" How I became Flamenca "

It was 4years ago that I left my position as a hairstylist in a high end salon in Las Vegas Nv. in the U.S. I quit the job where I made very good money for my age. The reason was because when I reached this position I thought I wanted, I realized it wasn't what I wanted at all.

My dream had always  been traveling for music emersed as an artist and the plan as hairstylist was so that my energy would not be waisted on a job I hated as it touched aspects of art. While I attempted to work this life style, my passions suffered. In the end this job took all my time and energy spending serving others . This might of been good enough expectations for others for a secure successful life, having a good position and good money, but I had other aspirations. All my time and creativity  waisted on what I felt like was only making money to survive in this crazy city.

I did not write or compose songs or even had time to practice music and sing Anymore. I didn't understand why I felt blocked but I knew there was more I wanted from my life than this money security thing. I reflected  at what my life looked like and it seemed I was living in a house paying rent in a city that had no authentic culture...
 roots, or not inspired by this commercial plastic modern society.. I yearned for something alive in culture ,magic ,ancient, music with a mysterious history. It was a place where I didnt feel passionate fire and couldn't get my own out.
So .... I left ,first traveled in USA then To central america working as free spirit but soon ide end up circling Europe and making a home in Andalusia ,Spain.

Flamenco called me all my life as my mexican mother and her sisters fantasized about Spain because my grandmother born in mexico was daughter of a Basko immigrant s (which I found out later about Basca culture from her last name) Abuela Iraxeta.

 At this time I was searching for a music with spirit, passion and fire that I could connect with emotionally and out of everything I listened to Flamenco touched me deep. As I researched more flamenco and investigated I was intrigued by its history... band by the dictatorship,  sang by the gypsies /Gitanos influenced by Arabs and the indegenous of Mexuco who copied the Spaniards instruments during colonial times.

 It was said the arab slaves who built the Alhambra palace thousand years ago invented flamenco to pass through the suffering and oppressed times.It roared melancholy and beauty and so much technique, the greatest of guitarist, singers, clappers with castanuelas and avanicos and dancers .I remember my heart pulse raising and tears running down my eyes sometimes listening as I could feel the ache in there voices and feel so emotion by the guitars, even just by the hand claps. It was this time I decided I will go to spain!  I had already trained my voice and worked with bands from reggae, ska, blues, cumbia and experimented with mariachi but I needed to enter in this world Of flamenco.
" One day soon I will go to Spain and study the world of  flamenco"I  promised myself.  I will enter at least one foot in the door of the duendes , the musical magical energy behind what this culture is.

Today I have been studying for about 6years on and off  , the initial to flamenco dance with an amazing teacher who is a full Flamenca and mother of two with 15years under her belt.  

When I arrived to Granada called by the caves after Barcelona and a circle around other european countries,  It gave me a home almost too easy, as if It was waiting for me.

 Granada is famous for the thousand year old caves were the arab slaves supposedly lived while they built this Alhambra palace. where Christopher Columbus left from to conquer latin America. Its funny but I have to mention the caves as they go hand in hand with the inventors of the music and culture of Flamenco the Arab slaves and the unwanted Gitanos (gypsies) still very present there today.  There is mysticism behind the caves as well as  Old mysterious musical energy from  the past musicians that stopped through and lived in these same caves. Its natural under earth rock figures today covered by white cement to sustain them.
 Many were handed down by other Gitanos staying with in families turned into vacation homes to rent out, fixed into beautiful homes.  The other caves, about 20years ago were recently reoccupied after being buried for a long time... many Anarchist decided to dig them up, fix and live in them again.  I passed lots of my time through the caves all which had  the best views of all Granada on the top of Sacro monte known for its beautiful green hills and the Sierra Nevada view. Sacro monte means sacred mountain and some of the caves were creations of art hand made with time and sweat. So much was breath taking, just a walk away I could be in nature and get lost in it.

Its funny to me that I also once lived in Nevada near a Sierra Nevada in Las vegas, at that time I didn't know anything about caves in Granada.  I talk about the caves because I believe they had much to do with the magic of this place and the energy that once was created there, a vortex into the past. I first paid for a beautiful cave house 150e a month cheap enough for me to survive working my crafts and music on the streets,  But since it was so small the old town were everyone else worked selling crafts it was a challenge and difficult.  I wanted to work music anyway but so many many other talented musicians came to Granada to learn and work as well.

