I'm back

Finally, after 10 days in Syria, I find myself in an internet cafe in the city of Aleppo.

Have been travelling for about 5 days, visiting the region of Krak des Chevaliers and Palmyra. Since Thursday I am living in the village, Kafaramme.

After having settled in, I've started visiting my friends and am learning to know new people all the time.

I am usually awake at 7 or 8 and have a few hours for myself, as the children leave for school early and the others like to sleep in late. At 10:30 we have breakfast on the terrace.

The morning is the best time in the village. It is sunny and peaceful.

What is quite funny is that the language which seemed to be strange until a few months ago, has become familiar to me. By far, I don't understand everything, but it is not 'Chinese' neither.

Once used to the village, the city is dirty and noisy. I will be glad to be able to return to my new home in the afternoon.

But first I will visit Sarwat who is 6/7 months pregnant. I haven't seen her since October 7th. And she knows I am back, so she is waiting impatiently for me to visit.

(S)wellness

On Thursday, the entire day was spent on our wellness...

Joke, a good fitness friend of mine, had a great idea a few weeks ago. She wanted to take advantage of a promotional action in Flair (woman's weekly). A whole lot of of beauty and wellness centers are offering until the 20th December a package for 2 at the price of 1.

After comparing our agendas, we found a gap for this Wednesday or Thursday, and last week we started phoning around. Most of the centers were fully booked, but finally we were able to book not far from were we were living.

All excited, Joke picked me up at the hairdresser's and we arrived about half an hour later.

The center was in a converted big old farmhouse with swimming pool, jacuzzi, Turkish bath, sauna, and alike. We were treated with products with fruit extracts, lunch of fish with fresh vegetables and rice and managed to fill the rest of the time with hanging around the facilities.

I was so relaxed that in the evening I did not do anything anymore and just lay in front of the television before falling asleep.

Today, I'm feeling very clean and freshened up. Packed my suitcase and cannot wait to leave for Aleppo, Syria, again tomorrow morning. The intention is to stay there until Spring. We will see how things will turn out. Got an open return ticket, anyway.

The Big Man from Spain

Life can be beautiful without stress. I believe, it is not the first time I mention this.

To intensify that thought, I'm filling up my last week in Belgium this year with extra de-stressing events. Some highlights will be welcoming Saint-Nicolas in Belgium on Saturdays and having a complete wellness treatment on Thursdays.

Saint-Nicolas, big friend of the children, will arrive in Antwerp by boat. As always each year he leaves his homecountry Spain to arrive mid-November to prepare his grand tour of December 6th. He will be accompanied by his helpers and horse.

Every year, Saint-Nicolas brings gifts and sweets for the children who have been good during the year. Most of it is delivered on December 6th. Early morning, when everybody is sleeping, Saint-Nicolas rides on the roofs. At each chimney, he stops and verifies whether there are children living on that address and which presents they are entitled to. If something has to be delivered, the helpers glide through the chimney and display the presents, so the children see them immediately when they run through the house or the apartment in the morning.

Saint-Nicolas, although a holy man who lived centuries ago, has adapted to modern times and always finds a solution to deliver the presents timely to the children. Some problems can be : absence of chimney, children on holiday, ...
And even though he is working the whole night (through wind, rain and/or snow), he personally pays a visit the next day to ensure himself whether his customers are satisfied, leaving some extra sweets.

He is wonderfull in managing his stock and budget. Actually, he does this in close cooperation with the parents with whom he has a close and smooth partnership ;-)