ChAos 'round

No matter how hard I describe the chaos around me, I will not be able to....

A chaos thats so difficult to describe becoz it carries so many meanings and feelings!

My brother and his 9-month pregnant wife 'Nadyn' have arrived ... theyre here in Lebanon.

My boyfriend has also arrived, here in Lebanon.

My younger brother has also arrived, here in Lebanon.

My friends are still a constant.

Family has magnified.

We spent Christmas Eve dinner with Nadyn's parents and family.. After dinner, a huuuge session of opening gifts took place at their place.

And for Christmas day, My 2 brothers and I went out for lunch.

It was one moment that I cherished and appreciated.

Myself and the 2 boys walking around the streets of Hamra, looking around the shops and the BEIRUT CITY Life . After lunch, there was another walk that led us to a Coffee place for some tea and coffees.

My boyfriend and I meeting up , and exchanging Christmas Presents in the house with his Mom and Dad kamain.

Driving around in Souk Jounieh until we head to Kaslik amidst the 'Classy' Lebanese drinking their Red Wine glasses in the cold winter Lebanese night..

Spending so much time, I repeat, so much time with my friends, my girl friends, doing random outings that were supposed to be "Lets go out for dinner" and ended up with one too many drinks... Or witnessing ,and meeting the violin player, of a Lebanese Band called "Mashrou3 Leila", who I instantly fell in love with.. They reminded me of the Mexican Band I met in Guanajuato... except, here, they are LEBANESE... speaking Lebanese, using Arabic instruments and rhythms, and talking about issues here in Lebanon!

Having a bonding session with my aunt... over the tastes and joys of food... Her and me standing by the Stove and cooking a Vegetarian dish for my Lunch! Taking her advice about how we can make my Vegetarian food actually "TASTE"...

Yes, PURE CHAOS... is what Im experiencing here in Lebanon...

The definition of Chaos, the Meaning of Chaos, ,,, But a Joyful Chaos..... A very joyful Chaos.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Always Libano

Its true....... the meaning of a "city" is a heavy sensation you instantly feel when you walk its streets, and look around the buildings and its locals.

A 60-year old man speaking to his old friend....sitting next to a mother reading a book to her child;

and a friend meets her friend for a cup of coffee,

and the young crowd choose to pass by a nightclub ,

and the walker and the jogger and the shopper....

The tree that speaks its age; the mountains that gather snow, the Coast that shines and glows , are just a part of my Journey in Libano.

A Rich City .

I parked my car... and started walking in 'Saifi Village' area... Just me and my music...

I was sooooo impressed with the little streets, that take you to alleys with shops and mini-parks, and seats, and flowers.

I went up to my mountain village, and spent a day up there in the FREEZING cold. Literally freezing with semi-snow. I cooked my vegetarian food and shared it with my friends.

I went to the Arabic-est of the Arabic restaurant, who had a "moutrib"/ singer, and a belly dancer, .... Of course, we cant' forget the 'Tabla' the Arabic Drums instrument and the dancing and singing. And the Lebanese Mezza..... the one that takes up the whoooooolleeee table!

I got stuck in Libano Traffic... The rage on the streets, wowwwwww, is something that might be seen as 'scary'. My Lebanese people still share the same driving instinct. Although I have to admit, the traffic signs have been put up people!!!!!

I shared the sensation of having to run down the stairs to put up the 'dijincteure'; or having the Electricity CUT in the middle of the fine winder heavy raining/storming day.

Having said that, the rain is hence 'connected' to the Internet. If the rain starts, the Internet stops.

I celebrated the day of one of the local Lebanese dishes, our Labneh.

all of that.................,

...................would be considered the feeling of a CITY. This is MY CITY in MY COUNTRY.

xoxoxoxoxox

How the mixture happens..

I left My friends in July... a very very important stage of my life... I had taken the decision that I AM GOING. and I AM DOING THIS... I am leaving to Mexico and I am so passionate about it.

I return....5 months later,.,.... .. here, now, ahora........

To me, I have returned, with full force.

Its so weird because we can see the tangible difference between the girl who left, and the 'mujer' who returned.

I am appreciating Mexico's affect on me, with everything that I go through. I feel it. Daily.

I have been spending every waking minute with MY FRIENDS,.... These are the people who are part of me!

My best friend who has been my best friends since we were kids. He had lived all his life in Venezuela but at the age of 12 , his family moved back to Lebanon. And we met.... in our Mountain Village.. why??? Because we are from the same village!

His house is practically 5 meters away from my house. I used to call his name out loud, from my kitchen to his room.... we used to communicate like that!!

Now??? I return and we are actually speaking in Spanish??!!!! whattt????

To me, Charbel is the Arabic speaker, the English speaker.... so as soon as we started talking in Spanish , I felt really lost.... I couldnt believe that THIS IS HIM!!! Its the same person!

Its beautiful.. we are now constantly, I MEAN CONSTANTLY, talking in Spanish.. But he is doing the Venezuelano accent and I am sticking to my Mexican accent...

And I tell you... they ARE different.. its like you are saying Lebanese and Jordanian!!!!

and I looove the fact that , now, I know!!!!

My 2 girl friends... who Im so appreciative of the fact that My 2 girl friends are girls who are also boys.. You see? In their bodies, They have this vein ...This vein is called the 'Crazy Vein'... .and we have so so so much in common, its crazy!!!

Put us all together in one room..... My Charbel. My Rana. My Pia. Myself... And you get this very very weird combination of Laughter and Joking and Weird Behavior and Random Talks and Arabic and English and Spanish and Spirituality and Yoga and Women Hormones and Achrafieh and Awkar and lots and lots of Love.

I had missed this feeling. I am now reunited with this feeling.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Labneh oh Labneh

"Eid il Labneh"... the birthday of Labneh it was!!!!

My friends and I went to " Zico's House " in Hamra... in a little road thats actually hidden, and truthfully is a HOUSE that is turned into a gathering of little events and artists and exhibitions and stuff like that...

This house has the traditional Lebanese look; the very very high ceiling; with the beautifully shaped archs on the balconies, and a gorgeous terrace with old and ancient trees...

This house was celebrating "Eid el Labneh"....

People are supposed to be very stylish/ creative/ original/ with their Labneh creation.... and with the existing Judge Panel, the WINNER IF THE LABNEH IS CHOSEN based on

1) Look of the Labneh

2) Concept of the Labneh

3) Taste of the Labneh

Lina, Charbel, Rana, Pia, Raoul, Mike and Elie walk into "Zico's House" and we were all starving and CRAVING "shee sa7in Labneh".. It turns out... NO HUNGRY PEOPLE NO.... This is NOT a restaurant... This is a Tournament.. so we're all like "wwwwhhhaaaattt?? wain il Labneh???:(((((("

NOW to the real part.... Due to my hunger...and my passion for Labneh... I was nominated to go to the "JURY" and be a "JUDGE" for the Labneh teams...

Here I am... discussing and debating the taste versus the look versus the concept to my fellow judges.... in a closed room... we're all smoking cigarettes while discussing whose Labneh was the Best Labneh....

and .....

and......

I get out.... I hold the microphone.... I CLIMB the chair..... and I introduce myself to the whoooooooooole audience.... and I present the verdict... whilst explaining the logic behind our decision....

It was the FUNNEST NIGHT I have had in ages!!! I felt like I was 15 years old.. pretending to be an older character!!

My friends were cheering with high and loud voices, clapping...

the audience was going craaaazyyyyy, because IT WAS FUN!