The game of street performance and selling crafts here was no joke if you wanted to make it here you had to raise the level or at least show great heart. I had luck and kept connecting with musicians and occasionally selling. My Sacro monte cave was a touristic spectacle so I took advantage and sold outside my door.. I read tarot and cut hair as well. There was a high population of young single spiritual dancing women and this helped me much connect with a strong feminine energy that became a sister hood and healing for me. 

I saw that the dance alone was a dedication of many years, I decided to live here for a while to at least learn as much as I could ...so my other plans went out the door of traveling else, Granada is were I wanted to be for now. In spring of 2014 there were many great people passing through from musicians to artisans(artist) all the street performers jugglers etc. basically all met each other in the old town inside of a city. When I started working with a bolero musician I was acknowledged for my singing and we practiced songs from my childhood I already knew ...bolero  is traditional cuban music like "besame mucho" and some mariachi traditional  themes and colombian cumbias ... He was a great experienced street musician from Guatemala actually and his familiarity made me feel at home... Anyway I was respected and pushed as well to sing more and to believe in myself, people wanted song lessons from me when they learned I trained my vocals once. I was asked to sing for arabic tribal women's project but practicing music and flamenco dances well as my money making ways left me almost no time for more compromises. I was being celebrated and challenged and almost everyday there was a jam an opportunity to practice dance, sing and so much music. 

Soon I had a team with some of the other street musicians, an italian flamenco guitarist, two classical guitarist, and Argentinian musician and since they were much better at there instruments than me I learned and played percussion and was there singer. They truly helped me experiment with my voice and practice rhythm, which was an honor and  in the caves of course of san Miguel alto, the occupied caves mostly with no water no electricity and by candle light but  with this mystical presence. I must say in some jams With Agua ardiente I experienced fe nominal esoteric experiences, like visions of a Flamenca  and her dress and her pain performing with her energy passing through my body  in my trance. Flamenca voice and lyrics had come out of my mouth dropping the jaws of my musician friends with no memory of my own about what had come out of my own mouth," This is what the duende is"  they said .  I have not became a professional Flamenco because it takes years and serious dedication and practice everyday to make your feet into an instrument, but there is an energy and an experience that got transmitted  through living there and watching other flamencas dance, listening to them as you pass by there caves... "punta tacon punta tacon punta tacon.....123-456-78910-123.... With the labyrinth of the old town of Albayzin hearing guitarist and singers practice and there music echoing through the small streets. Echoes of the drums from the top of the hill by the African Byfal  community( rastafari, muslim culture) some who were great amazing spiritual sharing intelligent people, I must mention! From the echoes of the great Flamenco shows coming from the Alhambra palace , with the great view of the cave...I think we had the best seats! I was applauded by hundreds of people once after singing in the plaza were many greats passed through like the late flamenco musician "Paco de Lucia" who passed away in cancun and was brought over to Spain when I first arrived there, my little brother Jay, guitarist and flamenco fan introduced me to him back when I dreamt about Spain.

After July I left to Portugal to work festivals but knowing I wasn't quite finished with this place I came back in November for more and this time I was dedicating myself to guitar theory, oriental dance and flamenco...I did it like a samurai !  I was given a cave high up in Sacro monte to care for still close to old town and with lovely wooden floors clean but with  no water... I had to carry it up from the fountain and there was no electricity also but  I liked the hard work and the Candle light is so romantic inside the caves at night, oh and the beautiful forest and birds singing to me in the mornings. I later lived with a wonderful older  women next to the Byfals and there drums and spiritual gatherings. Her name was Irit the Israeli anarchist fighting for humanity... Or I should say the humanitarian living like an anarchist...super women who gave me a home from lonely December till March . I woke up mornings with Irit calling my name "Enjoly you can make it to your class lets make a smoothie" , running from the top of these caves through the labyrinth into the plaza were I could hear the tapping of the heels begin. Every time I left Carmen de Miguels classes I felt a purpose, I felt proud of myself and powerful. She had this strong female presence and energy with attitude of strong women... A single mother and always fantastically dressed to kill with a body 20years younger than her age.  I wanted an  important teacher to connect and help me realize the energy of these music. Of course it was hard to wake up early 4times a week . It was a challenge to get there and to practice what we learned. I now was used to practicing my guitar, singing clapping and tapping everyday with the musicians and self motivation. 

