Trying to get a SIM card.

Where can I get a SIM card for my phone? I asked at my hotel.
At the Darajani Market, they said, and gave me a map.

Stone Town is a labyrinth of small alleys. I was constantly looking at the map trying to make sense of it. Soon a guy started offering me a tour...that I rejected but he started following me and asking where I want to go.. he offered to take me there for free but in every interesting corner he would tell me something about it...

With my "guide" we arrived soon to the market, and he also helped me to buy a card. At the end of course I ended paying for his services.

A cardboard box is all what these two young entrepreneurs need to  have their Sim Card store at the market.

Some drawings I did the next day, like this alley in the Spice Market.

Markets are great places for drawing people.

In the fire station

Every day I try to explore and try to sketch places that represent the city in some way. St. John's buildings are made in wood. Fires happens very often in the city. Therefore the fire department is a very important institution here. I have never had draw fire fighters before, I didn't know what to expect when I first approach the fire station and ask if I can draw them. I got a very interesting tour were most of my questions were answer. I had to confess I used to have many stereotypes about firefighters, I though that their uniforms were red for example (here they are dark blue). I also asked one of the fire fighters if they got calls to fetch cats from threes, he said: " yes, but we don't go there, we tell the people that the cat will come down by himself when becomes hungry." " And what if the people insist?" I asked. The guy answered: "Well, I then ask them if they've ever seen a cat's skeleton on a three"

The fire fighters in St . John's have many duties and traditions. On Saturdays they have always pea soup and one of the fire fighters is in charge of cooking it. I have never seen somebody to cook in such a martial way. I had never tasted pea soup before, so they invited to eat with them. The soup was great. (While he was cooking the alarm rang, he turned off the heat and went to his car. He came back 20 minutes later , it was a false alarm)

Dubai Film Festival

I got just one day free: friday.. and last friday a good friend of mine convinced me to go to Dubai. "lets go to Dubai to see a film" he said. I was afraid not to find any free place, since I had heard that everything was sold out, but not having anything to do and to do nothing together in Dubai is always better that not doing nothing in Al Ain. And besides I considere driving with an uncertain plan as my own private road movie, because in the two hours we have time to talk a lot, get to know each other better and fullfill the rituals we have when we go to Dubai, like his usual prayer at the mosque and my cold coffe at the Gas station.
We were lucky our road movie turned very well. We found out that there was a free film showing open air at JBR and besides it was an egypcian movie about underground music bands in Alexandria, where my friend comes from.
The film name was "Microphone". I loved the movie and the music and although the film doesn't have a happy ending, cause the bands weren't allow to play in the concert at the end, you know that the film itself IS the happy ending cause they had reach through it a broader audience that they would not have done with a concert.
After the film there was a concert with the bands and I did some sketches of them playing and also from the two main actors that where also present. The funny thing is that I got them to write their autographs on my sketches. So it was an ecceptional day! I also posted it in the urbansketchers blog

German National Day in Abu Dhabi

On the 23rd of November the German Embassy organized a party at Beach Rotana Dhabi to celebrate the german national day. Of course the german national day is not on the 23th of November but we had a lot of fun. There was a band playing, great music, and a very contagious energy! I did some sketches...

Apollo Saj Cafeteria

I came again to this great place in Hilli industrial area in Al Ain. The Apollo Saj Cafeteria. The owner allways insists that I try a new different lebanese dish, so it is a great gastronomic experience for me. At the same time the team is extreamly friendly and I can practice my arabic. If you happened to be arround (I guess I still don't have any Al Ain blog reader) take a look at him and tell me if there is a resemblace in the portrait!

Navidades en Dinamarca

Otra acuarela que hice durante mis Navidades en Dinamarca en casa de mi hermano.

Copenhague

La plaza del Municipio de Copenhague (Radhusplads)es extremadamente interesante. Edificios emblematicos con anuncios gigantes de publicidad. Hay ademas un pedestal con una estatua de dos hombres con cornetas. Por navidad habian colocado un arbol de navidad.Los autobuses en Copenague son de un color amarillo muy fuerte. De la plaza en adelante inicia una via peatonal muy larga llena de negocios muy interesantes. Copenhague es una ciudad donde puedes encontrar siempre objetos de design, algunos absurdamente baratos.

Helado y granizado - gelatto e granita

Una de las cosas por la que Noto es conocida son los helados y la granita. He notado que los sicilianos discuten mucho sobre donde se come la mejor granita o el mejor helado. En Noto hay dos lugares que se disputan el primer puesto Mandolfiore y Costanzo. Yo personalmente prefiero Costanzo anunque no tanto por la calidad del producto que me parece muy similar, mas bien por que el lugar es mas agradable y sociable. Costanzo se encuentra muy cerca del corso detras del palazzo Ducesio. En una zona rodeada de arboles. La escalera que desciende de la plaza esta justo delante del local. La gente usa las gradas para sentarse a tomar un helado. La sombra de los arboles crea un microclima muy agradable. El local esta decorado con murales realizados por un artista local, tiene una atmosfera un poco bohemia, y el personal es siempre muy amable.

En Noto es tipico tomar una granita con Brioce (un tipo de pan dulce) como desayuno. aunque en relaidad la gente aqui toma granita a todas las horasy siempre encuentran una escusa para tomar una. Mis favoritas son Avelladas y Pistazio. (Mandorle e Pistachio).

La acuarela la realice por la noche sentado en las gradas de la escalera cuando fuimos con unos amigos a tomar un helado, que debo decir que tambien es buenisimo!

Titeres in Catania

Ayer un amigo me llamo para contarme que sus amigos titeriteros hacían una presentación en la vía Etnea. El los conoció en Chile durante su viaje por Sudamérica. Enseguida cogí mi Moleskine y me material y fuí para alla. A mí siempre me han gustado los títeres, y de alguna forma es un arte que tiene un caracter muy urbano. Desde que recuerdo los he visto siempe en escenarios improvisados en la calle y pocas veces dentro de un edificio público. Es una sorpresa gratificante pasar por la ciudad y encontrarte con un espectáculo así. Uno se siente niño de nuevo.
El grupo Moviendo Hilos es de Valparaiso, Chile y se encuentra de gira en Europa. Estuvieron en el festival de Pforzheim, Alemania y ahora visitan Sicilia por primera vez. Al grupo lo componen Gabriel, Marcela y Marco (de izquierda a derecha en el bosquejo) El show que presentaron era esclusivamente musical. Muy divertido la interacción entre titiritero e títere que siempre causaba risas. Su blog es www.marionetasmoviendohilos.blogspot.com
En el bosquejo se los puede ver con Elvis y su banda.