jeudi 21 novembre 2013
vendredi 15 novembre 2013
Record d’affluence pour Les Eurockéennes
127.000 visiteurs ont assisté à la 25e édition des Eurockéennes de Belfort. Les soirées de vendredi et samedi ont affiché complet avec 33.000 visiteurs (la jauge maximale du site). L’année dernière, le festival avait réuni 100.000 spectateurs sur trois jours. L’évènement de cette année était le concert en exclusivité française de Blur.
Le festival qui a duré 4 jours fait partie de notre guide des 30 festivals musicaux de l’été 2013 à ne pas manquer.
[Photo]
comentaires
Return to the Favela — Salvador, Brazil
Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
Monday, July 30, 2012
So on Sunday evening, as planned, we returned to spend more time and meet some of the families in the community. Unfortunately we were not surprised to find that the issues, the mentality, the hopes and aspirations but also the sense of hopelessness and apathy was no different from in many African or Caribbean communities globally; and ironically, that at the same time, the very existence of the favelas arise out of a sense of self-reliance and hope for a better future.
When we arrived the place seems very lively with lots of music as the young men were busy preparing for an entertainment event, a regular weekend activity
. Our first stop was at the local shop at the entrance to the community where we engaged the owner in conversation. She was very amicable and willing to talk to us and answer our questions. We were keen to hear about the daily experiences of life in the community and the social issues facing people. She told us that several of the young people had been to university and some are working as teachers, security guards etc. Education was a major concern mainly due to the fact that children had been out of school for the past 3 months due to strike action by teachers in the public schools. When asked what people were doing for themselves to ensure that their children's education does not suffer she pointed out that no one was doing anything, neither the community, the church nor the young people themselves as most of them spend their days at the beach and playing football. Politicians and churches only came around when they needed support for their programs. She said there was a community association but that it was just a talking shop. She agreed that there was a lot of material poverty but concluded that the biggest problem was that people are spiritually poor, "every man for himself and god bless the rest".We then ventured further into the community and met a group of young women sitting together. We wanted to hear from them about their life experiences, their hopes and aspirations so we spent a while talking with them. They were between the ages of 12 and 17 and none of them spoke English although the oldest was hoping to learn and spoke just a few words so we had to talk through the guide as an interpreter.
The discussion was very interesting and they expressed themselves very well. The school situation was a problem for them as they were all hoping to go on to university and the 17 years old was in her final year of school
. As they described it, they were suffering because of the lack of schooling. When asked what they were doing to stay on track with their studies they said “nothing”. It was not the general practice to study outside of school; they help their mothers around the house and also to care for their younger siblings.We encouraged them to think about ways in which they can become more self-reliant. One example we explored was for the 17 year old to start organizing self-study classes with the younger ones for a couple of hours per day. The aim being to ensure that they do not fall too far behind in their studies by the time they returned to school. They were all interested but seemed somewhat phased by the idea. The 17 year old expressed that if it is up to her, she will definitely be starting this kind of program but she wasn’t confident that they younger ones would take guidance from her.
The discussion continued for some time in an attempt to inspire them to think positively. Other young women joined the group from time to time; some young men stood nearby and listened or stopped to greet us on their way to their music event but never actively joined the discussion. We also gave them an insight into some of the issues that young people faced in the west and explained some of the similarities with African communities in other parts of the world. We talked about the need for focus and determination, belief in self and to believe that anything is possible. We talked about looking at history for examples of how we had overcome great obstacles in the past to achieve great things and to use those examples as inspiration.
The mother of the girls listened in on the discussion and joined in towards the end
. She was very grateful for our intervention and encouragement and e left feeling that if any sort of program was started it would have her support. We ended the discussion by asking the young women to think about what we had discussed and promised that we would return to see them before we left Brazil for them to tell us if they were committed to starting a self-help program.We returned the day before leaving Brazil and helped them to devise a basic study program, agreeing a name for the program, aims and basic objectives. There are teachers in the community and they will be asked to help provide guidance to the young people to set up an effective program. So far three others has given their commitment to join the program, all young women and everyone knows that it will be a big challenge to get young men involved. The immediate next step now is to maintain communication and support them in developing the program.
Day of Xango (African Remembrance Day 2012) — Salvador, Brazil
Salvador, State of Bahia, Brazil
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Today is the first of August and the question on our mind was "What will we do for African Remembrance Day?" One of the things on our list that we had yet to achieve was a visit to a Candomble house, a Terreiro. We finally had confirmation that we would be visiting Ile Axe Opo Afonja, the Terreiro where Mae Stella1 of Oxossi is the Iyalorixa. Being the first Wednesday of the month, there would be a festival for Xnago with an offer of the AMALA (food for Xango). We would be able to visit their museum etc and if we were lucky we would also be able to meet Mother Stella in person.
So we headed for Cubela on the other side of the city, not quite knowing what to expect but feeling sure it would be a good experience and fitting for the day. Cubela is at a high elevation and somewhat cooler that other parts of Salvador. It is also endowed with much vegetation and so has something of a rural atmosphere.
As we entered the compound we stopped at the house of Xango to pay our respects. It was still early in the morning and there were quite a few people already moving around preparing for the day's festivities. We were introduced to, and exchanged greetings with, a number of key people and shown around the compound. The compound itself is a self-contained community with dwellings, utility buildings as well as ceremonial buildings and spaces.
Spread around different were the houses of each of the Orixas painted in their characteristic colors and with their names displayed on the outside. As we approached each of the houses we stopped to pay respect. There was a lot of vegetation used for medicinal and therapeutic as well as for ceremonial purposes (the blessing trees). The blessing trees were usually recognizable by the cloth tied around their trunk and the clay pot or calabash at the root containing offering. At one end of the compound is a forest of considerable size and we were told that it originally stretched for several miles in one direction but that much of the land had been donated for the establishment of a nearby community.
The compound also hosts a school for children of the families of the Terreiro as well as from the wider community
. In addition to the usual academic curriculum, the school also teaches Yoruba.After the tour of the compound it was time for cleansing and blessings. After the cleansing ceremony we were taken to meet one of the revered elders of the Terreiro, Mae Detinha De Xango who performed the blessing rituals.
