The Lash of St. Francis (October 4th)

"A single sunbeam is enough to drive away many shadows"

― St. Francis of Assisi

St. Francis and the legendary wolf of Gubbio.

For the past two weeks I’ve been looking for some information about the Lash of St. Francis (Cordonazo de San Francisco in Spanish). Everything related to this atmospheric event is more or less the same, although there are some differences in explanations when reading posts in Spanish and in English. Let’s start explaining first what the Lash of St. Francis is and also who St. Francis was, so I can give you not only the scientific explanation found in English posts, but also the superstitious beliefs (found in the Spanish posts) of this storm.

The Lash of St. Francis indicates the end of wet season, which occurs by the autumnal equinox. It brings strong winds, heavy rain, thunders and lightning bolts. It happens suddenly and can last for some hours. The countries affected by these storms are Venezuela, Colombia, Panama and Mexico. The scientific explanation says that the first week of October there is a major occurrence of sunbeams over the planet’s surface, forming clouds of vertical growing (Cumulunimbus) that cause the thunderstorm.

Saint Francis of Assisi is the protector of animals and environment according to Catholic Church. His feast day is commemorated on October 4th each year.  This day, animals receive blessings in ceremonies held by priests in open spaces as parks and squares. It is very traditional and people bring their pets to get a spray of blessed water.

Now the superstitious explanations (which I prefer more) for the Lash of Saint Francis, several versions try to explain its origin. These are:

• St. Francis wants to play with the clouds, so he hits them with his cord/belt to get rid of their water, producing lots of rain, lightning and thunders.

• Another version says that St. Francis is the water administrator in this planet, something like a water manager. Tired of working with water and being wet all the time, he decides to rest until the next rainy season, so he unties his cord on 4^th of October and shake his habit until the last drop falls over the earth.

• It’s also said that by the time St. Francis was alive, the devil appeared to him in several occasions to hurt the Saint. What St. Francis used to do to get rid of him was to lash the devil with his cord, which caused big storms, thunders and lightning flashes that made the devil run to hell.

These are the versions I heard in Venezuela about the origin of this storm, and I found these same explanations are common among the countries that experience the Lash of St. Francis, which generally happens the first week of October, not exactly the 4th, but it can happen this day of course.

The Lash of St. Francis over Caracas, Venezuela. Source: Noticias24.

Uruguay, nice to meet you!

Tourists usually go to Uruguay as an option after visiting Argentina. However, this small country is a very nice place to visit, not only for a short weekend from Buenos Aires, but also for at least one week in order to understand better the kindness of their inhabitants and enjoy the delicious food offered in the once considered the Switzerland of South America.

How to get to Uruguay

If you’re not in Buenos Aires, you can arrive there by plane to the Aeropuerto de Carrasco in Montevideo, the capital city. Once there, you can take a bus or the airport shuttle that leaves you in Tres Cruces Terminal and also near the beach areas. Tres Cruces is a bus station that connects Montevideo with the rest of the country. More information on schedules at http://www.trescruces.com.uy/ (Spanish)

The airport shuttle is a good choice if you’re carrying heavy luggage. However, there are some pros and cons for each transport option:

Omnibus: It’s fine when traveling as a backpacker. The price is really cheap, around 3$ or even less. Frequency: every 15 minutes.

Airport shuttle: Good if you carry heavy luggage. Capacity: 12 persons. Price is higher of course, around 12$. As a disadvantage, these buses leave the airport with 5 passengers as a minimum, so be patient.

Taxis: These are first class Mercedes Benz. Disadvantage: the price, the minimum fare is around 60$. You can pay in cash or credit card directly in their office at the airport.

If you’re in Buenos Aires, take the ferry, there are several companies. They leave from Buenos Aires to Colonia del Sacramento or Punta del Este, crossing Rio de la Plata, and later the company takes you in a bus to Tres Cruces Terminal in Montevideo. There are several options for the price, depending on the day and class.

There is also an option by bus from Porto Alegre, Brazil. Check here http://www.ttl.com.br/produtos-e-servicos/precos-horarios/ (Portuguese)

Where to start

You can start your trip in Montevideo, Punta del Este or Colonia del Sacramento. It depends on how you get to Uruguay whether by plane, by bus or by ship.

