En julio lo más visto fue una presentación del partido de Municipal Iquique. El deporte sigue llamando la atención. En segundo lugar estuvo un accidente fatal en la ruta A-16. Me llamó la atención la gran cantidad de visitas que hubo a esta presentación a pesar que el archivo fue subido pasadas las 18 horas.

Julio estuvo marcado la fiesta de La Tirana y las cifras de visitas a estas presentaciones así lo confirman.

Lo menos visto fueron los temas de política. Puse varias presentaciones referidas a las candidaturas de concejales y alcalde: no pasó nada.

Municipal Iquique derrotó uno a cero a Puerto Montt. 10 de julio de 2008.

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Accidente fatal en ruta A-16. 26 de julio de 2008.

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Dos presentaciones de la Fiesta de La Tirana publicadas el 15 de julio de 2008.

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Presidenta Michelle Bachelet visitó la salitrera Santiago Humberstone. 17 de julio de 2008

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Tregimi i Kutelit rrëfen për një fshat jeta e të cilit ndërtohej dhe begatohej në sajë të rrjedhës së ujit të një lumi që e përshkonte atë mespërmes. Ujtë e lumit u siguronte fshatarëve peshkimin, u shunate etjen bagetive, u ofronte materialet e ndërtimit ndërtuesve, u vinte në punë mullinjtë mullixhinjëve, apo edhe i çlodhte dhe argëtonte banorët e fshatit me bukurinë e vet dhe ujtë e pastër që sillnin burimet nga malet përreth. Megjithatë banorët kërkonin të përfitonin nga ai jo vetëm gjërat që vetë lumi i ofronte aq bujarisht, por edhe ato që lumi i kishte aq të nevojshme per t'u quajtur lum. Banorët filluan një nga një të pushtonin vetë shtratin e lumit. Ai duke mos qënë prone e askujt bëhej pre e uzurpimeve, ngushtimeve, pengesave dhe prerjeve të vazhdueshme. Ndërsa banorët e fshatit filluan ta trajtonin lumin e tyre si një hapësirë mbi të cilën nuk kishin asnjë detyrim. Po ashtu harruan edhe për pasojat që mund të kishin veprimet e tyre, aq sa edhe paralajmerimeve të herë pasherëshme që lumi sillte me prurjet e tij të bubullimshme që sa vinin e shtoheshin, filluan të mos ia vinin më veshin. Tashmë vetë shtrati i lumit ishte tërësisht i zënë nga dyqane, kasolle, magazina, shtëpi banimi, dhe gjithçka e mundshme që mund të ndërtohej në ate hapesirë pa zot. Më në fund lumi nuk vonoi dhe nje ditë të stuhishme vjeshte mori gjithçka kishte përpara, brenda dhe jashtë shtratit të vet, duke prishur shtëpi, duke mbytur bagëti e të mbjella, por edhe duke marrë jetë njërzish; pikerisht jetën e më te pambrojturve, më të vuajturve dhe më të pafajshmëve.

Duke pasur parasysh pikërisht përfundimet e këtij tregimi aq të afërt në smbolikë me atë se ç'ka ndodhur në hapësirën tonë urbane gjatë këtyre viteve, por edhe kritikat që i janë bërë projektit pikërisht për këtë arsye, pra për ndërhyrje në një nga zonat e vetmë që ende mund të shpresosh të shërbej si prani e rrallë e natyrës qoftë edhe artificiale në qytet, më bëri shumë përshtypje argumeti i prezantueses i ilustruar nëpërmjet një vidioje në faqen e internetit të Bashkisë. Nëse argumenti që njërzit tërhiqen nga prania e ujit është i vërtët, nuk i shërben patjetër argumentit që duhet ndërtuar në atë zonë. Përkundrazi, përforcon idenë se për rigjallërimin e kësaj zone mjafton vetëm ta mirëmbash atë pasi njerzit tërhiqen vetvetiu, jo për shkak të ndërtimeve por për shkak të natyrës dhe aftesive çlodhëse që ajo ka. Argumenti (dhe videoja e MVRDV-së) për përqëndrimin e ndërtimeve përgjatë digës, mund të jetë një argument shumë i mirë kur prezantohet përpara një grup investitorësh duke u munduar t'i bindësh se garanci për investimin e tyre është pikerisht prania e ujit, por vetë publiku është i interesuar për të kundërtën.  Publiku është i interesuar për garanci që natyra dhe peisazhi në atë zonë nuk do të preken.  

Por mënyra se si i është prezantuar publikut ky projekti nga Bashkia, në fakt jep garanci vetëm për të kundertën dhe duket sikur Bashkia e Tiranës nuk kërkon të konsideroj shqetësimet e publikut, por të adresoj ato të biznesit të ndërtimit.