We left Mae Detinha’s house in time for the start of the main festival ceremony and noticed that the number of people in the compound had increased significantly and that most of them were now gathered around the house of Xango and making their way inside. As we stood at the entrance waiting for Mae Stella and other elders to enter, there were several well-dressed men also making their entrance. One in particular was identified to us as a deputy mayor of the city and a senior official of Il? Ax? Op? Afonj.
The ceremony itself revolved around the shrine of Xango and the court of the Iyalorixa. Each participant files into the main room in Xango’s house where Mae Stella was seated surrounded by the other officials either seated or standing in a semicircle. Participants prostate themselves in front of the shrine of Xango and pray for whatever they wish before greeting and paying their respects to Mae Stella and the other officials
. Here everyone regardless of age, color or social status worships the African God and perform the rituals. There were special protocols to observe, one of the main one for the day being no black clothing. At the end of the ceremony we all ate the specially prepared meal.Our guide made it possible for us to have a special, brief audience with Mae Stella.
When we stepped out of the house, the school was in recess and there were children milling around the yard playing. It was particularly interesting to see familiar games including one group of girls skipping. We were given a tour of the museum consisting of artifacts, pictures and documents detailing the over 100 year’s history of the Terreiro, the founder M?e Aninha and subsequent Iyalorixas up to the current Mae Stella.
Once again the day’s event exceeded our expectation. We had intended to visit the Terreiro as observers to catch a glimpse of something and possible meet the key proponents of the religion, instead we ended up as participants in the living African religion that is not only practiced for ceremonial purposed but defines the life of its practitioners
. Here, despite slavery and hundreds of years of persecution, African culture has not merely survived. It has thrived, continued to exist and develop and is now a major force in one of the most populous countries in the world with people coming for all over the country and globally to witness and participate. A most fitting tribute to African Remembrance day.1 Mae Stella is one of the most respected Iyalorixa. Candombl? was prohibited in Brazil for centuries up to 1945, and thereafter in Bahia a license was required, the same that was required by nightclubs and gambling establishments. After a personal appeal by M?e Stella of Il? Ax? Op? Afonj? to the governor of Bahia, this requirement was lifted leading to the proliferation of the religion. Mae Stella has been at the forefront of a movement to reverse the process of syncretism and to separate Candomble form its Catholic influences. In 1983 Mae Stella declared in an article in a leading magazine that Candomble is a religion in its own right.
jeudi 14 novembre 2013
Bahia by Night - Cultural Extravaganza — Salvador, Brazil
Salvador, State of Bahia, Brazil
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Capoeira is very much alive and not just as a martial art. There are Capoeira academies all over the country that play a key role in educating young people and fostering community cohesion. Candomble is the major religion in Bahia and it has been estimated at times that there are more Candomble house in the state of Bahia than there are churches. Candomble permeates even into the churches and the lives of all races and social classes.
So with that in context, we set off for Pelourinho where we would meet our African American friends for the cultural extravaganza
. When we arrived in "Pelo" the place was buzzing with life. A stage was being prepared for an open air show and some people were heading to the venue hosting nightly Samba performances. All around the atmosphere was electric.Before we entered the venue Joel explained the performances that we would see and the cultural/historical context. The evening started with a typical Brazilian buffet, a wide variety of foods both European and African and lots of it and again well presented.
The show kicked off with African drumming which accompanied all the performances. First was the Candomble element represented by the dance of the Orixas. This was led by Oxun dressed in the characteristic yellow in the typical Bahian dress style. Others followed all dressed in their particular colors including Yansa dressed in Red, Omolu in concealing dress, Ogun in blue and Oxossi in green and doing their characteristic dance.
After the Orixas, came the Capoeira dancers, so far this was the most impressive Capoeira I have seen, the agility, skill and accuracy of the dancers was just amazing. It is clear to see just how this fighting style was used so successfully in defending the African free states of Brazil during the period of enslavement
.Following the Capoeira was an enactment of the Cangaceiros do sertao. Generally regarded as a group of bandits these were people who rebelled against oppressive authority and defended the poor people against the same oppression.
The show concluded with a performance of Samba do Roda. This is a particular style of Samba which originated in the area around the bay of Bahia during the 17th century.
When we emerged from the venue, Pelourinho square was in full swing, the open air stage show had started and there were even more people, some seated at tables enjoying the show and others moving around. At one end of the square there was the characteristic African Bahian woman selling Acaraje.
We parted company with our friends; this was their last night in Salvador as they were flying back to the states the following day. We still had another week to go.
Insolite : il veut traverser l’Atlantique porté par 365 ballons
Traverser l’Atlantique porté par 365 ballons à hélium. C’est le pari insolite que s’est lancé Jonathan Trappe.
Cet Américain va faire un voyage de 4.000 km qui pourrait s’étendre de trois à sept jours. Son aéronef a été créé afin de pouvoir supporter tous les aléas. Un masque à oxygène, un combinaison de protection UV et une autre contre le froid accompagneront Jonathan Trappe lors de ce voyage. La base de son embarcation est faite à partir d’un bateau de sauvetage afin de pouvoir amerrir dans l’océan. Et 4 météorologistes le guideront durant son excursion.
Pour effectuer ce voyage, Jonathan Trappe a déjà investi 132 000 euros. Il lui reste à trouver 230 000 euros.
Imprim-écran de http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/worldnews/9664178/Jonathan-Trappes-daring-bid-to-cross-the-Atlantic-Ocean-using-helium-balloons.html
comentaires
Flop 5 : retour sur l’actualité touristique de la semaine
Cette dernière semaine de juin a été marquée par une grève à la Tour Eiffel, un automobiliste contrôlé à plus de 250 km/h ou encore par la mairie de Nancy en vente sur Internet. On revient sur l’actualité touristique de la semaine à travers un top 5 et un flop 5.
Après un mouvement de grève qui a duré deux jours, la Tour Eiffel a rouvert ses portes au public jeudi. Les salariés reprochaient un manque de mesures de sécurité et une mauvaise gestion des travaux. « En 2008, la rénovation de l’ascenseur Ouest a été décidée. Elle devait durer deux ans et coûter 18 millions d’euros. Après cinq ans, il est toujours indisponible (…). L’absence de cet ascenseur a de lourdes conséquences sur l’entretien des autres moyens d’ascension qui doivent être à leur tour arrêtés pour des travaux de maintenance et d’entretien », expliquait le communiqué.