Montevideo the capital city. There are many things to see. Let’s start with Ciudad Vieja, the most touristic side of the city, with nighclubs and the Mercado del Puerto. Visit Plaza Independencia (Independence Square), Palacio Salvo (Salvo Palace), Puerta de la Ciudadela (Gateway of the Citadel), Teatro Solís (Solís Theater), Catedral Metropolitana (Metropolitan Cathedral) and Plaza Constitución (Constitution Square). Walk along Avenida 18 de julio, main avenue of the city, with many things to enjoy in all its length, one of them is Fuente de los Candados (Locks Fountain), where lovers leave locks since the legend says: “…if a lock with the initials of two people in love is placed in it, they will return together to the fountain and their love will be forever locked…”

Fuente de los Candados (Locks Fountain)

Out of Ciudad Vieja, visit Legislative Palace, also Pocitos and Parque Rodó, where different activities and events are held every weekend. Don’t forget to walk along the ramblas and enjoy the beaches of Río de la Plata, where Pocitos is considered one of the best.

There is not subway in Montevideo, the best and cheapest way to know Montevideo is either by foot or by bus.

Casapueblo, Punta Ballena.

Punta del Este is a great place to visit. It’s the South American version of Miami Beach with its casinos, shops, beautiful buildings and beaches. The coastline has the Atlantic Ocean view by one side and Rio de Plata by the other side. Remember the summer season starts from December and ends around March. Don’t forget to visit Casapueblo, a hotel in Punta Ballena, it’s a must. There is an art gallery inside that you can visit without being guest in the hotel. Hours to/from Montevideo: 2 hours by bus. Good for a day trip.

Colonia del Sacramento is a small town from which you can see Buenos Aires in the distance in sunny days. I especially like these typical colonial towns, with cobblestone streets, very picturesque, so romantic at the same time. Hours to/from Montevideo: 3 hours by bus. Good also for a day trip.

Colonia del Sacramento.

These are some highlights because there is much more to see. Uruguayans are very friendly, always willing to help, lovers of great food and good beers.

What to eat

Barbecue, Chivito and beer. What is “chivito”? Chivito in Spanish can be translated into English as kid-goat, so when you say “chivito” any Spanish speaker would think of an animal. However, if you were Uruguayan, a different image will appear in your head, something similar to a hamburger or maybe a sandwich containing a steak, bacon, egg, ham, mozzarella, tomato, lettuce, mayonnaise and much more if you wish, like olives and mushrooms.

Chivito al plato.

The world famous Uruguayan “asado de tira”, which is a delicious, grilled rib eaten with sausages (chorizos). A good place to enjoy a barbecue is in Mercado del Puerto in Ciudad Vieja, Montevideo. "Matambre" also is worth a try, very typical from Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, it’s a rolled beef roast that is filled with boiled eggs and vegetables.

Mercado del Puerto.

There are different kinds of beers, although preferences are for Patricio and Pilsen. Uruguayans are also well-known for drinking Yerba mate infusion, even for breakfast. It's curious to see people in the streets walking and drinking mate. It's the equivalent of coffee or tea for us. Moreover, Uruguay is finally the first country that legalizes the grow, sell and consume of cannabis. Be sure to ask first if you can freely smoke marihuana in the streets. 

Everything said in this post is not enough to describe Uruguay. There are more places to visit, food to try, beaches to enjoy and people to meet. 

Viajar en solitario a París

París de ensueño.

Querido viajero solitario:

Supongo que si te encuentras leyendo esta publicación es porque has estado planeando o pensando en realizar un viaje sin compañía alguna a la ciudad más romántica del mundo, París.

Aquí no voy a darte una descripción de los lugares que deberías visitar en la Ciudad de la Luz, ya que en Internet y en las librerías existe mucha información confiable, disponible en todos los idiomas, con fotos espectaculares y descripciones detalladas de las rutas que puedes recorrer a pie o en bicicleta. 

Cena en el Restaurant 58 Tour Eiffel.

París es una ciudad para disfrutar sin importar que viajes solo, con amigos o con tu pareja. Debes estar preparado para caminar, no obstante, si vas en solitario debes estar preparado para sentirte realmente melancólico una vez allí, cuando observes a los enamorados besándose y abrazándose en la torre Eiffel, así como a los felices grupos de amigos y familiares que alegremente recorren los Campos Elíseos. Sentarse a comer en un restaurante podría ser un gran reto, especialmente cuando eres mujer y tienes que soportar las miradas de aquellos que piensan en lo triste que debe ser para una dama estar cenando sola en un restaurante de la ciudad más romántica del planeta. Ahora si tienes las agallas suficientes y no te importa el qué dirán, entonces bravo por ti! Por supuesto que con esto no pretendo desmotivar a ninguna mujer en su solitario recorrido por París.