We decided that team number 3 was a potential winner but ONLY LOCAL and in the Middle East,.. because we had 2 members in the JURY that were from Bulgaria and Tokyo, and they did not confirm! So Team number 4 would do a better job for exporting but Team bumber 3 would do great LOCAL... hahahaha

ANd listen to the best part...

As you know... We follow (actually I follow) the philosophy of "You are what you eat"... and as team PHARMA LABNEH had the theme of "Labne-dol" and "Labne-C" like Panadol and Vitamin C.... We hope that we are ALWAYS Healthy with what we eat... With this Labneh, we hope that we will be happy, healthy, and always ENJOYING LIFE'S OFFERINGS

and THE WINNER IS ........... TEAM number 1

(croud chearing) wooohoooowwwwwwwwwwww AHHHHHHA yyeaaaaaaa wwoohoowwwwwwwwww

fifteen.... FIFTEEN... I felt like I was FIFTEEENNNNNN

I had a smile on my face, a smile in my heart, a smile in my body, I was surrounded by MY PEOPLE... TALKING my language and my accent..... FIFTEEEN

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

One Tamales Please

All right... so a bit of Routine-ness has been established.

1) Yoga... check

2) Walking... check

3) Family... check

4) Friends... checkkidy check

5) Job.,.. no not yet.... starts in January

so I still have one more month of playing around to get back to work and to get back to timelines and deadlines.... PLAY.... So go ahead and PLAY...

We went again to the desert and did our Quad biking session that was just... AMAZINg...My lil brother got lost.. all by his lonesome so as he was trying to find his way back to all of us, his Quad completely stopped (ran out of fuel) and had no money, no lights, no way back...WHAT a feeling.. so started walking back till he could stop a car and get a ride... but other than that, it was AMAZING... the deserts of Dubai are really a gorgeous... you juts need to find activities to do around that theme "The Desert" and you'll be FINE!!!!

I go to Lebanon next week for a whole month to stack up some Lebanon fuel... I plan on becoming a tourist in MY country and really getting to know the place.. the mountains, the villages, its people, and the history.... That should be interesting...

I still sometimes feel like I need to pinch myself and ask if I am REALLY back??? Am I??

I also shut my eyes sometimes and visualize My Mexico at this time, What are my friends doing now? What is the weather like? What are the streets like? What are the smells and noises like? What is the taste of Frijoles like? The real Frijoles.... BLACK beans and not the RED beans that is sold in Dubai! The real Picante.... real Chilli thats tastes ummmm soooo Goooooddddd.

What is Caterina doing? Erin? Khoffee? My hostel? The red house? The pink house? The yellow house?

Ouuufffff, the big man who stands right infront of Hostel Esperances singing "Champurrriiddooooos por Cinco pesossss"... or the Senora at Plaza de Paz selling Fruitas con Chilli... or the Tamales and the Chichorrones.... UUUFFFFFFFFFfffFFFF!!!

What I would do for One Tamales right now!!!!

Or maybe two... one Cheese Tamales and One Sweet Tamales.

I terribly miss it... and it hurts... The distance really hurts.

To date, Every time I want to see what time it is here,... I instantly do the Maths and calculate what time it is in My Mexico.

My Spanish conquest is still going on... I have to watch at least one movie in Spanish per day.. and ALLLL DAY LONG, I listen to Spanish music....

June.... its allllll about June... Knowing Im going back INSTANTLY puts a smile on that face of mine!

My Mexico, My Mexico.... I miss you.

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

Walk it for Me....

I have marked my one week "back" in Dubai... But However..... I am NOT "back" in Dubai... I am "in" Dubai... I am "new" to Dubai.

I think I am experiencing something quite interesting... My Liking Thermometer is going from 'Hating' to 'Don't Minding' to 'Liking' to 'Really liking' to 'Falling in love'........ with Dubai!

We went out to the Desert of Um al Quiwein... and rented something ... Not sure what theyre called but they are huge Desert Bikes for the Dunes of the Sahara!

At first, i took the bike and whoooopppp got stuck, once, twice, three times, four..... and then??? It just OPENED ! I was "MOVE OUTTA THE WAY WEEEEEYYYYY" .

I was climbing on bushes, dunes, speeding, ... everything!! I didnt wanna get off.

It was night time, and we were 5.... all together... the desert was limitless, it was all sand, and trees and cactus(the Arabic version), and at one point we all switched off our bikes and lights and LISTENED to the traquility of the desert!

I woke up the next day and HIT THE STREETS!!! Like I had been doing for the past 5 months...

I packed a bag, and a bottle of water... and got out of my house in Um Suqeim... and started walking towards my boyfriends house in Barsha!

I had discovered the inner road from my house to his... the one that does not include aHUGE HIGHWAY WITH 8 LANES of cars... so I started!!!

The walk was beaauutiful.... I was holding my camera and walking and looking and for the FIRST time actually LOOKING at DUBAI!

There were two mini highways that I walked... with loads and loads of cars but that didnt bother me at ALLLL...

I was listening to my music, and i was SINGING , walking, smiling, at some points I was LAUGHINGGG out loud! I was Alone in Dubai and I loved it!

OUTLook- INLook

"Where do you Live, Lina?"

"I live in a place, that has no colors, no roads, no walking, no soul, no identity, I live in Dubai"

This is EXACTLY what I used to say when I was asked about my life back "Home".

This is the harshest judgement I have given , Ever.

and I do have to apologize. Im sorry Dubai.

Waking up in MY house, having slept in MY bed, being close to MY clothes that are in MY closet, spending time with MY family and MY boyfriend and MY set of friends.... is making me realize that hey???? You know what??? I think IIIIII was the one who was colorless, with no soul!

Your life is your CHOICE. Its the way you CHOOSE to live. The friends that you CHOOSE. the activities that you CHOOSE. The routine that you CHOOSE.

The country is a country... leave it alone.....

This sounds waaaayyyyyy to philosophical; and Im scared ! This is a whole new outlook for me... which makes sense in my head.

Its all in your head; and I like it like that......

Vamos a ver, Lets see what the Expiry date of this outlook is.... Im scared!!!

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

A first-timer

Melissa, Becks, Ariana, Danish girls, Kaffee, Caterina, Erin, Kek, and Karla.

These are the names of the friends I have made, and they're all GIRLS. A set of inspiring women, who define the word INSPIRING.

Beautiful inspiring people; Real friends who I consider REAL friends.

Every one of these girls carries a story as heavy as ever. A life thats been through ALOT, and thats been molded into a Life-defensive mode.

I feel so proud to have known them.

It was time to say "hasta luego".." See you later". Ill see you in May.

I hugged my girls SO TIGHT, it was so difficult to let go. I walked out of Guanajuato with my throat feeling heavy like I wanted to cry.

My flight was three days, Guanajuato, Guadalajara, Monterrey, New York till Dubai.

I am here, I have landed safely in the country I was raised in.

and I AM SHOCKED.

I dont know exactly WHAT you call it? It could be "scared".

I was scared of the come-back.... Could I do it? Could I sleep at night? Could I go back to what I had earlier?

I am back with my family, my boyfriend, and my friends... I tell you something... I am walking on the streets of Dubai looking at it like it is the FIRST TIME.

This is the weirdest feeling I have felt! I was raised here ALL my Life.... and yet... I have never felt like that! I have never seen this.

The weather is BEAUTIFUL, my friends are beautiful, the activities, so far, have been beautiful.

My mind is racing.... this should be a joke? This is not true... Dubai is black? Dubai is dark? Dubai is colorless? Dubai is soulless??

THIS is the definition I carried with me of Dubai... Sad but true. This was it....

Okay so , let me get one thing straight?.....

Is it??

What is it?

