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Category: Eastern Europe

We Pay Attention to the Soul

December 25, 2017

A journey through Bratislava, Slovakia, from the historic Old Town, to stories of Communism-past, to delicious food and drinks with delightful company. One thing’s for sure, “We pay attention to the soul in Slovakia.” … More We Pay Attention to the Soul

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At first, I overlooked this photo, but I honestly think it captures my feelings towards Rome and Italy at large. It is beautiful, like a painting, but almost fuzzy, unreal, too good to be true. It's a bit disorienting, unfocused, strange, but somehow draws you in all the same. Italy is fantastic and terrible, and I am not sure I will ever be able to decipher my feelings towards this country. Anyway, ciao for now. 🇮🇹✌

I'm always one for symbolism, and I have to say - Italy this time around has presented me with so many signs that my life is headed down the proper path. I began my interest and work in the refugee crisis in Europe, and specifically in Italy, a few years ago in Florence, where I started a series/obsession called "We Are the Pigeons." Inspired by an interaction I'd had with a refugee, I was attempting to show the human side of refugees, immigrants, and asylum seekers through text and photos. This expanded into a photo gallery show and book. Fast forward to now, to far-right Italian politican, Salvini, sharing media of an African refugee and a pigeon with the caption "GO HOME!" - the beginnings of an anti-immigration campaign in Italy. Toss in a chance meeting with an old woman feeding pigeons that told me she is the "mother of pigeons who everyone ignores or hates" and a pigeon with one foot perching on my shoe for a spell, and I think it's all coming together. I intend to continue investigating the refugee crisis, approaching it with a humanistic view. I suppose pigeons always have, and always will, represent the overlooked and marginalized, to me. 🖤

It's days like today that I am reminded of the blatant communication barrier that extends to subtle cultural differences and a lot of confusion and frustration. It is hard to be constantly bombarded with challenges at nearly every waking moment. Nevertheless, Rome is looking fiiiiiine, I am learning so much, and I'm grateful for every opportunity I've carved out of this life so far. Less than a week left here, then I'm headed east!

"Questa è la pioggia di cento anni" / "This is a hundred years' rain" --overheard shouting in the streets of Rome

"Will we ever make it to Gay Village?" -a @cutefeministcat quote as we rambled around a hill made of pottery shards in Testaccio, Rome and stumbled upon Rome's Pride, which was strangely named "Gay Village" This is a wall of art inside Gay Village.

I think I will search a lifetime to uncover how Bernini sculpted such realism in his pieces. I think I will never understand. I think I am okay with that.

Italian beaches are filled with topless old women and sunburnt old men (also topless) and I dig it. 🇮🇹

How much more?

got no time for spreadin' roots / the time has come to be gone / and though our health we drank a thousand times / it's time to ramble on

Morocco taught me to stop-- Stop and evaluate my preconceptions about Islam Stop and appreciate the intricacies in hand-woven rugs Stop and talk to shop owners and street dwellers and really everyone Stop and breathe in the scent of jasmine and cumin and mint Stop and pet all the stray cats Stop and appreciate the utter kindness of new friends Morocco caught me off guard. Until next time!

Wandering through old Fes is traveling back in time, to a land with walls looming overhead and earthy smells of the leather tanneries wafting in darkened corridors and stray cats running between your feet and colors, colors everywhere--in the spices and scarves and weaving and pottery--and smokey magic drifting through opened doors as families prepare to break their fast after sundown.

Anthony Bourdain died today. This news caught me completely off guard. Tony has always been my idol, my inspiration, my I-wanna-be-him-when-I-grow-up person. His fearlessness and willingness to connect with and understand other cultures is what I base my life around. He has inspired me in so many ways, and I am eternally grateful. Travelling is hard, it's privileged, it's lonely but oh-so-beautiful. Rest in peace, my wandering and rambling friend. "Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world, you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life--and travel-- leaves marks on you. Most of the time, those marks on your body or on your heart, are beautiful. Often, though, they hurt."