Un automobiliste britannique, roulant dans une Audi R8, a été contrôlé à la jumelle à plus de 250 km/h sur l’autoroute A28 entre Rouen et Alençon, le week-end dernier. Son permis lui a été confisqué. Il a payé 1.500 euros de consignation et a reçu une interdiction de circuler sur le territoire français. En tout 6 autres automobilistes britanniques ont été contrôlés à plus de 190 km/h lors de ce week-end.
Selon l’AFP, la mairie de Nancy a déposé une plainte pour « mise en vente abusive d’un bien communal ». Un particulier avait mis en ligne sur Leboncoin une annonce prétendant vendre l’hôtel de ville de la place Stanislas pour 65 millions d’euros. L’annonce a depuis été retirée du site.
87 % des Français en recherche d’emploi ne partent pas en vacances cet été, d’après des chiffres publiés par Qapa, une agence de mise en relation dédiée à l’emploi. Toujours selon l’étude, les employeurs embauchent moins en période de vacances …
La compagnie aérienne Samoa Air a annoncé la création d’une classe « XL » dans ses avions. Les tarifs des billets varient en fonction du poids du voyageur. Après avoir lu cette info, on peut que dire que l’on en a « gros sur la patate ».
Bon week-end à tous et à la semaine prochaine.
[Photo 1 ]
comentaires
Lower City - Panoramic tour. — Salvador, Brazil
Salvador, State of Bahia, Brazil
Thursday, July 26, 2012
On the way we stopped to buy porridge, for the second time I might add, at a stall run by Vanessa who had her 8 year old son. Most children in Bahia State have been out of school for the last 3 months as the state schools have been on strike so it is quite normal to see lots of children around out of school. We had all three options of corn, tapioca and hominy and they were all absolutely delicious. Like most people we have met in Salvador, Vanessa and her son have a warm spirit and were pleasant and appreciative of our patronage
.Before we got to the lower city we made a stop at Dique do Toror?, a lake in the middle of the city with eight giant statues of Orixas. Here again, was another example of the ubiquitous nature of Condomble in Salvador in particular and Bahia in General.
Travelling through the lower city provided an exceptional view of the multitudes of communities “Favelas” sprawled across the hills in and around the city. The large number and density of these communities is something quite amazing. Considering the immense size of the country, it is interesting to contemplate the vast numbers of people that are crammed into limited spaces in the cities.
The streets along this part of the city were teaming with people making a living by whatever means they could master. This is clearly the commercial heart of Salvador, dominated by informal trade and a large market. Some areas specialize on scrap metal and here you will find self-taught motor mechanics and scrap dealers who can provide parts for and repair any vehicle on the road.
We passed the crowded market place where, inside, you would find it hard to imagine that you were not somewhere on the African continent or in the Caribbean. The people, layout and the goods on sale, in fact the entire atmosphere are all so familiar.
The tour took us to the peninsular of Ribeira and we made a stop at the Prentice art gallery where they make beautiful hand painted ceramic tiles with African images of Bahia
. We then went on to the church of Bonfin where thousands and probably millions of Brazilians make pilgrimage every year to wish for miracles to overcome challenges in their daily life. The Church also has a very strong association with Candomble through the Orixa Oxala.On the return journey we made a short tour of a typical Portuguese colonial home in a self-contained compound and consisting of the European living quarters, a chapel and the Slave living quarters. The Brazilian word adopted to mean Slave Quarters is in actual fact the Angolan word for village, Senzala.
We also passed by the Mercado Modelo, the main craft market in Salvador but the half day tour and early start was beginning to take its toll so we decided to leave it for another day and took up the offer of lunch instead.
Sisterhood of the Good Death — Cachoeira, Brazil
Cachoeira, State of Bahia, Brazil
Saturday, July 28, 2012
The sisterhood is the oldest organisation of African women in the Americas and has been in existence for nearly 200 years. The original sisters were the ones who worked in the houses of the Portuguese slave masters and used their positions of privilege to raise money to buy the freedom of other enslaved Africans as well as helping those who escaped to make it safely to the Quilombos.
The "Good Death" refers to their primary religious observation of Feast of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in the Catholic Church and more importantly in Candomble, the worship of the iyas, female spirits of the Ancestors including members of the Sisterhood who have transitioned and ancestors who during slavery, died free or fighting for liberation
. All are believed to have achieved the Good Death.We left Salvador on a full belly of porridge and headed for the highway north to Cachoeira making a first stop at Santo Amaro. Cachoeira and Santo Amaro are at the heart of what was once the world's largest sugar producing area, at its heights Bahia had over 600 sugar mills. Travelling through the more rural area gave a different perspective of Bahia and here the greater African concentration was very evident, and is the reason for the prominence of Condomble as a major religion force in the lives of the people. Being a rural community, Santo Amaro had some familiar characteristics such as people using donkeys with hampers for transportation. Here, houses were not crammed together as in the city and the open space with lush vegetation as a welcomed sight.
We visited the market and once again the familiarity was striking. The setting, the people and the variety of fruits and vegetables; we could have been in any African or Caribbean town. Even the potter selling terracotta on the street side provided a connection with mid-20th century Jamaica. When the use of the clay jar for storing water and keeping it cool was explained, it invoked the vivid picture of our grandmothers using it for the same purpose, doing exactly the same thing for the same reasons
.One interesting observation we took note of was that during the 1 hour we spent in Santo Amaro, we heard more reggae music played than during the previous week in Salvador.
Leaving Santo Amaro, we headed west driving along the edge of the lush Atlantic forest and made our way to Cachoeira. Cachoeira and the sister city of Sao Felix are located on the hilly slopes and spread out down the valley to the banks of the Paraguacu river. As we descended the slope into the valley the white painted houses with their red clay tile roofs juxtaposed against the lush greenery made a very interesting picture. It was almost like we were approaching a giant billboard of one of the many paintings we had seen in so often Pelourinho.
In Sao Felix we visit the Danneman cigar factory where we saw African women working for minimum wage rolling tobacco all day to meet each woman’s daily quotas of 400 cigars. These women were beautifully dressed, diligently executing their craft which would be later sold for great profit for the enjoyment of rich Europeans. As in many post-colonial societies, time passes but some things never change. Exploiting his intimate knowledge of the place, out guide secured permission for us to go into a store room behind the office
. There, we saw a personal collection of several beautifully frames pictures of the Sisters of Good Death.We left Sao Felix and headed back across the Paraguacu via the narrow iron bridge to our 2:30 pm appointment with Brother Valmir, the caretaker of the Church of the Sisters of the Good Death. The church was closed but Valmir opened it especially for us. The sisters were preparing for an election the following day to decide the new administration of the sisterhood for the next three years, so they would not be coming out and we would not be able to meet them. This was a great disappointment for us initially but after the presentation by Valmir we left, still feeling very inspired.
