes place in it. <br />
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As soon as I walked into the stands I felt like I had traveled back in time to the 2nd century, when it was built. I felt like a spectator about to watch some ancient drama, or gladiators. I felt like an artist about to perform, like a choreographer in the backstage following the moves of my artists... It is impossible to describe with words what it felt like, but it was grandiose, dramatic, impressive.<br />
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To give you an idea the place could sit 15,000 people, the city had no more than 80,000 citizens. Thus one out of 5 citizens could attend a show at the same time. Imagine a theater in New York City that could host 1.7 millions spectators at once. Amazing. <br />
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I wish these pictures could illustrate better the magnificence and splendor of this place, perhaps you will have to visit it yourself to understand it.la elfahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17246939661416381636noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2511447976845042556.post-68320958228267181682010-10-26T19:46:00.002+03:002010-10-26T19:49:17.758+03:00Palmyra, the bride of the desertA couple of weeks ago I woke up early on a Saturday and drove to Palmyra, supposedly some of the most amazing ruins in the world. I had high expectations and I was scarred to actually be disappointed. I wasn’t. It is probably one of the most breathtaking places I have ever visited.<br />
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In the middle of the desert, surrounded by an oasis of palm trees, hide the ruins of this ancient city called Palmyra. At first it seems like 50 hectares of sand and columns, but it is so much more: an amphitheater, the Bel temple, funerary towers… a journey to an ancient civilization. <br />
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There are records of Palmyra that date from the second millennium bC and the Hebrew bible explains the city was founded by King Salomon, son of David. Its unique and exceptional location made of Palmyra an important stop in the Silk Road, between China and Europe, the Mediterranean and the Middle East.<br />
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But it wasn’t really until the third century of our era that Palmyra reached its greatest splendor, under the leadership of queen Zenobia. Zenobia was descendant of Cleopatra, and she is said to be more beautiful, smarter and also more ambitious than the Egyptian queen. Zenobia’s reign was short but intense and in only six years she expanded the boundaries of the city, built temples and erected statues. Most importantly, she conquered territories around hers and got to dominate lands all the way to Western Egypt. She even had the guts to stand up against the Roman Empire and succeeded at it. However, this was also a breaking point in Palmyra’s history, and the beginning of its end. Zenobia ended up captive and it is said that she was taken to Rome where she was exhibited half naked with golden chains around her body.<br />
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But Zenobia’s legacy is undeniable. She made of Palmyra an empire, rich and developed, which had its own language and art. The golden limestone of surrounding mountains is a symbol of that time, and hundreds of columns are silent witnesses of everything that has happened here ever since. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TL9OyBTaN-I/AAAAAAAAS_U/vvT4UrYN2YI/s1600/Ruinas+Palmira+(4).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TL9OyBTaN-I/AAAAAAAAS_U/vvT4UrYN2YI/s320/Ruinas+Palmira+(4).JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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Honestly, visiting Palmyra is a unique experience. While you walk through the kilometer long colonnade you suddenly travel in time, you find yourself far in the past, surrounded by a combination of cultures. After the Romans came the Arabs, and the Ottoman Empire was the one that witnessed the fall into decline of this once great city.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TL9PS1uHSqI/AAAAAAAAS_4/TDwF4QuNSDA/s1600/Ruinas+Palmira+(12).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TL9PS1uHSqI/AAAAAAAAS_4/TDwF4QuNSDA/s320/Ruinas+Palmira+(12).JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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An example of the blend of cultures is the temple of Bel. It is half destroyed but it still has a feeling of what it must have been back in the time. It was at first a temple dedicated to the god Bel (the equivalent of the Greek Zeus or Roman Jupiter), it became a church in Byzantine times, a fortress with the Arabs and a mosque with the Mamelucs.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TL9POq8e6gI/AAAAAAAAS_0/C1w5HDE3n9A/s1600/Ruinas+Palmira+(11).JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TL9POq8e6gI/AAAAAAAAS_0/C1w5HDE3n9A/s1600/Ruinas+Palmira+(11).JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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A bit further away hide camouflaged in the colors of the desert the funerary towers that used to belong to the rich families of Palmyra. They are quite tall and simple buildings, which could host several buried bodies. It is the Valley of the tombs. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TL9Pd0JTmhI/AAAAAAAATAE/aPVGayT10-s/s1600/Ruinas+Palmira+(15).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TL9Pd0JTmhI/AAAAAAAATAE/aPVGayT10-s/s320/Ruinas+Palmira+(15).JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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But truth is the ruins are so big and they take so much space that it is only possible to gaze at them and admire them from one spot: the Qalaat Ibn Maan, an Arab castle built on the top on a nearby mountain in the 16th century. These are pictures taken from this fantastic viewpoint of the stunning views. (you can clik on the image to see it larger)<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TL9PlO93wLI/AAAAAAAATAQ/2kkuq7Fo3kQ/s1600/Ruinas+Palmira+(17).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TL9PlO93wLI/AAAAAAAATAQ/2kkuq7Fo3kQ/s320/Ruinas+Palmira+(17).JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">* All pictures taken by la elfa</div>la elfahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17246939661416381636noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2511447976845042556.post-52674190933945248482010-09-27T21:35:00.002+03:002010-09-27T21:39:07.703+03:00Deir Mar Mussa, gate to the desert<div style="text-align: justify;">The monastery of Deir Mar Mussa is located 50 miles away from Damascus, a third of the road is through the desert. I can tell you the landscape is stunning, because the desert never ever disappoints you. If there is one awesome thing about it, it’s that it is in constant change, it is always different from the previous day and from the following one. You will never find the same scenery twice in the desert.</div><br />
<a href="http://goo.gl/photos/nAq0" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_rCdVimX61lY/THvK40feKSI/AAAAAAAASr0/z5VFKGQziXA/s400/Dar%20Mar%20Mussa%20%282%29.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://goo.gl/photos/Xklg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_rCdVimX61lY/THvK8CI8jwI/AAAAAAAASr4/4P8B-G8RP-g/s400/Dar%20Mar%20Mussa%20%284%29.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://goo.gl/photos/gKA1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_rCdVimX61lY/THvLCoxK_5I/AAAAAAAASsE/oviREtRws6o/s400/Dar%20Mar%20Mussa%20%2820%29.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">As you approach the valley where the monastery hides you can’t really see much, other than an orange mountain. Once you go around it, on the other side of it, you suddenly discover two tiny buildings on top of the mountain. These are the monastery and the chapel.<br />
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<a href="http://goo.gl/photos/ETA2" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_rCdVimX61lY/THvLLT_deqI/AAAAAAAASsQ/3XzkKJ0qfnk/s400/Dar%20Mar%20Mussa%20%2830%29.JPG" width="300" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://goo.gl/photos/EUAb" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_rCdVimX61lY/THvLIZmflPI/AAAAAAAASsM/1DI-AcnNNRE/s400/Dar%20Mar%20Mussa%20%2828%29.JPG" width="400" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">But to reach them you need to climb 344 steps literally carved in the mountain itself. In a hot day such as when I visited it (around 120F) the ascension is tough, but my motivational technique was to assume that it would be much harsher to do it in the winter with snow on the steps.<br />
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<a href="http://goo.gl/photos/v9be" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_rCdVimX61lY/THvLe0w4ZhI/AAAAAAAASsk/K1Hgu2F3T8o/s400/Dar%20Mar%20Mussa%20%2853%29.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The whole valley and surrounding areas have been inhabited since prehistory by hunters and shepherds. Christian hermits have used the neighboring caves for meditation for centuries, and this is actually how the first monastic center was created.<br />
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<a href="http://goo.gl/photos/Wu3e" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_rCdVimX61lY/THvLRtGQVxI/AAAAAAAASsY/7aTATZEdhZ4/s400/Dar%20Mar%20Mussa%20%2838%29.JPG" width="400" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Actually, legend has it that the founder of this place was actually Saint Moses, son of an Ethiopian king. Saint Moses wasn’t interested in inheriting his father’s crown or the honors that came with it, and decided to give himself to God. He emigrated to Egypt, then to Holy Land, and he ended up in Syria as a hermit in the valley of what is today the monastery.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<a href="http://goo.gl/photos/ufhx" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_rCdVimX61lY/THvLOoWyfDI/AAAAAAAASsU/OoVgA-LBcAg/s400/Dar%20Mar%20Mussa%20%2833%29.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">In 1058 the tiny church (30ft x 30ft) was built. Today we can still admire gorgeous frescoes dating from the 11th and 12th centuries. Later on the monastery was built.<br />
