Ramadan Mubarak

Well, it's that time of year again, you know...Ramadan! I always like to do a post explaining what Ramadan is about here. First of all it is a 30 day fast for Muslims and is one of the 5 pillars of Islam. Everyone fasts from sun-up to sun-down, which right now is around 6:30 in the evening. They must abstain from food, drink, cigarettes, sex, chewing gum, brushing their teeth, wearing gel, perfume or makeup, and talking bad about people. I was surprised the first day when I came home and my concierge was missing a bunch of teeth. I guess dentures fall in this category too!
It is forbidden to eat in the streets and if foreigners want to eat out during daylight hours our choices are basically McDonald's and Pizza Hut. After people break the fast with a traditional soup, dates and some super sugary sweets they wait a few hours and then gorge themselves late at night. Some even get up before sunset to eat one last time. The ironic thing about the month of fasting is people actually gain more weight this month and consume more food than other time!


First of all, you will see a lot of this in the streets during daylight. Workers open up their shops mid-day so they can sleep in and do as little work as possible. Yesterday I saw two men laying side by side in the grass, kinda cuddling in fact.

If you do happen to find some open stores this is most likely what you'll see, lounging and relaxing. A few hours before sunset the young guys will play some intense soccer games to get their mind of food and work up a good appetite to break the fast. Luckily, we have a soccer field right across the street so we get to hear the chants all the time.

After sunset, all the families stroll the streets until late in the night. There are always Ramadan fairs, sales, and little carnivals set up. At about 6:15 the streets completely clear out and it's actually a dangerous time to be out. There is crime that goes on because criminals know everyone is busy eating, even the police. I cannot take credit for these photos. A friend visiting last month actually took these and I like them.

Here is an example of the sweets they consume to break the fast and raise the blood sugar really quickly. They are mostly honey coated and really delicious hot.

Here is some commercialism at its best. The burger is shaped like a moon because the sliver of the moon is the symbol that Ramadan is starting. To break the fast is called Fitr. So McDonald's even has McFitr where you can get soup and dates at sunset. By the way, don't feel special about Coca Cola wishing you a "Merry Christmas," they also wish us a "Ramadan Mubarak"

P.S. Feel free to write any questions in the comments box or if there is anything in particular you would like to see a picture of, thanks!

Changes in the Dar (house)

I just really like this picture I took from our window. We live on a really busy street so there is constant honking and noise (that we have grown accustomed to) but if you go on the roof can you see the ocean and the most beautiful sunsets.

So we have been doing some remodeling in our apartment, actually I take that back I don't think we actually "remodeled" anything per-say but we did get some new stuff. A friend of ours recently moved back to America and we got some of his old furniture. I got rid of our huge dining room table, that we never used and just threw junk on and put this farache (couch like thing) and his rug, end table and smaller table.

I recovered the ferache and put a smaller table to the right of it. Now we have two sitting rooms, which is very common here. Often times homes will have several sitting rooms and one really nice one for guests. It's rare to have only on salon (living room) in a house.

These are some paintings I got framed. These were made down south by artists who use saffron, coffee, and indigo and then put fire under the paper and it turns like this.

Here is Cody cooking some dinner. I love when he wears this pink apron from his Mom. It says "I cook for my Mom" and it is from the Susan G Komen breast cancer foundation. He looks really tough huh?

These pictures were taken when some friends were visiting us this month. This is me and my friend strolling through the Medina.

Girls here like to hold hands or interlock arms when walking, I'll tell you it gets kinda hot in the summer! You always greet with kisses which is also better in the colder days when we are less sweaty!

Malta and Fishing Village

We took a little vacation to the Maltese Islands (south of Italy, north of Tunisia). The water was gorgeous and the street food was quite tasty too.

