July

Hello, hello...

Yes, I am sill alive.. i know i haven't been active for ... erhm... 4 months!!!

Sorry for that.. really...
it was just summer time, than a little crisis, i had to get through, but now it is all settled, i am fine, just fine.
So, november Saurday night, and i am at home as a couchpotato.. even if my friends try to convince me to get my big ass out for a few drinks.. but there is no such a thing as "just for 1 drink...".

so, instead, i can write until Megavideo lets me in again to watch Lie to me... (10 more minutes.. ;))

July - was amazing...

I went to TUNISIA!!!!

It was sooo great! I really missed Julia, and it was soo great to see her, catch up on 7 months of dramas, funny and hialrious stories, gossips, work and everything. I missed that a lot.
And, of course, I needed that couple of days alone, out of Europe. ;)

Arrived Thrusday night, went for the best choxcoale thing in Tunis, tried to talk a little, but some guy was hiting on us - Julia was extra cool - as usual, so it was fun ;)

Than Friday, the girls went to work, I stayed at home a little, than decided to go to do some siteseeing.



Well.. i felt like "Szucsi vagyok Dombovarrol"...
Like when a little girl from a village ends up in the capital, gets out of a taxi and looks up and around -. all surrounded by skyscrapers...
Only that in Tunis, I was surrounded by yellow cabs, arab people, arab culture.
Still it was fun.
Of course julia told me everybody goona ripp me off, as it is sooo bovious that i am a stupid naiv tourist, who doesn't even speak french... ;)
However, what they didn't know is... that i got trained in Morocco. ;)
I was acing so cool :)
at least that's what i thought... anyways..
unis was fun and i was nice.

Than in the evening, we went for a party at Julia's friends place. (spanish/mexican/ gang - as always ;))

We were drinking, and playing "kings" (which I will never play again.. hahaha)


Than Saturday there was a foam party close to Tunis - the famous foamparty in Hammamet. Cool! :)
Sunday was just chilling and BBQ, farewell of some of the inerns. sad day ... :( But i got some of the insides of the inerns lives... and i just hope i didn't ruin J.'s reputation a lot ... i can't help, when ppl ask me about life in Geneva... :D

And Monday went to Carthago and Sidi Bou Said. Beautiful.



It was great fun, and very very nice to see Julia again ;)

Some - public - photos:

Moroccan Odyssey

After a few months of planning, finally we managed to visit Morocco. Visit??!! One of the best vacations I had since a long long time. :)

Planning - yes, everything started with the planning. First of all, we just wanted to go with Eszter for a weekend, to check Casablanca, go to the desert for camel trekking, than back to Geneva. However, 2 girsl in Africa... well... we decided we need a MAN... so asked Andras to join us. But of course for him, to have a look at the return of invest... it had to be extended from a long weekend to a 10 days excursion, visiting the imperial cities, and the ocean as well.
I have to sa,y after I saw the detailed agenda, with the budget in an excel.. i was like: No way... I am not going to get up before 9 on my vacation.. nooo waaay!!! But than the guys convinced me. :)
I will write down my experiences, and some suggestions for future visitors - as if there are sooo many people interested in this :)

1. day: Fying Geneva - Casablanca

Who cares, that our airplane was: jet4you, a never heard charter company... who actually borrowed the airplane from hello! - from an also very well known swiss company.
The ticket was reasonably cheap, however, we could have got it cheaper, if we had bought the tickets a bit ealrier than March. The flight took 3 hours, and as we entered to a different timezone, overall it took only 1 hour.
At the Casablanca airport, we had to get some money. It is prohibited to have dirhams before. Well, it turned out, that it would have been better just using an ATM to get some cash, instead of exchanging swiss franc or euros.

The taxi from Casablanca airport to Casablanca center was 300 MAD. We didn't even tried bargaining. Actually, we asked.. but they were very strong, and told us this is the general price at night.

At Hotel Central in Casablanca, we hada really adventorous experience. The receptionist was high like a kite, than our room was dirty, musty and small... so we asked for a change, the one on the roof - at least, it was better ;)

2. day Fez

After we managed to rent a car, we were heading to Fez - to the city where the King is living, population is 1 million. Actually Fez has become a tourist destination in the recent years, which I can totally understand. It has soo much to offer.. and actually, we didn't see enough.