Valmir is the only man who works for the Sisters and he explained that his role covers caretaker, press secretary, advocate, negotiator, chauffer and what we would term general ambassador. All this, in addition to his other works in the community as social worker, youth worker, counselor etc. The sisters currently number about 20 and are aged from 50 to 108 years old. Can you imagine it, 108 years old freedom fighters still active and working on a daily basis to preserve the culture and freedom of African people? Brazil is truly unique in this respect, and this is the reason that Cachoeira holds a special place in the heart of Africans in Bahia and Brazil in general
.Brother Valmir spoke with an emotion that demonstrated that he was living the life and had a deep knowledge of the history of Africans in Brazil and the global context of African people’s struggles. We discussed the social issues confronting young people in the community and the obstacles standing in the way of progress.
Before we parted Bro Valmir blessed us with a prayer to the Orixas by reciting what he informed us, based on research, was a close approximation of the first prayers prayed by Africans when they landed on the shores of the Americas, in chains and fell to their knees to ask for the protection of the gods of Africa. “Now that I have arrived in this foreign land to be a slave, protect me and if I die here, free my spirit”
As we left Cachoiera we passed a number of locations where offerings were placed on the highway for the Orixas.
While many of us in the west are proud to have gained consciousness and reconnected with our African past, millions of our people here have never disconnected at all.
mercredi 13 novembre 2013
A la découverte de l’emmental
Pour cette nouvelle spécialité française, on découvre cette semaine un fromage : l’emmental. A la différence du gruyère, l’emmental possède des trous.
L’emmental a pour région d’origine la Savoie et la Suisse. La fabrication de l’Emmental de Savoie va acquérir sa renommée de fromage à trous grâce à un hasard. Au début du XIXe siècle, lorsque le chauffage arrive dans les caves des fromageries, les fromagers remarquent des ouvertures dans la pâte.
Entre 1820 et 1920, ce fromage se développe avant de voir sa consommer baisser. Il faut attendre 1996 pour que l’emmental de Savoie obtienne l’IGP (Indication Géographique Protégée).
Ingrédients (pour 4 personnes) :- 40 g de beurre
- 120 g de mozzarella coupée en petits dés
- 15 g de farine
- 80 g d’emmental
- 4 blancs d’oeuf
- 12 cl de lait demi-écrémé
- sel, poivre blanc
Commencez par préchauffer le four à 180°C (thermostat 6) et beurrez 6 ramequins en porcelaine à feu ou en pyrex d’une contenance de 10 cl environ. Ensuite, vous allez mélanger la farine au beurre fondu dans une casserole sur feu doux. Dès que le mélange colore, versez le lait en un mince filet tout en remuant. Salez, poivrez et portez à ébullition quelques secondes.
Hors du feu, vous devez ajouter le fromage râpé et la mozzarella. Battez les blancs d’oeuf en neige ferme et incorporez-les délicatement au mélange. Remplissez les ramequins aux 3/4 et faites-les cuire 12 minutes sans ouvrir la porte du four.
Bon appétit.
[Photo 1, Photo 2, recette]
Stalemate In Greece As Bureaucracy Stalls Marina Progress
Delegates left Greece’s yachting and sea tourism forum yesterday deflated as new legislation for charter and permits to develop its marinas appeared nowhere nearer resolution.
The second Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum held in Athens, on 28-29 May 2013, brought together a powerful mix of politicians and yacht industry spokesmen - Toby Maclaurin, President of MYBA and George Gratsos, President, Hellenic Chamber of Shipping were amongst attendees – but no resolution on key issues was achieved, which is desperately needed to untap Greece’s potential as luxury yachting destination. One delegate commented, “I have the same questions I walked in with, the same as last year.”
View marinas in Greece with World Marine Guide
On the agenda was cabotage, which yacht industry have worked hard to get lifted via a bill initially expected to be passed this summer. But conference attendees were said to be frustrated at the lack of clarification on this issue, with no hope in sight for it to be lifted.
Others suggested ignorance on the benefits is impeding progress: “There is big opposition from the crews and local professional yacht owner associations; they don’t want the cabotage lifted because [they think it means] more competition,” said a source at the event......Read full story
Source Superyachtnews.com
Top 5 : retour sur l’actualité touristique de la semaine
Comme chaque samedi, on revient sur l’actualité touristique de la semaine à travers un top 5 et un flop 5.
Le Royal Monceau-Raffles est devenu le 13e palace français. Situé à deux pas de l’Arc de Triomphe, il s’est vu attribuer cette distinction pour 5 ans.
Cet été, la SNCF s’apprête à accueillir 22,6 millions de voyageurs dans les gares, indique la compagnie dans un communiqué, rapporte Tourmag. Ce week-end, plus d’un million de voyageurs sont attendus.
Selon l’office fédéral allemand de la statistique, sur les 18,2 millions de nuitées de visiteurs étrangers recensées de janvier à avril 2013, 900 000 (+0.6% sur un an) provenaient de la France. Depuis le début de l’année, le pays germanique est en hausse de 3.9% sur les nuitées par rapport à la même période l’an dernier.
Depuis 1974, aucun habitant ne vit sur l’île de Gunkanjima, au Japon. Depuis cette semaine, Google Street View propose de découvrir cette île fantôme.
Plus de peur que de mal ! Une voyageuse, très fatiguée, est tombée lundi sur la voie du métro de Prague (Republique Tchèque), juste avant l’arrivée d’un train. « Miraculeusement, la femme s’est relevée, a secoué la poussière de ses vêtements et est partie », a déclaré une porte-parole de la police Eva Kropacova dans un communiqué publié sur Internet, ajoutant qu’elle avait refusé toute aide médicale et alcootest.
Regardez :
[Photo]
comentaires
mardi 12 novembre 2013
Some Observations of Bahian life and Culture — Salvador, Brazil
Salvador, State of Bahia, Brazil
Friday, July 27, 2012
Today we went to Pelourinho in the late afternoon to look for a hairdresser but we spent some time on an impromptu tour of the city observing some of this culture playing out.
