zofka's Guestbook

Zofka Kveder
Thanks. I honestly didn't know about Zofka Kveder. Zofka was simply how Slovenes translated my name. But it makes me smile to think that I share it with her. Anna Sofie (Ana Zofka)

Snorkelling
I so am going to try out scuba diving:-)

Firstly, I think this conflict between Israelis and Palestinians is too complicated and very emotional for me or you to state anything enlightening about it. My blog is not about the conflict and who has the right to what. And I do know that Lawrence saw Jerusalem through a different cultural and historical time. That is why I found it fascinating. That people seem characterless is not because they are, but due to a commercialisation of the city as a tourist magnet. It doesn't matter what ethnicity they belong to. It is consequence of us the tourists - not them, and is similar in many other popular cities. That I find the Old City is stuck in the past, is a consequence of how it is holy to all three religions. Not just Islam. The ladder at the front side of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is evidence of how stuck in the past the Christian communities are in this respect. No one dares touching the satus quo. I really liked both East and West Jerusalem, not because they are neighbourhoods of a particular religious ethnicity but because unlike the Old City they are both very much alive in each their unique way. My critique is neither of Jews nor Muslims, but of the atmosphere in the Old City. It is a critique which is personal and if you read my other blogs you will understand that I often abhorre from the very tourist cities where that which is unique has become commercialised. It is a paradox that I myself am a tourist adding to that. I like places which are alive, where old and new meets, and it is often these places that I write endearingly about. I am simply not so fond of places where you can't see the city for 'made in Taiwan' souvenirs and where the local population, be they Arabs, Jews, Parisians, Italians from Florence, are forced to make way for tourists. And that is what I write about. Nothing more, nothing less.

Conchita and Eurovision
Eurovision has become something of a cult happening for the gay community. I realy think that adds extra to the show, also because every country has to broadcast ALL of the show, so a country where gays are normally persecuted will have to show the Queen of Austria winning. Moreover, I am really proud that Copenhagen decided to use the occasion of the Eurovision to marry gay couples from all over. It is easy to get a marriage certificate in DK and gays are legally allowed to marry. It was such an amazing thing to have all these couples in love, getting married around the city. And I too am looking forward to Austria hosting!

Jezz, I remembered that there was a way in through travelblog, but I have been to stupid to find it. I have tried to go directly to the worldmapmaker website, but it is in that context that I don't know the password. Thanks! I will immediately update my map:-)