Portugal: Couch Surfing and Hospitality Club

My two day visit in Lisbon was much coloured by the great meeting´s with people I had there.

I wanna THANK all my hosts that have hosted me or guided me around in their city while travelling in Portugal and Morocco! You made my trip, friends!

It´s amazing that you can meet people and get so well along eventhough you´ve never met each other before. My gorgeus host Helena in Lisbon (picture) let me stay at her place and be part of her nice family. I really enjoyed spending time with her, discussing, relaxing and drinking tea. She, as well as others, are defenetely people I hope I will stay in touch with in future. I also wish you all very welcome to come to Finland one day to surf my couch, too

Links:

http://www.hospitalityclub.org/

http://www.couchsurfing.com/

Portugal: The Douro river in Porto

My first impression of Oporto (Porto in Portuguese) was that it´s an old, respectable and nice city. It might not be the most beautiful city you´ve seen since many of the fasades of the houses are in bad shape. But Porto has an intersting history, old fascinating and beautiful buildings and last but not least: it´s from here the real Port Wine comes from.

The river Douro resques a lot. It gives the city breathing space and separates Porto from the nearby city Vila Nova de Gaia. If you stand on the Gaia side you will see a Oporto in a different light and also the other way around. There are bridges between the two cities and you can easily walk over to the other side in a couple of minutes.

I found people in Oporto very friendly and helpful! The older ones don´t speak much English but younger ones often speak some or quite a good English. As a Finn I felt it was easy to get along with the people I met there but also with people in Portugal generally.

Maybe Finns and Portugues generally have more in common than the Finns and the Spannish?

Morocco: Why stress?

I hate to admit that I´m a very typical Finn...

That I just can´t seem to take it easy or just relax and enjoy... not even when I ´m on holiday and there´s absolutely no rush anywhere.I seem to be in a hurry when moving from point A to point B... like I have to maximize the use of time, tempo, programme.

Why do people have to stress so much in today´s society?

Why do we have to be so successful, rich, beautiful, well-educated, hard-working, ambitious, perfect... all at the same time? It´s not human. And it´s not fair.

I wish I can take a small piece of that relaxed mentality that people in Morocco has, take it home with me...and relearn myself a bit.

Morocco: Trance and Gnawa music

You can hear the music

everywhere, especially at squares where artists, singers, musicians and all kinds of entertainers gather to play and collect money. The music is also performed in private parties, at religions meetings or rituals, in homes and cafees ect. Traditional music might also be combined with dance and storytelling.

I got to hear some nice examples of Gnawa music at the square in Meknes.
The style is an interesting mixture of religious arabic songs, african rythms, trance music and mysticism. Professional dancers are at lest as wild as the wildest heavy-metal singers/musicians that wave their heads up and down with the long hair...! And the trance feeling you get from listening and looking at it reminds a lot of the trance - and dance music we have at home.
The music were developed by slaves from other parts of Africa who were brought to Morocco at the 16th century.

Unfortunately I had to leave before the big and famous Gnawa festival held in Essaouira every year in June.

Music & Social work in Meknes

Meknes is a rather small and religious city

It's still unspoilt but even here the tourism and comersial life is growing every day (like in Rabat, the capital). Walking in the city, shopping in the souks (bazars) and communicating with people were different here. You could still feel the genuine open attitude towards you as a tourist and visistor; people welcomed you very kindly and didn't even try to "fool" you (too much) on the prices - which still were low in the shops and souks.

But what was one of the greater experience I had was the "social work" done by some professional street musicians on the market square. People stand in these big clungs around the artist (who ever it is for the moment) and to get to see what is happening you have to squeeze yourself to the front. This time it was a singer and a guitarist playing, singing and entertaining. With short intervals the singer collected money from the crowd. He had an enormous power on his audience making everyone listen, laugh and give the small money they had.

The whole thing was a happy little circus until...

...a very old, dying man in wheelchair was brought into the crowded circel.

Everybody stopped and became serious. And suddenly there was no sound at all.
The singer talked privately to the old man for a minute. It turned out that he needed money to support the family since he couldn't do it himself anymore.