Finally I received the pleasure of  living in a secluded and most beautiful cave in Val Paraiso because of a handsome flamenco guitarist who allowed me to experiment and connect with his playing and my voice. The cave was behind Sacro monte hill hidden like a fairytale( vall paraiso is the nicest views of the caves)  ... I felt like a real little witch. It was enchanting with a little road and stone staircases and beautiful  windows through out (many caves had no windows and some were truly holes in the earth) It had been a great home always making me feel like I lived in an older time.  In May I started to feel that feeling I get when there is a pushing energy to move .  After all I just wanted the influence I never imagined I would even take more than one week of flamenco let alone 8months... I am Grateful to have taken advantage of the inexpensive life and classes I completely drowned in arts.  Other music worlds are calling me now and since I am clan destined staying way over my allowed time in Europe, I decided its time to move on but I know this will always be a home for me. Its not the first time I accomplish something I said I would do, however this experience I will never forget.  I didn't just step inside the door I experienced hundreds of performances learned of the history and felt my spine shiver from the amazing singers who sang till there throats bled or the guitarist who played till there fingers bled . I Hung out in gypsies barrios listening to 10year old gypsies play like masters and fell asleep to the echoes of guitars and african drums. I walked nights through the walk ways listening to singers practice through there antique windows. Getting lost through the hand placed stones in front of a carmen( a ancient old hacienda style house)  with the history of what famous poet once lived and died there... Rich in culture and passion for sure! 

My friend later saw me after a year of not seeing him from the first time I arrived to Granada and he said to me "Enjoly you have become a full flamenca..an hechicera (witch) bruja " (must remind you about the spanish inquisition how withes were burned here by the catholic church).  The attitude of a warrior women who defeated the victimhood by following her dreams and dancing and living with her heart and this special spirit, dreaming and singing with fire passion ....that is a Flamenca!  Granada helped me become a better dancer, singer/musician I got out the fire and passion inside me I was looking for and here I became a  strong fierce real Woman....A Flamenca for Life! 

Thank you for reading 

Enjoly Mar

"Cabaret, Human addiction, and the bum lady "

My friend attending circus school invited me and a new girl friend , will call her Risa to his circus schools' cabaret show the night we had returned from a week in Murcia. While waiting for it to begin there was a bum lady or addict, I wasn't really sure what was wrong but she was begging for money with one missing shoe. She came over to me while I was, for the moment distracted with thoughts, she interrupted me to ask for one euro for the taxi because someone stole her shoe and all her money. I didn't see her as a bum at first I saw a normal person and didn't quite hear what she said. I asked if she could repeat herself and then looked at her shoe and didn't know what to think but it didn't quite make sense to me, so I asked her if she needed help and touched her hand. I was serious but she looked away from my eyes and walked towards someone else. Now I watched this lady beg others for money and tell her victim story of being robbed and proving it with her missing shoe. Sometimes she stood there starring at the wall sometimes smoking a cigarette and sometimes begging. I watched people waiting for the  cabaret who made fun of her, while some ignored her and others gave her money but with a bit of disgust. I thought in my mind this women could be an addict, but I didn't quite see an addict or a crazy I saw a mentally sick women from society and possibly deprived of love, but not crazy.  In this moment she begs a gypsy women who then looks at her in the eyes and gives her a kiss and a hug, this for me was amazing and I was so happy to see that someone else understands she just needs love. Then she begs off one of the clowns from the circus who hands her a flower and invites her in to the cabaret. I was so happy they invited her and truly felt in this moment hope and that there is still loving good people everywhere after watching others laugh and judge her.

Meanwhile my friend Risa was not doing ok watching her and she was very much in her head bothered by something. It was almost like she could not handle watching the lady beg and  I saw guilt in my friend Risas eyes and I understood a little why, but continued to only observed. Well... the cabaret began and we went inside to find our seats. When everyone sat down the bum lady walked in and out loud affirmed to the audience that she was invited ...everyone was aware of her presence and the show began.  

The cabaret was about human addiction and it began with barbarians discovering fire and the pleasure they got obsessing over watching the fire start. They would turn the fire out just to watch it turn on again just for the pleasure it made them feel.  The next act was about times in old Rome and the men beginning to gamble off gladiators or what ever and the drunk getting too drunk enjoying his new found obsession for the pleasure that the wine or fermented grapes made him feel.  The third act was about a person today who has absolutely no addictions and no vice of substance but instead resulting in a person with odd uncontrollable nervous reactions.... This was very interesting to me, to realize that they were interpreting human addiction as a way to feel pleasure to express or release energy caused from the nervous system..to feel and if you did not release this in one form or another it would come out and maybe into uncontrollable fucking weird habits. There were other acts like weird sexual fetishes mixed with feeling a pineapple while smelling feet.  The last was a man in a crazy hospital trying to write poetry but being distracted by a fly. He became so obsessed with trying to kill the fly until this obsession causes the result of his own death.

