Middle East – Farewell

Cubism, surrealism, abstract expressionism, pop art ? Pablo Picasso, Max Ernst, Arshile Gorky, Andy Warhol ?

Simply my passport. A double page bearing stamps of my travels in the region in the last two years.

It’s about time for farewell after 26 months spent in Jordan and its neighbouring countries. It has been a very intense and rich time spent in Amman and in the region. Incredible people met, vast amount of living experience gathered here.

I am no more the same guy than the one who landed in Amman on 18 June 2011. Some of my friends suggest that my ‘jordanisation’ is well under way. Maybe. For sure, Jordan and the Middle East found a large and cosy home in my heart and my soul.

The last two years did not alter my fondness of geographical mobility and social encounters, on the contrary. You will find below a few highlights of my journeys in the region as well as in the Horn of Africa.

Additional posts will complete soon the socio-cultural fresco of the Middle East. I hope that all these posts will help overcoming the clichés and the stereotypes, the misunderstandings and the tensions that hamper this blessed region to live in good harmony.

As for my future, I have no precise picture yet. I know only about my need of long holidays, which will be partly devoted to globetrotting. Foremost, I will stay tuned with my Middle East friends, as I look forward meeting, catching up and enjoying with those who stay elsewhere on the planet Earth.

Cheers,

By Bertrand

Trotting the globe with vision, values and humour