As soon as we entered to the city, one big guy, wearing pink -shirt, on a small small scooter has just followed us -. started knocking on our car window, and shouted at us: "Hotel, hotel reservation". We tried to explain him that we already had a reservation, we don't need anything, only a guide.
Well, it turned out, he has a "brother", who actually speaks English, and he will show us around.
Well... yes.
Travelers or tourists? 0 -1 - definitly typicall stupid tourists. :)

We ended up at the Hotel, he recommended, but no regret at all, the place was amazing! really beautiful treasure in Fez - New Fez.

Actually, this shows, that even if you don't have hotel reservation beforehead, you can just go there and find something. It is pretty nice.

Abdol - our guide was a young, 22-year old arabic, who was about to study medicine and become a brainsurgent. n the meantime, he was ahowing us the Medina in Fez. We could get lost in the souq, the closed market. The streets of Fez's Medina is part of the World's Heritage. It has 9000 streets, oftenblind ones... so it is really handy to have a guide. Though, it might be that when oyu enter to a shop with an official guide, the prices raise high, due to his commissions.

Well.. we could not know everything. :)

In Fez, we also saw the leather district, and the factory where all those mosaique fontains are made. Really beautiful.

In the evening, Abdol took us to a fantastic, finger-licking dinner. Copious Moroccan dinner!
Seriuolsy, only the starter would have been enough. ;)




During our stay in Fez, they had the prestigous music festival. It was fun walking around the people.

3. day Middle Atlas - Fez - Merzouga -Erg Chebbi

This 460 km was truly the best part of our trip. Maybe, because all the panorama was still new for us, or just simply because in the Middle Atlas, after each turn you could find different view ofthe environment: a hidden oazis, picturesque red stone mountains, palmeries, date trees, etc.
Ifrane, Ziz Valley really beautiful places. ;)


Seriuosly, if we didn't have to hurry to catch our appointment with the barbar's for the camel trekking, we could have spent 1 night somewhere inbetween, just to truly enjoy the view and the way down to Merzouga. Actually, in Erg Chebbi, the guides were really nice and they were waiting for us, so we could stop for taking breathtaking photos.

We stopped in Midelt - just to fresh up a little. Well, Midelt is really dangerous, and there is nothing to see/visit. We only stopped for a quick lunch, but already false stones were offered. Terrible. We literally had to fly for our lives. ;)

In Merzouga, there is not much to see, that's why we went directly to Erg Chebbi. The people of the Hotel were really nice. Before Merzouga, there is a small - few km- offroad, we have to take, to reach the beginning of the desert. The hotel stuff came upfront to us, and we could follow the 4*4 witho our normal car. But there was no issue with that.

Of course, all the people were really nice, they offered us mint tea, and we could fresh up a little, before our camel trekking.


Oh boy! The camel trekking was ok, fantastic to see Algeria, the yellow/orangish sand dunes, everything.

But the best was, when after dinner, we went up to one of the dunes to see the stars, the moon, and we were scruching our toes into the Sahara, where the moon was shining, the sky was covered by millions of stars, amazing!

To tell you the truth, it was a really moving part, I could feel an inner peace, and really it was a very great hour of my life. :) I was thinking a lot there... a good meditation place. :)

We slept under the blue sky, and woke up at 5 to climb a bigger dune to watch the sunset for there.

Unfortunetly it was a bit cloudy and windy. But I still really enjoyed it. ;)


4. day High Atlas - Merzouga - Tinerhir - Gorge Todra

After returning from the desert, we could take a shower, and than after chilling at the hotel - mint tea and drums - we were heading to Tinerhir, to Gorge Todra.


The way in the High Atlas was also really nice, but we expected much more, after saw Middle Atlas. Anyways, we arrived to our hotel in Tinerhir, and had a wonderful late lunch.
Unfortunatly, the weather was not that nice, so we couldn't start hiking in the Todra, only managed to visit the village.
Well... how shall I say that? The most agressive carpet sellers, really lots of small children begging for a stilo or for anything else.. really .. not the best experience.