  The cabaret left me in awe and completely stimulated in my mind when the violins started playing the bum lady starts to make a ridicule and be such a distraction to the entire audience that they kick her out, but in the most humiliating manner... None of the audience stood up for her, I finally realized it was an act and my friend from the cabaret confirmed it to me a bit before they kicked her out. The bum lady was an actor and only a character part of the cabaret. In the end some people in the audience felt ashamed and apologized to her, she came up to me and told me thank you and said that I would be surprised how many people are disgusted before trying to be helpful! It was all profound this whole cabaret experience for me especially what I realized about my friend Risa who was having her own realizations, but that is a whole other story and if you would like to find out ...you can read my article on Risa's story that I call 

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" Granada, brujas and sphytzophrenia"  coming soon 

Se la vi- enjoly mar

A pakistani experience in Paris

Ater one amazing week experiencing the upscale, beautiful, touristic area in the center of Paris, With two amazing girlfriends. I planned a ride share to go to Spain to visit friends in Barcelona.  I Was on my way a little rushed to meet the ride but I made it in time thanks to my artistic new friend and new illustrator for my comic, whom I met on the ride from Berlin to Paris.  The driver was a Spaniard who spoke Catalan, spanish and french . The other two passengers were pakistanis who spoke their language of urdu, understood very  little English, spanish and the third guy only spoke arabic. At first the three from the middle east did not even look at me but the vibe was comfortable. After an hour of driving a little outside of Paris the car broke down. The driver knew what the problem was and went to check at a shop to find a part. They returned to let us know that the car could not be fixed until the next day so what to do? The driver said he would fix the car in the morning and we could go then ...so they took us to the train to catch a ride back into Paris. While in the train the pakistani asked me if I had a place to go, I could have just rode all the way back to paris carrying my backpack and hunted for an internet place to try and contact one of my three friends in Paris to stay with. After laughing so hard at how funny it was trying to communicate with the guy who only spoke arabic I saw kindness in there eyes,  felt safe and comfortable so I accepted their invitation to stay in there home to get a ride together the next day easier. Mind you still very conscious and aware in not completely trusting strangers. I never blindly trust anyone I observe and choose very carefully . Sometimes theres just a decision that just feels right, intuition.

They took me to a village close to where we were and as I walked with them through this town I realized we were not in Kansas

 

as anymore, this was the part of Paris people don't see, this is were the poor people lived. Majority were the black french and pakistan people or middle eastern and the streets were dirty and there were what seemed like gangs hanging out on street corners. This was the ghetto of France, this was were they warned me to watch my stuff and were prostitutes walked the streets. I thought "of course I wasn't going to leave paris  having only seen one part of it" of-course I wasn't only going to experience the nice and touristic wealthy areas.. Of course I was going to have a broad view and realistic experience of what France is really like.  As we walked with the pakistanis, they told me how they thought Paris was shit as far as the people and although the communication was being lost in translation as they spoke very little spanish and hardly any english I still understood very well what they were trying to communicate. They explained to me how they felt the people in Paris were sick in the eyes because of the unbalance of such wealth and poverty. The village they lived in was an a very quiet old historical neighborhood, it was cleaner, nicer and safe ...an obvious Muslim and family community, but it was still the poor rural area like in many capitalist countries class/race/status/refuges/illegal immigrants are separated. I entered the room and they enthusiastically introduced me to  their brothers and cousins. Asalalmalekum!

There were about 6of them living in one flat all ranging from the age of 22-33 and one of them was an uncle who was much older. They welcomed me and  demanded I drank my hot milk they were also very concerned if I was hungry and comfortable. I had notions of these people because of all I had herd or my experience with some in the Usa, but I allowed to erase all judgement and really try to connect. Throughout the night when we were making our way to there home the two men had carried my heavy bags and never allowed me to carry them myself , when we went to eat they refused for me to pay and every time I entered through a doorway they expected me to walk first. They were showing much respect, when I arrived to there home they gave me the best seat in the house and asked if I needed to call anyone or family. They began to try to communicate questions, one of the brothers actually spoke and understood very well english so now it was easier to connect with them. Although I really wanted to make it to my friends show in Barcelona that night I did not at all look at this as an unfortunate event, instead I looked at it as an opportunity and chance to understand this culture. I was living in a muslim area in Berlin but could not connect with them at all there so this situation made perfect sense to me. 

