247. Visit a new city

 

Napoli

I visited the city thanks to a close acquaintance. It was my first time meeting a boyfriend's parents, and in a city I'd never ventured in. I had been to Italy though, but each time had been quite fleeting.

The experience was like something from a quintessentially Italian romp. We met the nonna, we tried the mama's expert cooking, we drove (in a fiat, sipping on sicilian lemonade) down the winding roads to the Amalfi coast, up to Possitano, and of course explored the luxurious fashionable shops of the elegant streets of Napoli.

I'd been told that, in simple terms, Napoli, is a shithole. But the reality is, it's just bad press. Naples, is a fine city. Hell, more than fine, it's a world of it's own. I've never been somewhere were nature looms over so beautifully. Vesuvius truly makes the city. Paired with the sea, it really is a dream.

The food was wonderful too, but really it was the atmosphere and sights that did it for me. It really is a most beautiful part of Italy, and somehwere to be proud to call home. I can't think of a better place to visit afresh.

262. Go to a portuguese meetup

 

I'm an introvert

I may be quiet but luckily, over time, I'm not as quiet as my anxiety would probably have it if it had full reign. 

I attended the meetup with a friend who is also learning Portuguese. It took place in a soup canteen on the river's edge of Lisbon. After waiting 15 minutes, and two failed attempts and embarrassing mis-meets with the wrong person, we finally found our host.

I won't talk too much about the even because everyone was lovely, but it was quite strange all the same. I use this blog as a sort of capsule of memories so I hope this will trigger it later. All I can say is I didn't return and I have no plans to, but ultimately it was a good and memorable experience. 

266. See a play in Portuguese

 

King Lear

I'm lucky in that I come from a town in the UK where Shakespeare is performed every year for the public. However in all my time seeing the plays I've never experienced King Lear. 

As I'm living in Portugal we went to see the play in Portuguese. I knew beforehand this would be a stretch of my language skills so I made sure to 'revise' the play before so I knew exactly what was happening. Thankfully this helped immensely and I think in the future I will do the same again.

The play itself was wonderful. It was a modern retelling, but still using formal language (had to get used to vos) and featured just three actors playing all the parts. I really loved the theater too and plan to visit again as soon as I can.

189. Read 1 book for each month for 6 months

  

My year of rest and relaxation - Ottessa Moshfegh

And we come to an end, and what an end. I started this book not really feeling it, but then managed to finish it in a couple of days. My second read was at a market stall where I was feeling decidedly depressed. It's not a pre-requisite to be close to submerging yourself under a bridge but being slightly low definitely makes the main character more relatable and less annoying.

Essentially this is a book with a very snarky, judgmental protagonist, yet it probably shows a side of us many have, even if it manifest differently. Moreover, being a female protagonist it was freeing reading about sluggish, self-pitying behavior in an age of self-care.

It could be argued that her solution to sleep for a year is exactly that - self care. But with the cocktail of sedatives and alcohol it's completely different form 2020's yoga and smoothies. 

A must read for young and unhappy women.

189. Read 1 book for each month for 6 months

 

Kafka on the shore - Haruki Murakami

I'm not sure if I'd say I'm a fan of Murakami but I've enjoyed his books in the past. My favorite is Norwegian Wood, a basic choice, and it makes sense since I also really enjoyed the Colourless Tsukuru Tazaki, and that is possibly one of his less magical novels. That's not to say I don't enjoy the magical realism prevalent in almost all his books. It's just that as a reader I'm more drawn to atmosphere and relationships. The later being less developed in my opinion in his stories.

Actually while on this critical ledge I'd like to also complain slightly about his depiction of women, or men's relationship with women. I find it quite creepy how his male characters almost always obsess over the child-like qualities of beautiful women, or even at time teenagers. For me Murakami is borderline paedophilic at this point. Perhaps it's a commentary on our most inner desires, but as a young woman it's creepy.

As for Kafka on the shore I feel like this book is for people with a higher knowledge of myths and esoteric symbolism, both of which I have very little of. The story itself is fine - an odyssey or metaphor for finding yourself and exploring the labyrinth within, but on the levels I enjoy most (atmosphere and relationships) it did very little for me. Maybe one day I'll enjoy the riddle at play, but for now it's simply an interesting read.

226. Go on a trip outside of Lisbon

 

Óbidos is a walled moorish town an hour outside of Lisbon. The main draw of this hilltop location is not just it's characterful winding streets but the plethora of bookshops you find inside, thanks in a large part I assume, to the yearly and world renowned book festival that takes place around October.

I managed to visit it on a particularly sunny day which added to the charm. Underneath the blue skies I was taken in by the wonderfully white walls, adorned with white laced curtains and blue doors, amongst the calçadas or cobblestoned roads. 

Not being a vegan at the time we found a great portuguese restuarant with traditional food that served wonderful lulas and fish. If I had been a vegan however, I think the town would still provide as there was a health food type place outside the walls.

Although Óbidos is small, you can visit the next door city fairly easily (although the bus doesn't come that often). Named Caldas da Rainha, it's a strange place, half market town, half spa town but still pleasant to visit. It is definetly less picturesque than Obidos but it gives you some life and bustle after the quiet. 

189. Read 1 book for each month for 6 months

 

Dune by Frank Herbet

Having been gripped by the film it only made sense to me to expand my insight into the world of Dune.

The main focus of this fascination was the religion surrounding the myths of the book, and sects such as the Bene Gesserit. I was gripped by the philosophy underpinning the super human elements and wanted to know more about this element of the story. I think the scene that gripped me most in both the book and film concerning this was the test Paul must take to prove he is human (or in other words, strong minded and capable). I won't spoil it but this idea of feeble mindedness being a flaw of the inhuman, however much I disagree with it, captivated me and made me wonder what other kind of philosophies would arise from such a sect.

I was also taken my the story's take on environmentalism and how the universe functions as a whole. I think the intricacies of an eco system as described in the book are essentially what is followed today but I suppose the book takes it further by creating a whole religion and movement around it.

Now I've finished the first book (which was a mighty read) I'm curious to know more about the bene gesserit and what happened to Dune. There was so much about super human powers but I have no understanding of how these were developed. I'm also interested more in the positive philosophy Herbet tries to sell in the book to see how much I agree with it, or not.