QUO VADIS

I arrive to Naples after knowing 3 warming and charming napoliteans, Mauro, Luca and Jennifer in Berlin where I received an invitation to visit their city.

To visit Naples during this last weekend was almost like arriving earlier to Lisboa.The small narrow and hard to climb streets on the hills, coloured clothes waving on the windows, the light, the people on the streets, these were the things that remind me of Alfama or Mouraria Lisbon neighbourhoods .

This is absolutely true, it’s not the wish of arriving home sooner, many Italians had told me that before and now I confirm it! One city reminds us of the other!

Motorbykes at high velocity driven by children, many others riding without helmets, crossroads and red traffic lights don’t exist. The rule for the drivers is to move fast, the rule for the walkers is to run& find our way across the cars or just walk by the buildings on the lateral sides of the streets (that doesn’t mean sidewalks, because here they are rare) and hidding our purse on the inner side, once is better not to take the risk of a clumsy hand find it interesting; trash making small hills in the middle of the streets, abandoned buildings, poorness... This is the lively centre of Naples that Vesuvio can control from his higher perspective. It may seem strange but I like this reality as I found it normal and understandable!

Night life also reminds me of Lisboa, specially when sunday night I end up in this place where old washing machines and refrigerators are part of a Milonga (tango) ball room !

I visit Naples guided by the eyes of who lives and loves his city ( Luca, have you considered to become a tour guide, you managed also quite well in Berlin!?) I found many churches, a monument similar to "Casa dos bicos" in Lisboa (here in church version), the castle, one garden.
I drink a cold coffee nuts flavour, it’s not only divine, it’s a reason to exist as Napolitanean! We continue and we found the main big square where people celebrate the New year’s Eve, then on the town hall building we dive on the Mediterrean with an exibition about its cities and we finish after the sunset in Naples Golf, where we can see the entire city like a Christmas tree with all its beautiful lights.

The journey continues between Napolitanean pizzas, beer and presepio street* getting deeper in the real world of my brand new friends. For a moment I feel I belong to this place and I wouldn’t mind to stay here for the last 3 weeks left in Italia.
*a street full of shops that only sell the ceramic images that are part of this presepio, that basically is the recreation of Jesus birth done by the Catholics on Christmas day- a strong tradition here in Napoli.

The photos that I didn’t do, what I didn’t do, the talks I didn’t have made me want to return one day. The truth is that for the same reason I could departure forever revisiting some dozen magic souls that I had the pleasure to cross my life with in the last years.
I'm sure now that I want to continue to travel in your beautiful and unique worlds!

There should not be a reason to love!

Grazie Jennifer per la tua allegria, dinamismo e accoglienza che mi ha fatto sentire proprio a casa.
Grazie a Luca per la tua apassionata gita guidada al tuo mondo.
Grazie a Mauro, so che vorresti stare con noi! A presto!



Chego a Napóles depois de conhecer 3 smpáticos e calorosos napolitanos (Mauro, Luca e Jennifer) em Berlim e receber o seu convite para visitá-los.
Ver esta cidade neste último fim de semana foi quase como chegar a Lisboa antecipadamente.
As ruelas íngremes nas colinas, as cores da roupa estendida à janela, a luz, a gente na rua fazem lembrar Alfama ou Mouraria. E isto é verdade, não são as saudades de Portugal, vários italianos já me tinham dito e agora eu confirmo. É verdade!

As motos conduzidas a alta velocidade por crianças, por passageiros sem capacete, onde as passadeiras e os sinais vermelhos não existem, a regra para eles é sempre avançar, a regra para os peões é tentar atravessar a estrada e andar sempre junto às extremidades da rua (que não quer dizer passeios, essa é uma palavra que raramente vem no dicionários dos arquitectos napolitanos) e com a mala sempre virada para a parede, não vá uma mãozinha atrevida achá-la interessante, o lixo aos montes pela rua, os edifícios bastante degradados, a pobreza... Tudo isto faz parte do centro vital de Nápoles que o Vesúvio controla lá do alto. E por estranho que pareça, gosto desta realidade porque é normal e a consigo compreender.