What?

xxxooooxxxxooooxxxoooooxxxoxoxoxxxoxoxo

Por Un Camino Rico... I Have

Here I am.....Physically, mentally, soulfully, passionately, emotionally, sensationally, intensively, actively, Here I am.

I have reached a stage in my journey that requires me to 'look back'.

I look back to what I have done and accomplished, I look back to where I have been and what I have seen, Where I woke up and where I slept; What I talked what I smelt; and I cant HELP but SIGH deeply.

I AM HAPPY.

- I have made 18-year old friends.

- I have missed my bus, slept on a bus and awoken by driver, ran after my bus.

- Discovered that a cockroach is walking on my hand, while I am trying to sleep in Guadalajara.

-Noticed the unfortunate event of posted ads saying "MISSING" with a face of a kidnapped person.

- Studied so hard and reached a level that can make me manage my way with a pure Mexican.

- Lived with a Mexican family for 4 days.

- Eaten Mexican food and fell in love with Frijoles and Picante; I love chilli!

- Gotten my Yoga groove back like a Mad Woman.

- Made AMAZING AMAZING friends who are staying with me for years to come. Have connected with them in SO many ways and forms.

- Witnessed the 'La Kinciniera' culture.

- Done a "Spiritual Cleansing' with a witch doctor

- Been and stayed in Carribean, the most beautiful water in this WHOLE world.

- Been to Indigenous villages and seen the real true pre-spanish people.

- Been to a village with 365 churches.

- Witnessed the Cervantino in Guanajuato.

-Been to the Pacific coast 3 working days after a major degree-5 Hurricane called Hurricane Rick

- Lived with a 75-year old woman.

- Met TRAVELLERS. Real Travellers.... who have answered my simple innocent question of "How long have you been travelling?" with an answer such as "Ive been travelling for 8 years. 6 years. Since I was 16. "

-Most importantly, I have become a Traveller. I believe I will 'Siempre' be a traveller. Travelling and sailing smoothly throughout the different scenes and locations and vibes of Life.

- I have become a TRUE traveler; whose ingredients are : One bag, One yoga mat, One computer, One Passion and UNLIMITED belief .

***Belief in oneself! Belief that theres something OUt there for me. Its calling and Im gonna GO FOR IT. I wont shut up. I wont accept the "NORMAL " way of being. I will question.I will keep going. I believe. I strongly believe.

I have , I have, I have, I have..... I have done it!!!!

I have done it all, By myself... All alone....

and I would do it again and again and again....

I belong here, THIS is it; I have not even jet-lagged for one day;

Its like, I landed here, landed straight on my 2 feet and immediately started running! Running !

I have taken my dose; My dose of happiness, my dose my nourishment, of fulfillment, I have learnt so much; Its beyond description.

I have changed my point of views, My way of thinking, my priorities in Life, I have changed my outlook on Life.

I have been blessed to have been able to do this.

*****

Its time to go back; To what is waiting for me.

My family. My family deserves to have me back; they have been by my side this WHOLE time. I have never felt away from them. Not ONE DAY. 18 hours away, But so very very close and WITH ME in my heart. My dad's comments on facebook, his funny comments that reflect his beautiful personality. His adoring wife that sticks by the family and unites it. My beautiful Brother Nadim, That I missed living with, under one roof! Bumping into him in the house! and hearing him ask :" I want to eattt, What there is foodddd?>???"

My Family-2 . My brother, the father-to-be; who is also been a constant reminder as to WHY I should go back!!! Tenemos que placticar en Espanol hermano mio!!!! I'm so so so excited I will have a Spanish -speaking Family Brother of mine.

His wife who, Bless her, is going through so much right now, that I feel like I should have been with her! Ana asifa!

My friends. My 2 sets of friends. The Lebanon gang who I keep getting BEAUTIFUL flashbacks of our memories in My Country. The mountains, the roadtrips, The chilly and The talky , everything SHALL BE REDONE!

My Dubai set of friends; I am so very aware of the weight you have in my heart. I have underestimated it, HONESTLY, But ya no! I have missed you so much.

My Man. Who stuck there. Day in and day out! Im still surprised he could do that!

I believe we did not skip ONE 'Good Morning' or 'Good Night' or else....... " bi kassirle ijrayyi! Hes the man in the relationship"... hahahahaha

My house! I have been living off of a suitcase for 4 months; and i WANT SPACE. Give me Space! I want my bed, I want my Closet, I wanna put my stuff in the closet! I forgot what these things look like.

My Canada crew. My cousin and my bestfriend Leez of the Linda....I remember this night like it was yesterday.... We were chilling at Leez's house and I had to catch my plane to Mexico ALL ALONE... and I was so emotional that I could NOT sit still. My face was all lightened , And i had butterflies in my stomach. You WERE THERE. You let me go! Gently and lovingly.

Its time. Its time to go back.

Im ready to do this. Im ready. Im ready. Im curious and Im curious.

Slightly like the curiosity that I had before my arrival in Mexico... But this time.... Im curious as to experience LIFE like its supposed to be.

--------------------------- But I have bought a 2-way ticket. Im coming back to Mexico!

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOOXOXOXOXOOXOXOXOXOOXOXOXOXOOXOXOX

Dame Amor. Quiero Amor.

Middle aged men and women, Children of all ages, Grandchildren, Granddaughters holding the hands of their grandfathers, Teenage funky presence, hippie influence, Artis in all shapes and forms and colors.
Indian, French, Brazilian, Argentinian, Cuban. Salsa, Flamenco, House music Internationsla DJs, and LIVE Bands performing on the street. FrEE for ALL ; Every soul on the street is invited to watch, sing along, and dance the night away. ON the steets.
An audience so THIRSTY yet so FULL of ARTS.

This was a Slight, minor, and sooooo-lacking-more description of what I am experiencing EVERYDAY for the past three days on the streets of Guanajuato.
Guanajuato is now finishing off a 2-week MASSIVE internationally known YEARLY event called the Cervantino.
It comes from' Mr. Cervantes' Spaniard conquistador ' . This HUGE festival started 37 years ago in his honor; Guanajuato specifically and only celebrates the Cervantino festival by collaborating , EACH year, with a different country around the world.
This year, it was NONE OTHER THAN QUEBEC, ... Wow I have goosebumps. How did Guanajuato know that I will be landing on its 'tierra', after having visited mY People in Montreal.??

I I have been missing from the Internet Scene for like a week. Well.... I did SO MUCH , so much i SERIOUSLY SURPRISE MYSELF!
From Guanajuato, and my 2-week Spanish Reminder course, I went UPPPPP to Zacatecas, then down to San Miguel de Allende, then to Colima, and I went to Manzanillo beach and decided to come BACK to Guanajuato.... Mainly because of FRIENDS.,
I had spent my last days in Guanajuato earlier with the 2 girls.... The Argentinian and the Italian...And so, Them ......in addition to Cervantino made me decide to come back!
The come-back was AS HILARIOUS as ever! I had the TIME of my life missing my bus.... I was LAUGHING LAUGHING BURSTING OUT Laughs in the middle of the streets ALL alone!

I came on Wednesday night and ever since..... I have:
1) Gone to a massive Comcert of Flamenco dancers. Straight from Spain. With music, dance, guitars, clapping, much lights, so much people, Stage and THE WHOLE indescribable experience.

2) Gone to another massive House, electronic, Beat bass, Dj from Montreal. People, lights, NO lights, I Danced like there is NO TOMRROW.
****My FRIENDS: heres a message for you... you know who you are.... HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY HAPPPYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

3) Have lived like a true Guanajuatonense... I almost work now! The girls work in a shop, an artisana and clothes shop.. and I am going to work WITH THEM at 5:00 and spend the whole day with them in the shop till 9:30. We either go out, or just have dinner and go to our homes.