Pelourinho in the evening has a unique atmosphere, on the edge and charged with expectation, expectation of excitement. Africans are natural creators and wherever they gather in large numbers things happen, culture is created. I am sure this is general knowledge because there were lots of Europeans milling around on the narrow streets, around every corner. When we were planning our trip to Brazil and mentioned we were going to Salvador, on more than one occasion it was mentioned that the city was dangerous
. Dangerous for who and why? We are certainly not naive but Salvador is not more dangerous than any other large crowed city. In fact we have found it quite easy going, friendly and accommodating even with the limitations of language.Samba da Roda originated in the bay area of Bahia during the 17th century when sugar was king and Africans were captive in great numbers. Samba do Roda originated from African cultures and traditions that fused on the plantations and was later transported to Rio de Janeiro with urban migration where it developed into the urban Samba that has today become a predominant symbol of Brazilian national identity. Evening time in Pelourinho is Samba time in many venues, likewise throughout the city of Salvador. It doesn't need special occasion; it is the living expression of enjoyment.
Capoeira is the African Martial Art that was used in the defence of the African free-states that existed in Brazil throughout most of the period of slavery. Forced to defend against repeated attacks by Portuguese colonists, the warriors of Palmares were expert in capoeira, a martial arts form that was brought to & enhanced in Brazil by Africans circa the 16th century.
Surviving slavery, national banning and long periods of persecution, Capoeira is today a world respected martial art that also gives Brazil a unique identity
. Walking through Pelourinho you will see groups of Capoeiristas playing Birimbau and doing Capoeira. In fact we noticed that public phone boxes throughout the city and made in the shape of the Burimbau.As we waked through Pelourinho, popping in and out of shops we passed by one of the academies which practice Angola Capoeira, the original style brought from African. There are now two main styles of capoeira, Capoeira Angola which is the more orthodox style and regional capoeira which was developed in the 30's as a means of gaining public acceptance following the long period of banning since the abolition of slavery, and contains more explicit fighting.
We went inside and were introduced to the master and president of the association, Master Pele; he claims to have got the name Pele long before the more famous world renowned footballer, Pele. After a brief exchange, some pictures and a tour of the academy we made and appointment to return on the following Tuesday to their regular weekly Capoeira sessions.
Candomble is the African religion that resulted from the fusion of the various African forms of worship that came together on the sugar plantations of Bahia. Because of the aggressive attempts of the colonialists to convert everyone they came into contact with, to Catholicism, and the strong desire of the Africans to remain free and self-determining, they strategically masked their religion in the cloak of Catholicism. Candomble is the result of the fusion of the two philosophies, a process known as syncretism. Candomble has developed into a largely Yoruba system of religion with the Orixas being central to its philosophy and despite the Catholic influence has remained distinctly African Brazilian
.Candomble is a part of Bahian life, there are Camdomble houses all over Pelourinho, Salvador and Bahia. Nothing important moves in Bahia without the involvement of Candomble. The influence is so strong, that many important people of all ethnicity, in public life are either directly involved or have to pay their respects to Candomble.
Acaraje is the food that is offered to the Orixas and it is sold openly on the streets of Salvador and is a part of its identity and daily life. All over the city you will see Bahiana women in their cultural dresses sitting at their stalls on corners selling Acaraje. They are usually dressed in white with additional colors to represent to Orixa who is being honored for that day of the week or to whom they are devoted. And you will see everyone, men, women, young, old even businessmen dressed in suit and tie stopping to buy Araraje. It was explained that selling on the corner is an extension of an African tradition of making offerings at the spot where two roads meet.
Another commom sight across the city is women selling Mingau. Mingau is porridge and has both African and indigenous influences. You can usually get three types of Mingau, corn, tapioca and white corn or Mungunza (similar to what we know as hominy). Typically you will find African Brazilian or indigenous women selling Mingau.
It is interesting to note that Acaraje and Mingau are the only things that are allowed to be sold on the street without a license, demonstrating how central and important they have become to the fabric of daily life.
Jouez au loto avec les chiffres d’Infotourisme
Chaque semaine, vous pouvez jouer au loto grâce aux chiffres d’Infotourisme.
3 : en millions d’euros le budget de 3 millions d’euros de la deuxième édition du Voyage à Nantes qui a pour but de faire de cette ville une véritable destination touristique. En 2012, le budget était de 8 millions d’euros pour 48,5 millions d’euros de retombées directes. 7 : C’est en pourcentage l’augmentation du nombre de visiteurs français qui se sont rendus en Croatie entre janvier et mai 2013, par rapport à la même période en 2012. Ainsi 81.300 Français ont visité la Croatie durant cette période.29 : le Tour de France 2013 commence ce samedi 29 juin de Corse. L’arrivée est prévue à Paris le dimanche 21 juin.33 : c’est en pourcentage, le nombre d’hôtels européens qui ne proposent pas le wifi gratuit, selon une étude HRS. En France, 57,7% des hébergements sont dotés d’une connexion wifi gratuite.46 : en euros le prix du club sandwich de l’hôtel Hullett House à Hong Kong.1 : 1 Français sur 2 (52 %) ne partira pas en vacances ce été, selon la sixième vague de l’Observatoire des loisirs PMU/TNS Sofres.[Photo 1 ]
comentaires
Quizz voyage spécial Océanie
Pour ce 36e quizz, nous avons décidé de faire un quizz voyage spécial Océanie. Selon les chiffres de 2013, 38 277 000 habitants vivent dans les 9 008 458 km² du continent.
Bonne chance !
comentaires
Le top 10 des villes françaises au nom insolite
Et si vous passiez vos vacances dans une ville au nom burlesque ? Découvrez le top 10 des villes françaises au nom insolite.
Sommaire Toutlemonde, Maine-et-LoireLa Marche, NièvreLa Couronne, Charente La Pierre, IsèrePabu, Côtes-d’ArmorSuisse, MoselleLhuître, AubeChilleurs-aux-Bois, LoiretDangers, Eure-et-LoirDeux Verges, Cantal
Située dans le Maine-et-Loire, la légende dit que le nom de Toutlemonde provient du fait que « tout le monde » se rassemblait dans la commune chaque premier dimanche de septembre au XVIIe siècle. En 2010, 1 138 habitants vivaient dans la ville.