And then the real collection started; the singer suddenly turned into preacher, more of a political religious master, an artist, a teacher...while he at the same time remained the professional entertainer he was. He preached, told dramatic stories (which I didn't understand a word of)laughed, he sang while the guitarist silently accompanied him in the background. Suddenly he also draw my friend (and host from couch surfing) into the "band" to sing along and dance! (They knew each other from before and my host is kind of a musician too). This funny show mixed with seriousness kept on going for quite a time and meanwhile the singer had managed to collect a big sum money for the whealchair-man.

I thought it was beautiful to witness.

This is where music and culture meets the basic human needs
and is useful to the maximum.

Morocco: Glimpses from a family

I don't wanna generalize too much, cos I know that the familylife, traditions and ways differ much among Muslim families. This story is therefore only about this specific family, not about Muslim families generally.

But I have to tell you this:

I had the great honour to visit a nice local family in Meknes. And I must say; my view on the Muslim family life changed a bit!

I could never have imagined that under those innocent scarves and burkas that women wear, lies these wild, funny and half carzy women! Outside the house most of them wear traditional clothes and scarves covering themselves. But what happens at home when they take off the scarves..?

In this happy little family everyone spend a lot of time together, eats, laughs, cries, makes jokes, dances, sings, and smokes the water pipe (sisha) together. Some years ago they all smoked marihuana, but now they have gone over to some more "healthy" smoking, only using fruit tobacco. In the first picture above there was a lot of action and noise going on. The family's son's wife looked at me lauging and said "crazy family...ha?"

Sitting there amongst them made me happy too.
I wish our families had more of that spontanous life and love...

(I´m not saying you should smoke Marihuana, though)

Thousands of thanks to "Breakfast" from Couch Surfing who brought me around to local friends in Meknes.

Morocco: Female dressing

The different styles and colours in women's clothing is a mystery to me:

Some wear very traditional black suites covered up everything except the eyes, some wear colourful kaftans that goes down to their feet with cute little huts that they can pull over their heads, other wear western clothes but with the traditional scarf to cover up their heads. And others wear just very modern, western-like, the latest fashion clothes covering almost nothing.

People use different styles of clothes depending on, well, what? That is the question.

One guy told me that when women marry they have to start covering more, especially if they go out. A liberate woman told me that the dressing code is roughly just up to the family traditions and their level of education.

As I heard Muslims say before, the covering outfit women usually wear is not all about covering up their body, leaving it unseen for the rest of the world except for their own husbands. It also has a practical point; the dresses are made of the right material for the hot weather, they protect you from being burnt by the sun, they protect you from dust, sand and wind etc. Interesting if you see it from this point of view. Cos that might be more than the majority of us in Scandinavia think of when we dress up for the day, squees ouselves into our uncomfortable pants and shirts... and going out to freeze in the cold temperature.

Anyway, the koftas and the other exotic clothes is in my mind still the intersting ones. In Scandinavia we see western fashion clothes every day and the outfits change almost as fast as our own seasons. The Moroccan traditional outfit is very charming, colorful, nice and female in many ways, in my mind. I am very tempted to buy myself a whole dress, as I usually am when I see traditional clothes, but the again... I know I wouldn't wear it back home in Helsinki.

Anyway, plus points for the female clothes in Morocco.

And by the way, who said that the revealing western clothes are so sexy...?

Pics are still to come.

Morocco: Casablanca's famous Mosque

Morocco - Casablancas great Mosque

After Mecka, the big Mosque that the Muslims pilgrims to, Casablancas Mosque Hassan 2 is the biggest religious building in the world. It is situated right at the cost and port of Casa and is easy to find since you can see it from a long distance.

Unfortunately I did not get inside of it since it is only open for non-Muslims at certains times of the day and I came at the wrong time.

The guide at the Tourist office insisted that I just HAVE TO see it from the inside. So... I guess I missed out on something there.

Morocco: Small tips help and cheer up

...Here it means a lot that you give an extra tip to the cleaner at your hostel or to the waiter at the cafe. Acctually a small gesture like that will give you much more than it costs you when you see the happy face expressions on some faces.