HERE I am.

This is HER. This is SHE. This is ME. This is I. This is 'Lina Del Libano'.







xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox

No puedo creer

Estaba esperando mi autobus por DOS horas; En serio, Dos horas.
Estaba en el estacion desde las 10; y estudiando algunas palabras en espanol como :COCHILLO, CUCHANA, Y TENEDOR... Quando yo note que yo perdi mi autobus!!!!!

Es increible las cosas que estoy experienciendo. Me encanta mi vida. Me encanta Mexico. Y nunca, he sentiendo como ahora!

Estoy sola, estoy feliz, la vida es bonita. Tengo suerte.

Mi Viaje- Mon Voyage

I have finally landed in Colima.... and below..... I will tell you a story EXCATLY how it actually happened....

I was having lunch in a coffeshop, yesterday, at this very cool place in San Miguel de Allende. The waiter kept refilling my cup of coffee. Im not kidding, I think he poured me like 9 cups of coffee!!!!! It was FREE!

So I finish what I had to do... on the Computer and all..... and I decide to start walking home.
As Im walking, I see this old lady, who was with me in school in Guanajuato... We talk and talk and asks me to have a seat for dinner! OKAY!

I had an AMAZING time! It was her (around 70 years old) and her friend( like 60 years old); They are just BEAUTIFUL souls... we talk and talk and joke and laugh and it was simply AMAZING!

Anyhow, here's where the interesting part starts.....

We all go to the bus station to see when the next bus leaves to Colima... I wanna go to Colima next.... It looks like the bus leaves in 20 minutes... SHIT RUNNNNNNN.
RUUUUNNNN to Joyce's house and get my luggage and then be back in the station BEFORE 20 minutes!!!

So i RUNNNN out of the station, get in a cab, and quickly tell him,:"Hola, Puesta del Sol numero 27".... So we drive and drive and drive and drive... and I notice that its taking too long!
He finally stops at a "Puesta del Sol Bed and Breakfast".....
Im like nooooooooooooooooooooo!!

I took out my map... and its "Cuesta San Jose" and NOT puesta del sol!!!!!!!!

I have NO IDEA why this name came to my mind.. Inno, to me, theyre ALL just very EXOTIC!!! Del Sol, De San Jose.... WHATEVER, Theyre all the same!!!!

We go back to Joyce's, and get to the bus station... I HAD MISSED MY BUS!!!!!

Tayyib, What to do??? I stood there talking to them..... asking them 'que puedo hacer'??? What can I do???
All of a sudden... the guy on the counter gets this SUDDEN ENLIGHTENED face and tells me RUNNNNNNN TO the bus, its outside, its leaving, NOOWWWWWWWW.

So I RUUNNNNNNNNN after the bus, literally RUNNNNN, carrying my bag, my laptop case, my yoga mat, and my blanket,.... RUNNINGGGGGG to the highway and screaming "OYEEEE, ESPERAMEEEEEEEE"...
Thankfully, he hears me, an the bus stops!!!! and I get in....


Thats NOT the end of it.... because I had to connect in Queretaro, to catch another bus to Guadalajara , that would take me to Colima!!!

That was 8:00 pm... I get on the bus... and theres a cool movie on.... In spanish... so I watch and watch until ZZZZZZZZ, I fall asleep... and the next thing I know, is that the bus driver is waking me up telling me :"SSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH, estamos aqui"...
I was like OH SHITTTTTTT, I was in my deep sleep!!!!!

I get off the bus... and do my 2 connections....

and HERE I AMMMMMM
IN Colima.... Having breakfast and coffee.... and LOVING my adventure!!!

I amused myself!!!! I amused myself BIGTIME!!!!! I was smiling ALLLL TRIP LONG!!!

I LOVE YOU MEXICO




XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Seventy Five Happy!

Meet Joyce.


I am staying with Joyce.

Joyce is a 75-year old ex-hippie. She is welcoming me in her house in San Miguel De Allende.

I got here early in the morning and Joyce was fully awake! She opened the door for me, offered me coffee and showed me my room.
Then, Joyce and I started walking upwards to a "Garage Sale" that she says is next to her house...

**The streets of San Miguel de Allende are all made of cobble stone... Add to that, the fact that they are all upward hills and downward hills!

**The streets of San Miguel are TOUGH , TOUGH, MANNN TOUGH.

I felt really bad panting and BARELY breathing , while Joyce is walking next to me with FULL force talking to me about the different types of construction material available in San Miguel.

I left Joyce and went down to the Market of Artisana.... and then for some lunch....

I went back home to find Joyce having a massage!
A mexicana comes to her place every week, and Joyce puts the Fireplace with some light music... and she gets her massage!

I showered, and was invited by Joyce to have a "Cup of cheap Cherry".... I have NOOOO IDEA what that was but I accepted!
Joyce did not have dinner, but so far, Joyce has had 3 cups of "Cheap cherry".


What a woman! She has small stairs on the side of her bed in her room..... She climbs those steps to get to the roof,,, and she does it like she is a 16 year-old!
*** Please stop for a second and IMAGINE a 75-year old woman climbing a wooden old staircase!

Her house is 2 floors, and you find her walking up and down and up and down !!!


Now..//..... Joyce wants us to watch TV, a series called "Keeping up appearances"... We just started with Series One.. and Im happy.




XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Zacatecas!

After I spent my night playing Twister, Belly Dancing, polical discussion and Yoga on the roof in Karla's house in Guadalajara... I decided I needed to move on... I had been there 4 days and my objective is to get to Patzcuaro for the Ceremony of 'Day of the Dead' on Novcember 1!

I got on a bus and went up to 'Zacatecas'... This is the northest point I have been to in Mexico...

Its beautiful, its a very pretty Colonial city known for the Silver mine it has and the Museum of Masks! This is CRAZY... you are walking and walking surrounded by masks of all kinds and colors; Mexicans used to wear these masks while performing their rituals....

The shock I had when I went out to the Centre was very noticable!

This is the FIRST city in alllll the cities Ive visited that DOES NOT have colors on the 'calles' and their casas. It felt so weird.... Everything was really big, but ONE color.... Beige... Sometimes white..... All the buildings were gorgeously colonial... BUT THERE WERE NO COLORS!!!!

***This was a WAKE-UP call for me... Lina, you NEED to get used to Colorles-less houses and streets!

.... I am now off to the beach!!!!! I havent been to the beach since September 5... I know this date so well because thats the day I started my full Intense Yoga week.

So.,...Colima here I come..... I need SUN!!

UnbeLievable

UnBelievable.... UnbeLievable!!!

I think I did it again...I thought of a negative feeling before actually living the situation!

Okay so I did not leave Guadalajara... I am still very much here.

Mainly because I have spent my day speaking to a Canadian soil-catcher, an Italian funny and unique guy, a Mexican very smart and ambition Photographer who wants to make a change in the issue of Rich Mexicans versus Poor Mexicans in the country of Political Mexico. A New Zealand man who is very silent and slow but is a very smart and nice person. And lastly but definitely most importantly... An English hitchhiker. Very Very pretty and smart and is a traveller around on the world. Been travelling for 5 years and she hitchhikes through countries. She has now Europe, Australia and New Zealand, and Latin America (Brazil, Peru, Chile, Argentina)...She is doing Iran and Afghanistan next, so will be passing by my house in Dubai on the way....
When I asked her what her age was, she said she does NOT know because she does not count her age.

She has now colored the floor of the 5-meter house.. She wants to play Twister,.... so I have to go....... I NEVER play Twister!!!

