Out of my routine

My daily routines will be completely messed up  during the next two weeks. There will no real writing to be expected on this site... 

Tourism in Central Asia

I have been in Kyrgyzstan for little bit more than a couple of days. I still need to get out of the capital and see a bit of the country side. It will be done later in the week. But for now, I am getting the impression that the tourism potential is enormous. The country and the region have very specific cultural traits. They could attract visitors from the EU. And, as an example of its originality, Kyrgyzstan just organised the International Nomad Games. For those who attended it was a magnificent experience. However, the event is not known in the European countries. No paper writes about it.

Tourism could also be a major employment generation activity for the youth. The country is not creating enough jobs and that´s a reason for discontent among the young people. It is actually one of the major issues. 

Back from India

I am just back from a journey through Rajasthan combined with a short visit to Delhi. This was my second trip to India. The first one took place in a different era, some nineteen years ago. Today´s India is a much better place, very dynamic and deeply optimistic about its future. Beyond that it remains a fascinating place. And it is certainly an extraordinary friendly place for people coming from my part of the world. 

All that makes a trip to India something bigger than just a tourist´s undertaking. If one looks at it with a deeper insight, it is in many ways a spiritual journey. And a learning one as well, as long as we want to keep our eyes open and see beyond the limits of our own prejudices. 

In Macau

I have been in Macau for a few days. And the more I know about this Special Administrative Region the more I appreciate its dynamism and charm.

Macau´s total area is certainly small but its business districts are pretty diverse and worth the walk. I also found a number of new “avant-garde” boutiques, including some with very creative pieces of art on display. They tell us that Macau is more than just a good number of extravagantly huge casinos.

Moreover, the University institutions are now very well established. They do attract quite a number of students from Mainland and beyond. 

After hours in Zaragosa

I took a long walk this evening. It was a pleasure to wander in the main avenues of Zaragoza, in Eastern Spain, and see so many locals just strolling around in a relaxed manner, enjoying the weather, the end of the day and the serenity of the place. Zaragoza is a large city but it keeps a strong human dimension and it is pretty affordable. That makes it, like many other cities in Spain, very attractive and relaxing. 

Brighter days

A sunny day gives a lot of colour to one´s environment. 

Riga is a good example

For the third time in a row, duty brings me to Riga during the last three weeks of September. And I should immediately add I am always delighted to be in this city. It is a pretty place, very well kept, with many parks, flowers and promenades, little or no traffic in the heart of it, and an atmosphere of peace, calmness, good manners and strong optimism.

I think people from other European cities should be brought here to learn a lesson or two. For instance, as we are about to have municipal elections in Portugal, at the end of the month, it would be good for the Portuguese to have some of their key mayoral candidates to come first to Riga and get some inspiration. Lisbon, Porto and other Portuguese places are beautiful spots with uninspired managers in charge.  

French countryside and the taxes on historical houses

The countryside between Tours and Poitiers has some of most interesting castles and manors we find in France. Many of them have been preserved through generations and kept some kind of historical interest, in addition to the beauty of the architecture and gracefully tailored landscape.

As we travel now through the region we can see that quite a number of them have now been put on the market. The rural history is on sale.

I have wondered why. And I came to realise the families are afraid of the new taxes to come. They are also very heavily punished by the existing property taxes, including the tax on wealth. So, they play safe and try to sell the most expensive properties as soon as possible.

But there are very few buyers. I am told that some of the very few are from China…

Soon or later all this will have an impact of historical properties. 

Rio de Janeiro is now a safer place

Rio de Janeiro is today a much safer place than in the past. The city and state authorities have invested heavily of public security: police is pretty visible in key areas of Rio, the favelas have gone through a “pacification” programme that has shown results, informal means of transportation such as those known as “vans” are better monitored and gang leaders have been either arrested or killed in police operations and others have migrated to other cities. The subway system is also better controlled, including during the rush hours, when the practice of “Women only” carriages is implement with a great degree of success. One feels more tranquil when walking the streets or taking public transportation.

Outside Rio, in many other states, security remains a serious issue.  

In small towns, close to beaches and resorts patronised by the very rich, the police seems to be very “responsive” to the needs of the millionaires. Unorthodox ways are used to make sure that law and order is undisturbed. Local rogues learn very quickly that they better move fast to large urban centres, such as Sao Paulo. Slow learners might not get a second chance…

In New York City

After a very long trek, I am today in the city that never sleeps but where the economy is a little under stress, not sleepy, it is true, but not so vibrant.

Many people on the streets, more than ever, one gets the impression, but that is certainly just a feeling, but less shoppers in the big stores. It is quieter there than in the streets. That's more than an impression, I am afraid...

Also, today is the second day after the demise of Lehman Brothers, and the status of the economy is present in many minds. So much so, that the President decided to cancel a statement on the crisis he was scheduled to make...It is worrisome...

But New York remains a city for the young.