Una vez viajé sola a París y estuvo bien, utiliza siempre el sentido común en cuanto al peligro de los carteristas, tal como ocurre en cualquier gran ciudad, y evita las calles oscuras y solitarias. Con respecto a tu salud emocional, te informo que París no es una buena opción si recientemente atravesaste un divorcio o tu novio / novia te dejó, pero si no tienes alternativa porque te ganaste el pasaje aéreo con estadía gratis, vas por razones de trabajo o simplemente ha sido tu gran sueño, entonces puedes realizar algunas actividades que te permitirán conocer a otros viajeros o residentes que con gusto compartirán experiencias, opiniones y paseos contigo.

La noche en París.

Si tienes el dinero suficiente, no te importa gastar y desconfías de extraños, puedes contratar alguna de las muchas empresas turísticas que ofrecen servicios y actividades en París, entre los cuales se encuentran los recorridos a pie y en bicicleta por la ciudad, cata y degustación de vinos y quesos. Ahora bien, en el caso de disponer de un presupuesto limitado, una buena opción es contactar a otras personas por medio de la red social Couchsurfing (no olvides leer las referencias) y encontrar actividades que se realicen durante tu estadía. Es una excelente manera de hacer nuevos amigos para salir de fiesta, visitar los bares o disfrutar de algún show en el Moulin Rouge o en el Lido.

Es una idea excelente viajar en solitario, demuestras tu valentía y descubres el guerrero interior. Es una experiencia inolvidable. Un consejo, sé un buen turista e intenta aprender algo de francés básico, algunas palabras serán suficientes, los franceses realmente apreciarán tu esfuerzo al comunicarte en su idioma.

Vista de los Campos Elíseos desde el Arco del Triunfo.

Aquí encontrarás algunos enlaces en español para que puedas descubrir un poco más de París.

Información turística:

http://www.paris.es/

http://www.viajaraparis.com/

Motivación para viajar en solitario:

http://www.upsocl.com/viajes/7-razones-por-las-que-debes-viajar-solo-al-menos-una-vez-en-la-vida/

http://www.mundo-nomada.com/articulos/viajar-solo

                                                                                                                            Bon Voyage!

Traveling solo to Paris

Aaaahhhh Paris.

Hello solo traveler!!! I guess that if you're reading this post, it's because you have been thinking or planning a trip to beautiful Paris, the most romantic city in the world, and you want to go alone.

Well, this post will not be a description of the places in Paris you must visit, I think there is too much information available nowadays and probably you have already made your research through internet and already bought a travel guide.

Dinner at 58 tour Eiffel. 

Paris is simply beautiful whether you go alone or with friends or a partner. Be prepare to walk; however, if you go alone, be prepare because you can really feel lonely once there, watching couples kissing and embracing each other on the tour Eiffel, as well as happy families and friends walking down together the Champs-Elysées. Restaurants can also be somehow a challenge for solo travelers, especially if you're a woman. I say this since for some people it's too sad seeing a woman having a meal alone in a restaurant and in Paris! If you're strong enough and don't care about other people's opinions, then go for it!!! I don't want to discourage any woman who wants to go alone to Paris.

Once I traveled alone to Paris and it was Ok, you just need to be cautious since there are pickpockets as in any big city and also avoid walking alone in lonely places, use common sense and it will be fine. As for your emotional health, if you recently divorced, left your boyfriend / girlfriend or he / she left you, going to Paris is not a good choice, honestly. BUT, in case you really want to visit it because it has always been your dream, it's the opportunity of your life or you won this trip, there are some options to meet other travelers and residents that can show you the city.

The night in Paris, tour Eiffel.

If you have enough money to spend and don't trust strangers, you can hire any of the companies offering tours and activites in Paris, where you can meet other solo travelers and also people open to meet and share their time with tourists. Among the activities these companies offer, there are city tours, biking, wine and cheese tasting workshops. Now, if you don't want to spend so much money, you can contact people through Couchsurfing (check references always), and find activities held by the time you arrive in Paris. It's a great idea to make friends so you can go out in the night to enjoy a show in the Moulin Rouge or Lido, or just going to a night club.

Traveling solo is not bad at all, in fact it's an excellent way to prove yourself of what you're capable of. It's a great experience. One last thing, try to learn some basic French, for God's sake! Try to be a good tourist learning some words, the French will appreciate your effort to communicate in their language.

A view of Champs-Élysées from the Arc de Triomphe.

