 When one of the Italian volunteers suggested going to the first pride ever in Rieti I got confused. The first feeling that I had was excitement – because I fancied the idea of being part of such a historical event. I felt that my and my friends’ presence would make a real difference. Before coming to Italy I had never been to the pride simply because we have never had one in my country. My first pride was in Rome in June. It was one of the most uplifting experiences in my life. For the first time, I physically felt that I belonged. After this experience, I was expecting that Rieti Pride would even accelerate those feelings and remind me the importance of pride, self-love, and acceptance.
The second feeling was a shock – it came from the realization that even in Italy there are cities where people have not yet felt comfortable enough to come out in the streets, show their pride, and celebrate themselves. I don’t even know why I was so surprised. Maybe because coming from a more conservative country, I have always imagined western Europe to be the lighthouse of equality and inclusion. Of course, I knew that not everything was perfect there, but I guess I needed to believe such notions to build up my spirit and keep the hope for the better future of my own country. When my friends and I arrived, there were a few people gathered. I was a bit disappointed. I am not sure in whom though. After an hour or so, the crowd started to get relatively bigger and I was back in spirit. Then the speeches started. With my little Italian and the help of my friends, I understood a bit of what the speakers were talking about. Unfortunately, it turned out that the mayor of Rieti was opposed to such “Gay propaganda” that pride organizers were advocating for. He publicly denounced the event and declined to be the guest. After hearing this I felt like my presence was even more important. Such hatred in the top positions of government shows that the problem is far from solved. It also proves the importance of attending the pride. Homophobic sentiments that dominate politics perpetuate existing hatred toward the LGBTQ+ community. It puts us in an even more vulnerable position to harassment, assault, or murder. The statistics are loud and clear. Italy has the highest murder rate of transgender individuals in Europe.*1 “Along with Switzerland, it also remains the only country in Western Europe where gay couples still cannot get married or jointly adopt, and it stands at 35th out of 49 European and Central Asian countries on ILGA’s 2021 survey assessing the situation for the LGBT community.”*2 Transgender and non-binary individuals are the most marginalized and easy targets for such hatred. Sometimes they are even pushed away from the LGBTQ+ community since the usual narrative is dominated by part of the gay community who in the attempt to integrate into the society often neglects the importance of Transgender and non-binary individuals’ contribution in the struggle to end the oppression. We forget that by protecting the most marginalized we go so much closer to equality. Elitism in activism is something we should talk more about. Unless our fight includes lifting up the ones in the most need, we will never escape the oppression cycle. In all these questions and chaos in my mind after listening to the speakers highlighting the problems and the importance of having pride, I realized how much I could relate to all of it. I realized that even in the heart of Europe, people had to experience this much hatred because of their gender or sexual identities. It wasn’t new but it was disappointing. Now when I reflect on this issue, it all makes sense. Depending on the existence of our intersectional privileges, some of us have to carry a heavier burden, some of us lighter. It does not in any way diminish the worth of our personal experiences. It only acknowledges different circumstances that either help us or prevent us from facing certain issues. But no matter where you live or what kind of privilege you have, there is a common struggle that we all are part of. This is the struggle against white heteropatriarchy. This fight is not only for minorities but for all of us because the only way for our society to progress and flourish is if it values diversity, equality, and inclusiveness. I stopped at one place for a minute to observe people around me. I wanted to feel the moment and remember. One person standing alone with the pride flag in their hand. Children dancing around their parents with rainbow paints on their cheeks. Drag queen with a shiny dress proudly walking in the crowd. Lesbian couples with floral tiaras on their heads kissing each other. Some wearing black, some pink or purple. All the colors were there. All kinds of people were there. Gay, Bi, straight, or trans, it did not matter. What mattered was that we all were standing up for something. Something bigger than us. Nika Tatoshvili Resources: 1. https://www.euronews.com/2021/08/09/how-a-bill-to-fight-homophobia-has-polarised-italy-and-sparked-a-culture-war 2. https://www.euronews.com/2021/08/09/how-a-bill-to-fight-homophobia-has-polarised-italy-and-sparked-a-culture-war
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Slovakia is a small country situated in Central Europe. Known for its breathtaking landscape, scenic hiking trails, and dozens of caves, it is an ideal destination for outdoor lovers. History enthusiasts will be equally pleased to visit while discovering medieval towns and elegant chateaus all around the country.  Enjoying the rafting during the sunny days. Slovakia is a country of thousands of shapes. Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia, is a city filled with old-world charm, mysterious architecture, and outside cafes. When walking through the streets of the old town, one will notice the ubiquitous cultural heritage brimming with unusual stories from the former communist-era along with modern architecture bringing Slovakia to the 21st century. Known for its underground beauty, Slovakia has a stunning and diverse underworld. There are over 2400 caves in Slovakia, and the new ones are being discovered constantly. Few spectacular caves worth seeing include Demänovská Cave or Dobšinská Ice Cave, listed in the UNESCO Heritage List.  High Tatras, Slovakia´s tallest mountains. Slovak nature will immediately win one over with its versatility. Large forests are full of life, majestic peaks, and deep valleys show unbelievable diversity in such a small area. Over 40% of Slovakia is covered with forest, making the land one of the most forested countries in Europe. The High Tatras are the country's tallest and the only complete alpine range. Still, they are considered to be the smallest mountains in the world.