** Oh and she just put music in the background.,.. Its music from the 60s. So Im listening to 'Babylove my Babylove' and 'Everlasting Love'





xcoxoxoxoxooxoxo

Wadi al Hijara

Guadalajara is derived from the Arabic word 'Wadi al Hijara'.
Its the 2nd biggest city in Mexico and it has 8 million people!!!

I am not sure how to describe it exactly, but the energy I got from this city is.... NOT the energy Im looking for....
This is HUUUUGEEE, and I feel TINY. I feel like Im so so little I barely exist. Cars, highways, HUGE building, andjust WAYYYY too many people...
On Sunday, Guadalajara closes most of its streets and opens them for Bicycles ONLY.... so the view you have of ALLL people on Bicycles moving towards one direction??? Wohow!!!

Melissa, the amazing Amiga I made in Chetumal, was talking to me last week..... and when she found out Im going to Guadalajara , she instantly offered to introduce me to a friend of hers living in Guadalajara....

THATS where I am!!! I am at a girl's place... Karla .... who does this normally... She opens her house to travellers of all around the world.... who need a place to stay and are ,at the end of the day, all brothers and sisters!


So I got here and was introduced to Karla and Dave.
Karla is .... wow I dont really know...a teacher of photography in University.,.. she makes documentaries and takes pictures of the REAL Mexico... She is frustrated about the negative image Mexico has out in the media, so she wants to portray the REAL Mexico ... the truth..... She Interviews Mexicans who have a cause, Mexicans who are lawyers, doctors, have done something!

** Last night, I was taken to the side by Karla... who offered me a ring (an artesania made by the Indegenous people of Jalisco), and told me that she only gives things to travellers who she feels are special... She also supported my 'who 'journey' and told me good things


Dave is.... wow, seriously...... When I asked him what he's doing here.... He told me :"Im here to collect soil from Veracruz and test the bacteria inside . I will take the soil with me to Canada and compare it to the bacteria in Canadian soil"

WHATTTT? Soil??? Soil???? Dave is Bio-something.... He works on plants and bacterias and regeneration of tissues and genes and DNA....


The women have more makeup, The women take care of themselves fashion-wise, the city is somehow 'glamorous', the people are less friendly, I am hearing more English-speakers and people here ACTUALLY understand English.


... Im happy doing simple Mexican things with simple Mexican people right now..... Its beautiful..... its just NOT me:)

I leave today.




xoxoxoxoxoxooxxoxox

The QUEEN

I received my certificate yesterday , (one that says "Advancd Level" in it!!!!!!)
and Im am off..... I am ready to go... I am ready to move on!
I catch the bus in 4 hours, and I am headed towards Guadalajara.....

I guess this is the way it goes.
I guess this is how its supposed to be.

The past 2 days have been UNbelievable... It could actually be considered "crazy" if you compare it to the previous 2 weeks that I have been living in Guanajuato.... cooking, eating, walking, sleeping.

I made FRIENDS!!!!
-Lupita is a 19-year old Mexican (taking English classes at my school)... Lupita is adooorable, she is soo sweet , and simple. and YET, She is a mother!!! She had her baby at the age of 15 and so she has been through a lot!

-Caterina is the hippiest of all hippies!!! And I dont do Hippies!!! But her????? She amazing./.... we connected , somehow.,... and have been spending the past 2 days together! She is Italian but has been travelling around South America for 2 years. Speaks Spanish fluenly... and I had been struggling and talking to her in Spanish until 2 days ago... I heard her say "We have this is other colors" in English! I was like WHATTTTTTTTT You speak ENGLISHHH??? aND I had no idea!!!!!

-Coffee is Caterina's friend, who I have also been spending so much time with.... She is half Indian and half Argentinian. She is beautifully gorgeous. And so so real. Her parents and sister died when she was 10, and so she was put in an orphanage who mistreated her very much because of her dark skin and their racism. She needs a family, and I was there to offer her that for a couple fo days.


During the day, I would spend my day with Lupita, and at night, I would go out with Caterina and Coffee.
We walked the streets and sat on the floor, in bars, walked and talked and laughed and talked and I have now created THE MOST beautiful memory about Guanajuato in my mind!

YOU are the Queen, and YOU KNOW you are the Queen.



xoxoxoxoxoxox

My Class

I have now fully completed ONE MONTH of Spanish in San Cristobal and on the verge of ending my SECOND week of Spanish classes in Guanajuato.



Almost EVERYBODY I meet tells me that I talk very very well... but I turn a blind eye and I focus on the fact that there is SO MUCH more I need to know about the language... I need so many more words... (my Vocabulary) In addition to more Grammatical practice for the many ways and forms and shapes of completing a sentence!



However, I feel so proud of myself because seriously???? I am doing it!!! I am talking to the neighbor, to the old man, the street vendor, the mother, the daughter, the kids, the students , the teacher!!! I am spending 24 hours per day talking in Spanish!!



I have now fully developed the habit of THINKING in Spanish! My mind wonders off and speaks to herself in Spanish!!! And I hear her!! She is thinking in Spanish!!!



I now have a different group of students in my class.,.... We are a total of 4..... All three of them are American retirees... One of them is named Jim.. and used to work in Leo Burnett in USA!

The other is Jack... When Jack wanted to introduce himself, he started by saying that "My name is Jack but in Spanish you can call me HACK"



and then HAHAHAHAHAHAH, The whole class was laughing and this is where I realized that I AM HAVING FUN!



Here is the clip of my previous week's class... Please do note that I admire this woman so much.. she is gorgeous for her age and so very fashionable!!! The guy next to her is Helmot!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRuLwzMYfDs


Gracias y Hasta Luego.



xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Del Mundo Arabe

This post is dedicated to my Nationality, my Origin, my Blood.... My Lebanese self who is fully Lebanese but living and working in Dubai.

YOU, my Lebanese self, have managed to get me SO MUCH popularity!

YOU, my Lebanese self, have managed to get me to write "Herman" in Arabic on the arm of an 18-year old Mexican student.... and then "Alfonso", and then "Miguel" on the arms of Alfonso and Miguel.

YOU, my Lebanese self, have managed to get me to educate Mexicans about the location of Lebanon.... "We share the border with Israel. But we are not friends. We have mountains . We have beaches. We are very open-minded."

YOU, my Lebanese self, have managed to get me to change some stereotypical minds of Mexicans... thinking that all Arabs wear the veil and do not speak to other human beings.... "OHHH I NEVER THOUGHT ARABS LOOK LIKE THIS!!!!"

YOU, my Lebanese self, have managed to let me introduce myself as "Lina, Del Mundo Arabe" and then YOU, my Lebanese self, have given me responses asking me OVER AND OVER AGAIN to "say something in Arabic".

YOU, my Lebanese self, have managed to have Marco ask if he could "take a PHOTO of me because I have never met anyone Arabic".


And finally.........

YOU, my Lebanese self, have managed to get me an "appointment" tomorrow at 1:00 pm in 'Casa Mexicana Room 13' to teach a 19-year old girl how to dance Arabic!!!!

YOU, yes YOU, are gonna be dancing Arabic..... When its been nearly 20 years you havent done that!!


Thank YOU, my Lebanese self, Thank YOU.

xoxoxoxoxo

Una Familia Mehicana

Sunday... Sunday.... Sunday...... Sunday..........Mexicans dedicate this day fully and wholeheartedly to FAMILY... They cancel all plans, reunions, and forget about friends or lives.... and focus on staying home with the FAMILY.

I was looking for a way to maximize my 'Sunday in Mexico'??? THIS is what I came up with!