This is all about traveling solo in Paris, there are some links where you can find more tips which are also suitable for men.

http://thoughtcatalog.com/joe-berkowitz/2011/06/traveling-alone-for-introverts/

http://wanderlustandlipstick.com/wandertips/solo/9-tips-for-traveling-solo-to-paris/

http://www.journeywoman.com/gfc/paris_solo.html

Redescubrir la Historia de Venezuela

Las clases de historia en la escuela nunca fueron mis favoritas, me parecían aburridas y fastidiosas, una molestia que era mejor ignorar, al extremo de considerar dicha materia innecesaria para desarrollarme en la vida, pensando que solo los profesores de historia estaban en la fiel obligación de conocerla.

Simón Bolívar - El Libertador

Los años fueron transcurriendo y mis precarios conocimientos de historia quedaron cubiertos de telaraña en algún cajón olvidado de mi cerebro hasta que la vida de pronto me dio una sorpresa que me dejó por varios segundos con la sonrisa congelada de la Mona Lisa. Una de mis estudiantes de español pidió información específica de cierto evento ocurrido en la vida de Simón Bolívar. No pude dejar de lamentar aquellas ocasiones en las que me quedé dormida en las clases de historia en el colegio. Recordé mi época gloriosa de aprender inglés en los Estados Unidos y reconocí que esa estudiante reflejó simplemente la misma curiosidad que me acompañaba mientras estudiaba en territorio norteamericano, del cual quería conocer su cultura, historia y tradiciones. Esto resultó bastante irónico por el hecho de desconocer los hechos históricos y costumbres de mi país, algo que no noté en ese momento, ya que me encontraba deslumbrada por el ambiente estadounidense.

He comenzado a redescubrir la historia de Venezuela con la ayuda de libros y del internet, ahora con una perspectiva diferente a aquella de la escuela. Más que una obligación, se ha convertido en una sorpresa inesperada, que resulta indispensable para cualquier profesor de español como lengua extranjera. Ahora percibo la historia bajo una óptica diferente, con un sabor que deleita y refresca, que puede incluso resultar abrumador al leer sobre las batallas sangrientas que enfrentaron quienes luchaban por la liberación de Venezuela de la Corona de España.

 Doña Bárbara forma parte de uno de mis redescubrimientos, es una novela muy regionalista y fue escrita por el expresidente Rómulo Betancourt. Se considera una obra maestra de la literatura venezolana. Aquí todos los estudiantes de secundaria están obligados a leerla y ahora que la he releído, me he sentido conectada con mis raíces llaneras y muy orgullosa de mi tierra. Nací y fui criada en el estado Barinas, el cual forma parte de la región de Los Llanos junto con los estados Anzoátegui, Apure, Cojedes, Guárico y Monagas, por tanto soy llanera. La trama de la novela Doña Bárbara se desarrolla en los llanos apureños, con descripciones muy específicas de la flora, fauna y de las tradiciones (ver vídeo al final de esta publicación) que hacen de esta novela una joya para los venezolanos. Wikipedia menciona: «Doña Bárbara representa aquella Venezuela cruel, insensible por la corrupción, traición, despotismo, falta de libertad, latifundismo e injusticia y brujería; pero en el melodrama se muestra que en la realidad existía también una raza buena que ama, sufre y espera para luchar contra la dictadura desenfrenada de aquel entonces [...] ». 

 Para conocer más de Doña Bárbara: http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Do%C3%B1a_B%C3%A1rbara_(novela)

 Por los momentos no pienso ofrecer una clase de historia y literatura venezolana en esta publicación, tengo todavía mucho por revisar y aprender. La idea es expresar mi orgullo por la cultura de mi país y ya he incluido en mis clases temas como las leyendas, tradiciones, canciones, historia, literatura y comida, en donde los estudiantes aprenden algo nuevo mientras redescubro la historia por medio de la enseñanza.

 Si tienes curiosidad por conocer más de la historia de Venezuela, revisa este enlace: 

http://www.venezuelatuya.com/historia/

Rediscovering the History of Venezuela

At school, history wasn’t my favorite subject, too boring for me. Grade after grade, history became a hassle and just stopped paying attention. I thought it would be unnecessary to know it in order to make a living, unless I were supposed to be a history teacher, but I wasn´t expecting to be one.

Simón Bolívar - The Liberator

Life recently showed me that those things underestimated can switch to a highest rank of appreciation. It happened when one of my students asked me about Venezuelan history and I immediately regretted not taking the time to read Simón Bolivar’s life. Remembering old times (well, not so old!), learning English in the US, I realized that this student is not so different from the student I was years ago. I also wanted to learn everything about the culture, history and traditions of the host country. So why was I so interested in learning about other culture when I didn’t even appreciate mine? At that time, I didn’t see all this, I was younger and overwhelmed by the US.