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<a href="http://goo.gl/photos/yb2P" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_rCdVimX61lY/THvLVqfMOxI/AAAAAAAASsc/zuP2Kpbnu8Y/s400/Dar%20Mar%20Mussa%20%2841%29.JPG" width="400" /></a> <br />
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<a href="http://goo.gl/photos/obJN" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_rCdVimX61lY/THvLaGg9XyI/AAAAAAAASsg/fx3KD3RSDjM/s400/Dar%20Mar%20Mussa%20%2847%29.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Sadly the place was abandoned in the 19th century, but in the 20th it was decided to both renovate it, and to start using the complex again. The monastery is today inhabited by monks and thus cannot be visited; however the church is open for several daily masses. Nevertheless it admits non-Christian visitors as the centre strongly promotes and encourages Islamic-Christian dialogue.<br />
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<a href="http://goo.gl/photos/edsP" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_rCdVimX61lY/THvLkajYxbI/AAAAAAAASss/Ll5IZROtHh8/s400/Dar%20Mar%20Mussa%20%2858%29.JPG" width="400" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Getting to the top of the mountain is definitely difficult and it requires a big effort, but the views from the balcony next to the small chapel, as well as the frescoes in it, are worth the effort of climbing every single step.<br />
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* All pictures by laelfa<br />
</div>la elfahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17246939661416381636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2511447976845042556.post-60062404656237907292010-09-03T15:27:00.000+03:002010-09-03T15:27:07.816+03:00Taksim, Istanbul<i>Taksim, Istanbul - Turkey</i><br />
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By pure coincidence Bob Dylan signs to Mr. Jones in my iPod. right now.<br />
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Millions of memories suddenly bombard me.<br />
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<ul><li>The steep streets that even the most daring drivers would avoid in the neighborhood where Mr A used to live. </li>
<li>The restaurant where we ate the worse fajitas ever, and the stalls where we've eaten shawarmas a million times.</li>
<li>The pharmacy where for some unknown reason they thought I needed condoms when I was actually looking for Tylenol. </li>
<li>The pedestrian street where I enjoy sitting up in the second floor of a cafe, near the window, and look at people. </li>
<li>Mi favorite pizza margarita, with a cold beer.</li>
<li>That bar we went to with Leigh Anne, that will always remind me of Malasana in Madrid</li>
<li>One of the best breakfasts of my life, in that incredibly cosy cafe. </li>
<li>The tram.</li>
</ul><br />
Taksim is all of that, and much more. Especially with Mr. Jones on the background. <br />
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la elfahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17246939661416381636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2511447976845042556.post-73063437693455676052010-09-01T00:23:00.001+03:002010-09-27T21:41:38.041+03:00Magnificent Krak des Chevaliers<div style="text-align: justify;">Last weekend I had a chance to do a couple day-long trips not too far fway from Damascus with another Spanish girl who was brave enough to drive on the Syrian highways. I have now myself driven here and I realize it is not nearly as scary as I expected at first, but still the traffic of downtown Damascus in peak time freaks me out.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Anyways, going back to my weekend, I visited a magnificent castle (actually it is a fortress), and this is coming from a Spaniard that has visited many castles in Spain, France, and many other countries.<br />
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<a href="http://goo.gl/photos/LdXw" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_rCdVimX61lY/THvK2bwzQqI/AAAAAAAASrw/KDKfsgaquYk/s400/overview-cc-a-travers-p.jpg" width="400" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Krak des Chevaliers (Fortress of the Knights) is a Crusader fortress located in a key spot: on top of a high hill, very close to the Mediterranean, near the border of Lebanon. From up here the crusaders could keep an eye on the road of the Mediterranean, on the lake Homs, as well as on their rivals the Muslim armies.<br />
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<a href="http://goo.gl/photos/Zwgh" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_rCdVimX61lY/THvK1nKR3kI/AAAAAAAASrs/mhT0JuVy0fQ/s400/Krak%20des%20Chevaliers%20%2865%29.JPG" width="400" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">It was built a long time ago, in 1031, and still today it remains pretty much intact. The first crusaders arrived to it at the end of the 11th century during the First Crusade, but they soon abandoned it to continue their way towards Jerusalem. Then came the Hospitaller Knights, who rebuilt much of it and even expanded it. It is believed that up to 2,000 men lived here at some point, where they could host about 1,000 horses. Storage facilities were so big that it is said they could have withstood a siege for five years!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://goo.gl/photos/g4n3" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_rCdVimX61lY/THvJ5vu2DaI/AAAAAAAASrM/t2AKKSFjWHo/s400/Krak%20des%20Chevaliers%20%2823%29.JPG" width="300" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Today the Krak des Chevaliers is considered a model of perfection of medieval fortification and the greatest fortress in the world. It was actually never conquered and it took one smart man to be able to kick the crusaders out. His name was Baibars and after trying to conquer the place unsuccessfully, like many others before, he decided to trick the inhabitants of the Krak. He forged a letter from the crusader commander, asking the defenders to surrender. They knights were so naive that they actually gave in, and this was the only way the castle ever fell. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://goo.gl/photos/Du4m" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_rCdVimX61lY/THvKfujXEXI/AAAAAAAASrk/-dAP95zxTr8/s400/Krak%20des%20Chevaliers%20%2853%29.JPG" width="400" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">But in fact what I wanted to share with you is how beautiful and magnificent this place is. To me it represents what we all dreamt of as kids, especially boys when they dream of being knights, girls dreaming they are princesses. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://goo.gl/photos/5JTu" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_rCdVimX61lY/THvKcau82LI/AAAAAAAASrg/xh2W6vvHGXw/s400/Krak%20des%20Chevaliers%20%2849%29.JPG" width="400" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Even TE Lawrence of Arabia described it as “perhaps the best preserved and most wholly admirable castle in the world”.</div><a href="http://goo.gl/photos/i4Kv" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_rCdVimX61lY/THvKKOepNsI/AAAAAAAASrU/q2O0On9e4CE/s400/Krak%20des%20Chevaliers%20%2839%29.JPG" width="400" /> </a><br />
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<i>* All pictures by la elfa except the 1st one</i>la elfahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17246939661416381636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2511447976845042556.post-56238615271770882062010-08-28T02:42:00.001+03:002010-09-27T21:44:00.853+03:00Whirling dervishes<div style="text-align: justify;">A few days ago some Spanish cultural center organized an event after the <i>iftar </i>(that’s when Muslims break the fast at sunset during Ramadan) in a park downtown Damascus. Since the evening was rather pleasant I decided to attend it with some friends. The show I was attending featured <b style="color: orange;"><i>dervishes </i></b>and I must admit that up to that day I didn’t know much about them. I actually thought they were some kind of artists, dancers. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://goo.gl/photos/B4WW" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_rCdVimX61lY/THZb459-OVI/AAAAAAAASno/H7ZICYBlYZE/s400/Derviches%20%281%29.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b style="color: orange;">The show was so overwhelming I was completely absorbed in it</b>. It all starts just with music and singing. These are prayers, and often they simply repeat the name of their God, Allah – <i style="color: orange;"><b>la illa-ha illa' llah</b></i> - . I found the singing extremely sad, and apparently this is a frequent feeling even though not everyone experiences it the same way.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Dervish means <b style="color: orange;"><i>doorway to god</i></b> or <i>enlightenment</i>, and they are members of the most mystical and ascetic branch of Islam, the Sufi. Mystical because they believe mainly in respect, tolerance and love. Ascetic refers to their indifference toward material goods, pleasure and comfort. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The most recognized characteristic of dervishes is the way they dance. They whirl with their white skirts flying in circles with them. <b style="color: orange;">They can whirl for hours, and the idea is to go into ecstasy</b>, or what they call <i>wajd</i> – <i>finding</i>, finding God, peace.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://goo.gl/photos/btBw" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_rCdVimX61lY/THbe6pS6-8I/AAAAAAAASqk/2CcEWeKPR68/s400/Picture14.jpg" width="400" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">They always whirl from right to left, <b style="color: orange;">emulating the movement of stars and planets in the universe</b>, also like the movement of blood around the heart. And if we think about life, it is in constant movement, the atoms, the planets, even us humans and our own circumstances. And these movements tend to be in circles, on one hand because we tend to do everything in cycles, on the other one because we look for beginnings and ends, we complete cycles and circles. