Off to the city of Love(wine), Paris

I just came back from a trip to Jamaica. I was somewhat feeling down and lonely. It’s been a while since I been in a relationship and ironically, the chance to go to paris came knocking my way. Also, Im guilty of buying wine on the plane ride to Paris. No regrets!!

When I finally arrived to Paris, I took the Paris subway to my hotel. I found a deal near the center of this beautiful city. It was about a five minute walk to the Eiffel tower from my room. Of course, you all should know that was the first thing I did.

After walking without a real purpose, I found that tower everybody goes crazy for. It was truly beautiful. Didn’t bother to go to the top because time was too valuable. Waiting in line, would waste precious sunlight.

Another shot of the Eiffel tower taken by Hugo Morel

Just decided to explore around the Eiffel tower. It’s was very interesting to see all the parks that are surrounding this landmark. You see people playing basketball and soccer.

An important looking building taken by Hugo Morel

Started walking around more and I found this building. It looked important, so I took a picture. Keep in mind, I wanted to follow the flow with this trip. The most important task, to me, was to see the Eiffel tower. That was done. So everything after, was just living in the moment. Sometimes it’s best to just enjoy your time in another country and relax. Going to point A to point B, just causes more unnecessary stress. What’s the point of living a life full of stress? It will only make you live shorter.

Taken by hugo morel

Eventually, stumbled onto this restaurant. I saw people drinking wine and that’s what attracted me. When in Paris, one must drink wine. Also, French steak is otherworldly!

It’s funny, a lot of people go to Paris to look for love. Me, I just wanted wine and to see the Eiffel Tower.

Thank you so much for reading! Much love and safe travels!

To start your own adventures, check out the link below.

Check out our latest e-book “How to Travel for Dirt Cheap” by Hugo Morel for ways to make your dreams of traveling come without breaking the bank: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07M848M47?ref_=pe_3052080_276849420&fbclid=IwAR0_mRF-eE9tODIshljVr7CQ8h6vKT6hHn_8gZfJ94DySY1ylPO2Itu2Qe0

March 30, 2019 31

A stroll by the Nile River: Why Travel makes you more human

As my days in Egypt were nearing, I could feel the long awaited departure. I will finally be able to come back and tell my love ones how beautiful Egypt is. However, I felt a sudden sadness.

Graffiti of a kid that died in the Egyptian revolution taken by hugo Morel

Reality hit me like a car going 80 mph hitting a brick wall. I would be leaving behind a country, I felt so spirituality connected to! I grew so much as a person here. Got over my negative views of muslims and became a more empathetic human being.

Two kids playing by the Nile River taken by Hugo Morel

Decided to walk by the Nile River to get my mind off things. Needed some me time. Had to reflect on all of my personal growth. Learning about the Islamic culture made me feel more human. For once, I didn’t feel like a robot. A robot that has been programmed to fear the different and unknown.

Another view of the Nile River Taken by hugo Morel

Walked up a few stairs to get a better view. I wanted to really absorb the moment. People were laughing and having fun. Enjoying what little they had, the benefits of living a simple life. A life away from the big cities in the USA. Where people complain about simple issues. Like, the Air conditioning is not working or someone on the internet doesn’t agree with them. We are so lost in capitalistic gains, we forget how lucky we are compared to the world.

As the sun was setting, I walked back down the stairs to be back, where the people were being people. If you ever went people watching, you will understand that last sentence. The sounds and the energies of moment were priceless.

Nile river with Cairo tower in the background taken by Hugo Morel

For the first time in a long time, I felt at peace. It was a feeling of being happy because I’m experiencing life to the fullest. Im not just some program who can’t think outside of the box. I am a traveler who has his own opinions. Opinions that are not formed by the media biases; but, through my life experiences. This is what means to be human. To be unique, not follow the crowd and to have empathy towards those who are different to you. Took me a flight halfway across the world to learn that.

Sometimes, it’s hard to believe that you are seeing in person, the place you read in history books. Funny how someone who never got good grades in history class, gets to experience the locations in person. Life is truly amazing.

Thank you so much for reading! Much love and safe travels!

To start your own adventures, check out the link below.

March 23, 2019 33

Inside Cairo’s Coptic community

Now, this is something not many tourists get to see. I’m truly excited to be sharing this with you all. Unfortunately, some of these sites and buildings have been destroy due to bombings. So, these are photos that are hard to come by.

Greek Orthodox church taken by Hugo Morel

The Coptic Christians are actually descents of the Greek settlers, since ancient times. They eventually mixed with the general population; however, they maintained their religion and culture. That’s why you see a lot of greek letters in the Coptic alphabet.

Another church in old Cairo taken by Hugo Morel

Walking around and you really feel a sense of community. Similar to most minority communities, there’s a sense of togetherness. Everybody knows everybody, or knows your family.

Taken by Hugo Morel

As we explored the churches, it was hard not to notice the diversity. You see muslims in the churches viewing where Jesus was believed to go in hiding. What my local friend told me, Jesus is actually an important figure in Islam. Also, a lot of Muslim Egyptians have relatives that are Coptic Christians. There’s really no “bad blood” between the Coptic Christians and the average Muslims. Unlike, how the media loves to portray it. Some of my Muslim friends I met in Egypt, celebrate Christmas with their Coptic friends.

The well where Jesus was believed to drink water from taken by Hugo Morel

Learning all this from locals, made it hard not to love this country even more. It’s so interesting seeing this in person. Everyday in Egypt, has made me grow into a better person. One of the more humbling experiences in my life.

Coptic priest and a follower taken by Hugo Morel

In the Coptic traditions, the priests should not shave their beards. It’s a sign of respect, showing the wisdom of Jesus. At first, I thought they were Muslim. Then, I saw the cross necklaces and I knew the beards must be a tradition.

