Study abroad stories

When i started my exchange program in Denmark i thought i would have knew more about nordic culture, experiencing everything it was possible for me, in Aarhus. But looking back i learned a lot of thing regarding different cultures, making me really feel like a "citizen of the world".THis is the best thing i own from my exchange period. I honestly have to say i didn't know much about Portugal: while studying history it's difficult to get some information, cause it didn't join directly WWI and WWII which usually our teachers were concentrated about. So i didn't know what to expect from it.I tried to situate it, and tried to find some analogies with other places.
It reminded me about south Italy, Sicily in particular, for its own old buildings, arabic-look-a-like-streets and its attachement in catholic festivities and celebrations

But also a bit of Aarhus,cause they are both uphill, which is a thing i'm not used to,cause my city is COMPLETELY flat (and this is a relief when i cycle!)

The best traditional thing we had experienced was the listening of the most traditional portuguese music genre: the Fado.It speaks about life, love and the period under the dictatorship.It's a folkloristic genre, everyone know the songs and once a week some cafès offer a "fado performances". The cafè calls the guitar players and the portuguese guitar (which is amazing and has more than 10 strings!) player and the people in the cafè can go to them and ask to play some Fado songs, which they obviously know.The singer are actually very good, like professionists: we listened to some old ladies and middle-age men.

We spoked a bit with the lady that owned the cafè (who took us a photo) about Amàlia Rodrigues, the most famous fado performer, whi was actually called "the soul of fado" and became one of the symbol of Portugal. She was a kind of portguese Marilyn Monroe, who was ceased by really powerfull men, and a portuguese Edith Piaf, becoming one of the popular and loved singer of the country

I actually think that Lisboa is a melting pot and fado it's his soundtrack.We listened to a song called by Amàlia , called "Cheira Bem, Cheira a Lisboa " ("Good smell,porfume of Lisbon) which i actually felt in love.

We visited also other two cities: Sintra and Porto. Sintra was a really amazing and strange place. I went there just with Ottavia which was actually the best guide, cause she studies Art histoty. The most important building of Sintra it's a palace made by an italian architect (Manini) called Quinto de Regalia.It was really amazing, cause Ottavia explained me everything, there was a lot of symbolism.The owner of te palace wanted it to be both classical and mystical, so even if the place was sourrounded with greek mythological figures and statues, there was also an initiatic path, in the garden, that ended with a initiatic dwall .

As Bruno gave us some advices, i reveives hints also from a friend i met in Aarhus. We met at a Amnesty Internationa student group where he told me he spent a year as exchange student in Porto.When i told him i was going to Portugal his eyes smiled as he recalled his past life there.He took a piece of paper and started to write down all the thing i had to do and see in Porto. It was very kind from him, i wonder what will happen if someone will tell me "You know?I'm going to Aarhus".What will i write about place to see and thing to do.Surely my eyes will smile,