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The movements of dervishes are <b style="color: orange;">full of symbolism</b>, and understanding them makes you enjoy watching them even more. The leader of the group, the master, often simply stands in the middle of the room; he emulates the sun while the dervishes whirl around him. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://goo.gl/photos/tvlx" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_rCdVimX61lY/THbSVB-46zI/AAAAAAAASqM/e8PstSbSlng/s400/23082010284.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Dervishes hold their hands in unique positions, full of meaning. <b><span style="color: orange;">The right hand</span> </b>is lifted with the palm-out, <b>towards God </b>and his gifts. <b>The left hand </b>faces down, <b>towards the earth</b>, both to take its sustenance and to share god's gifts.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://goo.gl/photos/EPfA" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_rCdVimX61lY/THZbQK-C6iI/AAAAAAAASm8/8YiSj5vSORg/s400/Derviches%20%283%29.JPG" width="285" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">As for their clothes, the skirt is like a shroud but also it represents the sky. <b style="color: orange;">The hat interestingly puts a limit to the ego of the dervish</b> because only by controlling or even eliminating any self egos can the dervishes have contact with God. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://goo.gl/photos/6HeL" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_rCdVimX61lY/THZbsGerS7I/AAAAAAAASnc/5-F00zr8pc8/s400/Derviches%20%2810%29.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">While they whirl they seem to abandon their bodies, their eyes look lost in the horizon, or perhaps the complete opposite, totally lost in the deepest of their own selves. <b style="color: orange;">It is said that while watching them whirl it is possible to go into ecstasy with them</b>. I can tell you for me it was an amazing experience, so peaceful and deep, even though I was surrounded by way too many people and the room had too much light.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><a href="http://goo.gl/photos/wBPB" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_rCdVimX61lY/THZbosxqKQI/AAAAAAAASnY/yTmEcYEYeJw/s400/Derviches%20%289%29.JPG" width="300" /></a><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="color: orange; text-align: justify;"><i>la illa-ha illa' llah la illa-ha illa' llah la illa-ha illa' llah la illa-ha illa' llah la illa-ha illa' llah la illa-ha illa' llah la illa-ha illa' llah la illa-ha illa' llah la illa-ha illa' llah la illa-ha illa' llah la illa-ha illa' llah la illa-ha illa' llah </i><i>la illa-ha illa' llah </i><i>la illa-ha illa' llah</i><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i><span lang="ES-TRAD"> * All pictures except the 2nd one were taken by la elfa</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i><span lang="ES-TRAD"> </span></i></div></div>la elfahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17246939661416381636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2511447976845042556.post-71130118856524985472010-08-18T22:20:00.001+03:002010-09-27T21:46:04.453+03:00The Golan Heights<div style="text-align: justify;">I had a chance to visit the Golan Heights just a few days ago, and it was both shocking and sad. For those who are not too familiar with the Arab-Israeli conflict, this is a very rich area of Syria that was illegally occupied by Israel back in 1967 during the Six-Day War. There have been talks at different points in time about Israel returning it to Syria but it never happened. However, in 1974 Israel did withdraw from a tiny strip of land in the Golan, and then they started building settlements in the remainder of the region. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://goo.gl/photos/kSFd" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TGjrg9yjZSI/AAAAAAAASe4/tEKrJ_4YVPQ/s400/Altos%20de%20Golan%20Kuneitra%20%2811%29.JPG" width="300" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://goo.gl/photos/rSvY" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TGjrtEkJMwI/AAAAAAAASe8/2qob1unciE0/s400/Altos%20de%20Golan%20Kuneitra%20%2812%29.JPG" width="400" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">In the strip returned to Syria there is one city, only one, Quneitra, that hasn’t been rebuilt by the Syrian government. It is a reminder of what happened here, of what the neighbours are capable of, of why they must get back the other illegally occupied territories. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">When in 1974 Israel decided to abandon, and thus return, this small part of Golan, they first made sure they destroyed all of it: houses, markets, schools. Only three buildings are still standing even if completely destroyed: the hospital, a church, and a mosque.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">It is absolutely delirious. Breathtaking. Creepy. Distressing.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">To give you an idea, here are some pictures that I took during my visit. Fyi this area is under UN protection and in order to visit it not only you need a special authorization of the Syrian government, also you are accompanied by a Syrian policeman at all times. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://goo.gl/photos/Wy7p" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TGwu0c7vSGI/AAAAAAAAShA/MPDaJGmdWVc/s400/Altos%20de%20Golan%202010%20%281%29.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Let’s start with the hospital, and keep in mind that in war time hospitals are not to be attacked, they are a no-no target, for quite obvious reasons. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://goo.gl/photos/yYBc" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TGjp9BPlC6I/AAAAAAAASeI/Hybuv-4DAhs/s400/Altos%20de%20Golan%20Kuneitra%20Hospital%20%281%29.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">You might be able to read in the sign “Golan Hospital: It was destroyed and changed into a firing target and training place by Zionists”.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://goo.gl/photos/8Zti" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TGjqNR1315I/AAAAAAAASeQ/whIcf2A1W6w/s400/Altos%20de%20Golan%20Kuneitra%20Hospital%20%282%29.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Please take 10 seconds to look at the images of the inside walls of the hospital.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://goo.gl/photos/zGo8" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TGjqmZzO6LI/AAAAAAAASec/JOasP44kefs/s400/Altos%20de%20Golan%20Kuneitra%20Hospital%20%283%29.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://goo.gl/photos/Z95V" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TGjqaeBX6kI/AAAAAAAASeU/WS-NOSTtSHA/s400/Altos%20de%20Golan%20Kuneitra%20Hospital.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">As you keep driving you reach the church. Only the main walls remain.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://goo.gl/photos/3xnO" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TGjqqFB_R2I/AAAAAAAASek/aLJAm1wTnbw/s400/Altos%20de%20Golan%20Kuneitra%20Iglesia.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Then you pass the market.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">And this is the mosque, which today is only a minaret from which you have a 360` view of this destroyed city that seems like hell, like the aftermath of an awfully strong earthquake, or a bomb. It is absolutely delirious. Breathtaking. Creepy. Distressing.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://goo.gl/photos/ivU1" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TGjrNqdZXSI/AAAAAAAASew/YpKhUtlDnpM/s400/Altos%20de%20Golan%20Kuneitra%20Mezquita.JPG" width="300" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://goo.gl/photos/t4TO" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TGwFo55oRNI/AAAAAAAASgk/cPSFZfrjR1I/s400/Altos%20de%20Golan%202010%20%2847%29.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Just a look at what was done to the houses of people is, once again, breathtaking and distressing. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://goo.gl/photos/xDMt" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TGjsZgNorEI/AAAAAAAASfQ/bbu0oaI4Zp4/s400/Altos%20de%20Golan%20Kuneitra%20Casas%20%282%29.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://goo.gl/photos/a1KG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TGjsNGVJqrI/AAAAAAAASfM/a3gcuAaiVss/s400/Altos%20de%20Golan%20Kuneitra%20Casas%20%281%29.JPG" width="400" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Over 100,000 people had to abandon their homes, their jobs, their lives, to flee from the Israeli invasion of their lands in Golan. Around 7,000 stayed. Since then they have been trapped. They are not allowed to get out, to go back to their country: Syria, which is just a few meters away. The Israeli government offers them the Israeli citizenship but less than 10% has taken it in the last 40 years. Those who flee the region during the war haven’t been allowed to go back to their houses either, because the region now belongs to Israel, illegally of course. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">But why did Israel take over this land? Why so many years of war with their neighbours? The answer is the strategic geopolitical position of the Golan Heights. Actually it consists of the Golan Heights proper and the slopes of Mount Hermon. This region has an average altitude of 3,300 feet but in some areas it reaches up to 9,000 feet, an outstanding position to keep an eye on the neighbours. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://goo.gl/photos/HTSv" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://lh5.ggpht.