I have started to rediscover Venezuelan history through books and internet, now with a different perspective from school times. More than a duty, a must-learn for a language teacher who works with foreign students, an unexpected surprise. I see history with other eyes. It has another taste now. Refreshing. Enjoyable. Overwhelming, especially when reading how our people fought fiercely for our independence from the Spanish crown, but also depressing in many chapters of our history.

One of my rediscovering is a novel book named Doña Bárbara written by one of our former Presidents, Rómulo Gallegos. It’s our masterpiece, so regionalist. Every Venezuelan student in high school MUST read this novel. Now that I re-read it, I have felt so connected with my llaneras roots and very proud of my land since I was born in and raised in Barinas state which belongs to a region called Los Llanos (the plains) formed by the states of Anzoátegui, Apure, Barinas, Cojedes, Guárico and Monagas, so I’m llanera. Doña Bárbara’s story takes place in Los Llanos de Apure. It’s very descriptive about typical vegetation, wild life and traditions (watch the video in this post), making this novel a jewel in Venezuelan literature. As Wikipedia mentions: “It establishes a psychological study of the people of the Venezuelan plains: victims of unfortunate situations, but at the same time strong and courageous.” 

More about Doña Bárbara: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Do%C3%B1a_B%C3%A1rbara

I am not going to give a class of Venezuelan history and literature in this post since there are still many details unknown for me. My point is that I feel so proud of my cultural background that now I have included in my classes strong cultural components: legends, traditions, history, literature, food, songs and festivities. The students are learning something new, and I am rediscovering history through teaching.

If you’d like to know more about the history of Venezuela, please check this link http://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/world/venezuela-history.html

¿Y AHORA QUÉ HAGO?

Varios meses han transcurrido desde la última actualización en mi blog, tuve que dirigir mi atención hacia mi interior nuevamente y pensar en las actividades o pasatiempos que podrían contribuir a mi equilibrio personal. He disfrutado muchísimo mi intermitente faceta como cocinera, pero sentía que necesitaba algo más, mi mente y mi corazón me lo decían.

Pensé infinitamente en aquello que me apasiona, tanto lo amado como lo detestado, acerca de cómo me veo en la actualidad, cómo me gustaría verme, cuál mensaje deseo transmitir. Poco a poco e inesperadamente, personas maravillosas se cruzaron en mi camino (¿o yo me crucé en el camino de ellos?) y casi como ángeles guardianes me mostraron el sendero a seguir, me dieron sugerencias con mensajes que he logrado comprender en este momento de mi existencia.

Así que ahora voy a comentarles las actividades nuevas que decidí incluir en mi vida:

1. Aprender un nuevo idioma: el ruso. ¿Pero por qué ese?  Hay otros idiomas menos complicados para una nativa de la lengua española, tales como el italiano y el portugués. Estudié el francés anteriormente durante cuatro años, por lo que no estaba muy interesada en conocer alguna otra lengua de la rama neolatina. Quería algo distinto, fuera de lo común, al menos por este lado del planeta. Muchos me recomendaron estudiar el alemán, investigué pero no sentí conexión alguna con este idioma. Luego ¡el chino mandarín!, la escritura y la variación tonal en la pronunciación me asustaron. Consideré también otra opción: el japonés, pero tampoco clasificó como ganador por la misma razón que el mandarín, aunque debo admitir que mis puertas están abiertas para aprender (intentarlo al menos) alguno de estos idiomas. 

El alfabeto cirílico me asustó al principio, más tarde descubrí que es lo más sencillo del idioma comparado con los casos rusos, los cuales son el dolor de cabeza de cualquier estudiante, sin mencionar las numerosas excepciones a las reglas gramaticales y la cuestión de la sílaba tónica, no hay manera gráfica de identificarla. Me encanta que no solo se aprenda la lengua, sino también la gran riqueza cultural e histórica de ese enorme país.

2. ¡¡¡Finalmente me inscribí en el gimnasio!!! No tienen idea de lo difícil que es para mí ir al gimnasio. Es un verdadero reto ejercitarme todos los días, no solo por la flojera sino también por la ubicación, este se encuentra en un centro comercial, sinónimo de chocolaterías, cafeterías y pastelerías que echan por tierra todo el esfuerzo del día. No es fácil, pero sigo intentando…

3. Y por último, pero no menos importante: estoy aprendiendo a tejer en telar. Quería conocer más sobre manualidades, algo tradicional, algo que las abuelas hacían en el tiempo libre, aunque todavía debo aprender crochet. Esta actividad me ha sorprendido en gran medida porque pensé que sería aburrida, mas no es así. Realmente contribuye a mantener la atención enfocada, no puedo pensar en nada más mientras tejo, mi mente está allí, me atrevo a decir que parece una meditación.