Ce petit village de la Nièvre a été conçue sur des terres données par les seigneurs de La Marche. En 2010, on comptait 578 habitants dans la ville.
Située dans le département de La Charente, La Couronne a une population de 7 123 habitants. Au Moyen-Age, la commune est nommée Corona beate Marie et Coronella, c’est à dire « petite couronne ». Lors du XVIIIe siècle, on l’appelle Saint Jean de la Palu de La Couronne. A la fin du même siècle, le nom Saint Jean de La Palu disparait. Il ne reste donc que La Couronne.
Petit commune, La Pierre se trouve dans le département de l’Isère. Le village compte 437 habitants.
Pabu signifie en vieux breton « père » ou encore « évêque ». Au VIe siècle Saint Tugdual arrive sur le territoire avec 72 de ses disciples. Selon la légende, il est le fondateur présumé du monastère de Landreger. Les habitants l’appelèrent ensuite Leo V Britigena (« Léon le Breton ») puis Pabu. La ville compte 2 777 habitants.
La commune se trouve dans le département de la Moselle. Suisse a été réunie de 1813 à 1843 avec le hameau de Haute-Suisse.
La commune de Lhuître se trouve sur l’Huitrelle, un affluent de l’Aube et dans le département de l’Aube. La commune compte 279 habitants.
La commune de Chilleurs-aux-Bois se trouve dans le département du Loiret. On compte 1 841 habitants dans cette ville.
Dangers se situe dans le département d’Eure-et-Loir. On recense dans la ville 410 habitants.
Deux-Verges se trouve dans le département du Cantal. 57 habitants vivent dans cette commune.
On pourrait aussi ajouter les communes de Orgueil dans le Tarn et Garonne, Angoisse en Dordogne, Joyeux dans l’Ain, Le Rouge dans l’Orne, le Blanc dans l’Indre ou encore Petit-Noir dans le Jura.
[Photo 1, Photo 2, Photo 3, Photo 4, Photo 5, Photo%206,
lundi 11 novembre 2013
Zumbi of Palmares — Salvador, Brazil
Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
Monday, July 30, 2012
Arriving at Praca da Se, where the buses terminates, it started raining and as we looked around anxiously for cover, a man appeared selling umbrellas so we grabbed one and set off to find the hairdressers we had made an appointment with the previous week. Within minutes we were in the middle of a major downpour so we stopped under a canopy to avoid getting soaked. Noticing that the rain was still pouring down, we looked up to find that the canopy was only a fine mesh designed to keep out the sun and did little to shelter us from the rain
.The bookshop - Stepping into the doorway of the shop we were standing in front of, we were immediately offered a bucket to put the wet umbrella in. Entering the shop we realized that it was a book shop specializing in African literature. Judging from the titles we were able to translate and the illustrations, there were some significant works on African culture and civilization both on the continent and in Brazil. Unfortunately, all but a few sections of some of the titles were in Portuguese and to say that our grasp of the language was rudimentary would be something of an overstatement at this stage. The shop assistance displayed the characteristic helpfulness that we have encountered so often in Salvador. People here are not pushy by any means and don't mind you browsing even if you don’t buy anything.
We found the hairdressers much more easily than anticipated and after a brief wait Asha sat down in the chair to have her hair done while I walked around the area to get my bearings and increase my familiarity. This was the first time we would be in Pelourinho without a guide so it was important that we move around confidently.
Mestre do Capoeira - Leaving the hair dressers we started to walk around looking for places to shop and as we turned the first corner we had the second surprise of the day
. Standing together talking were two elders who I immediately recognized as Capoeira Grand Masters. The first was Master Pele of the Angola Capoeira Association who we had met a few days previously. The second was Master Boa Gente who I had seen featured on a number of BBC documentaries. Master Boa Gente runs a community radio station and Capoeira academy and works actively in his local Community with young people giving them a sense of purpose and direction and keeping them off the streets. It is reputed that when he first moved into the Favela he had running battles with the criminals and local drug barons, today many of the children who attend his academy are the children of the same drug barons that used to attack him. Master Boa Gente seemed as pleased as us with the encounter. Unusually, though not fluent, he had a fair command of English and with our minimal Portuguese and the usual gesticulations we were able to have a very constructive interaction and exchanged details.Zumbi of Palmeres – At the end of the day we made our way back to the bus stop for the return journey, by this time fully confident of finding our way around. Passing through the main square of Salvador the surroundings looks very unfamiliar and for a brief moment we were not sure if we were going in the right direction. Pausing to compose ourselves, we realized that with the rain pouring down in the morning, we had rushed through this part of town hidden under our umbrella without taking much note of the surroundings.
A brief glance to the right revealed something quite unexpected that turned out to be the major event of the day. Standing in the middle of the square was a life sized bronze statue of Zumbi of Palmares. This was a complete surprise as it has not been mentioned in any of the research I had done in preparation for the trip. There in the middle of Salvador, the capital of Bahia, the black state of Brazil, was a real black man standing tall and dignified. "Zumbi was distrustful of the Portuguese. Further, he refused to accept freedom for the people of Palmares while other Africans remained enslaved." This was certainly the highlight of our day and a fitting tribute for African Remembrance Day.
La Sierra Leone, le pays le plus corrompu ?
L’ONG Transparency International a réalisé une enquête auprès de 1.000 personnes pour savoir quels pays étaient les plus corrompus.
La Sierra Leone arrive en tête de ce classement. Le pays africain devance le Liberia et le Yémen. Selon l’étude, une personne sur quatre dans le monde aurait versé des pots-de-vin à une instance publique l’année dernière.
D’après la carte interactive de la BBC, la France ne figure pas dans ce classement.
Photo
comentaires
Jouez au loto avec les chiffres d’Infotourisme
Chaque semaine, vous pouvez jouer au loto grâce aux chiffres d’Infotourisme.