LIVE WITH A MEXICAN FAMILY!

I left my Hostal yesterday and am now living with a Mexican Family.

A Mom, a Dad, and a 20-year old "Paco" with 12-year old "Fernanda".

They also have a third 19-year old"Marco".. but he is studying Architecture in Mexico City.

The Mom, Patricia, calls her daughter :"daughter".

For example: "Hija, please come here help me"

"Hija, we are here, We arrived"

And I found out that THIS is normal here.. They dont use kids' names! They just call them 'Daughter' and 'Son'.

Patricia also called her husband "sky"... (They hold hands as they walk the streets!)

"For example: "Cielo, I think you need to go this way"

"Cielo, what time is it?"

My Mexican family picked me up and took me to the house, where I put my bag down.... and looked around me TRYING to digest where I am , and What I'm doing!

At 1:00 pm, they took me out!!!

La Quinceniera……

Of all the parties that a girl will attend, none equals the excitement or importance of her 'coming of age 15th birthday ' (the quinceniera). The ceremony -which is basically a mini-wedding- starts with a mass at church with all her friends and family . Dressed in a bridal-like gown , la quinceniera is escorted to the altar by 14 boys and 14 girls. The priest then delivers a sermon based on the girl’s childhood . Then, her father and mother walk up to the stage and both give a very emotional speech addressed to her infront of everyone. She replies back with another speech.

*** Her father gives her a ring.... and With this ring, he says he wants her to stay as a Virgin until her wedding night.

Then, her grandma and grandpa come up to stage and give her a gift and a speech.

Then, the aunt comes up and gives her a speech and another gift.

Then, her uncle gives her a speech.

Then, the 14 Boys and girls go up to her and are GIVEN a speech by the priest.

At first, I was standing in the back of the hall trying to peek inside!

They were around 200 invitees and I had nooooo idea what was going on.

15 minutes later, I started walking slowly....... closer and closer... until.... I eventually was standing ON the stage, One meter away from La Quinceniera, taking upclose pictures , and listening to the ceremony!!!

By the end of the Fiesta, I was eating with them, and smiling and playing with the kids!

ShE has chosen

I have seen beauty in Mexico, but.... To me... I think Guanajuato is prrrrobably the QUEEEN of beauties.... She is just one GORGEOUS Princess. She KNOWS how gorgeous she is and she can't stop using her magnetic forces to have you drawn in and in and in... She is a precious gem.

I have seen colors in Mexico, but... To me..... I think Guanajuato carries its colors in SUCH a unique way. Her roads are called 'Calle this' and 'Calle that'.... However, What's different is that she has her many 'Callejons'.... A little mini alley, a super mini diversion from the street that takes you upwards...where the many yellow, pink, blue, yellow and orange houses are! Her callejons are less than a meter wide!!! They are gorgeous.

I have seen Life, but....To me... I think Guanajuato has a soul that can not be compared with anyone else. She is well-known for the month-long festival called Cervantino... Starting October 14.... The most popular and important Cultural Festival in Latin America.

Dance, Theatre, and Street performaces take over Guanajuato ... all month long and all for free.....

Guanajuato has decided!

She wants me to go through this experience in a slighly-amended way. She has chosen so!

She decided that I need to go through my stay with slightly-older people! She introduced me to them and sent me good vibes. I will do that.

They are adorable... I'm in class with the oldest people who have the youngest spirits!!! My God... They are WAYYYYYY more active than me!

They keep talking about : "tonight, they wanna do this and tomorrow they wanna go there"....

Of course, I have occasions where I am LAUGHING SO HARD I just cant stop myself!!!!

For example, The teacher is telling "Helmut" something.... and Helmut cant hear properly so he freezes. One minute, One minute and half. Helmut is FROZEN and the teacher is repeating the same sentence to him.

One minute and 50 seconds later Helmut replies :"oooooooohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh".

I look at him and Im like :"OOOHHHHHHHHHHHHHH, OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH"

For example, Linda was showing us her new dictionary.... She bought a new dictionary. She takes it out and its like HUUUGEEE... Its like a whole BOOK!

I take out MY dictionary and show her the difference!!!

Ma its called a "Pocket " dictionary for a reason!!! Mine can literally fit in my pocket.

She tells me :"Darling, You CAN see!!! My sight, I lost it a while ago"

Like I said, Guanajuato has chosen!

She wants to show me a different side of things... She wants me to spend my days differently and I will NOT fight her.

She wins.

Guanajuato wins!

GuanajuatO

Two hours from Puebla to Mexico City, WAIT for 2 hours, and then pick up the next bus to Guanajuato which is a 5-hour ride.... I AM HERE, I have made it to Guanajuato!

They do not lie! Guanajuato is another world!!! I don't know how it does it, but its another BIG BIG colonial city that has SUCH a nice, young, artistic, musical, fresh vibe.

Guanajuato holds the 'University of Guanajuato' that houses 20,000 Arts Students... so....

the Art, people.... The Art!!!

MY MORNING: I wake up, I do my Yoga, and I go to Escuela Mexicana. They were expecting me, so That was cool.

I enrolled in ONE WEEK (one week for now, I think Im gonna extend); in 2 classes per day of:

Class 1: Conversation.

Class 2: Practical Conversation

Yep,Im done with Grammar, Im done with passado, futuro, imperativo and subjontivo... NOW I need to start using them !!! and Practice is my only way!!!!!

Okay heres the story about my school.......

Im in a group class, so I have 5 other students with me..... 4 are American and one German man.

** The average age is around 85 years old!

** I AM SERIOUS.

**One of them has a hearing aid on his ear.

*** My boyfriend was SOOOOO HAPPY about this piece od news, he almost started cheering!!

So did I make friends???? NO, NOT YET.

***They all "chill" outside of class and talk about the retirement plans they have chosen!

But theyre so cute.... An old couple, sitting next to each other, learning spanish together, living in Mexico together, when the man speaks, the woman stares at him while smiling.... its beautiful!!!

Just like my parents... They love each other so much and THATS HOW I WANNA GROW OLD!

My classes are from 1 to 3.... so Today I went to the Market and bought my food for the week... all my vegetables and proteins and necessary food elements in my Life.... I paid 7 Dollars for everything!!!!!!

At first I thought I was hallucinating..... Everytime I walk on the streets, People would smile at me.... But when I concentrated .... They reallyyyyyyy smiled, and even said "Hola"... SUCH a nice feeling... now, I walk on the street WHILST smiling... so I dont miss anyone!!!!

Guanajuato.... Guanajuato...... Guanajuato...... You are a Jewel!!!!!!

PUEBLA of Love

Puebla, the first real city that Hernan Cortez started his "CONQUEST"....
See, the Spaniards came into PUEBLA from Veracruz and stumbled across Aztecs (in 1519); who believed in their 'Gods of Sun' and 'Gods of Moon' and 'Gods of Fertility' and 'Human Sacrificing' and had NOOO IDEA what today's Christian, Muslim world was.
Hernan Cortes went into a litlle temple and layed his "Statue of VIRGIN MARY" here in Puebla.... Started killing and stealing and melting Mexicanos' Golds.... Here in Puebla.
Here in Puebla is where he started his mission of spreading the CHRISTIAN religion to Mexicans.

I walk and look around and I can't help but instantly be showered with the CULTURE that exists here. For the above reason, Puebla has 2,000 Churches. Puebla has a deep deep Colonial feel with the architecture. NOW and TODAY, Puebla is a LOVERVILLE.