Nëse ndërtimet u dashkan të përqëndrohen përkrahë vijave ujore, qofshin këto edhe liqene artificiale përbrenda parqeve, dhe me dëndësi të njëjta apo edhe shumë më të mëdha se të qëndrave ekzistuese, atëherë ky argument fare mirë mund të përdoret edhe nga ndërtues të tjerë për të ndërtuar ku të jetë ë mundur përreth liqenit, apo edhe për ta shfrytëzuar atë si vlerë komerciale.  Gjithashtu ndërtimi i një qëndre që siç përpiqet ta prezantojë Bashkia do e kthekërka qyetetin me shumë qëndra, më shumë se është garanci për këtë të fundit, është garanci për mbipopullimin e një zone pa infrastrukturë e të përjashtuar nga struktura e natyrshme e qytetit, po aq sa edhe për impaktin (negativë) e garantuar të saj në mjedis. Nëse dëndësia dhe ç'virgjërimi i trojeve do kishte qënë garanci që një zone të kthehej në një qëndër të rëndësishme të qytetit ato duhet t'i kishim sot gjithandej, duke filluar nga Komuna e Parisit dhe duke përfunduar në Kinostudio e Kombinat. Por të gjitha këtyre zonave u mungon ajo që quhet hapsirë publike, armatura e të cilës përbëhet nga institucione shoqërore, duke filluar nga institucionet publike tek kinematë, teatrot, bibliotekat, muzeumet, kishat, xhamiat dhe duke përfunduar tek parqet dhe këndet e lodrave, si dhe pishinave ku mund te pushohet ne ajër të pastër pa qënë nëvoja të jesh i rrethuar nga "kullat e rrëzuara" të prezantuara fillimisht në Tiranë nga Architecture Studio & Co. Pra për të krijuar qëndra të reja dikush duhet t'i ushtrojë vëmëndje atyre ekzistuese për t'ua rikthyer dimensionin publik, përpara se t'i shndërrojë edhe ato pak hapësira që e kryejnë këtë funksion në dhoma gjumi.

 

Darcy Frey, in his article “Crowded House”, as he was introducing the MVRDV to the readers of The New York Times Magazine on the June 8 issue, in anticipation of the relatively new architecture firm success from a 2002 perspective asks the question:

“Who were these Dutch upstarts? And in the so-called real world, would anything actually become of their grand, improbable visions?”

After having presented their last wining scheme on July 31, 2008 for an urban design proposal along one of the prime real-estate properties in Tirana, Albania and at the same time one of the last recreational areas in the city not yet deteriorated to the point of no-return the answer is yes. Their vision is becoming more and more part of the so-called real world, yet more improbable. On their proposal this isolated and detached recreational spot, the area of the competition, is turned into one of the densest high-rise residential and office block in the city, complying with the vision of the mayor for yet another development that will attract “foreign investors”(Government data shows the decline on sales of apartment and office spaces from local buyers recently).

Whether MVRDV's project is about their vision of vertical suburbia, or it lands itself in the middle of a park in downtown Tirana (municipal property) one of the most expensive project in the city, still according to Darcy Frey they all (MVRDV’s projects) would have something in common. “In fact, - Darcy Frey says – MVRDV’s architects rely so much on gathering and metabolizing data, information and competing points of view that they insist they leave no formal signature on their work.”

I hope I haven’t missed the point here, but isn’t the “gathering and metabolizing data” in a high-end residential project on a prime property called “real-estate” project? Is this the secret of how MVRDV’s vision is becoming part of the so-called real world that so fully complies with the vision our Mayor has for the developments in the city?

And how about the “improbable vision” of MVRDV?

According to Darcy Frey (again) “some of the MVRDV designs are so logical they seem to turn reality on its head.”

Then how logical is the scheme or the vision of MVRDV in the case of Lake’s Park project in Tirana? 

This is an urban design endeavor and would be reasonable to suggest  that one has to look to the urban design reality of Tirana for the logical on the project. Since Tirana has gone through all this period of fifteen years of frenzy development without any comprehensive strategic or other sorts of plans, and since the partial plans, isolated developments, or selective interventions have been recently the pride mark of the actual Mayor administration, wouldn’t it then be logical to look at the apparent isolation from the fabric, infrastructure and morphology of the city on this project as the reasonable reflection of this reality? Then wouldn’t it be reasonable to say that their “improbable vision” more than to the spirit of innovation of MVRDV,  owes its results to the juxtaposition of reality with the spirit of experimentation at which urban design and architecture is applied today in Tirana? Or maybe it owes to the fact that the citizens in this city and in this country are constantly subject to the uncertainty of the results that derive from politics and the way all things and matters end up when money and politics are involved? Then wouldn’t it be reasonable to say that the project of MVRDV is a logical representation of Tirana’s ruthless reality?