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TGjsDkfWm6I/AAAAAAAASfI/cVLRGj0yEDY/s400/Altos%20de%20Golan%20Kuneitra%20%2814%29.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Furthermore, the Golan Heights supply a noteworthy amount of water to the region thanks to the Sea of Galilee and the Yarmuk River in the south, actually between 15% and 30% of Israel's water supply! As well, a large proportion of Israel's agricultural production is based here. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://goo.gl/photos/n5EE" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TGjqd5bqgZI/AAAAAAAASeY/OJJvqAypoCs/s400/Altos%20de%20Golan%20Kuneitra%20%284%29.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">There won’t be peace between Syria and Israel until Israel returns the illegally occupied Golan Heights. Israel needs to go back to the pre-1964 war borders, established by the UN. And Quneitra is a good reminder of why it is so important for Syria to get it back.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<i>* Pictures taken by la elfa</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>la elfahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17246939661416381636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2511447976845042556.post-12902839270162736012010-08-03T21:39:00.000+03:002010-08-03T21:39:18.594+03:00Any given weekend in DamascusYou might wonder what it is like to go out in Damascus. Well it is pretty similar to any Western country, or maybe more like a Mediterranean one, like Spain or Italy. People love to get together with their friends and families and there is always time for both. <br />
<br />
The evening can start quietly with dinner and a narguile (shisha) and then comes the usual, bars and clubs. There are hundreds to choose from. I like rooftops because the views of the city at night are beautiful and because it is nice to enjoy the breeze, when there is one.<br />
<br />
Cafés that have narguiles usually do not serve alcohol, however bars and clubs would be empty if they didn’t serve it! But watch out, going out is not cheap in Syria. Actually life in general isn’t cheap. You might be able to find cheap food but probably as an expat you don’t want to eat in those places. As for bars and drinks, it is common to pay a cover which includes an alcoholic drink (or two soft drinks), usually you’ll pay around 15$. I was out last weekend and we had a table reserved, we had to pay 40$ each, which included three drinks, not so bad I guess, but let me tell you, they pour very little alcohol in your glass!! <br />
<br />
Don’t expect too many people out before midnight, again this is a Mediterranean culture and it seems like it is always too early to go out, and way earlier to go back home ;) I am not sure what time places are supposed to shut down because I have never stayed until the end, I am out of practice!<br />
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Women, I have said it before, always dress up really nice, they obviously take their time getting ready, fixing their hair and make up; but men are not less and they are always well dressed, again in a Western way: short dresses usually for women, jeans and shirts for men. Women are beautiful and very sexy, especially when they dance.<br />
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It is quite common to see old expats just staring at Syrians dancing, and Syrians seems to love being watched, after all that must be one of the reasons they take their time to look so good.<br />
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People here love dancing, and they do it like pros. It must be in their blood, like Latinos. They have a fabulous sense of rhythm and no self consciousness, and they are able to move their hips in a way that reminds me of Shakira, who has Lebanese roots. Hands, arms and head movements are also part of the dancing exercise. As for the music, there is always a mix between Arabic tunes, disco music that would sound anywhere else in the world, and a lot of salsa. They love salsa and they always assume I can dance it well, I am not sure why. But trust me, I can’t! And when I see them I certainly don’t even dare trying!<br />
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The city is extremely safe and you can walk around any time of day or night, even if you are alone. Taxis will try to make you pay extra if you are an expat, but if you insist they will use the meter and then you should just tip them. Anyways a taxi can take you to the other side of town for just 4 dollars.<br />
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So if you ever decide to visit Syria make sure you keep some energy for the evening and night, you will need it! But no worries, they spend the mornings of the weekend sleeping, which I admit didn’t take me long to adapt to!<br />
la elfahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17246939661416381636noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2511447976845042556.post-65634876911065268252010-08-01T19:26:00.000+03:002010-08-01T19:26:13.935+03:00Life in Damascus<div style="text-align: justify;">Many of you have asked me about life in Damascus, what a day here is like. Well I can tell you a few stories.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://goo.gl/photos/7gOa" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TFRYNBsFvDI/AAAAAAAASc8/6rXScJeU5ww/s320/Flag.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">For instance, today we have reached 115F according to the Internet, 120F according to the Government- which is completely abnormal!! I believe statistics say the average temperature in August is 90F, and this is the hottest month of the year (but it is only the 1st of August… can you imagine in a couple weeks?). Apparently the government has issued a warning because temperatures are expected to reach 122F and perhaps up to 131F in the next few days, an all time high. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Now imagine this heat while wearing a suit… mmmh, appealing, right? And then picture yourself in a taxi with no AC, going to a meeting. Sometimes I don’t know what is worse, to have the windows open or closed. People joke and say it seems like someone has placed a huge hairdryer on top of the country and it just keeps blowing hot air. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Then when you finally get to your meeting or to the office, trying to look nice and fresh, surprise! There is no power! Because there are now way too frequent power-cuts, which mean no charger for your computer, no internet, no cold water in the fridge, and of course no air conditioning. Power cuts weren’t too common a couple weeks ago but now demand has dramatically raised and also, I just found out, when heat goes up power production goes down, so if there is more demand and less production, you end up melting in your office, or in your house (it was 97F in my room yesterday after a 2-hour power-cut).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">And that is not all; there is a shortage of water in Syria, a typically dry country, which usually is no problem in Damascus because all houses (or at least the ones for rich locals and expats) have big tanks on the roof that are refilled a couple times a week. So when there is no water coming from the government pipes, the one stored in the reservoirs is used. However, these reservoirs are like huge plastic kegs and they are in the roof, under this merciless and cruel sun, 115F… can you guess? The water is too hot, it burns! So you can forget about taking a shower until night, when if you are lucky temperatures go down to 95F (35C). I swear this is true (check the picture).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://goo.gl/photos/zch3" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TFWeqPfuGeE/AAAAAAAASdk/6JHQ2cbt-w4/s160-c/Syria2010.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So this is how I have spent my day today. But tomorrow I will tell you about my weekend nights out, which are pretty fun. Oh, fyi weekends here are Friday & Saturday instead of the usual Saturday & Sunday, so Thursday night is a big night out, and Friday night is Salsa night!</div>la elfahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17246939661416381636noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2511447976845042556.post-78303734439030701702010-07-27T17:48:00.000+03:002010-07-27T17:48:55.274+03:00I read the news today oh boyI read the news today oh boy<br />
<br />
About Indonesian Muslims praying in the wrong direction<br />
They wonder if they will have to knock down mosques and build them again <br />
But someone said Allah still hears their prayers, oh how fortunate<br />
And though the news was rather sad<br />
Well I just had to laugh<br />
<br />
I read the news today oh boy<br />
<br />
About the country celebrating the 10th anniversary of the President<br />
What better than a 321 feet high flag-pole <br />
The flag itself is 6,300 square feet<br />
And though the news was rather dumb<br />
Well I just had laugh<br />
<br />
I read the news today oh boy<br />
<br />
About Venezuela exhuming Bolivar’s body,<br />
They are checking if he was poisoned by Colombia in 1830<br />
Chavez announced it on Twitter<br />
And though the news was rather sad<br />
Well I just had to laugh<br />
<br />
I read the news today oh boy<br />
<br />
About a surprise hit reality show in Malaysia<br />
Six handsome Malays compete to be the “most religious”<br />
To win a trip to Mecca, a laptop and a car<br />
And though the news was rather dumb<br />
Well I just had laugh<br />
<br />
I read the news today oh boy<br />
<br />
About Enrique Iglesias promising to water ski naked<br />
As a celebration for World Cup win<br />
But this is not his first time<br />
And though the news was rather sad<br />
Well I just had to laugh<br />
<br />