Not to mention, that almost everybody felt sick... so... we didn't really do a lot.. just chilling and eating ;)

5. day Gorge Todra - Dades Valley - Oarzazate

The next day we were up to some hiking. 4 hours hiking in Gorge Todra. This is a very good mountain to climb , also for professional climbers. For us, it was a nice hike, visiting a nomad family accepting the mint tea there, seeing a 14.member family living in a tent, not knowing how old the girl was, not knowing the time, the date, the month they were. Truly a different world.



After freshing up at the hotel, and having again a very luxuriant lunch, we were heading to Oarzazate.

Before that we had a D-tour in the Dades Valley, in the Dades Gorge by car. Beautiful again, however, the hairpin bands made my day a little... ;)



6. day Marrakesh - Ait Benhaddou

The next day, we were heading towards Marrakesh. Before, we stopped in Ait Benhaddou - the palce that insipred several famous directors, for example the Gladiator were filmed here with Russel Crowe!!!
Well, I have to say the place is better in the guide books, but still worth visiting it. :)


Than we arrived to Marrakesh, where, unfortunatly Eva had to leave us, as she - as usual - had to go somewhere else.. actually to India for a business trip ;)

This girl is just amazing!!! Full of energy and always on the roads!!! :P

We managed to have a little look at the caotic central market of Marrakesh, and had a very good dinner again ;)

7. day Marrakesh

Our accomodation was in the best Riad I think. The location was a bit dangerous, specially in the night, but after a couple of getting éost in the medina, we found it quiet easily. ;)
The owner is a morrocan woman with a german husband. ;) They are soo lovely and funny. :)

The room was really a 5star, and the service was also great.
The best, is however the roof of the riad. What a night! :)

Marrakesh is exactly as I imagined, full of people, full of caos, the central market with its 3 MAD freshly squeezed orange juice.. oh boy!! ;)


All the sellers, with bargaining, and negotaiting, and nobody knows where Hungary is... ooooh boy!!! So much fun, so great!
We did some sightseeing trip and had lots of fun.

Than, at the evening, we went out to a bar/club, had lots of fun, meet with local people. Really great. ;)

And again... the roof of the riad.. is just... unreciteable ;)

8. day Marrakesh - Essaouria

We left the car in Marrakesh, so after that we had to rely on public local transportation and taxis.

Aslo, it meant, that we were finished with the traveling, it was all about chilling.

During our way to Eassaouria, we had to stop, and we saw a really funny guy with his instrument, singing and enjoying himself. It weas hillarious!


Essaouria is next to the ocean, and agin, Andras didn't really feel well, so we left only the 2 of us, with Eszter, visited the port, the beach, the medina. We met a local cool guy, who likes to be called Delphino. ;) You can imagine, a blackish guy, full of muscle, acting as if he is really the local god, very cool guy. ;)
But, hey, he was fun, but a bit childish, and gets pissed off easily... specially when things are not happening as he expected.

But he dances well. ;)

In the evening, we sent Andras to hammam, so he can enjoy it a little. The strong massage from a huge black guy helped him... apperantly.



9. day Essaouria - Villa

The next day, we also went to a hammam... well... our experience were different than Andras'. But we also enjoyed it.
That's true, hammam is there for the arab women to wash, clean, and aslo clean thier souls. Still.. it was interesting to sit where the other women wher bruhing their teeth.. anyways, we dont talk about this.



After this, we left our accommodation and went to a Villa.
Oh boy! That accommodation.. was just amazing!!!
Really beautiful, and a bit remote... offside of Essaouria, but still worth it.
The whole place were ours.

10. day Essaouria - Casablanca

Than, we went back to Essaouria, had some chilling hours before our bus left to Casa.
So, we stayed in the beach, reading, chilling. ;)

The way to CAsablanca were a hussle... 6-7 hours in the bus..oh boy...

And agian, bakc to Casablance - we saw the medina, central market, etc.
But.. Casablanca is not that beautiful.