One can look at the reappearance on the MVRDV urban design scheme of the “standard tower”, first introduced in the city by Architecture Studio five years ago, as a mere logical conclusion of the so-called reality of urban design development in Tirana. Only that this time this "standard tower" is applied more vigorously, even with a sense of ruthlessness for its density into a site much smaller than the one Architecture Studio had attempted courageously few years ago. This time one truly can say that MVRDV really turned the reality on its head.

"Mai bine mai tarziu decat niciodata". Am aflat de curand ca o sa apara un film despre un erou adevarat, Gjergj Kastrioti Skenderbeu. Tot am vazut in ultima vreme, pelicule interesante despre legendele Greciei Antice sau mafiotii italieni, care au zguduit America in secolul XIX.  S-a nascut la doar 20 de minute de casa mea. Bine in urma cu 600 de ani :)

Albania the secret of europe,a mystical country...

Mai e ceva de spus?

Most visitors to Albania always comment on how hospitable and friendly the people are here, and they would be right in making that assertion based on their experiences. Well I beg to differ about these observations because I believe them to be somewhat biased.

Please don't get me wrong I am not saying that all Albanian people are unfriendly and inhospitable, all I am saying is that it in my humble opinion Albanians are not as friendly as described by most visitors, and I will explain myself.

You see Albanians are predominantly white with a minority of Roma people who are of a darker complexion. Most foreigners who live in Albania are here for work or they are married to someone who is working here. The majority of those coming to work and live here are also white, and usually from western countries within the EU or from the US. As a result the feedback you get from visitors to Albania mainly comes from these people.

Now my question to you is, have you ever considered what it is like to be a black/brown/Asian foreigner in Albania?

I am not of white European origin but I blend in pretty well MOST of the time, but I recently had two friends from home coming to visit me for two weeks because they had seen photos of the beaches here and I told them who nice and beautiful the country is. One of my friends is black while the other is of Asian background, and let me tell you, walking in the street and going out with them was a new experience for me here in Albania. The rudeness and the utter ignorance of the people makes my blood boil, and I think what made it worse was the fact that I understand some Albanian.

When we walked the streets people just stared at us as if we were some creatures that had just landed from Mars, and when we walked into cafes or restaurants heads would turn. People would stop conversation just to look at us, and I don't mean take a quick look, no, they gaze into our eyes until it gets very uncomfortable.

The thing that made it worse was that I understand a bit of Albanian, so I could not avoid hearing 'zezak', 'majmun' or 'kinez' almost everywhere we went, let alone the 'ching chang chong' and monkey noises some youths were saying while we walked past them in the streets.

There is one observation I made when my friends were here, and that is most of this came from the young (below 40) generation, which would rule out ignorance because this generation has seen American films, they listen to rap music, they like Thierry Henry and Beyonce. So apart from pure racism I cannot find a reason for such behaviour. The older generation on the other hand was more pleasant and just took one look at the two aliens walking with me and turned away.

I ask all ex-pats reading this, have you walked in the streets here with a non-white person? Or maybe you are not white, how do you find walking in the streets of Tirana? And if you are an Albanian reading this, please tell me if I am being harsh?

I know many of you will say 'well things were just as bad in our countries back in the 60s, 70's or 80's (some are till this day), I would agree, but we were not being described as hospitable and friendly, we were rightly being called Right-wing, racists, and xenophobic.

So there you have it, next time when I hear an American/British/French/German/Scandinavian white person tell me that Albanians are friendly and hospitable, my response would be: 'of course they are, you are the right colour, just thank God you are white'.

By the way, my friends liked Albania, but they will not come back here soon.