Tejer en telar.

El tejer me ha enseñado que el tiempo y la dedicación me ayudarán a obtener el resultado deseado en esta etapa de mi vida. Paso a paso, tejo un suéter de un color que podría quedarme bien y de un tamaño adecuado para mí. Escogí el hilo, su color y tamaño, pero aún desconozco si ese resultado cumplirá mis expectativas. ¿Luce tan bien como pensé? ¿Tengo que tejer más? ¿Debo cambiar el color? Preguntas que todavía no tienen respuestas. Paciencia es la palabra clave sin olvidar disminuir las altas expectativas, será mucho mejor si disfruto simplemente cada fila de este patrón llamado vida.

SO WHAT TO DO NEXT?

It has been several months since last time I updated this blog. Well, it has been a long moment of introspection, just thinking about what new activities could possibly enrich my life. Cooking is fine, I have really enjoyed this part of my daily life, but I still felt that I needed to do something else because my brain was constantly figuring out what to do next.

So I thought in a limitless way about my passions (what I like and also what I don’t), about how I’d love to be, what message I want to communicate, how I see myself. Step by step as usually, wonderful people stopped by my way unexpectedly as angels who were showing me the path to follow, making suggestions, and this time I was ready to catch these messages. When the student is ready, the master appears.

One thing I know for sure, I want to continue teaching Spanish. I don’t feel it as a work, it’s more like a hobby for me. So the new activities I have added to my life are:

1. Learning a new language: Russian. Ok, why Russian? There are other languages less complicated to learn for a native Spanish speaker, such as Italian and Portuguese. I already studied French during four years, so I wasn’t interested at all in learning more from the Romance language family. I just wanted something different, out of common. Many recommended me to learn German, but I just didn’t feel that connection with the language. Mandarin Chinese, wow! Just thinking of the writing and tones when speaking discouraged me. Another option: Japanese, more or less the same reason why Mandarin wasn’t considered as a possible choice. My doors are open to learn (or just try) one of these languages in the future.

Cyrillic alphabet scared me at the beginning; however, I found it later not so difficult at all, but Russian cases have really given me hard moments, not to mention pronunciation sometimes. One not only learns the language but also about the country and its culture, and I have found them very interesting, with an amazing history, and many cultural differences very funny to know.

2. I have finally joined the gym!!! This is really a big effort for me, haha. Trying to go each day is a real challenge, especially because its location, inside a shopping mall, where I can easily fall for a cake or any of the delicious desserts someone can find. Not easy, but I keep trying…

3. Last but not least, learning how to loom knit. I wanted to try something traditional, something grandmas used to do (I still need to learn crochet), and this activity has really surprised me. It’s not as boring as I thought first, it really helps to keep mind busy. I just can’t think of anything else when knitting, my attention is completely there, it feels similar when meditating.

Loom knitting.

Knitting has taught me that time and perseverance will help me to get the result wanted or needed in this part of my life. Step by step, I knit a sweater now, with a color that I think it looks good on me and a size that may fit me. I chose yarn, color and size, but I still don’t know if the final result will be as expected. Is it going to look as nice as I thought? Do I have to knit more? Or to knit less? Do I need to change the color? Questions that cannot be answered yet. Patience is the word and lower expectations, it will be much better if I just enjoy knitting each row of the pattern called life.

Granada, la inolvidable

Mágica vista de la Alhambra. Foto: REX FEATURES

Gitano no me llores que algún día volverás 

a pasear las calles de Granada...

Estribillo de la canción “Las Calles de Granada”.

Un giro del destino me llevó a Granada. Dicen que de lo inesperado sale lo mejor, nada más cierto en ese viaje. Fue amor a primera vista, como si desde su Sierra Nevada hubiesen arrojado un hechizo de amor gitano sobre mí. La mezcla de aromas que impregna las estrechas calles del barrio Albaicín ha quedado almacenada en mi memoria como un bello recuerdo.

En Granada hay más hechizos que granos rojizos tiene la fruta que hay en los valles.

Víctor Hugo.

La ciudad es de ensueño, las vistas son espectaculares, la influencia musulmana en Andalucía obró maravillas en su paisaje. Granada es una ciudad para el romance, con atardeceres inolvidables, siendo el Mirador de San Nicolás el lugar más popular para deleitarse con las tonalidades doradas que refleja la Alhambra durante la puesta del sol. Se dice que las noches en el palacio huelen a jazmín y azahar. Es una ciudad de muchas historias, el libro Cuentos de la Alhambra de Washington Irving recopila leyendas que sirven como introducción a la riqueza cultural de Granada. 