A vida nocturna também faz lembrar Lisboa, especialmente quando no Domingo à noite chego a este lugar onde antigas máquinas de lavar e frigoríficos com luzes fazem parte da decoração de um salão onde se dançam Milongas.
Visito Napóles guiada pelos olhos de quem lá vive e ama a sua cidade, encontro mil igrejas, uma casa dos bicos (aqui em versão igreja), um castelo, um jardim. Bebo um café frio com sabor a Nociola, não é só divinal, é uma das razões da essência napolitana.
Seguimos, e encontro a Praça do Comércio cá do sitio, dentro do edifício municipal mergulhamos numa Exposição sobre as cidades do Mediterrâneo, terminamos já depois do pôr-do-sol no Golfo de Napóles, onde se pode ver toda a cidade em luzinhas à nossa volta.

A viagem continua e entre pizzas e cervejas e a rua dos presépios ( uma rua só com lojas que se dedicam à venda das figuras do presépio em terracota ) a viagem aprofunda-se ao mundo real dos meus jovens amigos. Por momentos sinto que sou daqui e não me importaria de ficar aqui estas 3 últimas semanas que me restam em Itália.

Mas as fotos que não tirei, aquilo que não vi, o que não fiz, as conversas que não tive, far-me-ão querer voltar 1 dia.

Na verdade por este motivo poderia partir e viajar para sempre ao encontro de algumas dezenas de almas super interessantes com quem tenho tido o privilégio de me ter cruzado nos últimos tempos.

Quero continuar esta viagem ao encontro dos vossos belos e únicos mundos!

Amar não deve ter uma razão!

THE FABULOUS WORLD OF AMELIE POULIN

From the 31rst October to the 12th November I was in Berlin for visiting friends, for working and participating in training course on "Open Space tecnology". Here you can find some reflections about the city and the course!
About the city I can tell you something, but OST you have to participate in it to fully understand it so I leave you with the message I sent afterwards to my colleagues.

Berlin!
I choose west! I found a cold, calm, friendly, organized city that made me feel at home!
I felt the city breathing and the historical legacy inspiring me. Large avenues. Fusion of modern with old architecture.
The first place I visit was this “bunker” built to defend people from the atomic war. I found it interesting to see this piece of history that was never needed to be used and if it was everyone doubts about its efficiency. Curious, no? From Checkpoint Charlie and concentration camps you do not have only memories as new fascist try to burn down the concentration camp of Sachsenhausen but you can say that Berliners life nowadays seem to be faraway from the hardest moments of german history.
As in any other place in the world there are always many perspectives of the same events! I found curious to meet people to whom the falling of the wall had different meanings and impacts in their lifes!
This city full of sub worlds inside other worlds, seems to make sense altogether.
I got lost in the city as I usually like to do and just merged with its spirit!

Autumm colours, from yellow, to brown and trees letting their fruits fall into the ground.
Many people smiling and the communication happening apart from the language barrier as I don’t speak german.
I understand at that moment and once again that people are the ones who make the difference.

The night life is interesting with typical german pubs and unpredictable places were you can dance traditional european dances, alternative places were you can listen to launching of pure german rock bands (thanks Michael for taking us there!). And after these days I get to the conclusion that I wouldn’ t mind to live there!

Just for the European Citizenship yahoo group, it’s maybe interesting for you to know that I met my dear friend Stefan, you remember him? The german charismatic sense of humour in person! Although our brief meeting it was really enjoyable!

Open Space Technology Training Course in Blossin
Walking around on the streets of Berlin on the 9th, the 10th, the 11th, the 12th of November, seeing you in the corner, hearing your voice… hearing your laugher… No, it’s just somebody else reminding me of you…

On the way to this gathering I lost a plane, during the gathering I started to loose objects and to disconnect definitely from my vague notion of time and reason, I met some of my old phantoms and had nice talks with them, I met the phantom of true freedom and he let me go, I opened some doors that were closed for stupid reasons, I dived deeper in my inner lake and I found my treasures…
I got closer to you or maybe not as much as I wanted or was possible but that makes me believe that people don’t meet by chance and we’ll be connected somehow!…

In Berlin I lost my bank card in a bancomat! On my way back to Italy my luggage didn’t arrive, inside there was my Italian phone and the keys of my house in Calabria.
But I easily managed to enter in my house and a bird flied through the open window, and looked at me while searching for the way out!
In Portugal we say that when we loose something is because we didn’t really want to leave the place. And when a street bird enters your house it’s announcing good news!

This just tell me that:
You were all the right people!
Whatever happened it was what each and everyone needed!
It’s not over!
And whenever something else will happen is absolutely the right time!