11. day Casablanca - Geneva

Our last day, we ran to visit the Hassan II. Mosque - a true masterpiece - amazing.


Than again, we had to run to catch our plane to Geneva, it was amazing. Guess, who were the last one on the check-in??

Seriously.. :)

In Rick's Cafe: Travellers - Tourists: 0- 2!!!

Overall, our trip was adventoruos, we saw amazing things, ecepereinced the desert, got lost in the squods, got discount while bargaining ;)

I loved this vacation!!!


Next destination: Greece than Tunis. ;)

Thanks a lot for Eszter and Andras for the photos, if it were me... well... ;)

bisous

Sushi, Maki sushi, sashimi

I am not a sushi-virgin anymore. :)
Yes, I ate row fish, with rice and alga yesterday!! ;)

The place was called "No sushi", hahaha, and the atmosphere in the restaurant was amazing :)
There was music, TV, high bar chairs, and the food was moving on a conveyor belt like in a factor on an assembly line, the different type of food was on different color of plate, and you could take whatever you wanted, than at the end, the waiter came and counted according to the color of the plates...
It was very cool!!!

First, Swati and Julia was really patient and nice to me... they were staring at me only once... if I can handle the chopsticks... (come on, I do knit...) ;)


We made the soy sauce with wasabi... I got to know that it is rude if you waste the sauce, and the sauce is more fore the fish part, not the rice...
Of course, I was using the sauce with everything...

So, here are some more tips I got to know about sushi etiquette...

http://sushinow.com/etiquette.htm

Of course, the first rule says: Do not "whittle" your chopsticks... ;)
Hahaha... you could guess what Swati had to do to my chopsticks...

I also got to know the different types of sushi:
Maki sushi are rolls of sushi;
Temaki is a hand roll of sushi;
Sashimi is raw fish with no rice;



I tried salmon, tune, caviar and chicken as well :)
Traditional one and really spciy one.. I liked the California roll as well - which is definitly not for 1 bite... ;)


And of course, just to be traditional Japanese.. we drunk beer.... no comment :)

To sum up, I liked the sushi, but definitely can not compete with the Hungarian cuisine...
hehehe... I know I have to cook finally for my friends here!
And I do it, no more excuses... promise! :)

Zermatt - Skiing weekend

Everything started with a great opportunity within HP... We can rent a chalet in Zermatt for a very friendly price.
So, why not?
Let's go and try skiing in Zermatt!!!

Yeah!!!!

4 of us (out of 6) couldn't really ski, but who cares?
Among friends... :)
With Julia we didn't even had skiing outfit... :)

So, the fun part started already on Thursday, when I got an email with the subject: Julia bought her stuff!!!!

And she managed to buy all the clothes, and everything that is needed for a "professional" skier...
Yes, but all the clothes were for children!!!

So, in the afternoon I also checked... And yes, I managed to buy also a trouser and a jacket!!!
(Who cares that the trousers are RED, the jacket is ORANGE???)
It is absolutely not important... ;)

Than the only thing that was missing : THE SKI, the boots, the sticks...

We really wanted to buy them earlier... but the shop had just closed before we arrived...
Anyways... :DDD

So, during lunchtime, we quickly went to the town (for me quickly means: 45 minutes to get in, than 45 minutes to get back to HP....) and manage to rent all the stuff!!! :)
Again, for a very nice price!
And also, we got a great deal:
We can try out the skis this weekend, and if we like, can keep them for the whole season... and the price for this weekend will be included in the "seasonal rent's price!!!

Oh...this weekend was amazing!!!!

So, after 4 hours on the train, finally we arrived to Zermatt... Actually in this town cars are not allowed to get in, only special, electronic cars...
So, also the taxis were these special, small electro-cars. :)
Funny!

I talked to them in German!!! Trinkgeld, trinkgeld.. of course :DDD

The apartment was great, even good for more people, not just 6... :)

On the very first day we had ski lessons... :)
It was very useful!!!
And the view!!!
Oh my god!!! Breathtaking!!!
:DDD

(The Team: Anthony, Manuel, Ikran, me, Emilia, Julia)


We had a wonderful lunch:
In front of us: Matterhorn - One of the greatest mountain in Europe, the most famous one in Switzerland, because of its special shape. :)


The sun was shining, it was so hot!!!
We had beers and special Swiss-German "Hubertuswurst" (Hubertus... hmm... ;)



Actually after lunch we were so well, that we didn't really went skiing.