I explained to them how I was traveling with music and writing and soon told them about the subjects I had in mind writing about. One of them happen to be  about the pakistani culture and muslim religion. One of them asked me what it was I believed and to be honest... so I was. How I had lived in the Usa and the people were made to believe  terrorist come from the middle east. I also stated how I also understood that women were treated with no rights and freedom. So the conversation began, but I started to understand that this was just not true. however they did explain that there are dogmatic people  just like in all other religions and Half of the women do arranged marriages and the other half do not. Half of the women change and the other half choose not too. These guys also explained to me how as much as they hated france they were here simply just to work for there families back home. They would love to travel but they felt a responsibility to their families. I herd very noble and humble comments from them. Later a friend of theres came over who was from the Dominican republic and this guy only spoke spanish and french some how without speaking the same language he loved these guys and we all had good time. Trying to communicate, sharing music and pictures of there families, actually I laughed all night. I am always reminded by my experiences that again I should never listen to the opinions of others and again was made aware how ignorant the media and gossip can make people. Instead of judging them for their religion.  I understood their beliefs and found a new respect for their culture. These young guys understood that humans are humans some try to be good and some are not or do not learn. I could see their hearts and eyes were good and treated me with the upmost respect.

My story does not end here, the next day we went on a mission to figure out this car situation and possibly find another form of getting to Barcelona . I was taken to other homes in this area friends of one of the guys who rode with me in the car, I guess for internet.  I wasn't really sure what it was that we were doing but I went along with the tour around this area. We took a bus a metro and another bus and walked the streets in the center of this town. As I observed I saw dirty streets and trash on the floors inside restaurants, the people would stack themselves in the buses until no one could fit. Reminded me a little of Guatemala, but with newer buses. This was the ghetto for sure and honestly not a good feeling. However I use the word ghetto But I do not mean bad, these people were the oppressed of France possibly refuges and illegal immigrants who came in search of a work. They were allowed by the gov. To stay as the slave wagers of This country. Unlike in the middle of Paris the people walked in a hurry unaware and inconsiderate of others yet in this area the people were very aware of each other and even helped each other, they held the gates in to the metro so not to pay. They walked not such in a hurry but calmly and although I was made aware to be more protective over my stuff as here your more likely to get robbed, I still saw good people and struggling people and people who were considerate and looked me in the eyes. Maybe not so happy but they seemed more in the moment, actually conscious polite, more aware then Paris. 

This is the part of the story were I complicate things. I was in the wealthy area of Paris staying with an old friend I went to school with in Las Vegas years ago. Our school was in the ghetto of latin neighborhood of Las vegas and many of our friends became victims of a drug addicted life , yet my friend, like I got out of there. My friend today is living a standard of life she has purposely created for herself. She is actually living her dream and today is working on the release of her first issue for her magazine. The Sernafengshui magazine which is actually using fun aspects of fashion, travel, art, and fengshui method of how to achieve your biggest dreams, as she did. It has to do all with the power of the mind and laws of attraction through fengshui ideals.  I feel reconnecting with her and being reminded of this information was a big reason I felt compelled to visit Paris.

 Now Back to the oppressed africans and  pakistanis in this lower income area. I no longer was thinking they were victims only people who lacked knowledge about rising above. Some without the knowledge rise above their situation and search for more and some simply do not. Some get handed or come across this information and still do not rise to a higher consciousness and become masters of their reality. Some muslims are dogmatic and some are not just like the women who change and some do not. Some people are good and some are bad, some people have other selfish intentions and some are actually kind out of the goodness of their heart.  I was tired and a bit frustrated that I did not figure out the situation about my ride yet and was beginning to accept that my last option was to hitchhike because I did not have enough for the train, and there were no blabla cars until Wed.  When I arrived to the House we were staying, there were now about 15 pakistani brothers hanging out and I think they were invited to meet me as they herd I was going to write about my experience with them.  I obviously was putting out this feeling of worry about my ride because one of the Pakistanis named Abdul asked if I was ok? 

 I simply explained that I wanted to go to Barcelona and did not accomplish anything today. Abdul asked why I didn't take the train, but I explained how I did not have so much money. They all begun to discuss and I really wasn't aware all of the men in the room were discussing my situation. Abdul then offers to pay for my ticket for the train, I didn't feel right about it but he insisted and said They would look for times tomorrow if possible I would go then if  not the next day. So now ...I could relax, stop worrying,enjoy my time and insist I play my guitar for them . 