This goes out to my dad!!!
Pap..... you can NOTTTT belive the amount of LOVE there is in this City.... Guys and Girls sit on the STREETS and kiss and hold hands and hug... and woooohoowww, That even made me feel awkward!!!
Infront of Police officers, infront of children, infront of Grandmas.... theyre everywhere....
PAP... I wonder if they have visited SAINT MARY'S BABA before doing such movements!!!!
I love you Pap!!!!!


Now Going back to every set of eyes that I LOVE and is reading this message.....
Remember the two Danish Girls that were in my Dormitorio Room in the Hostel???
We became INSEPERABLE.... From the minute I walked into the room with my luggage and said Hi to them and told them Im Lebanese..... Till 10 minutes ago, when I went with them to the Bus station and Kissed them Goodbye before their voyage to Oaxaca... we were INSEPERABLE.

We cooked, we walked, we read, we exchanged SO MANY stories about our experiences inside and outside Mexico.
Adorable, Sweet, Young and Positive and Real friends..


I am back to being SOLA. Back to being Alone now.... Feels good to have spent time "talking" and feeling loved and surrounded with friends! I leave tomorrow to Guanajuato. and My passion for this country is accelerating in a manner that is unique. My smile is put by 'default', and my appreciation to this country and its people is starting to build a MANSION inside my heart.


I will now post some pictures of the ONLY time I spent away from the girls.. I went to an "AfricaM Safari" and witnessed animals, reptiles, carnivores, and birds from India and Africa.
Beautiful. Breathtaking. and Unforgettable.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6oRRhGaO5c

Expectations...

So I buy my ticket out of Xalapa, I think I overstayed in Xalapa.... 5 days in a HUUUUGEE city is too much for me. I wanted OUT.

I knew that my destination is 'Guanajuato'.... well because alomost EVERYONE I spoke to ...Everyone...has fallen in love with Guanajuato and has talked so much about its simple way of living and beauty and culture and architecture... and all.

However!!! To buy a ticket from Xalapa straight to Guanajuato would be crazy! It would probably mean 24 hours of driving since the distance is HUGE!

So I decide to pass by "the famous PUEBLA"... Everyone seems to talk about Puebla, and its basically the Capital of the State of Puebla.... and its in the middle.... Okay why not?? ONE DAY! MAXIMUM!

I read about Puebla.... And this is what I read:

Its famous for its CHURCHES.... There is one church in each and every corner! Im not Kidding.... In the Historical Centre alone, the downtown, there are 70 Churches... SEVENTY..... Thats more that the Starbuckses of Dubai!!!

Tayyib...Fine.... Lets Go... Museums, Museums, Whatever, Okay, Churches, Churhes, Archeological sites, Fine... I was SOOOOOO NOT impressed by Puebla!

I land here...in Puebla.....and I look around.. and I send a message to my boyfriend telling him "This place really looks like Dawra... you know.. Dawra of Lebanon, the guetto neighborhood with no life... I wanna leave.... Im gonna leave tomorrow".

My smart boyfriend tells me to wait till I get to the hotel and to message him when Im there....

THISSSSS is the hotel!!!! How gorgeous can a hotel be??? How colorful and happy can a hotel be???

I check in... and within 4 minutes, I meet 2 blonde girls, really tall girls that are really so so sweet and loving LIFE and loving ADORING Mexico... Its their 2nd time here.... (LIKE MEEEEEE).

So here... Us three girls.... hang out the whole day... we walk around the city.... we have dinner and I HAVE NEVER EVER EVER TALKED SO MUCH! We talk and talk and talk!!!!

Theyre from Denmark and theyre sisters!!!

The city is beaaauuuutiful... THIS is sooo much more LINA.... and you know what I realized??? The fact that the roads carry ONE-LANES of cars.... and not TWO!!! This is exatly like my San Cristobal.. and OH how I love this system.... One lane of cars, amidst two pedestrian lanes, decorated with colorful shops.

Music from shops, music from cars, music from singing people on the streets, Music from LIFE.

Balloons, flowers, kids, LIFE LIFE LIFE.

We come back to the room, and exchange music... I give them some of my music and they give me some Spanish music.... and I SLEEP..... with a SMILE thats worth 9 TRILLION negative thoughts that I had gathered about Puebla.

EHpiritual

One of the reasons why I chose Xalapa is that its up north..ish..... and actually because of the interesting places around it... in the state of Veracruz.

Thursday morning... I catch a bus... and I go to CATEMACO.... which is a 5-hour bus ride from Xalapa... known for its lagunas, beaches, and "spiritual" side... Catemaco is a village that believes in witch doctors... and is full of "brujos" .... witches performing ceremonies and stuff like that!!!!!

Its SUCH a pretty village... its a small town filled with colors (AGAIN) and shares a lake called "Catemaco Lake".

My hotel is in the middle of it all... it has TV and Internet!

I watched TV after almost 2 months of being absolutely cut off from the Television Industry!

I caught a boat tour around the Catemaco lake and that was beauuutifulllll. I saw Iguanas, Monkey, a crocodile, and many many colors.

Here is the interesting part...... On my arrival here, The hotel people recommended a "SENYORA" that is a Brujo and is willing to perform a spiritual cleaning..... on ME.

I go to the senyora's house, and I spend 10 minutes talking to her and FREAKING OUT... the woman has decorated her whole house with statues of Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ .... but SKULLS of them... holding a hammer!!! Its just sooooo weird.... and scary!

Its all about skeletons and hammers and dark and black and WOHOWWWW. I told her I will come back tomorrow... and I FLED!!!!

The next day, as I was having breakfast... someone else comes to me and asks me if I want to do a Spiritual Cleaning!!! So I said yes... and we went to the "senyor's" house... THIS was different... his house was decorated in real Jesus Christ and Virgin Mary statues... I felt better!

I did the Spiritual Cleaning.... he basically prayed on me... while holding an egg... and some parsley.... and spraying something on me.... thats minty! I felt no difference whatsoever! Im just happy I tried it:))))))

On my way back.... I met this 17-year old girl... shes sooooo cute!!! we talked and talked... and met at night for some dinner.... She wanted to go party... but I decided I need to be the mature one and Go SLEEPPPPP.....

My bus leaves at 1:00 today.... and I go back to Jasmine, the cleaning lady, who wants to take me out and show me Xalapa!!!! WOHOWWWW, I have a friend!!!!!!!

HA- la- pa

I packed my Rice, my Pasta, my Vegetables, my toilet paper, my Ketchup, my Oil, my EVERYTHING I own in San Cristobal. With 2 luggages, one for the food and one for my clothes, my yoga mat and my laptop , I was ready to go!

The bus ride was very cool, for once I fell asleep all throughout the 11 hours!

I get to Xalapa Bus Station, and it was all smooth. I get to my Hostal and they were expecting me..... So I have to carry my 2 HUUUGE luggages up to the SECOND floor, with no elevators of course!!!

I check in.... and ask for my "free" breakfast.... it looks like its Beans with some Tortillas! I look at her, Jasmine, and I tell her,... THANKS but you know?? I think Im gonna go out get some breakfast.... Im not sure how my Yoga-full body would take beans for breakfast....
So I walk to Chedraui... the Carrefoure-wannabe in Mexico.... and I buy all my food for lunch and breakfast....

Anyhow... I walk around the city and THIS is what Im thinking.....
This is HUUUGE, for me, coming from the cozy village of San Cristobal.... there are cars!! TWO lanes of cars kamain.... a Traffic police controlling the cars, people on the sidewalks, people with guitars singing on the streets , vendors selling all kinds of food, Music IN MY EARS constantly.... Theyre just so creative with the instruments they use....

Personally, I found it SO MUCH like Montreal... Its beauuutifullllll.. and it turns out my Hostal is RIGHT in the middle of it all!
I cook my lunch, eat, have a siesta,,,, and head back out....


