Europe 2021/22 . emotions in time of COVID

 Nov. 17th. 2021

Landed in Paris.. went to Versailles.. my little place is very little . yet has what I need to live and work.
Simo did great job . very practical.

Little I knew how is it going to be .. in the time of Covid, all possible event might happen .. didn't know if I am going to see anybody or go anywhere .. so far. nothing was certain.

Meeting friends from SG was great . Elise came all the way from Nante.

Nov. 25th.

On my way to brussels I had to change train in Lille .. didn't know that I have to change station .. 
Looking at the signs trying to figure out where my next train is.. 
"Are you looking for Europe Station?? follow me" . She said!!
That was Noellie. 27 years and pretty.
"Not only nice but intelligent .. you figured out what I am looking for" I said.

The rest is coffee and very nice conversation for the next 45 min .. 

Marah was waiting for me at MIDI station.. I stayed with her.
Saw Mouna, Mazen, Nathalie and Nissan.. Met Talar and her husband ..  went to Sawsan for lunch and saw her kids .. they are 18 and 22 .. no more the kids I had pictures with in Aleppo.
Brussels was very special .. I had all kinds of mixed emotions on very high voltage .. didn't want to leave and want to go back. 

Olga did piss me off though .. confirmed that she is stupid. well I don't think I should care .. maybe I still do ....  but whatever .. 

Dec. 2nd.

St. Etienne. 
Zana and Yasser picked me up at the station. they were overjoyed, and so was I.
I don't feel strange when I am with them. Souha was always sweet and mild. all our history (40 years and counting) I was her best friend and as she says: the best of people she knew. 
Grigory is exceptional personality .. he was THE FLIPP of her luck in life. 
All the time in St. Etienne was about just feeling exceptionally great. 

Dec. 5th.

Geneva.
Tania was there expecting me at the station .. Afamia was faster in jumping to hug me. saw the (WTF) look at tania's face . she knew we are going out to dinner with "a" friend . well .. from there everything was OK. 
Afamia is one of the top 5 from the most exceptional people I knew. I was worried about her big time. she was through exceptional hardships in the last few years.. hesitant to contact her earlier fearing bad news I can no more take. the relive to know that all is over and things are looking good for her was more than I could expect. 
Tania is Tania .. same old pretty adorable Tania ..  nothing changed.
Once again emotions are very high on both ends.. 
Every bit of what happen there was worth the whole trip. 

Dec. 7th.

Coburg.
Short break in Munich.. the lovely Olga came all the way from Traunstein. 

Chaos at Najdat's place.. moving times.. packing .. preparing . internet issues . the new place is very very nice. 
He is unhappy for few reasons .. mainly his father's health issue.. I guess he will pull through. I will be on his side no matter what ..

Short trip to Meiningen.. Virgil is always virgil .. 

 Dec. 20th

Munich and Valley.
Shalwa and Khatia were the best part of the visit. they are doing good. willing to work hard is all what it takes to have good life in the advanced world.

Annette took all masks off. She was honest for the first time ever.. believing in metaphysics and other shit and DOESN'T WANT TO KNOW . anger toward a world not aware of ,and moving on without, her. Playing the (wrong) victim's role. Still like her very much though.. 
To me it was the most interesting visit of all times. (she might have played the role of anti-helmi just to piss me off.. she failed..)

If believe moves mountains, then how come  strong "believers" happen to be the most useless ? 

Dec. 28th.

Berlin.
Ziad, Yasser, Athil .. as joyful as ever.. had always enjoyed the time with them.. 

Ahmad and Housein (and other friends of Najdat) .... were very respectful . very nice and very funny. I got to know them better .. simple people , honest and hopeful .. hope they will do well in the future. 

Jan. 7th. 2022

Vienna

Worth the hassle of the trip for the short period .. 

Duenas family are all adorable .. charming . Maria is going to be the future star of violin. she has all what it takes .. 

the concert was good .. despite the fact that I don't like the piece .. but it was very well done by everybody.

The receptionist at the hotel was extremely nice and had nice conversation with her. all was nice and very short. Samih is as ever .. an old "boy" from high school in Aleppo.

Jan 20th:

Brussels (take 2).
Mouna and Marah were at the train station.. from there everything was about talking and working. 

I had to take a photo in this place .. it is about: 1927 .. 

An Anti vax/mandate demonstration took place the 23rd. I was having lunch and on my way to the train station. Sawsan and Amal showed up .. they didn't know I was back .. 

Well.. now back home .. I did what I could .. and did it my way ..