]]> http://geri.wordpress.com/?p=376 Fri, 25 Jul 2008 14:15:41 +0000 Geri http://geri.wordpress.com/?p=376 Die Niederschlagsmenge war zwar immer noch bescheiden, die Temperaturen wären auch angenehm und es gibt hier unten immer wieder Aufhellungen. Aber an den Bergen hingen die Wolken bis weit runter und da mich Felsen anstelle von markierten Wegen erwarteten, übte ich mich in Vernunft und liess ich die Sache bleiben … Mittags nahm ich einen Bus nach Tirana und habe somit wieder zu den drei Franzosen aus Bukarest aufgeschlossen. Habe sie in Skopje getroffen, dann haben wir in Ohrid zusammen gegessen und waren nun in Tirana zusammen unterwegs. Sie fuhren vorhin nach Montenegro weiter, um morgen einen Freund in Dubrovnik zu treffen.
An der albanischen Grenze mussten wir pro westlichen Tourist einen Euro zusammen kratzen, eine Stunde später wurden wir rein gelassen. Beim Hotel gleich nach der Grenze sah ich zum ersten mal eine slavische neben der albanischen Flagge. Hier geht sogar Heiraten ohne Albanien-Fahne, man belächelt die Kosovaren (niemand spricht hier von Kosovo-Albanern) als ein wenig rückständig. Die Grenze ist in den Bergen und alles voller Bunker. Während dem Kommunismus wurden schätzungsweise 700 000 dieser fünf Tonnen schweren Beton-Pilze gebaut. Sie ertragen Panzerbeschuss (beim Test habe sich der Engenieur reingestellt) und sind kaum zu entfernen. Heute haben sie keine Aufgabe mehr, ärgern die Bauern und man sagt, dass mancher Albaner in so einem Bunker seine Unschuld verloren habe ... Die Fahrt ging danach durch Durrëssi (Mollorca für Albaner) nach Tirana. Auch hier sieht man die Fingerabdrücke des Kommunismus in der Architektur, aber die meisten Blöcke sind sehr farbenfroh angemalt. Begonnen damit hat der Bürgermeister persönlich -- er sei Maler, Basketballer und Rapper, habe ich gehört ;)
In Tirana gibts sonst nicht allzuviel zu sehen. Ein Geschichtsmuseeum, ein Kunstmuseeum, eine alte Moschee (der Rest wurde während dem Kommunismus zerstör) und ein paar neue Sakralbauten. Ich verbringe ziemlich viel Zeit im Swiss Chalet, bei einem Freiburger, der eine Albanerin geheiratet hat (sie blieb in der Schweiz ;) ) und nun hier ein Restaurant in Gang bringen will. Es steht mittem im hippen Ausgangs-Quartier, das früher Parteimitgliedern vorbehalten war. Im Moment wartet er (und ich damit :) ) auf eine Lieferung Käse.
Strom, Wasser und Internet können hier schon mal ausfallen, Addressen sind mangels Hausnummern auch nicht einfach zu finden. Würde man nicht denken, es fahren fast ausschliesslich anständige Wagen rum. Viele SUVs auch hier, wobei die Strassen als Grund durchgehen. Man merkt hingegen, dass es Führerscheine erst seit wenigen Jahren gibt. Hier wird nichtmal für eine rote Ampel mit Polizisten angehalten. Aber das Schlusslicht in Europa konnten sie an Moldawien abgeben.
Zum Schluss wie gewohnt etwas Geschichte, davon hat auch Albanien genug ... Die Wurzeln der Albaner gehen auf illarische Stämme zurück, die Griechen hatten auch eine paar selbstverwaltende Kolonnien in dem Gebiet. Gerade als sich diese Stämme organisieren wollten sind die Türken eingefallen. Man hat sich unter Skanderbeg organisiert und konnte den Vormarsch um 26 Jahre hinauszögern. Sie brüsten sich Europa vor der Eroberung durch die Osmanen gerettet zu haben. Nach der militärischen Niederlage einigten sich die wichtigsten Schriftsteller auf römische Schriftzeichen und begannen so die Albaner kulturell zusammen zu schweissen. Albanien wurde zum Schlachtfeld, als die Slaven die Osmanen vertrieben. Unabhängigkeitsbestrebungen gab es immer, der Plan wurde aber beeinträchtigt, als Serbien Kosov übernahm. Im ersten Weltkriegt zerbrach das Land in sich bekriegende Kleinstaaten.
1920 wurde Tirana Hauptstadt, ein orthodoxer Priester konnte es etwas einen. Er wurde vom Innenminister Ahmed Bey Zogu gestürzt, der sich König Zog I nannte und mit Hilfte Italiens das Land aufbaute, bis es eigentlich eine italienische Kolonie war. Italienische Siedler zogen in den fruchtbaren Süden und italienische Berater übernahmen die Geschäfte. Zog selber wurde etwas exzentrisch, seine Mutter war Küchencheffin aus Angst vor Gift, er spielte exzessiv Poker, rauchte 150 Zigaretten pro Tag und schoss bei einem Attentat gar zurück. Mussolini liess Albanien im zweiten Weltkrieg erobern.
In Albanien erwachte der Wiederstand gegen die Faschisten als erstes. Eine kommunistische Partei mit Enver Hoxha als erstem Sekretär wurde gegründet, später eine Volksrepublik kurz darauf auch, als erster atheistischer Staat. Tito wollte Albanien in Jugoslavien haben, aber Albanien fand Stalins UDSSR einen sympathischeren Verbündeten, bis Chruschtschow eine Basis an der Küste aufbauen wollte. Danach orientierte sich Albanien an China, wobei Hoxha wieder Rivalen als feindliche Spionen los wurde, wie er es nach dem Bruch mit Jugoslavien tat. Nach dem Tod Maos hat ihn Hoxha als Revisionisten und Rassisten abgetan, die Beziehungen abgebrochen und Albanien wurde komplett isoliert und es kam vermehrt zu Nahrungsknappheiten.
Nach dem Tode Hoxhas 1985 rutschte Ramiz Alia nach. Die Regierung war unterdessen völlig eingeschlafen. 4500 Albaner flüchteten in Botschaften und durften nach Verhandlungen mit der Polizei das Land verlassen. Sie leben nach wie vor in Italien. Es kam zu Protesten von Studenten, andere Parteien wurden zugelassen und 1992 wurden die Kommunisten abgewählt. Gestohlene Mercedese wurden importiert, Kollektivfarmen zu Marijuana-Plantagen und Vlora zum Hafen für illegale Migration nach Europa. Pyramidensysteme wurden aufgezogen und als die zusammenbrachen verloren 70% der Albaner ihr Vermögen. Es kam 1997 zu einem Volksaufstand. Die Übergangsregierung bat um ausländische Truppen, um die Zerstörungen und Plünderungen zu stoppen. 1999 wurde Albanien mit einer halben Million Kosovaren überschwemmt, internationale Hilfsgelder kamen ins Land und seither geht es aufwärts.