**** I would like to note something!!! After lunch, I MADE A FRIEND!!! Its Jasmine, the cleaner of the Hostal!!! She asked me if I'd like to go out with her tomorrow , her day-off, to the movies... I said YES...

I finally met one man... who is very Mexican, and maybe maybe maybe GAY (I saw a lottt of gays here).....
His name is Charlie, I had coffee with him, and talked about his passion for Italy!!! He is learning Italian now, and he dreams of going to Italy.... Very nice guy... Who had to leave and see his parents....coz he had missed them!


I walk some more.......and .....
They have an alley..... SO jimmayzeh-style..... full of pubs... so I sat there ... and had a glass of wine!!!!
I felt a bit weird, and maybe alone? ..... and was suddenly hit by the feeling of SLEEEPPPYYY, LINA YOURE SLEEPYYYYYY... GO HOMEEEEEEEE.

Thats what I did.... I went home.... Slept like a baby.... and thought of my "date" tomorrow with Jasmine! I would like to see Xalapa from the eyes of a real Xalapenyo!

Come with Me

Here... Come....... walk with me.... throughout my day today...


I started off from my house in 'Flavio Paniagua 74', and walked to 'Real de Guadalupe' down towards the centre, here I slightly smiled at the Cinema that I went to three times to watch a documentary about the Zapatistas. I got to the Centro, and to the ATM Machine and withdrew my smile knowing that Im being charged 20 AED for each transaction...

I walk to 'Cristobal Colon' to pick up my ID Card from Marta the owner of the DVD store! I had to pay her 30 pesos because I was late one day!!!!! I was actually angry with her... because I THOUGHT WE WERE FRIENDS.... you cant just charge me like that!!! I told her!!! But at the end of the day.... business is business I guess.... Im still a bit weird about Marta!!!

Then I walk to 'Francesco Madero' to Claudia.. the woman of the Mobile store that I bought my shitty Samsung from (the one that doesnt have a Calender) .... Ola Claudia!!!! I needed Units!! You never know... I just need to know that I can call!

As I am walking back, almost done with what I have to do.. I see Enrique!!!!! (The Enrique, the American Maria's boyfriend) So, he was really happy to see me because they wanted to get in touch with me and didnt have my number!!! SAME HERE! So apparently its Helen;s birthday and theyre going out to the Wine Bar at 8... and I was invited!!! So also they can drop me to the Bus Station! GREAT!

I leave 'Francesco Madero'... and go to Diego Dugelay to buy Headphones... for 100 Pesos.. like 10 USD... Because mine dont work anymore and Im gonna need sleepy music for the bus ride!

DONE!!! Im ready to go home, to catch my bags and laptop and "check out"...


so I get to 'Flavio Paniagua 74', and the landlord is there, cleaning the house..... OLAAAA ESTERRRRR.... so we sit...and talk for like 20 minutes IN SPANISH about her kids and the lack of business here in July and August .....
Anyhow, 21 minutes later.. the NEW tenant walks in... and so Hes Mexican and we talk about how PERFECT this house is... I LOVE IT, I ADORE IT.... its huge, internet, your kitchen, your bathroom, your space!
The guy is from Morelia, but is now working on his USA Visa to go to San FRancisco! He's a Graphic Designer ... very nice man.... We exchanged emails... and IF he comes to his town in November 1 for the "Day of the Dead", he will email me!


They got me a cab, and helped me with my luggage... and OFF I went ...... to my Yoga Centre, for my last class at 5:30....

You have now walked with me step by step for today, the 21st September!

I hope you enjoyed your walk.

Last weekend

Saturday and Sunday night... in San Cristobal for the last weekend... and gettin THE REAL SC flavor...
Becks, my friend from the Yoga Centre came to my house and stayed with me..... I would have NEVER imagined meeting an ENGLISH woman in Mexico and spending practically three whole days with her.
Becks is a REAL soul. Becks is self made, self taught. Becks doesnt believe in shoes... she walks barefoot to feel the energy of the earth. We spent our time walking and walking and chilling at the Plazas and streets of SC.
We met 3 sets of friends , 3 groups of travellers.... WHILE sitting on a bench... and thats when I realized that THATS what usually happens. People just come up to you and talk. Theyre friendly... and theyre travellers.. like us.... seeking good company and a good time!
2 French guys were lost... so I was their tour guide... I gave them 11 things to do in San Cristobal with the names and locations! ... 4 Mexican guys who were out on Saturday night and told us about an African night happening in Las Bellas club...so we all went and it was my first time in a Mexican Nightclub.... and then 2 German girls with a Mexican friend who invited us to their house//... but we didnt!!


Its just sooo easy to meet people, so I need to break that fear that I have about "NOT" making friends... because the way I see it.. Im doing okay!

My bus leaves tonight to Xalapa, Veracruz... its 11 hours and I will be staying in a Posada...

Im exited.... One month in San Cristobal is now its time to see something else!

Im exited , Im exited, Im curious, Im looking forward, Im nervous but Im positive! VAMOS A VER! Lets see........................................................................................................................................

One VIVA and one Finale

YES... the day the Mexicans were finally freed from the Spanish conquistadores is TODAY. The whole town was fully prepared for the fiestas ... they really cherish this day and THIS I am LUCKY to have witnessed.

I started noticing Mexican Flags all over since last week, every shop, every house, every place... they were decorating and decorating UNTILLLLL.... Last night... September 15.... Of course, its a day off, so ALLLL houses suddendly became empty and EVERYONE was out on the streets... The main location.... The Catedral... or the Zocalo.... They all walk there, and stand.... and at 11:00 pm.. they start SCREAMINGGGG VIVAAA MEXICOOOOO, Viva La Independencia, VIVAAA VIVAAAAA.

Needless to say, the whole area is covered with colors, flags, balloons, markets, games, fireworks... and ITS VIBRANT.

I went out with my friends from the school.. to this pub, Perfidia, and drank and drank, until it was time.... so we all walked there where I witnessed the Passionate Mexicans.

Today , this morning too.... the roads were all blocked... and the was a HUGE parade of the Military, the Army, singing and Marching, and then the KIDS, dressed in a certain uniform, marching and also singing.... People were gathered on the left and right side of the sidewalk.

*** MAY I please add a note here..... and THIS , I was told from my teachers... that basically, the parade was so much shorter than usual... and people are really LESS than all the years... LETS ALL GUESS..... Its our Dear Friend... THE SWINE FLU!

Its sad to know, but its the truth.

Now, to the second point Id like to share.... This is my last week here in San Cristobal. I have completed 4 weeks of Spanish Studying and Living in this gorgeous place..... and NOW, its time to continue my journey.... I have gathered what I need to gather and I feel very very very ready to head out. I can TALK, I can communicate, I can ask for things, I can speak about things, and I can understand what people are telling me.

Today, My teacher told me that I am a VERY VERY EXCELLENT student, and hes very proud of me.. and he thinks.... that in one month... I can't learn more... Ive used all my resources and have grasped it all... OF COURSE, I am yet to learn SO MUCH more about the language... but he says that in one month... Ive used it all and used it wisely.

This makes me happy, and more confident about my travel.... I guess I have accomplished my goal... El Espanol....

Whats next??? I will be going to the state of Veracruz, which is the east side of the coutry, and its where we have our EL GOLFO DE MEXICO Sea. I want to stay in Xalapa, its basically up on a mountain... because I hear its waaaayyyy to Humid there.. and I am not her friend... the humidity!

SO.... I am currently living the final days of San Cristobal and I am fulfilled.