So I did... they gave me a seat and handed  me my guitar. I sang for them a mariachi, the perhaps cover and one of my own, which is an empowerment song about freedom and freewill. They all watched interested, clapped, recorded and took pictures. I actually let out emotions and In this moment I could feel the energy of the room as it was intense. When I finished they applauded me, praised me, let me know how much they appreciated me sharing and then handed me 160e. and said " now you can buy your own ticket for the train you earned  it!" It was amazing this moment I almost broke out in tears I could not believe it I felt wonderful.  Before the night ended two of the friends invited me for lunch tomorrow and the others explained the plan about how one would go get ticket and if possible after lunch I would go if not I would leave on monday not to worry. So the next morning the guy who brought me to the house asked for the money that was given to me to go buy the ticket. Now I was a little comprehensive about this guy and wasn't sure if I even wanted to travel with him, but since he was takin action I gave him the money. I slept more until noon when the other brothers woke me to go eat at the house we were invited to. We walked through the cute village and they bought me a coffee and then we arrived to the a great little cottage house they lived in. The men were busy preparing and cooking I also met more of there pakistani friends. I was informed the lunch was being made in my honor, I was truly great-full and now was completely in the moment not worried about leaving today because I was enjoying these people and how wonderful they were treating me. Only after a half hour of being there in the middle of them preparing the food the one who went to get tickets called and said that he bought the ticket for 2pm and I needed to hurry and make my way, but all the others explained it was not possible and he should change ticket as it was almost 1pm already. He refused and told me the only time was 2pm and insisted on going so I left with a brother who accompanied me rushing. Before I left many said to me this is not right they woke up early to make food in your honor, it is not right.. They were all so disappointed and I was also disappointed to go in this way. We rushed with my bags to catch the train but were 20min too late, and this guy was angry that we did not hurry in the end he had to pay 30more euros to change ticket for tomorrow. We returned to the village and returned to the lunch but the chefs were not there anymore, the food was delicious and I felt disappointed that I even agreed to leave in the first place. 

Now this guy bought the ticket for 7am, which everyone was not happy with and thought that he might of bought the ticket for 2pm Just so I go away from the rest to be alone with him. I decided I would not go with this guy, who i met in the original ride, to Barcelona as his motives were becoming clear. In this moment he calls Abdul and demands me to go back home so we could go the another house that would be closer to station but I tell him no, then he sends one of the young guys to get me and so I go back only to tell him face to face I would not go with him alone somewhere else. When I arrive it was a big situation This guy was convinced I belonged to him since he brought me to meet his friends. I dont know what they were saying, but they were all arguing about this situation.  I simply told him I would not go with him, The rest of the family let me know their was no problem and told him it was my choice they did not want me to worry and wanted me to feel ok and safe about making my own decision so I went back to the bar. 

I had great conversations with this Abdul character and he really was a sweetheart in love with me, but very respectful.. He wanted to make it clear that not everyone is the same and how some men try to buy sex and others actually care about your heart. Abduls only passion was to do good for his family which was very important to him and to all of them.  In the morning Abdul and Adenan made it there responsibility to get me to my train for the 2pm instead ,we made it but when we arrived the lady at checking said it was non refundable and I would have to pay another 170e for a new ticket because I missed the 7am... Ridiculous this was, we went to the train anyway. They told me to wait, just get on anyway and if asked by checking play dumb so I said my goodbye and jumped on the train. I am now writing this on the train, the clerk checked my ticket and everything worked out. 

I don't know if the Pakistani family will read this but I hope they know how much I appreciate everything they did for me. My experience with them was good in the end and actually very special, although one man had ulterior motives, I met about 30 of these Pakistani mostly Muslim and they were all respectful and very kind. I will no longer ever judge people by there religion especially one I do not understand and know very little about. Also I am aware they might of judged me but after explaining about myself and waiting to show my tattoos, despite my hair,  they liked me as a person and women as different from their culture as I was. I know its not just luck and truly believe my grandfathers are always with me, I am also aware they might of treated me so kind because they believed I was beautiful maybe even more because I shared my music. However this was a community of friends pretty much only all men and the biggest reason I believe they were so affected by me is because of my loving female energy and open heart. I remind all women the healing nurturing women and how it is truly a special powerful thing.  These guys were Definitely in need of feminine energy, they missed their wives, daughters, sisters and mothers, separated for their duty to the entire family. Borders, make it not possible for them to see their families in years and although they are fine with their tribe of men... I understand why they are sometimes taken by their deprivation of women.  To believe in stereo types perpetuates them and solves nothing, to not believe in them and prove them wrong is evolution. 

