so l. and r. invited me to a wine fair near karlov vés. i took s. and o. who were here on a visit.
fortunatelly bratislava is a wine area. i'm happy not because of the wine, but because there is burciak before the wine! burciak is the "mosto" or the wine that still didn't fully fermentate. we drank white one, it was just like juice, delicious! so l. and r. invited me to a wine fair near karlov vés. i took s. and o. who were here on a visit. it was a real old fair like we have in s.joão or anywhere in august, yummy, the chewing gum music, the plastic toys, the food, the wine. loved it! after three bottles we were quite happy with anything, but it was really a great afternoon, in great company!
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fotomaratons are the best things to get to know a city, to get to re-know the places of everyday theme: shout theme: in a mirror theme: she danced theme: voyeur
last weekend we went to pest'any to promote the project in grapefest, a festival that was in it's first year with a good line up. i really enjoyed it, not a lot of people, good weather - although there was a huge storm on friday (and i didn't really know any band besides royksopp.) but it was good because i got to listen new things, for example, vec was introduced to me as the father of slovak hip hop. the concert was super fun, here is an example: and this is my favourite slovak music so far! i really like it: AUTOBUS! funny video, from a czech band but royksopp won extra points for covering kate bush! although i am late on some news, this is one is too important to respect chronological issues!
THE OTHER'SLOVAKIA IS OUT! it's a photo competition for all evs volunteers who were or who are currently in slovakia. the idea is to get a different view on the country and try to show the slovaks how their country is seen by others. finally, the photographies will be exhibited in a gallery in bratislava and the event intends to gather all the evs in the country. so, promote and participate! more information is here. (photo taken by jano) the last week i went to campfest in kral'ova lehota, a very beautiful place, to promote the 72h project. campfest is a big festival that lasts for three days organized by the christian youth of slovakia.
as these months are months of experiences, this one was for sure a big experience. i did not know what to expect from a christian festival, but what happened was really different from what i have(n't) imagined. so, i'm used to simple and calm demonstrations of faith, even living in the most catholic city of portugal, known as the city of archbishops. this festival made me a bit uncomfortable just because i was not used to such an explicit demonstration of faith, praise of god, etc. it was very surprising to see circa 4000 people there, mostly youngsters with 15-17 years. to see them praying, holding hands, holding bibles. closing their eyes during the concerts (christian music), getting on their knees, arms up high. it was just unusual, strange. but an experience! this weekend i accepted an invitation and went to sekier, where s. and a. are doing their EVS. there was the festival on the meadows 2010 and it seemed a great one, so off i went with marie! the ecovillage of Zajezová has a visitor house called Sekier, where anyone could go to experience life on the meadows. i'm glad i went there. i missed this, the nature, the games, the dances, the music. the kids walking around barefoot. and it was a bit revolutionary as well. i don't know. i would like to come back. and this was the 40minute way to the nearest bus stop. beautiful...
after the photography seminar, we went to petrazalka to see a very nice concept of photo exhibition! i've never seen anything like this: people hung their pictures in a net, and visitors carried clothing clamps that served as votes! so, the photos with more things were the favourites! very original.
on monday i went with l. and r. to see lučnica. lučnica are the biggest traditional dance ensemble from slovakia, and when i mean big, it´s superstar big! the venue was completely full - now we know that it was full because the show was broadcast on tv! - and for the first time i saw a lot of regional costumes and instruments and dances. so, i loved it, it was really a show in the best sense of the word. the dancers were wonderful and the dances as well. i wonder how many hours they practice dancing, synchronizing movements, and learning how to smile for two hours. however, maybe it's not the best introduction to the folk dances. not knowing them at all, i imagine a lot of the movements i saw were produced in order to be coherent with the rest, and were not really danced by slovak grandparents. i don't know. i don't have the moral to say it wasn't genuine or authentic because i don't know genuine and authentics slovak dance!
i believe the choreographer collected all these dances but i believe as well they were adapted to be more "show-y". i loved it anyway, if i want authenticity i should go to a village, not an urban venue! the proof that i enjoyed it is that now i want to see SL'UK on the 16th jun, anyone wants to join me? on sunday i attended with v. and i. a ballet performance for the first time. we went to slovenské národné divadlo to see "made in: canada", a modern ballet by james kudelka.
i loved every second of it. the movements were funny and beatiful and soft and rough and everything, really. the second part, vivaldi's four seasons, was magnificent and i ended winter with a chill on my spine. i want more! today i only listened to mozart and vivaldi, ah, summer, please come! |
i don't understandnerozumiem ti means "i don't understand you" in slovak. a tradition, let's say. after not understanding anything in granada, now i don't understand anything in bratislava. Archives
May 2011
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