SONHAR É GRATIS # 2

SONHAR É GRATIS! = TO DREAM IS FREE

 Here is another dream which is fun, curious and most of all its very weird.

It was a good morning and the air smelt very fresh, like we say in India fresh like Switzerland. I was in a bus to arrive in Amsterdam. It was a routine like I am with my friend Jorge. We arrive at the bus station and had one day in Amsterdam before we leave again for Utretch.

But as we get down the bus, I see a series of Indian cows & buffalos being bath. The scene is a bit of mix of India with standards of Holland.

I was very surprised and yet moved ahead and Jorge who has been to Amsterdam before decides to stay with the bags in a Coffee shop for a while and work. I moved on to check the city centre and later join him for a bicycle ride around the canals.

I started walking and admiring the beauty of the city. Oh my god I did not realize but When I did, I was more surprised to find myself in a lousy street. It was like if you imagine Hauz Khas in New Delhi with a tint of Amsterdam. It was crowded with people and suddenly my childhood friend Deva who lives in Florida pulls my hand to surprise me more.

He tells me that he shifted this morning and I should help him arranging his stuff. I wanted to run away but then decided to help him over a coffee and croissant for an hour.

When I arrive in his room and while moving things I notice combustible items which could make explosives for Nazis secret mission in Warsaw.

Oh my God!!

The next moment I am shivering and running to my friend Jorge. I see him getting into a restroom but when I follow him its a huge Turkish bath with many families . I am still in panic as I dont find my friend. I woke up with a feeling : can I dream a bit more.

Of course I am thinking of traveling all the time and to how is very difficult.

 However to dream is free!!

SONHAR É GRATIS # 1

So here is my dream of the day, fresh from the wee hours of this morning. But when I started to write, it became a poem. Or atleast I made sure that it ryhmes.

              SONHAR É GRASTIS = To dream is free

I had a dream today that I am in a place I have never been before. 

The Moscow is not red but roman. 

It has the pillars of an Athenian

I dont know how on earth I land here. 

If at all Moscow is anywhere near. 

But I am happy that I have a bonus city to pin before my journey is over.

Suddenly am helping the old Indian women climbing a ladder,

As a museum in Zurich has door only in second floor. 

I am happy again that I am traveling more. 

FROM MY WINDOW SEAT # 3

This picture is from Cartagena, Colombia.

The city of Cartagena is a beautiful time that has come to halt from the colonial days of Spain in Latin America. The walled city with beautiful Cathedral and churches, the embarked ships, historical center, the culture thriving between the locals etc takes you back to another age.

But today more than the city of Cartagena it is the picture of the ship which got me nostalgic about Cartagena.

While I was walking by the historical center there was a beautiful ship which is now a museum. I was curious to pay a visit but then it seemed so touristic and also because of tight budget as it was almost end of our three months in Latin America that I decided to enjoy its grandeur as a spectator from the pavement. 

I managed to make some pictures of this colonial ship and was so happy for not visiting it. 

I believe the picture of just the ship would not be so beautiful without the reflection of the Cathedral on the glass window which stopped me to get closer to the ship as a non paid visitor. Sometimes things happen against your wish and in return that makes you happier. I was very thrilled and happy for the beautiful moment captured by the window pane.

SONHAR É GRATIS = To dream is Free

 SONHAR É GRATIS is a portuguese quote meaning'"To dream is free". This is going to be new for my blog. I have decided to share what I dream. Of course it has to be about traveling :P 

That is true. What we dream and what not we dream, all comes free of cost.Immediately I was traveling in flashback. 

Although my dream left me very thoughtful, but it is well concluded by a picture made in the streets of São Paulo, Brazil. 

Last year around same time, I was making a city tour in São Paulo with my friends Jorge, Pedro, Susana with her kid Sebas, Inacio and Helena(Leninha). I was very excited about Brazil because I could use the little Portuguese I know before entering into the Spanish speaking countries of South America. I was reading everything around. It was a great day between Avenue Paulista, the beautiful Orealhão, the fair of Benedicto Calixto, Batman Alley etc. Suddenly Inacio and Leninha who were equally excited about my interests in Portuguese, pointed to a electric pole with a Grafitti. They asked me to translate into  english and I could that it means, "Dream is free"

Here is the picture from that moment. s a portuguese quote meaning'"To dream is free". 