** All these news are real and were all published in the same edition of the only English newspaper available in the country. Thanks for such high quality editorial! **la elfahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17246939661416381636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2511447976845042556.post-30036817147237371352010-07-24T03:32:00.001+03:002010-09-27T21:50:16.375+03:00Midan, all you need, any time of the day or night<div style="text-align: justify;">I have a few months ahead and <b>many places to discover in Damascus and in Syria</b>. The only problem is the heat, it is 45C degrees (120F) today and even though we have been told this is not normal for the month of July, it will be in August. The heat is dry, which is easier to deal with, but still it seems like I will only be doing cultural stuff at night this first couple of months (also keep in mind during the day I work!). </div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">My colleague’s friends took us driving around a <b>cactus farm</b> the other day and I was impressed by their shapes, colors and size! I had no idea you can eat their fruit, which they call <i>figs</i> (but they don't look like our figs), and that same night I tried them in Midan. These figs are actually delicious, juicy and refreshing.</div><br />
<a href="http://goo.gl/photos/ioIR" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TDl-vntK3eI/AAAAAAAASaw/K9H8rIjQAqM/s400/Cactus%20%281%29.JPG" width="400" /></a> <br />
<br />
<a href="http://goo.gl/photos/qSYY" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TDmBYO3OPQI/AAAAAAAASbU/GfxYyCB0E8A/s400/10072010226.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Midan is a long but narrow street </b>full of crowded tiny restaurants that serve mainly shawarmas. They are delicious and we have a few, first chicken then meat. We are told if we come back here alone we should only eat in the same places where they have taken us, just to be safe and sure that hygiene is taken care of. </div><br />
<a href="http://goo.gl/photos/BViW" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TDl9g7gy4II/AAAAAAAASaI/XYeWmVvLy3s/s400/Midan%20at%20night%20Damascus.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">As I said the street is packed, there are people everywhere, eating, chatting, laughing. <b>Everything is open 24 hours a day</b> and <b>families with kids</b> are also enjoying, even though it is late at night! Some approach us, they want to talk a little bit, they are curious about where we come from and they also want to practice their English and their French. One family with two beautiful little girls sits behind us and while they wait for their food they tell us they are both doctors and their daughters study in an English school. They used to go to the American one, but it was shut down by the US government a couple years ago. The girls are way to shy to talk with us.</div><br />
<a href="http://goo.gl/photos/EQwu" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TDl9y3gP2ZI/AAAAAAAASaQ/H9Xoy3sFrvM/s400/Midan%20at%20night%20Damascus%20%282%29.JPG" width="400" /></a> <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">But the street doesn’t only have restaurants; there are also a few <b>meat shops</b> and one of the owners wants me to buy some fresh cuts. He insists, but there is no way I am buying anything in his shop. The guy is nice and ends up wanting to take a picture with me but I am seriously concerned about cleanliness in his shop, and I leave promising I will be back, even though I know I never will. </div><br />
<a href="http://goo.gl/photos/D6Kh" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TDl-ZHwcYDI/AAAAAAAASak/HizM58W_DF8/s400/Midan%20at%20night%20Damascus%20%287%29.JPG" width="400" /></a> <br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Finally, one of the best parts of the street are the many shops that sell <b>delicious little sweets typical of Syria</b>. Each shop wants you to try theirs, for free, to prove theirs are better. I don’t have much of a sweet tooth as many of you know so after the third shop I just give mine to Marc when the shop owners can’t see me. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://goo.gl/photos/A3cG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TDl-CxxxPJI/AAAAAAAASaY/1GGozRjjqxw/s400/Midan%20at%20night%20Damascus%20%284%29.JPG" width="300" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">These shops are mostly <b>old Damascene houses </b>and the decoration in the inside is beautiful and breathtaking. Also the display of the sweets itself is well taken care of and I just feel like buying boxes for my family. </div><br />
<a href="http://goo.gl/photos/t3o5" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TDl-RlsfxII/AAAAAAAASag/EeqSluUnkJg/s400/Midan%20at%20night%20Damascus%20%286%29.JPG" width="300" /> </a><br />
<br />
<i>* Pictures by la elfa</i><br />
<br />
la elfahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17246939661416381636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2511447976845042556.post-1640229585280197892010-07-09T05:25:00.001+03:002010-09-27T21:53:10.770+03:00World Cup in Damascus<div style="text-align: justify;">I never thought watching the <b>World Cup in Syria</b> would be fun, mainly because I knew nothing about this country and had so many preconceived ideas of what I would find here, so many <b>misconceptions </b>created by the media.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://goo.gl/photos/IZ7B" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TDDZ_0uD6II/AAAAAAAASX4/I_r0ohalFKo/s400/Mundial%20de%20futbol%20en%20Siria.jpg" width="400" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Well I can now say <b>it was a delight to watch the games in Damascus</b>. People LOVE soccer here and I guess since Syria didn’t make it they were happy to simply cheer for other teams. I still remember the first game I watched here, it was Netherlands-Brasil and half the people in the bar had t-shirts and flags of Brasil, the others of the Netherlands. And they would c<b>heer, and suffer and enjoy</b> just like if it was their country playing. Because for them it wasn’t about who was playing, but about soccer itself. That is why after Spain defeated Germany there was no doubt, the whole country was with Spain, they deserve it they would tell me day and night, at work and in cafés. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://goo.gl/photos/fzRa" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://lh4.ggpht.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TDDaMJ6zvHI/AAAAAAAASYA/CHk5yekQvpQ/s400/Mundial%20de%20futbol%20en%20Siria2.jpg" width="400" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Another thing that has surprised me in <b>Damascus </b>is how westernized they are. It is <b>such an open and tolerant city</b>. You would probably expect to see most women covering their hair (I already knew they don’t cover their faces but this might come as a surprise to others), well it is the opposite, j<b>ust a few women cover their hair</b>, and even those who do most often wear a skirt!! Here they dress like we do; you see jeans, sandals, skirts, dresses, even tank tops. Ladies are pretty, they take care of their hair and makeup and several times I have found my self quite underdressed in a café. Men and women go out together, they enjoy smoking shishas (which they call arguile) and when night comes <b>dancing is a favorite for Damascenes</b>. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://goo.gl/photos/CJX9" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TDDaX78TFyI/AAAAAAAASYI/m3MdCC3KqD8/s400/Salsa%20y%20futbol%20en%20siria.JPG" width="400" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The first time we went out I had to take pictures because I couldn’t believe I was in Syria. First of all we were in a beautiful rooftop, the entrance was around 15U$ and you could get either one alcoholic drink or two sodas. <b>The views of the city once again were magnificent, and the view of the dance floor was too much to be real</b>. It was salsa night, and also the night Ghana was kicked out of the World Cup after missing a penalty in the last minute of the game. Here no one really cared about the game even though there was a huge cinema-style screen in one side of the dance floor. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://goo.gl/photos/d3vv" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TDDaR8eS1tI/AAAAAAAASYE/wSFdAA6BkEA/s400/Salsa%20y%20futbol%20en%20siria%202.JPG" width="400" /></a> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">People were just dancing in such a fancy, trendy and amazing way that I could only sit back and admire them. Then when the game got to penalties because neither Ghana nor Uruguay had been able to untie the game, the dance floor cleared and the music was turned down, the TV up. Everyone was now paying attention to the game. 10 kicks, Ghana was out, most of the bar seemed upset for about 10 seconds, and then the music was back, and so was the dancing.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><b>Welcome to Damascus!</b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i><span lang="ES-TRAD"> * Pictures by la elfa</span></i></div> </div>la elfahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17246939661416381636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2511447976845042556.post-9780981880922170862010-07-07T17:24:00.000+03:002010-07-24T23:24:00.762+03:00Small World<div style="text-align: justify;"><meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type"></meta><meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 11" name="Generator"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 11" name="Originator"></meta><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5C6730%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link><o:smarttagtype name="City" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype name="place" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><style>