Es una ciudad mágica que alumbra leyendas e historias increíbles que se narran a la sombra de la Alhambra.

El País, diario español.

Por la noche es encantador ver el flamenco en alguna de las Cuevas del Sacromonte o quizá realizar un paseo histórico por las calles del centro de ciudad, sentarse en algún bar y probar la afamada cerveza Alhambra, mientras disfruta de una de las actividades habituales de los españoles y turistas, el tapeo. Granada se caracteriza por ser uno de esos lugares en España que ofrecen todavía tapas gratis por cada bebida consumida. Por cierto, fue en Granada donde probé por primera vez el jamón ibérico de Bellota, ¡exquisito! Claro está que no se incluye como una tapa gratis.

Las horas son allí más largas y sabrosas que en ninguna otra ciudad de España.

Federico García Lorca.

La Capilla Real es parada obligatoria, porque se encuentran los sepulcros de los Reyes Católicos, así como de Juana la Loca y Felipe el Hermoso. Hay mucho más por descubrir en esta ciudad, mencioné solo algunos lugares. Sueño con volver a Granada, tiene una belleza única, las palabras no bastan, la ciudad está más allá de cualquier descripción que se pudiera encontrar en una guía de viaje. A veces por las noches siento que el resto de mi vida podría transcurrir felizmente entre colinas e historias, y entonces me imagino paseando por las calles de Granada, una vez más.

Si tuviéramos que visitar una sola ciudad en España, esa debería ser Granada.

Ernest Hemingway.

Saudade for Lisbon

Praça Dom Pedro IV

How could I forget Lisbon?

A hidden European jewel unknown for many and well worth a visit. Facing Tagus River, Lisbon offers a beautiful view from any of its hills making almost unavoidably to fall in love with. A city for those who enjoy great foods and drinks, within a relaxing atmosphere surrounded by friendly people. 

This is how my Lisbon urban adventure started: Due to the lack of direct flights from Caracas to Barcelona, I had to make one stop and take another plane at some point in Europe. Alternatives were four: Madrid, Rome, Paris, Frankfurt and Lisbon. I thought Lisbon would be the best option for geographic location and for the lowest ticket price available at that moment, so decided to give it a try and get to know this city. Well, I stayed there for a week and I wish could have stayed longer! 

Food is delicious in Lisbon, dishes are generous and tasty. Feijoda and bacalao (codfish) are among my favorites. Portuguese cuisine is mostly seafood-based, but it's not limited to it, there are many options in the streets of Lisbon. As South American, I love heavy food, but when looking for something lighter, I had salads in Vitamins, there are several of them in the city. Malls are also good places to eat and hang around, Portuguese people love eat well and none of the fast food restaurants you may find will disappoint you. Don't forget to accompany your meal with a glass of wine, vinho verde (green wine) and the unforgettable (at least for me) vinho do Porto (Oporto or Port wine), much better while listening to fado, a traditional music very popular in Lisbon.

View from Castelo de São Jorge.

Places to visit are Baixa, Chiado, Alfama, Convento do Carmo, Elevador de Santa Justa, Castelo de São Jorge, Jardim Zoológico and Belém. At the top hill of Alfama, there is Castelo de São Jorge, from which a wonderful view of the city can be enjoyed, with its red roofs, the Tagus River, 25 de Abril Bridge and Cristo Rei Statue. Alfama is the oldest neighborhood in Lisbon, and it can be noticed by the narrow streets, churches and nicely decorated balconies. In Baixa-Chiado there are many restaurants and shops, beautiful places to walk in the cobblestone streets. 

Balconies in Alfama.

Hills, hills and more hills, Lisbon is known as the city of seven hills, so be prepared to walk. After a day visiting different points of the city, Bairro Alto is the place to go out in the night. During the day, everything is closed in Bairro Alto, but in the night it surprised me all the people walking all along the narrow streets, many restaurants and bars. I didn't know which one to choose! People love to drink Caipirinhas and Caipiroskas, as I of course did. I highly recommend travelers that like partying to stay in Bairro Alto, you can have a drink and get to your hotel easily; however, it's your decision, taxis in Lisbon are not expensive. I stayed in BA Hostel, it is a great place to stay in, you don't hear any noise from people drinking outside, it's very clean and staff is wonderful, always willing to help.