This is going to be new for my blog. I have decided to share what I dream. Of course it has to be about traveling :P 

That is true. What we dream and what not we dream, all comes free of cost.Immediately I was traveling in flashback. 

Although my dream left me very thoughtful, but it is well concluded by a picture made in the streets of São Paulo, Brazil. 

Last year around same time, I was making a city tour in São Paulo with my friends Jorge, Pedro, Susana with her kid Sebas, Inacio and Helena(Leninha). I was very excited about Brazil because I could use the little Portuguese I know before entering into the Spanish speaking countries of South America. I was reading everything around. It was a great day between Avenue Paulista, the beautiful Orealhão, the fair of Benedicto Calixto, Batman Alley etc. Suddenly Inacio and Leninha who were equally excited about my interests in Portuguese, pointed to an electric pole with a Grafitti. They asked me to translate into english and I could that it means, "Dream is free"

Here is the picture from that moment. 

FOOTBALL FEVER IS ON :)

Writing about Football in a country where Cricket is celebrated is almost out of place. But its true that I connect more with Football than Cricket these days. Well its an universal game and played everywhere.
So Portugal did not make it to the Quarter final and I am disappointed.

But football & cricket are very unpredictable games like rain. Anything can happen for the burden of Permutations and Combinations. I will miss the super fast Ronaldo. But I am optimistic and 5 years goes by swiftly if you travel too much. But the cup is on and we still have some teams to cheer up.

So here is a football picture from my trip to the beach of Puri on the occasion Holi. I dedicate this picture to all my Portuguese friends.

VIVA PORTUGAL :)

A GREAT COINCIDENCE!

Last night after the celebrated victory of Brazil over Croatia and before I went to bed, I was in thought of Fifa World Cup.

I realized that in July 2010, I stepped into a foreign land for the first time. It was the day for the final match of Fifa World cup 2010. 

I arrived in Cape town, South Africa and everyone was geared up for the Final March. Is it not a pleasant coincidence that My first international travel started with the Finals of World cup. 

So GO... FIFA

GO... TRAVELING ... HURRAYYYY!!"

NOSTALGIAAAA!!

There is football in the hitlist and calling for celebration. But there is another celebration which is calling me from a country around the Mediterian Sea.

Its Portugal and the Celebration of Santo Antonio. Last year, I had shared too much informations on this festival of Portugal in my blog. 

This year too am living the Nostalgia. 

The sound of the Tram, the crowded metros, the bustling Alfama, the Fado music, streets of Lisboa, the smell of Sardines, beer flooding the street, the zillion pictures I clicked, then the house parties moving to the streets, the friendly Portuguese and much more. 

I want to be there in Lisbon with my friends. 

A TRAVELER's CONFUSION!!

Yes, I am confused which country to support. 

In India, cricket is a religion. But all my childhood I have played football. I don't even know how to score run with a bat. So definitely am a football lover and have favourites. But at the sametime, having travelled with emotions, I have favourites too. 

I love the Brazilian team, the German and the Argentina too. Some where I would support Colombia, Uruguay and the French team too. 

But please lets keep a secret that deep in  my heart, it is Portugal that I want to win. 

FIFAAAA !!

Couple of minutes, even less than an hour the football world cup 2014, Brazil would be live. 

My brother in law, who is also football fan in this country where its cricket which is worshipped, asks me you have been to Brazil. Then he says should we go again. 

I smiled and gestured him that he is tickling a traveller. 

Last year around same time I was in Rio de Janeiro and the country was already gearing up for the World cup. I was so excited. I wish I can travel to Brazil now. 

So now its time for : GOOOOO......GOOOOOOAL!!

WEIGHT OF LOVE!!

In Paris, everything is a monument. Everything that exist has some significance. 

The french bridge, Pont des artes, has a great significance. Tourist and the locals both celebrate a tradition to lock their love using padlocks on the bars of this bridge. This beautiful tradition is considered as a vandalism.

It is really sad that a section of this bridge broke on the morning of 9th June. But its not the first time. This historical bridge was damaged by the German bombs in world war I & II. This time it broke for the weight of the padlocks. 

The pont des artes on the river Seine gives beautiful views of Paris. But the beauty of this bridge is due to golden and colourful locks.

Lets hope that the weight of love does not call for end of this tradition.