Saturdays

Like Saturdays should be.

Clouds of rain linger

turn the garden into mist

there is no view

where the ocean used to be

is a long queue

of fog, one after another

waiting for you to be bothered 

by the non existing view

but secretly, you don't care

because behind closed doors

is where you hide

the fire makes a crackling sound

a bottle of red wine 

is emptied under loud laughter

philosophical talks and insights

because inside

we wash away the earth 

from our hands

cut the carrots we picked

make the meat sizzle

pet the dog

cover ourselves with blankets

tell stories until

the day is gone.

Portuguese paradise

I know, I know. I've been back in Belgium for two months now, but I'm still dreaming about Portugal on a daily basis. Dreams of leaving it all behind and hitching to one of my favourite countries. Where the sun never sets. Where the people are sweet as apple pie. Where memories of food and wine make me drool all over my laptop. If I wouldn't have so much fun in Brussels with friends and herbalism studies, I would move to Portugal, no doubt.

August was the perfect month for an identity crisis because I fell in love with Lisbon, which brought out the city girl in me. And she was screaming with joy while wandering around colourful streets, visiting one museum after another, sipping cold wine on terraces overlooking the whole city. It was good to be back in a city. You see, I spent a lot of time in New Zealand, Australian, Thai and Nepalese nature. Living in rainforests, on bounty beaches, cooking on a fire in the woods. That's when I realised: I LOVE NATURE! But Lisbon slapped me in the face: NO, YOU ARE A CITY GIRL, GO PUT ON SOME LIPSTICK AND WASH YOUR HAIR YOU SMELLY HIPPY! 

I went a bit crazy while shopping (I hadn't seen the inside of a shop for I don't know how long) and had people put make up on my face until I looked like a tranny. I was even close to shaving my legs. That's when my friend Duarte threw me in his car and drove me straight to the South of Portugal, to a place called A Terra somewhere in between Lisbon and Lagos. The hippy in me was back and threw away her clothes to go swimming in the fresh water lake. It was absolute paradise. Two amazing people: Claudia and Francisco, turned their dream into reality and built a beautiful tipi camp. I still have to pinch myself when I look at these pictures: is this real? Was I really there, singing under the stars, sleeping in a massive yurt, eating the best food and celebrating life with new friends? YES! It was such an unreal experience staying in A Terra. I would recommend everyone to add this one to your list of 'places to go in this world'. Don't even write it down, just go. Go! You will come back a better person. I did. My leg hair is still grateful for this journey to paradise. 

www.aterra.pt for more laptop drooling!

Lisbon mantra

Lisbon! Paint me with your colours! Decorate streets with flags and turn every day into a celebration. Dance under giant trees until your feet can't hold it any longer. Fall asleep on the grass, wake up with moving clouds and watch sunsets. Look at butterflies. Find yourself in them. Leave your cocoon. Do what you love. Pretend judgement doesn't exist. Fall down and get up again. Give someone a banana with your number written on it. Invite a stranger for tea. Lose yourself. Smile big. Go on little adventures. Be a poet. Invent rituals, like drinking ginginha every time you end up in Lisbon. Always end up in Lisbon.

Oh Lisboa

The last two weeks of August I spent mostly in and around Lisbon. This beautiful city brought back memories of old loves, late night dancing, meeting friends from all over the world in the narrow alleys under street lights and loud music. It felt great to recognise places and their faces from years ago. Many hours were devoured writing letters in my favourite green space Jardim Das Amoreiras, smelling flowers in the botanical garden and drinking bottomless cups of tea.

While writing this I'm going back to summer mornings in Portugal. The smell of strong coffee, pasteis de nata and pink flowers started my days. There was lots of wandering around aimlessly. I talked to strangers. Bought expensive bras. I don't wear bras. I didn't care. I was lost and the city carried me to the places I needed to be. I sang to a tree. Ice cream was sweet and wine was cheap. Jazz festivals in a park and fado in a tiny restaurant. Story telling nights in unexpected places. Lisbon showed me her poetry. I lost my heart somewhere along the way.

One week of madness: Boom festival

I'm going to be honest with you. You know I always am. If you read my little stories from time to time, you might find out some things about me. Like my love for hippie festivals. And beards, wedding dresses and skinny dipping. At Boom festival I didn't have a wedding dress, so mostly there was minimal clothing involved. I wish running around in the nude would always be as possible and easy as at Boom. Like going to the bakery, naked. Visiting a museum with no clothes. The whole world would be a better, hilarious place! Think of the advantages when shopping: all the money you would save on not buying clothes!

But - there is a but. When I swim and run around wearing un-existing outfits, there is mostly an un-existing bag without handy things like for example, a camera. Not many pictures were taken those seven days with my little camera. Do go check out Boom Festival photos on Google, it's an absolute out of this world festival. I felt like Alice in Wonderland in between morning time dancing, sunset meditations, full moon magic and all the crazy people/parties/things happening everywhere. Boom was a big playground for adults. 40 000 happy hippies gathered in Portugal for a party they wouldn't easily forget. 

It was an unforgettabe week for many reasons. New perspectives, dreams and true friendships were created. Expanding and growing by letting go. I knew this week was going to be transformational. Many friends warned me: it's not a festival, it's a life changing experience. They made me curious. I looked forward to it for months and expected my life would transform into one where fireworks go off daily and every moment is like a big fat cake with whipped cream and sunshine and happiness. And rainbows coming out of my ass. Or something. 

Instead it was like I got eaten up by a massive animal, swallowed down and spit back out. And slowly I turned inside out and realised what it was all about. Everything happens for a reason. While I was at the festival, I couldn't see through the whirlwind I was in, but now I'm home and reflect upon those seven days of madness, it's oh so clear. Life has been one step ahead of me, now it's time to keep up and savour seconds. Do the things that are most important to me, like hanging out with friends and taking time to enjoy the small pleasures in life. Instead of traveling around, looking for happiness in the furthest corners of the world, I'm finding it right here.