The options to move around the city are taking the bus, the subway, the old electric tram or just walking. The vintage yellow tram is a "must-do". I took one from Miradouro de Santa Luzia to Campo de Ourique, it's a scenic trip that took me back in time. There are several routes, all hop-on hop-off, most popular is eléctrico 28. For more information, click here: http://www.lisbonlux.com/lisbon-transport/electricos.html

Tram in Alfama.

Next place to visit is Belém. To get there, I took eléctrico 15 in Cais do Sodré, but can also be taken in Praça da Figueira and Praça do Comércio, get off at Mosteiro dos Jerónimos in Belém.

Honestly, the reason why I went to Belém was to try the world famous pastéis de Belém, a "must-eat". It is a small custard tart, so delicious, one is not enough!

The Mosteiro dos Jerónimos is really beautiful, the decorative features carved out the walls are stunning.  Torre de Belém and Padrão dos Descobrimentos are next to the monastery, after crossing a square. From these landmarks, I enjoyed a great view of Tagus Rives, 25 de Abril Bridge and Cristo Rei Statue. 

Praça do Comércio.

There are many things to see in Lisbon. Fátima, Cascais, Sintra and Estoril are recommended to visit for a day trip outside the city. Tour operators in Praça do Comércio offer this and more services for group travel, sightseeing tours and private trips. I will visit these places next time. Before Lisbon, I had been in Barcelona where I spent much money. 

I really enjoyed my trip to Lisbon and hope to go back some day. Porto and Coimbra are also among my next traveling plans. Portugal has so much to offer, towns, beaches, beautiful landscapes, vineyards and foods.

What does the word saudade mean? While and after writing this post, I felt saudade, a word that doesn't have an exact meaning. I found many opinions about its meaning on the internet, most descriptions are longing , yearning and simply nostalgia. 

                                                                                                                               Nostalgia for Lisbon.

Discovery Cooking

      Eating is one of the greatest pleasures in life, especially when enjoying a delicious and mouthwatering dish. Food can make us evoke many things, can make us remember our childhood memories as in the film Ratatouille, maybe a trip, a special occasion, a person, also emotions...

      Why am I writing about cooking? It's about inspiration rather than recipes. I was watching the movie Julie & Julia and felt identified with the character played by actress Amy Adams (Julie Powell). Like me, she wanted to try something new, she was excited of creating a blog, she was stuck in a job, so cooking turned into a way of having happiness in her daily life.

      I always hated to cook, constantly avoiding kitchens, used to go out to eat most of the time, which is ok, but at some point I was getting tired of this lifestyle. Never tried different dishes when cooking, it was a duty, a way to save money.

      After quitting my last job and doing some traveling, realized that an enormous amount of free time was not good for my emotional health. I needed to find something new to do, otherwise I would go crazy. So one day I found by chance an article on the internet about Indian food. I don't know how many hours I spent in the supermarket, I bought vegetables, exotic sauces (already bottled of course) and spices. Long time for cooking chicken curry with vegetables, the kitchen was a mess, well, nothing is supposed to be easy in the start. Next, I tried Arabic cuisine, made tabbouleh and falafel, but I don't what happened, mixed all the ingredients in the blender to prepare the falafel, added too much parsley because the paste was extremely green and for some reason wasn't thick, It is not necessary to mention that I had only tabbouleh and bread for lunch that day. However, falafel is still on my mind and soon I will try to make it again.

My chicken curry with vegetables was supposed to look like this one.

Falafel: I will try it again!

      Sometimes, on Saturdays, I visit a Libanese restaurant in Caracas to try all those different dishes they cook, so delicious, which give me an idea of what I could make. Cooking is an excellent way to have a busy mind, for instance, I have bough several cooking books and also keep searching for new recipes on the internet, going to the supermarket, looking for ingredients, going back home to cook, reading the recipe like 20 times while in the kitchen. It's like magic, the mind is just focus on what I do, eager for a final result. There are so many cooking books, workshops, TV programs, recipes and tips on the internet, that one can feel overwhelmed, finding hard to decide where to start while becoming a culinary autodidact. I started with Indian and Arabic food, and there is so much more to try, creativity is endless when cooking.

      It's a surprising new skill, I hated cooking before and now love it, I can't wait to make an exotic new dish. Next goal is Mediterranean cuisine: Greek food! Sorry if I don't have any photo of the dishes I've done, but the art of food presentation is not mastered yet, still learning! 

      I'll be searching the internet for recipes that are easy and not so expensive to make while getting familiar with the cooking world.

                                                                                                                                          Till next time!!!