There are two ways one can go up to the Dajti apart from walking/climbing and helicopter. The cable car is seems to be the choice for many and I must say it is quite fun to begin with but can become a bit boring after a while, and if you are afraid of heights then it is not recommended. I personally like to drive up the winding roads which in some places are covered by tall trees on both sides. There is also a village or two that are on the way which still have the old characteristic houses that seem to be disappearing in Tirana.

Once you are somewhere close to the top you will arrive at the Dajti park gates, where you need to pay to continue the journey, otherwise take the right hand turn and continue climbing (I have never taken that route yet and always wonder where it will lead). A few minutes after the barrier comes a wonderful Hotel and restaurant which is an ideal place for a weekend getaway and not far from the Tirana. I usually park the car there and continue the rest of the journey by foot to enjoy the fresh and clean air and sound of rushing water against the background of rustling leaves.

I would recommend going up the Dajti to all those that haven't been yet, it really is a nice and peaceful trek. However be careful if you are driving, the Dajti can be very deceiving. You will set out on a clear sunny day with not a single cloud in the sky, and all of a sudden as if from nowhere thick white clouds descend on to to the mountain. If that happens I would suggest staying put and not panicking because the clouds will always go somewhere else.

Olympics

Not many days left before the Olympic games begin and Hysen Domi, President of the Albanian Olympic Committee, has announced that Albania will send its largest ever delegation to this years games in Beijing. Lets wish them luck and hope they do themselves and their country proud. Albania has a history in weight lifting and wrestling so keep an eye out for those events to see how well they do.

A través de las presentaciones en Slideshare tenemos la oportunidad de mostrar nuestras fotos del día de una manera sencilla y segura. Sencilla para nuestros lectores, con un sólo clic avanzas a la imagen siguiente. También es seguro para nosotros porque nos cercioramos que las fotos serás vistas por nuestros lectores, pero no ocupadas por la competencia.

Esta son las presentaciones que hemos realizado durante estos días en la fiesta religiosa de La Tirana.

Imágenes del 15 de julio.

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Días previos a la fiesta

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Larga espera de los peregrinos

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Peregrinos viajan a La Tirana

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Eucaristía de los adultos mayores

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Estas son imágenes que fueron tomadas durante 2007. Son dos presentaciones. La primera es sobre el centenario del Baile Chino y un resumen de las activides del año pasado.

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La tarea de ampliación del templo es titánica y, a pesar que existen recursos comprometidos del Gobierno Regional y de empresas privadas, continúa en pie la campaña para recibir donaciones que ayuden a convertir el templo en una basílica del mundo pampino y andino.

Las donaciones para aportar con una estrella en el techo del templo se realizan en la librería que está en el mismo Santuario en su ala oeste.

Violeta Larrondo, una de encargadas de la librería del Santuario, explica que las donaciones van desde los 50.000 a dos mil pesos. Todas las personas que realicen sus aportes quedan registrados en el libro de donaciones y recibirán una estampita especial que indica que entregaron una donación para la construcción del Santuario.

Las donaciones se reciben todo el año, pero es en esta época donde el flujo de aporte aumenta.