3 : en millions d’euros le budget de 3 millions d’euros de la deuxième édition du Voyage à Nantes qui a pour but de faire de cette ville une véritable destination touristique. En 2012, le budget était de 8 millions d’euros pour 48,5 millions d’euros de retombées directes. 7 : C’est en pourcentage l’augmentation du nombre de visiteurs français qui se sont rendus en Croatie entre janvier et mai 2013, par rapport à la même période en 2012. Ainsi 81.300 Français ont visité la Croatie durant cette période.29 : le Tour de France 2013 commence ce samedi 29 juin de Corse. L’arrivée est prévue à Paris le dimanche 21 juin.33 : c’est en pourcentage, le nombre d’hôtels européens qui ne proposent pas le wifi gratuit, selon une étude HRS. En France, 57,7% des hébergements sont dotés d’une connexion wifi gratuite.46 : en euros le prix du club sandwich de l’hôtel Hullett House à Hong Kong.1 : 1 Français sur 2 (52 %) ne partira pas en vacances ce été, selon la sixième vague de l’Observatoire des loisirs PMU/TNS Sofres.[Photo 1 ]
comentaires
dimanche 10 novembre 2013
Pelourinho – Historic City Tour — Salvador, Brazil
Salvador, State of Bahia, Brazil
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Our first stop was in the community of Ro?a da Sabina on the hill above Barra. These communities are what they call Favelas or Ghettos and are built on captured land or land donated by wealthy benevolent individuals. These are real African communities where people build their homes not with hired labour but using corporative economics with friends and neighbors giving time and effort to help each other. People are literally living on top of each other but everyone aspires for a better live
. After all that is what they thought they were coming to the city for in the first place. They pay the same taxes and utility bills as the rich people in apartments with swimming pools on balconies, but they get nothing in return. Here, the extended family is still intact and elders grow old within the security of their family home. People here are generally welcoming and polite and this was no less evident in the communityWe did a short tour of the sea front visiting the different forts and our guide took the opportunity to explain the significance of the ribbon of Bahia. This is another example of how Africans strategically absorbed elements of Catholicism in order to preserve their religion and culture in the face of great adversity. Like so many thing religious in Bahia the African and European elements intertwine and are equally prominent. Each color of the ribbon represents the color of an Orixa but each Orixa has an equivalent catholic saint. It is this strong intermingling of the cultures and the strength of the African expression that has resulted in the general acceptance of African religious practices as a way of life here in Bahia.
The historical tour focused on the area of the city known as Pelourinho, the old city. We visited the African museum where the African experience is documented starting from the slave trade. There were displays of African art, culture and science and of course the very strong influence of the Yoruba culture on the Brazilian experience. There were numerous documents, statues, dolls and carvings of the Orixa pantheon. The significance of the Yoruba influence in Bahia cannot be overstressed, the Orixas are everywhere.
Walking through the streets of Pelourinho you see the Bahian women in their traditional dress, some selling African food, Akaraje, on their stalls known as regional kitchens. This is authentic stuff.
We also visited several churches where the evidence of African presence, craftsmanship and labor was very evident. In the church of San Francisco they had the statues of St Benedict and the Black Madonna facing each other and we were shown the side rooms where African men and women were isolated during service because they, the builders, were not allowed to go into the main church nor mix with each other during the service.
We also visited the Black people's church or "Church of Our Lady of the Rosary of Black People". The Building was started in 1704 and completed over a period of 100 years by the brotherhood of the Rosary reputed to be one of the first organisations of black people created in Brazil. The church was built specifically for the use of black people because they were not allowed to go inside the other churches and in order that their day time work was not interrupted; building work was carried out at nights. In the back of the church there is an African cemetery where slaves are buried and a shrine maintained to this day by the sisters of the church where offerings are made and candled lit in honor of the ancestors
.These churches have regular, sometimes daily services often accompanied by African drumming and Yoruba ceremonies. While we were at the black church, the sisters were preparing special African foods for a ceremony. This was a moving experience.
In Pelourinho square we ate Acaraje in front of the last slave market in Salvador and yards from the spot that gave the area its name. Pelourinho means "Whipping post" and although the post is no longer there, there is a concrete slab on the ground marking the spot.
We are extending our limited vocabulary and can confidently greet people at different time of the day, say thank you, please and good bye and as we have found so far, there is nothing about us that says we are not Bahians except the language.
When we returned to the apartment I went back to the water shop, order my 20L bottle and had it delivered and paid for in about 20 minutes. Another challenge overcome and I am already planning the next one.
Tchau por agora (Bye for now) — London, United Kingdom
London, England, United Kingdom
Saturday, August 4, 2012
What we did not expect to find was the living breathing African culture and religion, intact and functioning in an organized and progressive way and taking such a prominent place in the lives of so many people. The very public nature of fundamental aspects of African religion was a striking revelation for us and to experience it was most profound.
Finally before we end the trip we want to thank everyone who kept in touch for their encouragement and positive comments.
Jabulani Urhobo – content, photography and input
Asha Urhobo - content and editorial
Au Primerose Hôtel : être toujours meilleur
« L’idéal de la vie n’est pas l’espoir de devenir parfait, c’est la volonté d’être toujours meilleur » (Ralph Waldo Emerson). Du haut de ses deux étoiles, c’est ce que cherche le confortable « Au Primerose Hôtel ».
Ouvert de début mai à début octobre, cet hébergement de 26 chambres et situé à Argelès-Gazost ?(Hautes-Pyrénées) possède la qualité reconnue des Logis de France. Pour les dîners, vous savourerez des recettes inspirées des traditions culinaires du Sud Ouest.
Les fans de vélo apprécieront les nombreux cols situés aux alentours : Col d’Aubisque, Col du Soulor, Col d’Aspin, Col du Tourmalet … Les amateurs de randonnées trouveront leur bonheur dans la variété des paysages. Si vous souhaitez visiter, on vous conseille les Grottes de Bétharram, le Pic du Midi de Bigorre ou encore Lourdes.
Au Primerose Hôtel
23 Rue de l’Yser
65400 Argelès-Gazost ?
05.62.97.06.72 ?
comentaires
Les différents visages de l’Angleterre en trois villes
L’Angleterre est un pays qui attire toujours beaucoup de touristes, pour de nombreuses raisons. La principale étant qu’on y parle anglais. Il n’existe pas de meilleur endroit pour apprendre la langue de Shakespeare que le pays où elle est née. L’Angleterre comme le Royaume-Uni ont leurs particularités qui les distinguent du reste de l’Europe, comme une conduite à gauche, un système de mesures différent, des taxis noirs, des bus rouges à deux étages…Tout ceci contribue à faire de l’Angleterre un pays très visité.