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</style> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">How many times have we heard it, the world is a tiny place! And I guess the more you travel the smaller it becomes. I have been in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Damascus</st1:place></st1:city> for a few days now and I am invited to watch a World Cup game with my colleague and his friends. When we get to the bar the two guys waiting for us look quite familiar, but I fear I am mistaking them with some other <i>Arabs</i> and I don’t say anything. Then one of them asks me if I have ever been to <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Damascus</st1:place></st1:city>, he thinks he knows me. I tell myself this is too much of a coincidence, he looks familiar to me, and I do to him. So we start talking and 30 seconds later we know what is going on here….. he used to work in <st1:city w:st="on">Abu Dhabi</st1:city> in 2008, I visited <st1:city w:st="on">Damascus</st1:city> in 2008 coming from <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Abu Dhabi</st1:place></st1:city>…. Well he was the one who processed and prepared my visa back then! I was not allowed to get a visa in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Abu Dhabi</st1:city></st1:place> because I was not a resident, but some well connected friends made a couple phone calls and <i>bang</i> this guy was asked by his boss to process my visa quickly and without asking questions. His signature and stamp are indeed in my passport!! Seriously, what are the chances of something like this happening?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p></div>la elfahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17246939661416381636noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2511447976845042556.post-10278886162651449102010-07-01T15:10:00.001+03:002010-09-27T21:54:04.991+03:00Welcome to Damascus<div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://goo.gl/photos/WVTt" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://lh6.ggpht.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TDDZ3DPNFuI/AAAAAAAASX0/UmmX7rgLGBc/s400/Damasco%20Noche.JPG" width="400" /></a> <br />
<br />
As I land in Damascus I am stopped by customs’ agents who want to search my bag. Here is the situation: it is 2am, I have just landed in an unknown country and I am alone. After I pick up my bags from the belt and as I am getting ready to exit the terminal I am stopped by two customs agents who want me to open the bag I have had on board two different planes today and that has gone through security scanners in three airports already. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I am not too sure what is going on, but I certainly want to stay calm and let them do, I know there is nothing forbidden in my bag. Then, one of the agents, with very poor English (which is a million times better than my Arabic) says to me:</div><div style="text-align: justify;">- <i>Are you a professional</i>?</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Of course such a question concerns me... what does he mean?</div><div style="text-align: justify;">He keeps asking</div><div style="text-align: justify;">- <i>Professional, technician, electronics</i>? </div><div style="text-align: justify;">What the hell is going on here? Still using his terrible English he manages to ask me if I have any kind of machine in there….. Finally I understand!</div><div style="text-align: justify;">- <i>Yes, I have a Wii</i>. </div><div style="text-align: justify;">- <i>Wii</i>? They ask while they try to figure out what I am talking about.</div><div style="text-align: justify;">So I take it out of its pouch and show it to them, then I show them the remote and I crack them up when I show them the wheel of <i>Mario Kart</i>. While they are still laughing they welcome me into their country: <i>MaRHba</i>.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">There is a driver waiting for me outside and he tells me he was quite concerned he would not be able to recognize me. Then while he lights a cigarette he laughs and says it was actually quite easy: not only was I the only woman traveling alone, I was also the only white woman in the plane. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">As we drive towards the city he opens the roof of the car and I can see millions of stars welcoming me into this new adventure. In the horizon I can now see the city of Damascus. I get to the hotel around 3am and I am so tired and lonely that it is hard to fall sleep, but through my hotel window I discover the most amazing view of Damascus and I stay awake until sunrise, wondering what the future holds for me.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://goo.gl/photos/gYAj" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://lh3.ggpht.com/_rCdVimX61lY/TDDb7Auq5UI/AAAAAAAASYU/o4Je8k6NBf0/s400/CIMG7996.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<i>* pictures by la elfa</i><br />
<i> </i></div>la elfahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17246939661416381636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2511447976845042556.post-3268800661777771722010-05-12T01:35:00.000+03:002010-05-12T21:46:21.671+03:00Get mad with me!! it is for a good cause!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/S-rlXRElSgI/AAAAAAAASMU/vipHtQqORes/s1600/I+am+mad+as+HELL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/S-rlXRElSgI/AAAAAAAASMU/vipHtQqORes/s400/I+am+mad+as+HELL.jpg" width="235" /></a></div><br />
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</style> The FAO has recently launched its newest campaign. They aim to make people aware of the important role they can play in changing the world and make it a better place. One billion people suffer from <a href="http://www.1billionhungry.org/laelfa/hunger/what-is-hunger/">chronic hunger</a> around the world and the FAO has decided it is time to put an end to it. We cannot keep looking the other way or denying such a cruel reality. And that is why the <b>FAO is trying to get us all <st1:city w:st="on">MAD</st1:city> <st1:state w:st="on">AS</st1:state> HELL</b> with the situation, so that we can all yell together <a href="http://www.1billionhungry.org/laelfa/">“I AM MAD AS HELL and I am not gonna let one billion people go hungry”</a>. </div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">The video below presents it quite well, and there isn’t much I can add. (Great job Mr. Irons!!) </div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">“{….}Everyone knows things are bad, it seems like we are stuck in a world where we cant change a single thing but the climate {….} We know things are bad, worse than that, they are crazy. {….} But we still think we are connected with all the people of the world. But that’s not true. People around the world suffer <b>hunger</b>, chronic hunger. 1 billion people, <b>one billion of us</b>. Now that’s bad, worse than bad, <b>that’s crazy</b>. And we got to get mad, I want you to get mad, I want you to get up right now, stick your head out of the window and yell <b>I AM MAD AS HELL and I am not gonna let one billion people go hungry</b>.” </div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><b>That is what you and I should tell our politicians</b>. </div><br />
<object height="265" width="320"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0l57fmIup9Q&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0l57fmIup9Q&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="320" height="265"></embed></object>la elfahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17246939661416381636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2511447976845042556.post-88916090733495458362009-10-01T13:55:00.000+03:002009-10-01T14:06:04.662+03:00Answering machine of some Aussie High School<div style="text-align: justify;">It might be fake but it is hilarious. And it is not only funny, it has a point... Maybe it will help some parents reconsider the way they educate their kids....<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="172" width="212"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/7C5Rnb7J3sU&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0xe1600f&color2=0xfebd01&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/7C5Rnb7J3sU&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0xe1600f&color2=0xfebd01&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="212" height="172"></embed></object><br />
</div>la elfahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17246939661416381636noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2511447976845042556.post-31921768060608676532009-09-28T08:12:00.000+03:002009-09-28T08:20:59.046+03:00Salamat Cory<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/SsBGLiQRlLI/AAAAAAAARZg/W7vQWJdGITs/s1600-h/Cory+Aquino+%281%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/SsBGLiQRlLI/AAAAAAAARZg/W7vQWJdGITs/s320/Cory+Aquino+%281%29.jpg" /></a><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"> The Filipino democracy was orphaned last August 1st, 2009, with the death of former President and National Hero Cory Aquino, the first woman president of any country in Asia and a worldwide icon of Democracy.<br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">Hundreds of thousands of Filipinos of all age came out to the streets of Manila to say goodbye to their beloved and admired Cory, with tears in their eyes, likewise they had run to the streets of Manila in the early 80s to mourn her husband Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr., and again in 1986 during the People Power Revolution to peacefully install her as President. The country united and appeared as a one big family mourning its mother.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/SsA7dIi1OzI/AAAAAAAARWw/FeWW3sMq8TE/s1600-h/Cory+Aquino+%284%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/SsA7dIi1OzI/AAAAAAAARWw/FeWW3sMq8TE/s400/Cory+Aquino+%284%29.jpg" /></a><br />