This is the first day we were there. I am not sure if it was something I ate mixed with going on no sleep but I got sick on the bus and puked my guts out until the bus driver kindly asked me to get off. After laying on the side of the street awhile and finishing my round of throw up, I regained my strength and we went back to our hotel. Unfortunately they got the days wrong and the only place they had available was the storage closet. Feeling too sick to deal with a storage closet we decided to go to the tourist center and see if they were any guest houses free that night. PTL they was one that availability for the week just a 10 minute walk from the old one. The lady at the old house was also this 95 year crazy Maltese women who was yelling at Cody for getting sand on her floor even though we had just arrived from the airport and hadn't been to the beach yet. I'll tell you, as a whole, the Maltese are not the friendliest people in the world. Except one sweet lady who picked us up while we were hitchhiking back in to town after a mean bus driver dropped us off in the middle of nowhere.

Enjoying a nice evening out on the town.


We were there for the Catholic feast of the Assumption of Mary so all the streets were decorated and there was fireworks all over the island.

Cody, enjoying our boat ride to the nearby island of Gozo.


I LOVED the Mediterranean water. It was so warm and clear and the snorkeling was so good. Here I am snorkeling at some rocks.

Catching some rays, trying to tan our pastiness a little.



The day we got back from our Malta trip we went to a fishing village down south with our whole group for a retreat. The place we were staying was about 20 minutes outside of town in this deserted little place. There was a fishing community way down the beach but the only people at our beach were the ones staying at this campground. Some of our friends camped out but we stayed in the nice bungalows (due to the fact we neither have a tent or sleeping bags).

This is casbah and port area. I just liked this picture with all the birds.


We had delicious fresh seafood for lunch, including shrimp, calamari, Sole fish and whole crab for about $10 each!

Enjoying the casbah, by the way we did not intend to wear matching shirts this day! :)

Surf's Up!

Sorry such short explanations but we are at a friend's house fixen' to go to Malta. Stay tuned next week for trips from our vacation!

Cody and I went to a friend's wedding this weekend. It was the first wedding we went to together but as soon as we walked in the men were escorted downstairs never to be seen again until the parking lot when we are leaving. They boys never once saw the bride!

My new silver pants.

Kevin and Cody enjoying the wedding.

Our beautiful friends!






Friends in town visiting went to the wedding with us too. This is at our favorite sushi restaurant. Mmmmm....






I have been learning how to surf this summer. I think my snowboarding came in handy cause I am able to stand up. It's super fun!

Back to the Village

Last week I headed back way down south to my friend's village. Cody didn't get to go with me this time but my two American friends went so that was good I didn't have to travel back alone. It was a lot more stressful getting down there without a car this time. 13 hours after a train, two taxis and a bus we arrived at her house. This is at a casbah we stopped at on the way home. Isn't this the perfect picture, like a postcard with the camel posing for me! The way home we decided to travel overnight to avoid the heat. So we took an 11 hour bus ride through the night going around crazy corners in the mountain with people throwing up. We stopped periodically so people could get off and eat to make sure they had something to throw up again when we started back around the curves. But we were thankful to make it home in one piece! :)


Having mint tea and bread at a nearby village. Usually we just sit on the floor or really low stools. These 60 year old women are incredible flexible!


How adorable is the Grandma!? Here she is cooking some chicken, I told you these ladies were flexible.


I love this little girl. She is my friend's neighbor and I met her last time I was here. She is so sweet and hung around the whole time we were there. Those are my glasses she's sporting.


I realize I look really rough in all these pictures but you would too with no showers, make up or hair brushing! It was pretty hot inside the house so we ate outside on a rug under the stars.


I loved this rug. I really like bold, deep colors. The prices are incredible but I am waiting to buy one until Cody can come with me.


Pretending to learn how to make a rug. I have a new appreciation for handmade stuff.


Of course it wouldn't be a trip down south to the village without getting some henna done.


The casbah from the top picture.


ILOVE these girls! These are the daughters of my American friends who live in this village. (They are actually the ones who introduced me to my friend). These girls are too much fun and the sweetest little princesses.


Now, you are gonna have to cock your head to the side to watch this video. This is the little girl doing traditional dancing. She's pretty good huh?!