Ramadan 2022
Market alleyways in the old city, April 2022
An adventure from start to finish.
It was the last semester of undergraduate studies when I was planning to go on a trip. Usually, as per tradition with most (and I must add - privileged) graduating students in North America, this entails going on what is known as the “backpacking across Europe” trip.
But for some reason, doing a trip to Europe just didn’t seem appealing. It had been a stressful final semester, with many deadlines and due dates falling in more or less the same week; I am sure at one point I felt that I pretty much lived in the library.
So I thought, ‘what would really be a treat’ after such a stressful but fulfilling final semester. Ramadan, the annual Muslim holiday was approaching, and as many practicing Muslims in the world would be fasting and observing the nightly prayers, I was curious what the Ramadan ambiance would be like in the East.
After all, we are used to seeing Christmas, Easter, Halloween decorations and even seasonal décor for fall and spring, but I had always wondered about the Ramadan atmosphere in other countries. And thus began my trip in Ramadan 2022.
Arc de Triomphe, Paris 2022
Paris was my first stop for this adventure. In Paris I was able to explore the beautiful architecture, cafes and museums, and of course take lots of pictures.
A Collection of Beautiful Moments in Paris
Final Day in Paris
What I enjoyed most about the stay in Paris was seeing the beautiful architecture and meeting Parisians from different backgrounds, including Africans and North Africans (Algerians, Tunisians, Libyans, Moroccans, etc).
The Mediterranean
After completing my layover in Paris, I then headed to my next destination, which was a beautiful Muslim town by the Mediterranean. Here I explored old market alleyways, selling everything from fresh fruit to beautiful dresses; I sipped tea by the beach before dawn as it was already Ramadan by this point and met and chatted with locals. Kind and hospitable strangers were definitely a highlight. What stood out to me how seamlessly the Islamic influences in the architecture interweaved with ancient buildings, gardens, alleyways, markets and alleyways, all adding to a lovely enriching experience.
Mediterranean 2022
The small town was by the sea and had mosques and beautiful architecture lining the shore; featured in the image here is a public fountain decorated with mosaic tiles and artwork/patterns.
Gallery - Mediterranean Moments
Memorable Videos
Smiles from the Old Town captured during a stroll in the alleyways.
Street shop selling fabrics with indigenous patterns, hand-crafted goods, local artisan work and souvenirs. The owner was kind enough to gift me a small pouch as I browsed his shop.
Beautiful landscape whilst on a taxi ride back to the city.
Gathering to open fast
Suffice to say that Ramadan 2022 was special. It increased my perspective on the world and introduced me to beautiful and kind people I would have never otherwise met.
As for the Ramadan ambiance, I truly feel that it was something I had missed for a long time. To finally see Ramadan being so openly celebrated and collectively experienced, to seeing Muslims greeting each other on the streets and distributing food to break the fasts, to praying together in the evenings and feasting and laughing all night, it was all so beautiful.
Of course, there were difficult moments too; travelling when fasting and being sleepy and dehydrated throughout the day, but all of that is gone when we all gathered in the evening together to break our fasts and share laughter and food.
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