many profound lessons were shown to me from this pakistani story in Paris I am grateful I got to connect with these new friends. They were truly beautiful people and I am thankful for the experience. Asalamalikum

-Gitana galactica

Enjoly

A Berlin experience

 

When I first arrived to Europe I came to Berlin to meet friends before heading to the festival tour around Europe.  I only saw few days of the city walking the friedrichstrein area and hanging out in Gorlitzer park. I left for the roller coaster of adventures around Europe for the trance festivals and ended up in Rome with great italian friends. I decided that my destination was france to try to find grape work for the season. After our ride share half way up stuck in cold Munich while trying to hitchhike france it just didn't seem quiet possible and we were not going to camp in the cold one more night. so when a ride to Berlin was offered we took it! The wind brought me back to Berlin, I had already been I was a little bit frustrated to be back. Although I then realized that from my previous central america and festival connections, I had many friends from Berlin. I re-experienced the city again realizing that one week had not been enough and this time I was being embraced. There was a smell in the air of a certain feeling and a magical feeling. 

 I first ran into a friend from mexico living in berlin now 1 year who was making a living as a street juggler on a giraffe, which is the tall 5ft unicycle. He left me crash in his place and informed me of locations i could busk music and markets I could sell my crafts in. The streets were filled with serious street musicians that the wind brought to this city aswell. I experienced the first flea market "maurer park" full of international tourist and a very busy market it was. For only 8e i was allowed to have a stand to sell my hand made crafts of feather work. In October the weather still nice with fall approaching so everyone was out and happy to experience the life outside at this market/festival.  Supporting the musicians playing with bongos and guitars, accordions and dijeridos  who had connected in berlin from all over the world. gorlitzer park was another meeting area of all the young people were music was performed outside and the african refuges made there mark selling herb from down south to the german visitors. I encountered the turkish neighborhoods with there culture i had never experienced half muslim women in there robes and in black, as well as anarchist neighborhoods full of squats and art community centers from the occupy movement. I also met real feminist activist in there own movement who were working on actual projects to help women with women's rights in 3rd world countries and unjust culture treatment against women in dogmatic religious countries. Was informed also  of the neo-natzi  neighborhoods and some of the cruel acts they had done towards african refuges occupying there own communities who were being protected by actual active anarchist. 

I lived in freidrichstrein which was near boxhagana platz.. A area near the old wall of berlin now full of graffiti and the main art culture center of  Berlin. 

There is swing clubs meaning actual swing, bebop 50s scene and tango everywere. There are also circus workshops for all your magic, juggling, acrobatic, poi interest and performance arts. This was the area I encountered my own art workshop squat that my friends invited me to. All art supplies necessary were provided whatever it was i wanted to create. From screen printing, materials, to sowing machine, paint, epoxy, tools, and canvas, and leftover crap waiting to be recycled into art, and ofcourse musical instruments...  Etc. Every time I left my home I had an adventure, especially selling in the markets were I always met someone  new and seemed even more easier than any city i had ever experienced. 

 One day I  connected finally with a german punk rocker who was eager to show me this scene here, he organized a show for me for the punk scene Of Berlin. The punks in Germany enjoyed many genres of music including techno/electronic music which i was surprised to be exposed to within this group. The german punks as much as familiar it still was the german character still imprinted them of there respectful and assertive, organized proactive cultural movement. 

Berlin was embracing me from the German family I met while in mexico to the Italians with there pizza shop i met in the german festivals ...to the latins of south america who fell in love with this city. The latin americans had there own hangout called the escalera and was also family community who welcomed me with open arms most artisans selling with me in markets informing and supporting me...one day they also hosted a private show for me and my songs! 