Than for dinner we got Lasagne from Manuel.. Oh.. magnifico!!! :D

On Sunday, we tried out an other mountain... but commeon, that was killing one!!!



We also climbed up till the highest viewpoint of Europe (climbing means taking the elevator... ;)


We were crazy in the whole weekend, just laughing, skiing, eating a lot (as usual.... ;)... fantastic...
:)

One of the best weekends ever!!! :D



We decided to keep our skis, and try to go to France next weekend!!!
I am looking forward to it!!!

And... in February, I go to Austria, Gerlitzen... :DDD

Escalade - National Fete of Geneva

I realized how less I wrote about the swiss people, the swiss culture, the swiss history, and things like that.

So, now here is the time to introduce you the

L'Escalade

Escalade is the national fete of Geneva.
On the night of 11 December 1602 Charles-Emmanuel, Duke of Savoy, tried to storm the town. His "Escalade" was repulsed, (actually by a woman who poured hot soup on the enemy...) and thereafter this patriotic event is commemorated by the Genevese.
(For more info click here)

Actually they have 2 weekends.
The first one is just a race, ok not just, but it is mainly a marathon, where people dress up, and run through some villages.
This year thousands of people came and run!
My flatmate, Adam too!!! We are sooo proud of him!!! :)

The second weekend is always biggest, and actually a really unique weekend of Geneva.
This is so true, I mean, the Old Town is full of brigades on horseback in 17th century costumes, country markets, folk music, fife and drum parades and torchlight marches.

AND!

I have learnt that there is a secret mediave passage, this is opened for public only during the Escalade in the whole year, that is the Passage de Monetier. This takes visitors along the base of the old fortification walls under the Cathedral, offering a palpable look at Old Geneva. Those who brave the passage at night receive cups of hot wine to ward off the cold. Yes, and those who are there earlier... :S

Anyways, we ate soup!Soup de la mere Royaume!!!
This is the special soup, full of vegetables, they serve it in a special pot, on it it is written: Escalade 2007, and if you take it back you get back your 5 CHF, but of course everybody keeps it. :)

Me too, but than I gave it to Joyce, one of the Chineese girl, and forgot about it...
Anyways, hope she has got it... ;)

I forgot to mention that we organized this weekend for other aiesec interns.

Thanks for Emilia for the accommodation!!!
Thanks for Julia for the sight seeing tour!!!

Saturday an other historical event took place: The constructions in front of RDL officially ended, and they celebrated the new tram!!!!

You can not imagine how big relief is it for us. (Ok, not for me anymore, but for the others living at RDL....)
That was one of the main reason why I moved out of RDL... the noise, the traffic, the construction...)
Now, it is over!!!! :)))
There was a huge celebration, cheerleaders and everything! :)

(And, later on, this new tram will go directly to my workplace, so it will take less time to travel always in the morning... ;)

During the weekend I slept also at RDL, (because it is great to be together, to wake up together and have breakfast together... :) but actually it was not that easy to sleep... I always heard all the traffics, the horns, people were shouting, screaming...

Saturday evening of course we went out.
First, as usual, the party starts at RDL, drinking, and now: with Chocolate fondue !!!
That was great! :)



I will bring home also something like that, don't worry!!! ;)

Than we went out to Shakers. It was actually a good party...

Than on Sunday, a few more trainees arrived.. unlucky them... because on Saturday - despite the weather forecast - it was sunny, but Sunday... rainy...

We wanted to go ice skating, instead in the rain we discovered a nice hot chocolate place and a great crépe -place! (salty pancakes.... nyamm...)

Than we saw the torchlight procession through the darkened streets in the Old Town, which led a bonfire. However, it was soooo coood, and we were tired, so we missed that one...

Anyways, to sum up, it was a great weekend! :)

Part of the "Grouppicturreeee!!!"