This old handsome man was so happy when I handed over a couple of Dirhams through the Taxi window.
But I was even happier; finally I got a real pic of a real local.

Morocco: Busy Casablanca

Still alive in the heat..


And here comes some more subjective reflections from my travelling;

It is a bit cooler than Marrakech since Casabanca is by the sea.

The city is big; busy and with intense traffic. Acctually most I talked to adviced me not to go to Casa but to choose nicer and more tourist friendly destination, like Essaouira or Agadir... but since the bus tickets to Essaouria were sold out I jumped on the train to Casa.

I have to admit it is not a beautiful city and the poverty is widespead.
Here it means a lot that you give an extra tip to the cleaner at your hostel or to the waiter at the cafe. Acctually a small gesture like that will give you much more than it costs you when you see the happy face expressions on some faces.

My hotel is very simple... costs less than 8 E per night: On the other hand there is no shower included and if you are too sensitive of small creeps it is not a good idea to stay in one of those cheaper hotels here in the Medina. There are several cleaner and nice ones that cost you about 20-30 E per night.

The second biggest Mosque Hassan 2, in the world, after the huge Islamic Mecka, is here in Casablanca at the Atlantic cost side. It is yet to be discovered today.

The mentality is harder here than in Marrakech. It is bigger, more elitistic and city-like whereas at the same times the poverty seem to be more obvious. The contrasts are big. While there might be a huge luxorious hotel in one city street there is still a very poor and dirty street just next to it. People at the poorer quarters seem to have less understaning for strange tourists who dress unrespectfully... and I even got hit by a man yesterday ...probably cos of my shorts and top, that looks western indeed. Well; after that experience I do not walk those worst quarters anymore if not necessary.

According to the guide at the tTourist office this attitude difference between Casablanca and Marrakech is cos of the fact that the tourism has not really reached Casablanca yet. It first came to Marrakech - which probably is the most famous city at this point. By the way, the so called Tourist office is a small glass box that was not open til the 4 th time I went there... There were a couple of thin prospects you could get from there but no map of the city itself was available.

Tonight I am gonna meet some local females and stay at their place before I backpack forward with train to the capital Rabat.

Alja

Morocco: Great food in Marrakech

Another day in the hot but exciting Marrakech.

The food is great, especially if you sit down at the local big marget in late evening and join the locals for a real Moroccan dinner. When it comes to food you will defenitely not be disappointed. It is not only the very tasty and fresh food barbecued in front of your eyes...it is also the friendly and intense atmosphere. You get to sit side by side with a mixture of Moroccan people in all ages as well as with tourists from all sied of the world; I can not think of a better way to get together; everyone needs food, right? Just imagine the scent of grilled meats and vegetables, chili sauces, sallads, kebab, potatoe beefs... you name it.

I am surprised over the friendly and open attitude the Moroccan people generally seem to have toward tourists, They are helpful and try their best to help you with their poor english. And no hard feelings concerning the religion thing either. Most of people in Marrakech seem to be quite religious but as a foreigner you will not be treated badly eventhough you dress or behave differently etc. Looking at the dressing code it also surprises me that women dress variously; in traditional koftas, in skirts, tops, shirts, with or without head scarves. The coulourful clothes women wear looks just great and I have heard they are much lighter and thin in the hot weather than it looks like.

No pics this time, sorry. I almost succeeded but not quite, though, since the blogging programme refused to upload the pics waiting at the desktop, Better luck next time?

Best greetings,

Alja

Morocco: Bodylanguage

3 Messages, dernière publication le 7 juin 2007

Nouveau message Gérer: Messages, Paramètres, Mise en page
...whatever that means...

...um, so let s see if I manage to even write a single sentence to my own blog from here. Everything goes in French and Arabic and I only speak English...
But no panic, no panic, there is always this universal human language, thanks god, called the Bodylanguage. Beides there are paper and pen.

It is hot, colourful, lots of people, squares and squares of bazaars, donkeys, horses, cars, bikes, motorbikes, old, young, black, yellow, red and white everywhere.

It is great - defenitely different than home. The climate, the smell, the heat, the tempo; the tastes, the sounds.

