Ovid Illustrated: The Reception Of Ovid's

a thousand contradictions, reflections of an expatriate.

I have always enjoyed seeing new places, watch people in their behavior and try to put myself in the culture of the place. I must say that Albania is really difficult to understand people, their behaviors, their attitudes. Especially if you presume to know how things are, it is them that maybe you're not really managed to get in contact with people. I am not speaking of people and kids who attend, individually they are all normal people, what I still can not understand is the Albanian people as a whole. Tirana, for example, shows its different faces. For a simple tourist will look like a city European full-scale, the center is well maintained, the rooms are always full of people, clothing to the fashion, luxury cars, all to flaunt opulence that is really only apparent. For example, turning the streets, just leave the main roads always come across often in busy streets to create space between the buildings, narrow and often full of potholes. The same is true for people in the center are children who go to dance, drink, listen to live music, then as you push in the suburbs are an entirely different situation.

As I said, I like knowing and being in touch with people I often find myself in the company of Father Bertrand, a French Jesuit priest with whom I collaborate in my work in Albania for 15 years. It 's a particular character but whom I respect very much for your generosity hidden in the attitude of surly dictator. Despite being here long he admits he does not completely understand the people here, but certainly knows more than me. And it is with him that I meet interesting people. When we want to chat quietly brings me a beer from Velo. Veil is the owner of a shop near his home, selling a bit 'of everything and has a sort of garden that serves as a garage and space for tables. It does not have many customers who sit there, but us and a group of Roma who live nearby and go there to drink the money for charity. Yesterday while I was there with him to talk enter an elderly woman, she Roma, perhaps no more than 60 years but her face marked by wrinkles of the disease. I had already seen before. He sits as usual, walking with difficulty, and cold, and as always take the veil a stove to warm the feet. After a little 'come up with a hot soup and serve it to him with a glass of raki, the Albanian spirit.

The woman is alone and has no one to take care of her. The Roma here in Albania are marginalized even more than in Italy, and I am a bit surprised 'that the Velo offers to eat. "It 's a stingy bastard, but he has a big heart," he says Bertrand. In fact he is in the eyes while the other brings a glass of raki to heat it up a bit '. We continue our conversation when at one point the woman gets up to leave. "From a cigarette, even give him two," he suggests Bertrand. I get up and hands it to her, the lady thanked me visibly tired with his weak voice and I see a tear slide between Ruge. A simple gesture of love for her is because of sincere emotion. You read it in his eyes that I do not forget. I say thanks, again, sends us a kiss with his hand. I waited for him to shake hands but it is a gesture that probably has not seen for a long time to do. His hands are dirty and probably not in the habit in these parts too familiar to the Roma.

I sit back and continue to drink my beer. But not without rethinking the lady.

That 's what I like, see people, real people, although sometimes it can be unpleasant or sad. Even a simple meeting, observe behavior, look at a person at the bar can make you understand as much. It is not just mere philanthropy is a need to grow, to know oneself through others, have new experiences, and that is why I'm happy here.

Supathickmami Rapidashare

Ohrid two years later, random thoughts!

A diary should be kept up to date is true, but it is also true that in writing too often threatens to lapse into banality, we strive at all costs to find something to write. Are not always enlightened by philosophical reflections ee deep thoughts, or at least not always I am here to share. And then I also believe that the reflections are interesting if they are accompanied by episodes of adventures and stories. That's why in recent weeks, I am worried that more than live to write. That it seems almost believable, but wanting to be more concrete enough to say that I had to write voglia.Ed here is that since last month are changed a bit 'of things, the work has definitely increased and with it the things to think about, often there is no weekend taking, work period.

Then suddenly doing a chat at dinner the other night we decided to leave two days.

We're going to Ohrid. When we leave? The day after tomorrow! Sold!

Ohrid for the uninitiated is a charming city of Macedonia near the border with Albania, its lake is one of the oldest in the world and marks the border between the two countries. The old town was declared a world heritage site since 1980, and is a favorite destination of tourists visiting the Balkans.

After these two phrases come to guide us. Departure at 12 am, the journey is not very short, about 3 ½ hours, sometimes stopping to photograph landscapes, a break for lunch and crossing the border, we arrived in Ohrid. Being a famous tourist destination, the locals have adapted and arranged to welcome tourists and especially in low season is very difficult find a place to sleep. After a bit 'of trading we are able to rent an apartment not far from downtown for 35 € in four.

A nice walk in the historic center, and that comes to mind here is the first time that I was in Ohrid, a coincidence exactly two years have passed. They were the last days of November when I left for a week in a remote place of an unknown country to discover the unexpected charm and stunning beauty. I do not have special memories associated with those days, if not a week spent in good company for sure. Ohrid, however, has remained in my heart because it has contributed in no small way to make bloom my passion for the Balkans, passion I already had for the people and culture, to discover that these lands contain such beautiful places had made me excited. And for those still walking the streets if only for two days, I was very relaxed. I was reassured and was a good way to pull off.

Many do not even know where Macedonia is, what is its capital, as well as Albania. People just know that I'm going to Sarajevo in the summer and are now in Albania to begin to get confused. For me, that I am here and the people who live here is unthinkable confusion of gender, the two countries so similar in some respects of course, but for the most part very different. A culture so fascinating and so unknown us Italians, even if only a few miles from us. We prefer to try exotic destinations rather than discovering the wonders we have in the "backyard". Certainly not the fault of individuals but of misinformation that involves everyone, when someone asks me of the war, if it is dangerous to be here, if you shoot again, I try not to answer back, there is no war, there ' is danger, Tirana is quiet and safe at night, or at least more secure than the dark streets around La Rambla in Barcelona, \u200b\u200bwhere, however, every Italian was at least once to see the wonders of Gaudi.

Sometimes I like to pull out the things I go through your head, a little ' without a filter and a little 'telling what I do. After two days as a tourist I prepare two weeks of fire that will arise soon.

"The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone" Mk 12, 10