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Born to a wealthy family in Tarlac, Maria Corazon “Cory” Sumulong Cojuangco Aquino was raised in religious schools in Manila and later sent to the US where she studied Liberal Arts. At the age of 20 she graduated with a Bachelor of Art in French, and a minor in Mathematics and she returned to Manila to pursue her studies in Law, which she abandoned a year later when she married Benigno Servillano "Ninoy" Aquino, Jr. <br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">This probably became the first turning point in Cory’s life. Aquino was a well educated and wise young man, who became mayor at 22, and eventually governor. At 34 he was the youngest member of the Filipino Senate ever. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/SsA7aerRc7I/AAAAAAAARWg/KxA6MKQpdKo/s1600-h/Cory+Aquino+%282%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/SsA7aerRc7I/AAAAAAAARWg/KxA6MKQpdKo/s400/Cory+Aquino+%282%29.jpg" /></a><br />
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Meanwhile, she self-proclaimed herself a “plain housewife” and she took care of their 5 children. Despite being one of the most trusted advisors of Ninoy, she would only do so in private while in public she preferred to stay out of the stage, quietly in the background.<br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">Ninoy Aquino soon became a lead critic of then president Ferdinand Marcos, and was regarded as a clear and serious opponent in the upcoming presidential election of 1973. However, the election never took place because Marcos declared martial law in September 1972 and then abolished the Constitution, which allowed him to remain in office. Ninoy Aquino was arrested along with other critics and opponents of the Government. He was imprisoned and sentenced to death. He spent seven years in prison until a key intervention from then US President Jimmy Carter led to Marcos authorizing Ninoy Aquino to leave for exile to the US.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/SsBAWxERttI/AAAAAAAARYA/Qa4QqRjj8rk/s1600-h/Aquino+family.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/SsBAWxERttI/AAAAAAAARYA/Qa4QqRjj8rk/s320/Aquino+family.jpg" /></a><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/SsA_aG-6A9I/AAAAAAAARX4/0nqwKz6EnC0/s1600-h/the+filipino+is+worth+dying+for+ninoy+aquino.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/SsA_aG-6A9I/AAAAAAAARX4/0nqwKz6EnC0/s320/the+filipino+is+worth+dying+for+ninoy+aquino.jpg" width="237" /></a>This was clearly turning point number two for Cory, who often defined the next 3 years of her life as “the happiest”. She lived in peace, close to her husband and kids. What more could she have asked for? However it was a life Ninoy felt he needed to abandon to come back to the Philippines and fight for his people. He often said that “the Filipino is worth dying for”, like a prophecy of his own destiny, of his fate.<br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">He returned without his family, who was to follow later, only to be murdered in the Manila airport. <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/SsA_R7rjJ8I/AAAAAAAARXo/PZ38U9RhKj4/s1600-h/ninoy+aquino+assassination.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="147" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/SsA_R7rjJ8I/AAAAAAAARXo/PZ38U9RhKj4/s320/ninoy+aquino+assassination.jpg" width="268" /></a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/SsA_XzfYQLI/AAAAAAAARXw/Rel0c0ik-EI/s1600-h/ninoy-aquino+assasination.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/SsA_XzfYQLI/AAAAAAAARXw/Rel0c0ik-EI/s320/ninoy-aquino+assasination.jpg" width="295" /></a><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">As Cory saw yet again her life drastically change, she led the funerals for her husband with the support of millions of fellow Filipinos. Cory showed an incredible emotional and physical strength, and fought to keep your family together. For the next couple years she was never abandoned by the people, who mourned Ninoy by her side. The anger towards the Marcos regime became so intense that people lost their fear and started going out into the streets in such massive number that they couldn’t be stopped any longer. Ninoy had become a National Hero and she was the only hope for the Filipinos to regain freedom. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/SsBC9Q4nEII/AAAAAAAARZI/7uBH4oEOz3I/s1600-h/Cory+Aquino.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/SsBC9Q4nEII/AAAAAAAARZI/7uBH4oEOz3I/s400/Cory+Aquino.jpg" /></a><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">Late November 1985 Marcos announced a snap presidential election to be held just three months later, in February’86. Right then business tycoon Joaquin “Chino” Roces realized Cory would be the only person with a real chance to unite the different branches of the opposition against Marcos. Knowing Cory wouldn’t easily accept such a responsibility, he initiated the Cory Aquino for President Movement to gather one million signatures in one week for Aquino to run as president.<br />
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As expected Cory was reluctant at first, after all she was not a politician, and never meant to be one. But after locking herself in a convent for a ten-hour session of meditation, she accepted the immense challenge. Cory felt it was a continuation of Ninoy’s dream, and this gave her the strength and the courage to keep fighting.<br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">The following months became tense and difficult, with an aggressive campaign from the Marcos side. The election was rigged and Marcos was soon proclaimed the winner. Violence broke out in the streets and Aquino called for a general strike, while the Catholic Church as well as the US Senate condemned the election. <br />
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Hundreds of thousands of Filipinos jumped to the streets of Manila once again and they peacefully claimed Cory’s victory and demanded Marcos’ resignation, in a movement internationally known as the People Power Revolution. Worldwide known pictures of nuns on their knees praying in front of military tanks illustrate what the Revolution was. Eventually Marcos did indeed realize his fate and conceded the Presidency to Cory. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/SsBC5MVpeLI/AAAAAAAARYo/NW5PIHrcLC4/s1600-h/Cory+Aquino+%285%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/SsBC5MVpeLI/AAAAAAAARYo/NW5PIHrcLC4/s400/Cory+Aquino+%285%29.jpg" /></a><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">The success of the People Power Revolution was so unique that Cory Aquino was immediately recognized and acclaimed worldwide as an icon of democracy. It was then said that the Americans taught the Filipinos democracy but through the Revolution the Filipinos taught the world.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/SsBEEBITZFI/AAAAAAAARZQ/1ZYNUOSJ0g4/s1600-h/Cory-Aquino-TIME-Woman-of-the-Year.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/SsBEEBITZFI/AAAAAAAARZQ/1ZYNUOSJ0g4/s400/Cory-Aquino-TIME-Woman-of-the-Year.jpg" /></a><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">In three years Cory went from being a housewife and mother to a worldwide icon. She was suddenly on front covers of magazines and newspapers all over the world, and she knew she couldn’t have done it without the Filipino people, same as they couldn’t have done it without her. And that is how they all became one big family. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/SsBC6DCfWiI/AAAAAAAARYw/khUa369rVbw/s1600-h/Cory+Aquino+%286%29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/SsBC6DCfWiI/AAAAAAAARYw/khUa369rVbw/s320/Cory+Aquino+%286%29.jpg" /></a><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">As President she faced many difficulties, such as an extremely weak and damaged economy, several coups d’état, and natural disasters. When her term came to an end Cory retired to private life, making a few come backs to the limelight when she felt her people and her country needed her most.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/SsA_Q38ACnI/AAAAAAAARXg/oXb7F4oPIS0/s1600-h/cory+aquino+revolution.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_rCdVimX61lY/SsA_Q38ACnI/AAAAAAAARXg/oXb7F4oPIS0/s400/cory+aquino+revolution.jpg" /></a><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">Overall Cory will be remembered as the person who fought and stood up for Democracy, the one who re-established a Constitution with important legal and land reforms, and guaranteed the social and human rights of her people. And above all, Cory will be remembered as the Mother of the modern Filipino Nation and an example of integrity, decency and selflessness.<br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">Today Filipinos can only say Kindi ka nagiisa, Cory. Salamat. You are not alone, Cory. Thank you.<br />
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</div>la elfahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17246939661416381636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2511447976845042556.post-31416041098253908802009-08-29T09:48:00.001+03:002009-08-29T09:48:32.017+03:00A day to remember<div style="text-align: justify;"><meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type"></meta><meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 11" name="Generator"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 11" name="Originator"></meta><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5C6730%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link><o:smarttagtype name="City" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype name="State" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype name="place" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"></o:smarttagtype><style>
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</style><o:p></o:p> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I bought the paper in the morning and once in the elevator I started reading the headlines. None made sense, <i>none</i>. It was dated March the 18<sup>th</sup>, 2009… March? It is August people… so I went back to the shop and I got a new one. Now things were making sense again, or so I thought.<br />