This is why I love traveling! It truly opens your mind and helps you experience being in the moment.

A hidden hole where Jesus was believed to hide in when the Romans were looking for him taken by Hugo Morel

Sadly, some of these places have been destroyed due to terrorist groups. I learned this from my local friends. So much history lost, due to false teachings of hate. If we were to learn more about each other, there would be a lot less conflicts in this world. Hopefully with my posts, you will learn to love others different to you. Learn to accept and appreciate people’s differences. However small, that will be the first steps to world peace. Love always shine!

Thank you for reading. Much love and safe travels!

To start your own adventures, check out the link below.

March 16, 2019 11

Exploring old Cairo: the Coptic Christians and Egyptian Judaism

Now, when someone thinks of Egypt, they don’t really think about Christians or Jews. However, it’s time to change that. Let’s spread some light to cultures and societies that are often overlooked, when speaking about this beautiful African country.

A Stairway in old Cairo taken by Hugo Morel

Getting into old Cairo just takes a simple train ride. It’s about a 20 min ride from the main square in downtown. When my friend told me where we were going, I had no idea what to expect.

Coptic Christian getting a cross tattoo. Brought to you by google.

As we arrived, I noticed that there were several people getting tattoos. The narrow alleyways were filled with tattoo parlors. That’s something I didn’t expect in a somewhat conservative Middle Eastern country.

Coptic Christian tattoo brought to you by google

My local friend told me, that the Christians in Egypt get tattoos. Also, learned the meaning behind the cross tattoos. Many centuries ago, the Egyptian government did not accept Christians; nor, any other religion that was not Islam. Until this day, the national Egyptian Ids tell you what religion a person belongs to.

The coptic language alphabet brought to you by Google.

As a way to differentiate from the Arab conquerors, the Coptic Christians tattooed themselves. In modern times, they wear their tattoo with pride. Since, it shows they were in Egypt before the Arabs.

As I was later told by my Egyptian friends in the usa, the Coptic language is the direct descent of the ancient Egyptian language. The hyroglifics were eventually turned into the Coptic alphabet, as seen in the photo above. One of the few alphabets that are native to Africa. An once almost forgotten language, many activists fought to keep the language alive. Now, it’s the main language for the Coptic Christians. Crazy to think, at one point Coptic was once an official language of Egypt.

Sign pointing out the different houses of worship taken by Hugo Morel

The further up you go through the alleyways, you eventually get to this sign (as seen above). When I saw this, I was in complete disbelief. Never would I thought a synagogue would be in Egypt. Yet, it was there in front of my eyes! When I took this picture, I knew it will probably shock you all too.

A sign of the jewish community taken by Hugo Morel

Now, the Jewish community in Egypt is very interesting. Since the ancient times, the Jewish had a presence in this country. In more modern times, the Jewish community moved to Egypt from different parts of the Ottoman Empire. Majority were the Rabbanites Jews. Most later moving to Israel, once it became a Jewish state. Sadly, not much is left of this community. The population is at most in the 200’s. Here is a link, if you want to learn more about this topic.

Thank you for reading. Much love and safe travels!

Next week, we will be explore more of old Cairo!

To start your own adventures, check out the link below.

March 9, 2019 16

The history behind the Egyptian pyramids

So according to the locals, the pyramids were not created by the Hebrews that were enslaved. They actually believe it was the Nubians who built them.

Nubians brought to you by google

According to locals, Nubians are actually the indigenous Egyptians. Egypt has been invaded and conquered by almost all the nearby empires, ancient and recent. The average Egyptian has become a mixture of all these influences. I have met a few Nubians in Egypt. The Nubians, tend to look more like Sudanese. They have more darker features and skin color than the average Egyptian. From what I learned from the locals, Sudan is actually where the tradition of burrying the dead in pyramids started.

Map of Ancient Egypt brought to you by Google.

Map of sudan and Egypt being apart of ancient Egypt brought to you by google

As seen in the photos above, Sudan and Egypt were once one country. They eventually broke apart for political and culture differences.

Learning all this was so interesting to me. It’s similar to the native Americans in the USA. Many Nubians in Egypt tend to have thier own communities and customs. However, they play a part of the society and have been heavily influenced by arabization.

Nubian pyramids from the kush empire brought to you by google.

After doing some research on it, I found out that Sudan has more pyramids than Egypt. I know this sounds weird but, let me explain.

Now before ancient Egypt was at it’s full glory, there was an acient empire called Kush. The kush empire was along the Nile, as well. However, it was more south in what’s modern day Sudan. The Kush empire is home of the Nubians. Which are people of the Nubian desert. They had traditions of burrying their dead in pyramids. As seen in the picture above, these sites are the Nubian pyramids and have become a world heritage site.

A cover of a National Geographic magazine brought to you by google.

Eventually, the kush empire conquered Egypt. Which lead to 25 dynasties of having kushite kings as pharaohs. Although, I don’t agree with the title of the magazine as shown above, they did a good of covering this topic. Acient Egypt got it’s traditions of burrying thier dead in pyramids from the Nubians. Also, the pharaohs after the kushites were expelled were black too. They were just more mixed with the other conquerors.

Learning all this made truly made me interested in going back to Africa. It’s a continent with so much history. I truly wish there wasn’t so many issues with countries in Africa. Regardless, an African county should be on everybody’s bucket lists.

Hope one day to go Sudan, and show you all the Nubian pyramids.

Next week, will talk more about the Hebrew/jewish and other religious communities in modern day Egypt.

Thank you for reading. Much love and safe travels!

To start your own adventures, check out the link below.

March 2, 2019 20