El rector del Santuario, Franklin Luza, valora los aportes de las personas porque "reflejan el cariño que le tiene la gente a la Virgen de La Tirana. Lo consideramos un aporte valiosísimo que va a la par con la ayuda entrega por el gobierno y la empresa privada. Valoramos enormemente el esfuerzo de las familias y personas de escasos recursos que llegan al Santuario y entregan su aporte".

Agrega que "de esta forma sentimos el apoyo del pueblo y de la familia chilena.

Al igual que en años anteriores lo más llamativo fueron los bailes religiosos y entre ellos, los que más captaron la atención fueron los indios tobas y las diabladas. Entre las diabladas, como es de suponer, junto con las máscaras de diablos, siempre resaltan los figurines, ,que son bailarines que presentan a un cóndor, un angelito, a un viejito y también a un oso blanco.

Algunas de las imágenes de más abajo aparecen dos figurines.

a quickr pickr post

Puedes revisar la presentación de las imágenes tiraneñas que subí a mi cuenta de Flickr.

Ruegan por el Mundo Andino

Una banda de bronce precedió a los bailes religiosos de origen aymara que ayer en la mañana ingresaron hasta el Santuario de la Virgen del Carmen de La Tirana.

Más de quinientos peregrinos asistieron ayer a la ya tradicional Eucaristía del Mundo Andino. Representantes de diferentes organizaciones sociales de la provincia del Tamarugal llegaron hasta el templo para participar de la ceremonia religiosa que fue presidida por el obispo de Iquique, monseñor Marco Ordenes.

El obispo salió hacia la explanada del templo para recibir a representantes aymaras de las comunas de Pozo Almonte y Huara que llegaron hasta el Santuario con sus bailes religiosos y una ofrenda especial para la pawa que se realizó durante la Eucaristía.

La parte más emotiva de la misa fue cuando monseñor Ordenes junto con representantes de la localidad de Parca hicieron la tradicional pawa. La ofrenda contenía productos cosechados en esta localidad y quebradas vecinas. Zanahorias, cebollines y pomelos fueron parte de la ofrenda.

Una banda de bronces acompañó la última parte de la ceremonia religiosa. Luego de la comunión y el cierre del acto eucarístico, monseñor Ordenes bajó del altar mayor y avanzó entre los peregrinos para saludar a la imagen de la Virgen de La Tirana junto con los representantes aymaras.

En su homilía, monseñor Ordenes entregó su mensaje sobre la base de la parábola del sembrador que aparece en el evangelio de San Marcos.

"Sin agua no hay cosecha en el mundo andino", afirmó haciendo un paralelo entre el sembrador de la parábola y la labor de los pueblos aymaras de la provincia del Tamarugal.

Llamó a extender la palabra de Dios, a sembrarla y cultivarla. "Dios coloca la semilla en lo profundo del corazón y Dios quiere que florezca esa semilla".

Durante la ceremonia también oró y rogó por el crecimiento de los pueblos aymaras.

Además llamó nuevamente a extender los valores como la solidaridad y el apoyo al prójimo y a estar atentos para evitar caer en el egoísmo y en los intereses personales.

En el momento de la consagración y la comunión, monseñor Ordenes elevó plegarias en lengua aymara y rogó por las etnias originarias y por el respeto de los pueblos del interior.

You have informed the Court and DOR/Child Support enforcement many things that are not true; nor are they supported by the facts. I am not sure if you have blocked them out (as you said you do to bad things in your past) or if you believe your lies from the past or if you are just becoming more delusional…. I need you  (AND YOU NEED TO FOR YOURSELF AND TIRANA'S SAKE) to remember the truth and stop saying things that are not true. The "good, kind, generous and TRUTHFUL to a Fault" Waveney WE knew, would not knowing or intentionally LIE… what happened to the Waveney that was so admired and respected ... What happened you???!!!???…. Anyway, please note the following facts:

First: The California Divorce… you WERE notified and served papers from the Court in California… and they were served to you in Sarasota by the Sarasota County Sheriffs Department… they certified this service to the Court in California. You also have used part of that filing in your recent response where you tried to show my housing expenses from the time we were married. Saying that you did not know or were not served is NOT TRUE. Whatever was going on in your personal life at the time may have caused you not to care… but you were served and you were informed of ALL the issues with those papers.

Please remember you tried to file a kidnapping charge against me with the Sarasota State Attorney…. And they verified that I LEGALLY took Tirana out of the State of Florida.

