To travelers and nomads, home is typically a state of mind. However, for FriFotos this week, I wanted to take you on a photographic journey to some of the places I’ve called HOME around the world. From sailboats to hammocks; concrete blocks to tiki huts: ¡Bienvenidos a mi hogar!
Home around the world: FriFotos photo essay
My humble home in Puerto Rico. Solid concrete = hurricane-proof!
The beginning and the end: my parents house and neighborhood in Gurabo, Puerto Rico. Closer to the city of Caguas, though!
The neighborhood I grew up in! A dead-end street with beautiful palm trees and mountains in the vicinity.
Due to hurricanes, most houses in Puerto Rico are made of solid concrete throughout: including walls inside the home. Only the wealthy can afford intricate homes, as it is more expensive and difficult to build and mold concrete houses. However, if you just want one big concrete box, that won’t be too expensive!
The million-dollar home in Tampa, Florida
The pool area, part of a yacht, the lake, and other million-dollar homes in the area.
In the summer of 2010, I was lucky enough to score a housesitting and pet sitting gig in an affluent neighborhood in Tampa, Florida. For 2 full months, I lived like a rock star! A yacht, a boat, fun neighbors, great food! I also got to hang out with the amazing family when they were around every couple of weeks. I bonded with my hosts so much that I now call them my American family. I even call the married couple mom and dad!
Whenever I can’t go back home for Christmas, I spend the holidays with them 🙂
My new American family!
Don’t worry though, my first familia will always be in Puerto Rico. I simply call them mami and papi to differentiate my 2 sets of parents 😉 lucky to be surrounded by so many wonderful people—much love indeed.
A hammock, overwater hostel, and a sailboat in Panama
Aqualounge Hostel in Bocas del Toro, Panama. Only reachable by boat!
My bed for a couple of nights in Bocas del Toro, Panama
While this hammock and overwater hostel in Bocas del Toro were my home for less than a week, I had an amazing time! Great drinking specials, quirky characters, and fun parties.
View of Kuna Yala village from my sailboat cabin
More about this trip: Panama, my last college spring break! (photo essay)
This trip got even better with 4 days sailing down the San Blas Islands—in great company as well. Just imagine this bubbly Puerto Rican, a loopy captain, 2 diplomats from the US foreign service, 2 retired lawyers, and a Kuna Indian fisherman…!
College campus in Morocco
The gorgeous campus of Al Akhawayn University in Ifrane, Morocco (Amina Lahbabi)
In the fall of 2009, I studied abroad in Ifrane, a small town by the Atlas Mountains of Morocco, for 4 months. The American-style college is called Al-Akhawayn University and I had a blast! Gorgeous grounds, architecture, and people. The dorms were even better than in most colleges I’ve seen in the USA, which was crazy!
One of the dorms! Photo courtesy of Munir Sayegh
I felt most at home in the classroom of my World Religions class with Portuguese professor Jacques, though. Handsome, wise. He taught me so much about unknown cultures, religious traditions, rites, etc. I haven’t been that happy in many other places! Unfortunately, no photo of handsome Jacques available.
Cluttered roofs and sleeping on an ancient felucca in Egypt
Cluttered roofs and dirty apartments — commonplace in otherwise-fascinating Cairo, Egypt
I must have moved about 4 times during my year of Arabic studies in Egypt. Issues ranged from roommate conflicts to sketchy bowaabs (building doorman)—you name it! And even though my digital camera died within the first week in Cairo, my first flatmate—Natalia—took a good picture of one of the apartments (photo above).
Umm yeah…with my student budget (relying exclusively on a scholarship), I couldn’t afford a maid to keep the apartment dust-free nor a better view than that one. All in all, a very humbling experience. Seriously, cleanliness…one of the many things we take for granted everyday.
Relaxing morning, sleeping on a felucca!
It goes without saying that where I felt the most at home during my year in Egypt was while drifting down the Nile on a felucca for 3 days and 2 nights. Absolutely magical.
Sunset during my 22nd birthday (by Aswan, Egypt)
This photo essay is almost 800 words now, so enough of home for today! 😉
Hope you enjoyed it.
Yup, that’s me on the felucca once more. Had to save the best shot for last!