The legacy of the ancestors is represented in folk architecture conservation areas and open-air museums, in particular Čičmany village. The village is recognized for its original log houses with the traditional pattern of white ornaments. Street after street is painted with folk art. As a country small in size, but huge in possibilities, Slovakia is unquestionably worth visiting. Natália Wirthová  The image of the city is composed by the structure: the architecture, the plan of the city, the nature inside; and the culture: people that you can meet there, events that you can visit. For me Rome was always the city of tourists, because of them I couldn’t feel a connection with the real history of this place, to enjoy its beauty. Also, in general it was too chaotic for me. But during the last months I had the possibility to discover for myself its soul, to notice special places that take you back in time. Can you imagine Fountain of Trevi without flashes of cameras everywhere and waiting in a line just to get closer? I had the opportunity to experience this and it was incredible! I even had time to think in silence about my wish to throw the coin in the fountain. Of course Rome has lost the breathing of the big city with all these events about everything, where you can meet anybody you wish, but now you can feel the wind of past years, it became a kind of time machine for me. Being closed outside made me more attentive and sensible to the details around me. Before Rome was a possibility for new contacts, now it’s or a dialogue between the city and me, or a meeting with old friends. The perception of the city is now on another level, it became more philosophical, more intimate. Rome by itself became my old friend, with whom we share our memories, thoughts and emotions. Author: Victoria Images captured by drones show the streets of the world empty by the coronavirus.
Barcelona is a city like no other. Football, Sangria, beaches, sun, and rich history are some of the words that come to people’s minds when they think about this incredible place. There is a special vibe that gives the city its own unique identity. It is no surprise that Hans Christian Andersen remarked Barcelona as the “Paris of Spain” on his visit in 1862. Are you ready to learn some intriguing facts about this marvelous place?  Helping to create the high gardens within the shared garden in Roccantica What makes Barcelona so extraordinary is its people. We are an open-minded, welcoming, and diverse community. What defines us culturally is our blend of the Spanish and Catalan culture, along with various minority groups. Did you know we have Catalan and Spanish as official languages? All our public education is indeed in Catalan, a fact that few people are aware of! We have several funny traditions such as Sant Jordí and Castellers. My favorite of which is the “Caga Tió”, a piece of wood that poops presents on Christmas Day. Talking about Barcelona without mentioning FC Barça is almost a crime! An interesting detail is that we are home to the largest stadium in Europe called Camp Nou! You might have heard that Barcelona is known for being one of the best beach cities in the world. There is infectious laidback energy flowing all around. But to make it more appealing, did you know the pretty-looking beaches used to be rocky wasteland not so long ago? For that matter, the beaches were created for the Barcelona Olympics in 1992, importing the sand from Egypt. Parc Güell, Casa Batlló, and la Padrera represent just a little taste of the unique architecture scene within Barcelona. Have you heard that the construction of the UNESCO World Heritage Sagrada Família is still incomplete? It’s taking way longer to build than the Egyptian Pyramids!  The subtle beauty of Barcelona. These are some of the many fascinating facts about my hometown. If you are excited to discover more, I encourage you to hit the road and make your own picture of this vibrant and sunny city.
I will finish with a few words from a famous Ed Sheeran song: “Just close your eyes and let’s pretend we’re dancing in the streets of Barcelona”. Hanna Vila Kais- |
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