Second: You have stated that you are being denied visitation and that I am forcing you to go to California for Supervised Visitation. This is also not true. There was a time I wanted you to do that but it was a long, long time ago…. And I had left you a ticket to go to California. Where you seem to get confused is that you have NOT been as severely restricted in Visitation as you claim… in fact you have visited 2 times and the first time was after this so called forced California Visitation rule. You even came to my home where you slept in MY bed and I prepared you and Jessica food. The second visit was December 2006 when you asked at the last minute to see Tirana and I took her out of school to accommodate your request…. It was your choice to only spend 45 minutes with her and then you continued on your journey to Florida.

Visitation was always open to you and encouraged… you chose and continue to chose NOT to visit or even call Tirana. ANY lack of Visitation or relationship with Tirana is on YOU…. I am her caretaker and you will just have to accept that if you ever want a relationship with her again… this is not a bully thing. It is a reality that I am her closest HUMAN friend. Which brings me to Baby… I have sent you 2 authorizations as well as to Frankie to talk with her psychologist… Baby is an important part of Tirana’s life and your failure (and Frankie’s) is a reason for your lack of communications with Tirana. Frankie has not heard from Tirana for over 6 months because of that issue and of course (the same as you) her lack of respect to me (basically disrespecting me to Tirana)

As far as Jessica is concerned in all this I will discuss it with Jessica IF she ever wants to… until then Jessica is NOT my concern especially in this communication

Infocom: It was registered in YOUR name… I could net even use the tax loss after our divorce or when we had to file separately.

Health Insurance: I specifically told the Judge at the FIRST hearing that I carried insurance on Tirana. She admonished me NOT to cancel it… which I did not… it was canceled because of other reasons and has since been reinstated…. YOU, however, are still required to pay one half of the non covered medical expanses… this is NON negotiable… your requirement to carry insurance on Tirana was not terminated in this last hearing… however I am at the point that I really do not care anymore… so you can do what you want! It is estimated that your HALF of the non-covered medical expenses amounts to roughly 2,500 per year or 50 dollars a week.

It is unclear if DOR attorney informed you of Tirana’s medical conditions. Mental health wise she is schizophrenic, autistic (various ASD diagnoses) and has impulse control disorder and recently spent a week in a psychiatric hospital where she wanted to hurt herself. The hospital puts a lot of that on you… but I feel it is from another place.

You know she has had no growth hormone since age 12… I will not point a finger at you for this…. But she seems to have other hormonal disorders we are trying to diagnose now that would cause her Cushing’s Disease physical symptoms but are not Cortisol related (distended abdomen, moon face, stretch marks all over her body with purple striations, etc) I am attempting to get her into Nemours Children’s Clinic to have a COMPLETE evaluation but our insurance is NOT being cooperative… besides I do not feel safe in Florida.

Simply 3 separate medical professionals have stated that Tirana would NEVR be completely self sufficient and will require care for the rest of her life… but you and I knew this years ago and discussed this at length the last few years we were together…. So trying to say otherwise will not change the facts that the Medical Community has formed a consensus on.

You have choices to make… the most important is whether you want to be a part of Tirana’s life or not. Know that I will ALWAYS be a part of her life and that I will make sure she always has her “daddy” and “Baby” and her other “children” for as long as she needs us. BEFORE you try to make contact with Tirana again I am insisting that you discuss Tirana with her psychologist BEFORE hand. Tirana is hurt with you lack of involvement in her life… there is no reasonable or legitimate excuse and blaming me is not factual or conducive to any reasonable resolution to this situation. I always remind her of what you were… and as far as what you have chosen to do and your lack of involvement I simply tell her you are not thinking straight…. That is the most reasonable explanation for her. It also allows her to welcome you back into her life again without the belief (at least what you are saying to people) that you hate me (Craig) more than you love her. That is not something that would make her feel better.

You have always had the freedom of choice, and while I disagree with your choices they are YOUR choices… and choices come with consequences… even for me. But please, stop telling lies about these past events… it does not serve you well to keep repeating these lies and disputing the truth and facts. It also makes any reconciliation (if it is even possible anymore) with Tirana more difficult.

Sorry to hear that you are so financially strapped… but to use Andy as an example of how terrible I am for getting Child support, just remember that WE were making money and Andy was not and we did not need his money…. Tirana needs your money… but she could have used your love and affection even more and that I cannot force you to live to her.

When your ready to make a real commitment to Tirana I will be willing to work with you… but everything will have to proceed slowly as she does not know you anymore and even she does not trust that you will make a real and concerted effort to me her mother for the long haul. That trust is no longer automatic and has to be earned… IF you are willing earn that with Tirana… then you will have my full support… until then we have to stay the current course.

Mehr Infos: klick hier

There have been few articles in this blog intended as a critique on the state of transportation in Tirana. Still, besides criticizing, as an architect and urban designer, one has to offer solutions, which are two roles that go hand in hand. In fact, the act of proposing something is a downright critique of reality, taking the ultimate position on an issue, whether endorsing the status-quo or proposing something new (going against the status-quo is actually the position coined as “critical” in academia).

