Dubai: Two worlds colliding in harmony.

A few weeks ago I went to visit Dubai for the first time. I must say I was quite delighted by the experience. It's a cosmopolitan city with a mixed flavor of Miami, New York City and Los Angeles all in one place. As I was landing I could see the variation of the architecture from the classical Arabic style structures to the Western state of the art high-rises. It was breath-taking. As I arrived at the airport I had an immediate fairy-tale feeling. The majority of the staff was wearing their typical outfits. And immediately you realize that you are now immersed in a dual culture.

I think that one of the first things I noticed was their courtesy. Everybody from the airport staff, to the waiters at restaurants, sales people at shops, bartenders at fancy bars, are incredibly highly trained towards customer service, they are very pleasant. They will open doors for you, move out of your way if you're walking, and they always thank you. Meant that I live in London where people will push you, step on you and they will never apologize... it was quite refreshing! I'm not just referring to the locals, here you will find a very multi-cultural population. It is highly populated by Western Europeans, Asians, Americans, South Africans, and Australians. Which is exactly what amazed me. This city has developed incredibly fast in the last few decades. Now all of these people from different backgrounds are co-existing and accepting each others differences. You expect to encounter that in NYC, London, LA, and pretty much any metropolis. But I guess I was quite surprised about such a "young" city in the Emirates to be so avant-guarde.


On the other hand there is some sort of secret law (or not so secret), where everyone is expected to respect everyone's beliefs and customs. I must admit that I am at times (especially when I drink), quite the potty mouth! On an evening that I was returning home with my friends from a bar, while riding in the cab, I decided to start using the F word on and on! I was scolded by my friend Esoteros! She warned me that if the cab driver was for any reason offended by my language, he could have called the police and have me arrested! How hilarious would that have been! Yet, how cool that the cab driver can complain!!! I think that is great! Imagine in NYC, the cab driver has to listen to all sort of crap from the passengers and never once he/she can complain! I think is a lesson to respect others.

I was also surprised by the fact you can't buy alcohol everywhere, only in specific locations, such as resorts the bars/clubs in their proximity. And yes, I knew this in advance and bought Vodka at the Heathrow and Dubai Airport... luckily I was not sent straight to the Dubai AA!! Yes, they do have a lot of rules you have to follow. You can't kiss in public, only a married couple can hold hands or have a baby. Single people cannot adopt nor live with a person of the opposite sex. However I still felt so at peace while I was there. It was so calm, and organized, and clean. You just have to compromise and accept the customs they have.

The weather was in my opinion wonderful, in the 100s, sunny, lightly breezy. The Arabic Gulf also known as the Persian Gulf is incredible. As you dive in the sea, it feels like a giant hot tub! The waves are docile and slow. The shore is populated with all sort of creatures, from crabs to hermit crabs, to sea snails, and many other living beings that looked like aliens. I felt like a kid in a secret sea garden. I don't think I have ever seen so many beautiful shells.


Shopping is also great, they are tax free, so you definitely get good bargains. They have so many malls, very Americanized. These shopping structures are so enormous they even have snow slopes for the kids! Malls do exhausts me though, so I had to go have a drink there too!

My feelings about Dubai? Wow, it is an amazing city still in full development. It has so much potential on a business point of view. I guess Abu Dhabi will be the next one to flourish at the same level. It's just amazing how they have incorporated in their home the American life-style. I seriously felt like I was back in the US at times. That is why I consider it like two worlds in one, extremely different although able to function in full harmony.

Stand Up Comedy Is Not Easy...

Last week I went to see a Stand Up Comedy show. It was performed in a small underground venue in Soho. I actually loved the location. It was small and cozy with a very well stocked bar. I hadn't seen any comedy since my move here to London. I think I was going through withdraws. The whole evening it was such an arch for me. I went through a total high, partly because of the wine probably. I was also really excited because the artist was American and it made me feel at home. I was full of giggles with anticipation. He came on stage (I don't want to reveal the name), let's call him Mr Glasses, and all he did was introduce a guest... Ok, that is fine, let's watch the guest artist first. The guy is brilliant! I was laughing so hard I was nearly crying! The guys was singing, and improvising, he was a caricature of a German Nazi. He was very well prepared and he didn't even let you get a moment to breath, that you were already laughing at his next joke.

Finally Mr Glasses comes back on stage. I was really enjoying the show. Some parts were funnier than other. As the show was coming to an end some things I didn't find funny at all. But being a comedian is really tough, and I hate saying that I can be very critical. After the show, Mr Glasses invited my friends and myself to have a drink with him. The bar is now closed to the public. It's just us. I gladly light up a cigarette, with the great satisfaction of smoking indoors!

I begin to ask Mr Glasses all sort of question, my motivation the desire to perform myself in London. This is when the climax of his game comes crashing down in a depressive self-humiliating monologue about his life! It was so depressing! He totally killed my buzz!! As a performer you NEVER tell your audience that you bombed. I knew he did, but now it was even worse for me. He looks so pathetic. Not only he was complaining about how bad his show was, that he has been telling the same jokes for the last 8 years, that he never has an ending for his show, that often he genuinely does not know what to say!! He also decides to tell me everything about his divorce, about child support, about not having good erections due to stress, and asking me if I thought he was fat?

He was so insecure, the typical tortured and unhappy actor that has not made it. That's really sad, and the feeling lingered with me to the point that I woke the next day really disappointed in his show and quite sad. He is an angry, sad, boring little man! I think it was still good that I went to see this show, it was a good learning experience about what NOT to say or do during and after a show. I have seen student showcases that were a million times better that his performance.

One more evil gossip about Mr Glasses, he was so desperate that he even begged me to become his friend on Facebook so he could invite me back to his show for free and be good audience. Thanks but no thanks!

Little Ashes

Tonight I went to see Little Ashes, a movie about young Federico García Lorca and Salvador Dalí. I must say I was quite impressed. Written by Philippa Goslett, who I'm proud to say is a close friend and former co-worker of the lovely group of people I joined tonight to view this feature. She beautifully tells the story of the young poet and painter in a very unique way. I was very engaged for the beginning of the film, the photography and choreography magically drops you back in time, in a Madrid of the early 1920s.

The connection, or better yet attraction in between Salvador and Federico is tangible from the first second they meet. It is very intriguing to experience the growth of their secret and "illegal" passion for each other. As you follow their struggle with society and their urge to express their talent through their art and love, you can't help it, you just want to see them together. Federico played by Javier Beltrán, is so believable and organic in his role. He will make you feel his struggle, his tortured mind and intensity. Salvador played by Robert Pattinson, will transform scene by scene into the eccentric genius, I admire the challenge that this young actor took by accepting such a role. Not mentioning he had to acquire a Spanish accent. I applaud both of them for their fantastic performance. Nonetheless the whole cast was excellent.

I really don't want to reveal too much because I highly recommend you try to see this movie. If not released at a theater by you, please try to rent it. It's fresh, very sensual, very artistic on every level. I think this is the first time that the story of these two iconic artists' love affair has ever been told on film. There is so much in between the lines, in between their looks, their desperate choices in life that cannot be missed in Little Ashes. So I say, if you ever wanted an intimate look into their lives, this is your chance to experience it.

Here is the link to the great feature that will make you smile, cry, and excite you while showing you also the reality and brutality that Spain went through during its history.

http://www.littleashes-themovie.com/