5 months ago I initiated the longest open space of my life coming to the South of Italy in search for myself, my true beliefs, answers, and a new world!
I still don’t know exactly what kind of animal I am but I don’t think it’s important anylonger… For the moment I just enjoy the ride…Thanks for being part of it!…

DEAD POETS SOCIETY

28-30 October 2006

There comes a time when we need to jump over the top of the table, tear down the books and forget memorizing the latin grammar rules!... Carpe diem!... And off I went to the land where the oranges are red!

I cross Messina's Strait in the big ship, that carries trains inside, carrying me to green hills and Mountains of Sicilly!
Seen from Jonic Sea, Messina cativates me by it’s specific architecture that puts together different styles and ages, I wish to go closer into it. But this travel has already a destination!
From the harbour to the railwaystation another reality appears to me, trains with 2,5 hours late and nobody really giving the correct information. I end up taking the regional train that stopped in each and every station on the way to Catania. I travel to meet another member of my organization, Hugo Matos, also him wants to get to know the biggest vulcano in the Old Continent!
I start to see Etna halfway in Taormina and I spend the rest of the time standing up to make photos, to watch its different perspectives, to admire it!

Expecting me was a special family "Opera Papa Giovanni XXII" where Hugo does his European volunteer Service. Children and young people to whom life had made it hard at health or family level found here the Love and home protection. Among 11 persons in the house I felt immediatly hosted and in harmony. My Regards of admiration to the work of Domenico and Chiara- the parents!
I’m very happy to know that we can still find people with such a heart, specially in this part of the world!

I’m thrilled! Finally I’m going to climb up Etna. After months watching him from my balcony, during day magnificent, belissimo, at night writting down orange streets in the middle of the sky!
3313 meters high, moon landscape, grey sand, brown, cobre, black with hills of different dimensions and hundreds of crateras all around.
Walking, our feet dive in the warm earth, there’s a smell of enxofre and the wind brings back the smoke from the crateras. There’s a small cratera from where you can see lava running, a borbulhar...This must be one of the most amazing experiences that you can have in life! Unforgetable! A true psycologic orgasm according to Hugo and I agree!



CLUBE DOS POETAS MORTOS (versão português)

Chegou a altura de subir para cima da mesa, rasgar os livros e deixar de decorar as declinações em latim ... Carpe diem!... Aí fui eu rumo á terra onde as laranjas são vermelhas!

Atravesso o estreito de Messina no enorme navio, que leva comboios dentro, e me leva a avistar verdes colinas e montanhas sicilianas.
Vista do Mar Tirreno, Messina cativa pela sua arquitectura diversa que mescla diferentes estilos e idades, fico com vontade de vê-la mais perto.
Mas a viagem continua e o destino é diferente, do porto à estação, uma outra realidade comboios com 2,5 horas de atraso e onde ninguém parece saber ou querer dar informações. Acabo por apanhar o comboio regional que pára em todas e mais algumas e que me levará a Catania. Viajo ao encontro de um outro “arrotante”, o Hugo Matos, também ele quer ir conhecer o maior vulcão do velho continente.
Começo a ver o Etna sensivelmente a meio da viagem, em Taormina, e passo o restante tempo em pé a fotografá-lo, olhá-lo, admirá-lo.
Chego a Catania e vejo o bom e o mau, aqui percebo o italiano que se fala.

Desembarco numa família especial a Obra Papa Giovanni XXIII onde o Hugo faz voluntariado. Crianças e jovens a quem a vida pregou partidas familiares ou de saúde, reencontram aqui o Amor, o bem estar. Entre 11 pessoas na casa senti-me imediatamente acolhida e em harmonia. Fica um cumprimento de admiração para o trabalho do Domenico e da Chiara- os pais! E eu fico feliz por saber que ainda existem pessoas tão boas, especialmente por estas paragens!

Estou emocionada vamos subir ao Etna. Finalmente, depois de meses a vê-lo da minha varanda, de dia imponente, belissimo, de noite a lava traçando estradas laranja no meio do céu!
A 3313 metros de altitude , a paisagem é lunar, areia cinzenta, castanha, côr de cobre, preta com montanhas e montes de pedras de lava e centenas de crateras a perder de vista.
Caminhando os meus pés enterram-se na terra quente, cheira a enxofre e o vento traz o fumo das crateras. Há uma pequena cratera onde se pode ver a lava a correr, a borbulhar... Esta deve ser uma daquelas experiências únicas na vida! Indimenticable! Um verdadeiro orgasmo psicológico segundo o Hugo e eu concordo!