The problems one faces with the transportation in Tirana are not simply design issues; most of them are managerial, economic and even political issues. At the same time I believe, nothing helps resolving problems more than having a footprint on things that one can and is obligated to do.

Yet, rather modest presentations in this blog, are a far cry for being solutions. They rather serve to approach more critically the proposals, or the lack of proposals for the transportation in Tirana. On the other hand, it is not through the critique itself, but rather through the reaction, or more precisely, the embracement of it – which in itself is a sign of health – that serves the system the most (ironically this reaction is the one lacking the most in actual political or bureaucratic system in Albania).

How does one look at the issues of transportation and urban design critically in Tirana, or any city, or historical center for that matter? Is there any model that can be easily applied?

Certainly not! And still, from the past experience, or known facts, one can make few assumptions about the city that can serve either as a starting point, or as a framework.

In my opinion two are the main problems one faces dealing with the transportation. First; the role of the transportation in defining the city, considering its capacity to reconstruct both activities and spaces in the city. Second; the homogenizing and sometimes contradictory nature of the infrastructure development in historic centers.

Although, the resolution of the transportation has the ability to frame the project, it is hardly what would drive the project’s ideas, especially when one considers the widening in the scope of urban design to historical and cultural issues. Yet, historical centers, as they are being surrounded by commercial infrastructure and autoroutes, transforming them towards more metropolitan or megalopolitan developments with ever growing relationship between the center and periphery, are made possible only through transportation infrastructure as a connecting platform. The choices on the type of transportation means that one can decide whether; to isolate, or open historic centers; to give access to public transportation, or to private one; to densify the usage of land, or not; to provide access to certain resources to different populations, or to deny them this access; to frame the landscape and the environment in order to preserve it, or allow access and rapid change; to promote certain activities against the others (for example: industrial vs. cultural), and so on.

But the development and choices on infrastructure do not always appear to be positive. The cultural and historical diversity of the city – the trend of development today – that the projects in historic centers pretend to promote, opens them to homogenizing commercial developments. Most of the time they reduce the architecture and urban design to image making, collapsing them under the weight of issues that can not be possibly controlled, such as politics, commerce and real-estate, which is to say that; the stand towards history and culture seems to have been used today as an excuse for commercial developments or even as far as to escape the social responsibility.

All these clearly make the infrastructure, not just a technical issue, but one that is strongly related to the larger vision of the city and the policies that govern over it, as one has to deal with its contradictory effects (necessity and homogeneity) on urban development in the historic centers. 

Linearity and autonomy 

Certainly the project for Tirana cannot be developed out of its context, and its particular problems. It cannot be developed without considering its relationship with other cities that, together, form the Albanian metropolis, Durrës, Elbasan, and Krujë. It cannot be conceived under the notion of the centralized development, envisioned by the totalitarian planning of communist period.  It has to take in the account several issues such as; the problems of density, the development around the axes of transportation, for both efficient transportation and efficient land-use, the public transportation takes priority in order to ensure density. It also has to take into account the problems of autonomous centers that, as they are reached by infrastructure, allow immediate access to green recreational areas framed by them (already an utopian idea considering the uncontrolled development that still goes on). It also has to take into account the distinguish characteristics of those centers, whether; industrial; semi-oriental; commercial; communist housing blocks; or new developments, that the autonomy can help to preserve.

When it comes to Scanderbeg Square being an intersection of main arteries, that serve as entrance and exit to the city, has been one of the most ignored facts. The constant introduction of ideologically motivated interventions, whether nationalist, fascist or communist; or simply the need to introduce an administrative presence almost a century ago, to the newly designated political center for what would be modern Albania, in a city otherwise dominated by more organic semi oriental structures and medieval morphology, has gradually shifted the focus of the space towards representation, so much so as everyone seemed to have forgotten its innate organizational role. Extending the linearity of the center to match that of the city, while creating multiple autonomous spaces (something that has to be explained in another writing), seems to be quite the opposite of the status-quo, of the homogenized scheme put forward by the Master-plan of 1988, borrowed again and again from any other proposal in the center. Instead of using the “small ring” to transfer the transportation and unifying and homogenizing the space on the center, the transportation is used instead to evoke the old historic center, reviving some of its old paths, and diversifying at the same time the means of transportation and the number of axes that one can reach the historic center. Two main directions from north-south and from east-west are all intersected in the center to be distributed in other points in the main directions whether in Kombinat, Kamez, or even Vore and Durres using the connection with interurban lines of transportations, a platform that suggests the relation that the revival of the historic center has with the development of the new metropolis.