I felt that in two month I have made a home, I had never been welcomed to a new city by its residents, magical energy and feeling of the environment as quickly as Berlin. It grabbed me, moved me and inspired me.  I met a new German friend who was a young scientist leaving to research panama reefs and allowed me to stay in his flat(apt.) i was planning to leave before Dec. and head south but now the markets are more of an opportunity to sell my homemade crafts. So i accepted to stay and take advantage and discover this international rich in art cultured city a little longer. To wake without sun is different and difficult for me, but i force myself to get up and out and head to work the markets, meet friends or discovering missions, its always an interesting day! My discovering include getting lost in the metro actually  I have got lost plenty in the metros now i feel truly comfortable haha,  but I also love people watching. Berlin residents with all the layers of clothing have impeccable creative style,  Definitely some way cool weirdos here . So much experiences happened it is now  hard to remember even my great summer in festivals. Not just to mention the art culture and people but the historical buildings that has been kept and  internally modernized. This city has visual pleasure and classy style with and a artistic twist with all its accepted and appreciated graffiti. There are even tours of the underground artistic culture and graffiti history of this city.  My time here will end soon but I definitely know I will  return and could actually enjoy to live which is interesting to me because I am not a fan of cities anymore, there seems to be a balance here of material and spiritual available and modern/ historical, clean and gritty, respectful and crazy. By far in my opinion one of the best cities I have ever experienced including  Europe, Usa and central America. I would love to thank all the Berlin family that embraced me andhave helped my stay be so enjoyable also.. The mexicans , s.americans, italian and german family... Love you all! 

-enjoly mar 

Gitana galactica

Accepting the aliens and dancing

One week in germany and my first festival.. Antaris one of the first ever i germany from this Goa India trance movement that was started 20years ago.  I was introduced a year ago in mexico to this trance scene in festival in nature in palenque near the 21st of dec. not so big and travelers from all over the world who came to work their art crafts and designs. These are who invited me to do this Europe festival tour.  This anataris was one of the oldest and biggest. The shops were gypsies, nomad travelers from all over including india connection . They brought their goods to sell collected from rare places, independently designed or handmade and also druggs, Lots of druggs. I got a job working for a french crazy with a strong french accent and his pirate shop. There was also a baba from india selling his pipes and other hand crafted smoking tools. This baba  came to europe for the summer to work some festivals and try to get in a music flow. He was an amazing flamenco gypsy style guitar player. I was stuck to a schedule in this shop with these guys and selling to tall germans much who were on speed. Never experienced this before "english maybe " I would say, was expected in an international festival. My friend from Quintana Roo was also here, the only friend i actually knew who i kept in touch with. Together we danced when the sat came and she gave  me one drop.. What name i dont remember now but for me it began working fast.. You know when it hits you when all of the sudden the people on the dance floor turn into obvious chracters. You slowly are in another world battling your own ego your own fear and all others... I see pure intentions, I see  really drugged up faces and  and I see mysterious eyes. However when i am around good music especially with an open mind I dance to connect with the music always. My friend complained that she was not feeling anything so she invited me to one more drop. Soon the visions began to get really wild, we walk from one dance floor to the other and i start to see the labyrinth and puzzle to organizers and artist put together.. There are glowing mushrooms and pirate flags every were along with planets aligning. The sky i didn't believe because I was  Tripping so of course it was not real , i told myself. The music sounded very machine like mathematical you could call it and began to be to mental for me, this first festival was breaking my 4months of city life in the usa  to another reality.  My mind was agreeing that the possibility of those planets aligning is real and one of them is a spaceship and aliens have assigned the dj and information was being downloaded into all of us drugged up from the governments partnership with these aliens and the pirates and gypsies also working for them and which fucking aliens are they??? Nooo, i thought we were brought here to the middle of nowhere to be forced information by a species i don't know and all these people have not realized they think its just a festival and Why dont I have a choice??? I left for a walk as far as i could go but i coukd still here the music in this valley so i came back... I went to check on the shop with the baba And my crazy french boss, who were suprised i was still awake i told them my trip and they did not disagree too much.. Very calmly they replied that it was very possible and could be my information, but the baba said "what to do just accept it ". I thought thats it , i dont want to trip anymore i told him "how do i make it stop? He said you also accept it stop thinking and go and dance and enjoy it ... Wow ! Dance I went  for the next 6hrs or so non stop, e trip was not so strong and my body had become fluid and was almost dancing naturally. I was having sooo much fun dancing finally accepting and enjoying putting the mind to rest. The sun raised and all was pleasant calm and the trip about aliens seemed far away as the acid left my system... I started to see how the dj alone might of wanted his set to be exactly this projection... Coming back too i even laughed at how silly  it all was, but realized it was only the beginning of  my festival tour. That maybe now i was ready for what adventures are to come,  i was ready for anything. 

---Enjoly Mar