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My morning meeting is in a nearby city, which used to be a village, if that makes any sense. The mayor is meeting with me again to discuss some business, but when I get there she is all excited about something else. First thing she says is <i>I have a present for you</i> and while I think <i>Oh yeah, I love presents</i> I actually say <i>Mayor a present for me? No, you shouldn’t have…</i> and I stop there because I realize her present is a magazine. She carefully opens it and hands it to me with pride. It is her. I mean, in the magazine. There is an article about her under the section <i>Power and style</i>, and next to it a full-page picture of her wearing a pinkish gown, and plenty of make up.<br />
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<i>Come on say something, whatever, but say something </i>is what I think while I look at it, and before I get a chance to do so I hear her voice asking <i>would you like me to sign it for you?</i>. She grabs the magazine back and writes a couple of lines before signing it and all I can do is smile.<o:p></o:p><br />
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Back in my city I meet this really nice fellow who happens to speak perfect Spanish as he spent 6 years in <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Madrid</st1:place></st1:state>, my home city. At some point he mentions he has some friends here who are also from <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Madrid</st1:place></st1:state>, and offers to organize a dinner so that we can all meet. I think it is a fantastic idea until he actually says <i>it will be great, we are all the same age, 37-38.</i> But hey, I am under 30, mate. I say nothing; I just smile, because once again I don’t know what to say.<o:p></o:p><br />
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Then I make a quick stop by my office in between meetings. When I am ready to leave I do as usual, walk to the parking, open the door of the seat behind the driver, drop my bags and laptop, close the door, walk to the other side of the car and when I am about to open the back door, Lawrence drives away. At first I assume he thought I couldn’t comfortably open the door and he is going to move the car a few feet, but no, he keeps driving and goes through the gate. At this point I still think he is just going to stop by the gate but he keeps driving while everybody around –all drivers and security guys- start yelling <i>Hey! Hey! </i>But he cant hear them and I cant but laugh out loud. The security guys run behind the car while the other drivers look at me surprised by my laugh.<br />
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Meanwhile in the car <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Lawrence</st1:city></st1:place> is talking to me and when I don’t answer one of his questions he turns around and realizes <i>I am not in the car</i>. I can imagine his heart speeding up, and some sweat breaking out of his forehead. He stops in the middle of the street, gets out of the car and walks back towards me while cars are stuck behind, honking and annoyed. <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Lawrence</st1:place></st1:city> looks embarrassed while I have tears of laugh in my eyes. He knows the rest of the staff will make fun at him for the next few weeks.<o:p></o:p> We both smile and say nothing.<br />
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To finish the day I meet with this very high up guy and his team. He introduces me as one of the leading economic analysts and consultants in town…. <i>Really?</i> Well.. after such a day I guess I can take this one with another big smile, and say nothing.<br />
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<b>There are days all you can do is smile, and say nothing. </b><o:p></o:p></div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div>la elfahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17246939661416381636noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2511447976845042556.post-4609127464997108572009-06-27T11:56:00.000+03:002009-06-27T12:04:00.805+03:00Life in the island<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5C6730%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="country-region"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="">Next week June will die and <b style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">half of the year will be gone</b>. Time goes by and while days seem to never finish, weeks pass so quickly that sometimes I am surprised it is almost July.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /><span style=""><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=""><o:p></o:p>Life is good, we have traveled, we have received visits from family and friends, and more are to come. The island treats us well and <b style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">diving has opened our eyes to a new and fascinating world</b>.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=""><o:p>
<br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p>I thought I would feel uncomfortable under water and that is why despite the fact that I wanted to experience the high of diving, I had never considered the idea seriously. Then we got here, my birthday came and Mr. A made plans; suddenly we were in a pool dressed with this funny and heavy equipment, and then in a boat doing a <b style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">back jump into the ocean. That moment always surprises me</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /><span style=""><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=""><o:p></o:p>You see, I always feel kind of lazy and anxious before diving. I’m on the boat, the sun is warm, and then I have to put on the suit, the equipment, booties, gloves, and the heavy tank! While I sit on the side of the boat ready to jump out I always feel the pain of the weight on my back, then <b style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">I jump and as soon as I touch the water I feel free, weightless, relaxed</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /><span style=""><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=""><o:p></o:p>Underwater I literally feel like a fish in the water. It will never stop surprising me how despite you being there fishes seem to keep going with their lives. <b style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">You are no more as a human the center of the universe; you suddenly become a mere spectator of a world that you don’t rule</b>. You have a limited time to do so, and that is part of the game. If you could stay for ever it might get old, but this way <b style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">you never have enough</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /><span style=""><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=""><o:p></o:p>Underwater life is quiet and slower, your movements adapt to that rhythm and <b style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">the tiniest little thing becomes the most fascinating</b> you can possible imagine. What a contrast with normal life where nothing surprises us any more, where movement, speed, violence, stress, surround us.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /><span style=""><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style=""><o:p></o:p></span><b style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"><span style="">If I could choose I would probably be a fish in my next life</span></b><span style=""><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">, </span></span><span style="">normal with only one condition: a guarantee that</span><span style=""><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"> </span><b style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">I would live in a reef in the <st1:place st="on"><st1:country-region st="on">Philippines</st1:country-region></st1:place>. I don’t want to be one of those sad little goldfishes trapped in a round tank looking at life without really living it</b>, just like I don’t want to become a person trapped in a cubicle in some office, while the world is out there.
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<br /><span style=""><o:p></o:p></span></p> la elfahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17246939661416381636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2511447976845042556.post-32309696257789620812009-03-23T15:20:00.000+02:002009-03-23T15:23:26.146+02:00Charleston, 21st century styleI love this video, it makes me laugh and feel happy...!<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/339ixMtHrVk&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/339ixMtHrVk&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>la elfahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17246939661416381636noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2511447976845042556.post-69935987984764351992009-02-06T14:52:00.001+02:002010-09-27T21:56:38.310+03:00When I am alone<span style="color: #ff6600; font-weight: bold;">I just found this, it must be 3 years old or so... anyways I have no time, no inspiration, these days, so here it is.</span><br />
<br />
Now that you are gone,<br />
Now that I am close to Rome,<br />
Now that we are home,<br />
<br />
Now,<br />
we realize we are alone<br />
<br />
I need you in my life<br />
(but I’m scared to be your wife)<br />
I need your lack of words<br />
(you remind me of old lords)<br />
I need you messing with my hair<br />
(not with the one of her)<br />
I need to feel you close<br />
(I need my dose)<br />
<br />
I miss our complicity,<br />
I miss our felicity.<br />
<br />
Couples in the street, I envy<br />
Everybody around me, I envy<br />
Paulo & Lindsay,<br />
Loren & Leti,<br />
Carlos & Sophie,<br />
Simon & Ruthie<br />
Meredith & Be<br />
Why not you and me?<br />
<br />
I see couples, I see happiness, I see kisses,<br />
I see what I wish I had,<br />
I see what I wish I had closer.<br />
<br />
Not easy to be far away,<br />
Not a second time, not even the first one.<br />
Worth it? I guess, I hope, I believe, I fear<br />
<br />
Don’t wanna wait,<br />
I want you right now, right here.<br />
In the elevator, in the gas station, in the kitchen, on the stage…..<br />
la elfahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17246939661416381636noreply@blogger.com0