La première destination au Royaume-Uni est bien entendu la capitale Londres, l’un des symboles de l’Angleterre. Mais il y a de nombreuses autres villes qui valent le coup d’être visitées dans le pays et qui montrent la diversité du territoire. L’héritage médiéval de l’Angleterre est important et on trouve de nombreux châteaux, cathédrales, fortifications et autres vestiges. York est une de ces cités qui ont joué un rôle dans cette période qui a défini l’Angleterre moderne. La ville est partiellement entourée de remparts sur lesquels on peut se promener, et en son centre se dresse sa cathédrale gothique, le Minster, la plus grande d’Europe du Nord de ce genre. De nombreuses écoles de langues offrent des stages qui permettent à la fois de découvrir York et d’approfondir vos connaissances linguistiques (www.esl.be).
Dans le centre-ville de York se trouve une rue pavée du Moyen-Age, les Shambles, bordée de maisons de style médiéval et de boutiques en tout genre. A la tombée du jour, les Shambles et ses environs servent de terrain de jeu pour les circuits hantés sur les traces des fantômes et autres personnages mythiques de York.
Plus au sud, sur le littoral britannique, Brighton est aux 
antipodes de York. La station balnéaire est l’une des plus fameuses du pays, notamment connue pour ses immeubles extravagants construits lors de son développement dans les années 1870. Aujourd’hui, c’est une ville touristique et festive comme le prouve la fête foraine et les salles de jeu de la jetée, le Brighton Pier. Brighton est synonyme de promenades sur la plage et sur la jetée, ainsi que de visites au Brighton Pavilion, un palace royal de style architectural indien et au style intérieur chinois. Mais c’est également une ville parfaite pour apprendre l’anglais puisqu’on y trouve une quarantaine d’écoles de langue, vous trouverez plus d’informations ici : http://www.esl.be/fr/adultes/sejour-linguistique/anglais/angleterre.htm.
L’Angleterre, c’est également des villes ouvrières et industrielles comme Manchester. Située à l’est au milieu du pays, la ville est connue pour son club de football, Manchester United et son rôle dans la révolution industrielle du 20e siècle. Mais la ville a entrepris un important programme de régénération et est devenue l’une des économies les plus croissantes du Royaume-Uni. La journée, Manchester a de nombreux monuments et musées à visiter, et bien sûr, ne manquez pas d’assister à un match de football. La nuit, la ville se transforme en une immense soirée avec des centaines d’établissements dont les fameux bars gays de Canal Street.
[Photo 1 , Photo 2 ]
comentaires
samedi 9 novembre 2013
Insolite : à 7 ans, il écrit à la Nasa pour partir sur Mars
Du haut de ses 7 ans, un jeune Américain a écrit à la Nasa pour devenir astronaute. « Chère Nasa, je m’appelle Dexter. J’ai entendu que vous envoyiez deux personnes sur Mars et j’aimerais y aller mais j’ai 7 ans et demi et je ne peux pas. J’aimerais y aller dans le futur, qu’est-ce que je dois faire pour devenir astronaute ? »
Dans leur réponse, les employés de la Nasa ont envoyé un autocollant de l’agence spatiale américaine, un marque-page ainsi que des photos de la planète Mars et du rover Curiosity. Dexter a affiché les photos dans sa chambre. Peut-être qu’un jour, il sera l’un des premiers astronautes à poser le pied sur une autre planète.
Imprim-écran
comentaires
Dossier « j’ai un problème en vacances » : Nos conseils pour éviter les arnaques à la location de vacances (partie 3)
On vous avait promis une belle piscine, un logement propre situé près de la mer. Au final, vous avez dormi dans une « maison poubelle ». Chaque année, des centaines de touristes se font arnaquer par des offres alléchantes. Découvrez nos conseils pour éviter les arnaques à la location de vacances.
Avant d’effectuer le paiement, n’hésitez pas à appeler le propriétaire. Au moins, vous pourrez vérifier si le numéro donné est valide. Demandez aussi l’adresse exacte de votre location et vérifiez son existence sur Google Earth et Google Maps.
Un mois de location dans une villa de la Côte d’Azur, à quelques centaines de mètres de la plage qui coûte 600 € le mois : c’est suspect. N’hésitez pas à comparer les offres d’hébergements similaires (biens, lieux, périodes …).
Vous pouvez vous rendre sur des forums ou des sites communautaires pour vérifier que des internautes n’aient pas déjà signalé une arnaque. Vous pouvez aussi écrire dans un moteur de recherche le nom de l’annonce suivi du mot « arnaque ».
Le propriétaire ne peut demander que jusqu’à 30% d’acompte. S’il en souhaite plus, il vaut mieux se méfier et refuser. Autre arnaque : une demande de paiement vers un compte bancaire à l’étranger. Il est impossible de localiser le destinataire !
Le contrat doit obligatoirement être signé par les deux parties (locataire et propriétaire). On vous conseille donc de lire l’intégralité du contrat de location avant de le signer.
Nous vous proposons aussi des locations meublés sur notre site internet.
Relire : Dossier « j’ai un problème en vacances » : je perds mes papiers, que dois-je faire ? (partie 1)
Dossier « j’ai un problème en vacances » : 5 conseils pour rater ses vacances d’été (partie 2)
[Photo 1]
comentaires
Exit — Madrid, Spain
Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Friday, August 3, 2012
One interesting parting observation we have made about Salvador; one of the largest cities in Brazil, the 4th largest economy in the world. Salvador has a significant African population with up to 80% of people acknowledged as having African descent. You hardly see any of them at the airport.
Before we left the city we made a quick stop at a fishermen's? village to visit the shrine of Yemanja.
This place is the focus of annual celebrations at the beginning of February when they hold the Yemanja festival and people from all over the state of Bahia and beyond converge on Salvador to pay homage and make offerings to the sea Goddess. The offerings are taken in small fishing canoes 3 miles out to see where they are thrown in the water accompanied by singing, drumming and prayers.
As with the outbound journey, we are finding Madrid airport rather chaotic. Long queue and no one quite sure what’s going on, woman sitting behind desk apparently doing her own thing but not saying much to waiting passengers.
It will be another 4 or 5 hours before we arrive home and we will have been travelling for nearly 24 hours since we left the apartment in Barra.
This has been an epic journey for us, it is not the holiday we planned but has far exceeded any expectations we could have set for ourselves.