But I must say, and I have said it before, in Finland we have no idea how silent, peacful and clean our environments are.

But home is far away in time and distance now and I am gonna go out and get lost in the bazaars again for a while, before I head back to the hostel. Sleep well.

Next time I would like to surprise myself by managing to add some pictures to my message.

Enjoy.

Alja -

Pics from home

Home

Interview poll

Yo!

Wanna take part and answer these questions?
Then mail me and I might publish it :)
_________________________________

Janne (Adult - but still a child):

What´s your favourite country so far? Why?

Irland.
I have always been interested in the Irish culture, both the pagan era and the christian era. And the hospitality of the people, there are no strangers in Ireland only friends who haven't met.

How do Finnish people differ from other people?

The Finns live along with the four seasons. One can notice, for example, in the spring. Not only the nature comes to bloom, the people also.

What sides in yourself are revealed when abroad?

Nothing much differ. If I stay for a longer period I long for typical finnish stuff. For example I never listen to Eppu Normaali, in Finland, but when I lived in London I had to buy one CD.

Are there things you wanna change in the world if you were God?

Actually no. The world is perfect as it is now. It too bad with all the wars and supression of the people and with wasting of global resources. But I think it is as God inteded.

_______________________________

Petri (40):

What´s your favourite country so far? Why?

Brazil. Magnificent nature and the people. You always see people smiling and that means a lot cos it makes you happy.

How do Finnish people differ from other people?

They are introvert BUT very honest!

What sides in yourself are revealed when abroad?

I become a curious little boy. I wanna see, touch and experience all kinds of things.

Are there things you wanna change in the world if you were God?

Yes. I would gather all leaders of all the religions and brainwash them…and make them be more compassionate towards each other and towards other people.

______________________________

Toffe (16, Alja´s son):

What´s your favourite country so far? Why?

Finland
(It has to be another country than your own)
No
(ok, then why is Finland the best?)
Cos it´s the only land I really know

How do Finnish people differ from other people?

Finnish people believe less in themselves.

What sides in yourself are revealed when abroad?

I become more curious and independent

Are there things you wanna change in the world if you were God?

Nä.
(hey…come on)
There shouldn´t be any mosquitos.
(Nothing else?)
No.
_____________________________


Martin:

What´s your favourite country so far? Why?

India; huge, beautiful country with a completely different culture, fascinating religions and customs, beautiful nature and simply the best food.

How do Finnish people differ from other people?

Silent and honest. A compliment from a Finn is a Real Compliment.

What sides in yourself are revealed when abroad?

My real more-than-average social self, because it's easier to get to know strangers abroad. I also understand who of my friends are really important for me, who I really miss.

Are there things you wanna change in the world if you were God?

People shouldn't transfer hate through generations. I believe in the basic concept of Karma. Good comes back to you. Even if it wouldn't, you have brought something good into the world, and your life has had a positive impact.

________________________________________

Alja:

What´s your favourite country so far? Why?

Egypt
Cos of the mysterious history, the beautiful red sea and the Nile

How do Finnish people differ from other people?

They are more introvert, shy, generally quite well-educated, trustworthy and quiet

What sides in yourself are revealed when abroad?

My need for silence and privacy, my need for certain foods (ruisleipä, keitettyjä perunoita, salmiakki and makkara)

Are there things you wanna change in the world if you were God?

Love and respect to all. Better intelligence used by homo sapiens. Better responsibility and care for nature and animals.

In the beginning of Blogging there was...

...at least not very big technical problems.

THIS IS ALJA' S SUBJECTIVE BLOG BABBLE....

Ok, finally I start blogging. I never thought I would...

But I love travelling I think it´s the perfect thing to do.
I´ve had good help and advice from other vagabond blogs so far, and if you look at my linklist there are a few already (virtual soulmates :))

Now I´m counting down the days til I land in Morocco and Portugal. From that day on I´ll try my best to update my trips (eventhought I´m very good at NOT keeping routines up).

Hm... how do u think a lonesome woman will make it in a burning hot, muslim country like Morocco?

I´ll keep u updated.

So long!