wanderingzo-blog

[wanderingzo-blog]

In the end, my 4 weeks in Aqaba we’re not at all what I had expected — doing a work exchange at a diving hotel cleaning the rooms (instead of teaching yoga or helping guests), spending my evenings in semi-isolation looking at this beautiful desert-mountain-sea view (instead of taking language classes or a social life), growing insanely tired of falafel and hummus, and speaking much less Arabic than I had anticipated. Aqaba Adventure Divers gave me some challenges, but also time to reflect, appreciate my blessings, and many lessons — like on how to live with cockroaches; that the best way to kill a mosquito is with a flip flop (called ‘shibshib’ in Arabic); why use napkins or utensils when you can use bread?; language can’t be absorbed like a sponge, it takes work and initiative; and I don’t want to live in a place where they don’t eat salad. But I leave Jordan not with any distain, I’m full of gratitude for the experience which in the end taught me a lot about myself, introduced me to kind new friends, brought me further along my journey of understanding the diversity of the human experience, led me to a new adventure under the sea, and let my creativity emerge in a mural for the hotel, my legacy after a one month residency. 🙏🏽✨ https://www.instagram.com/p/Brj-4c9HQk0/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=4sp2i5w0w0n9

[wanderingzo-blog]

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Zoë Elena - Ζωή - حياة (@zoeelena.yoga)

I lil bit of yoga for the ‘gram ✨ #travelingyogi #anjanayasana #bakasana #yoga #yogi #vinyasa #flow #Petra #Jordan (at Al Deir Monastery, Petra, Jordan) https://www.instagram.com/p/BrIs9r4Hgzk/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=k269hebkmhsu

[wanderingzo-blog]

And a quick stop in Amman! 💛 I love observing the big city bustle but it can definitely be overwhelming at times, particularly as a woman traveling alone in a culture where men take up so much space — GRATEFUL for the friends I’ve met here for showing me true hospitality, and for my own self awareness that let me take a day to stay on the couch and watch Netflix when I knew I had enough of the outside world https://www.instagram.com/p/BrIr1DxHDjW/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=blvffphrfu2c

[wanderingzo-blog]

📍Petra, Jordan Maybe the most touristy place I’ve ever been — but a must see location. It’s unbelievable the way humans have shaped nature to meet our needs while still maintaining the beauty of the natural state of our earth, honoring the earth while also expressing a sense of mastery over it. A place that challenges you physically in the amount of space there is to explore, and mentally as you contemplate the question how did they do it?! The pieces of the picture: The orange waves in the rock that look like they must be painted on - The black birds whistling in communication - The cracks in the walls that resemble the lines of Arabic script - Subtle and not so subtle signs of ancient life - Brief moments of solitude as a wave of tourists moves out of sight - The tree sprouting out of bare stone - The puppy that’s pink like the rocks, and her brother that’s brown like the earth, both fussing for attention and food - The distant sound of donkey cries and the splashing of my water bottle keeping me company as I find myself alone, off the path, above the chaos of below, under the hot December sun of the desert https://www.instagram.com/p/BrCs-QUH3Sy/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=19ocq51kfyk6x

[wanderingzo-blog]

I’m always ready to explore ✨ https://www.instagram.com/p/Bq2rDnYnjeA/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1iekaj755vkmo

[wanderingzo-blog]

📍#Aqaba, Jordan Big shout out to RyanAir for this adventure — I’ve found myself back in the Middle East for the next few weeks! https://www.instagram.com/p/BqmpRx3nSAY/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=ewlu79n4wr36

[wanderingzo-blog]

📍Berlin, Germany A quick little pit stop in autumn to visit some of my favorite people — I’ll definitely be going back soon (at Berlin, Germany) https://www.instagram.com/p/BqmowBNnpsY/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1wp4wasxulwyb

[wanderingzo-blog]

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Zoë Elena - Ζωή - حياة (@zoeelena.yoga)

✌🏽💛 https://www.instagram.com/p/BqaUuvGHit7/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=11fzrww3ivqbt

[wanderingzo-blog]

Some moments of happiness ✨ (at Essaouira) https://www.instagram.com/p/BqI4lxgH3RA/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=l3bzlun1ferj

[wanderingzo-blog]

📍Taghazout, Morocco Taghazout was a getaway, disconnecting from the real world because the wifi never worked and time didn’t really exist (for about a week the whole country was stuck in a space of not knowing what was the “real time” because the government decided to change the time zone to GMT+1 without informing the rest of the world), but it didn’t seem to matter in the end. I fell asleep to the sound of the crashing waves and woke up to the colors of sunrise and the crow of a rooster. I fell back into hostel life — no plans except for eventually going to the beach, 4 solo travelers became an inseparable group of friends, finding the cheapest food, squeaking bunk beds, and strange Moroccan characters to gossip about. This town was different than many other Moroccan towns I’d been to, Berber/Amazigh is the primary language spoken in the community, tourism is new and street renovations are trying to catch up, you can’t find an atm, supermarket, or chain store of any kind, surfers walk through the streets barefoot in wetsuits. But small towns always surprise you — like when we walked into the most poppin Halloween party I never would’ve expected. My week here was perfect — no expectations or plans, beach soccer full of laughs, sweet mint tea brought right to you in the sand, hills to hike up to watch the town below, and swimming in the ocean at sunset. Thank you, Taghazout ✨ https://www.instagram.com/p/BqGH2MKHFx3/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1awcgrayfuqba

[wanderingzo-blog]

📍Marrakesh, Morocco So happy to be back ❤️ https://www.instagram.com/p/BpkUiQRH7jV/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=16qthucl1shoy

[wanderingzo-blog]

Things I loved about Rome: that so many beautiful landmarks were all within walking distance, the cobblestone streets and tall buildings that open up to a blue sky, intricate and artistic architecture that makes the whole city feel like a museum, the #TreviFountain with all the attention to detail and the way the shadows brought the work to life, the best pesto pizza I’ve ever had, and the #AndyWarhol exhibit filled with color, social commentary, and a view of the beauty of queerness in the 70s. Such an incredible place! (at Rome, Italy) https://www.instagram.com/p/BpeTdDWBsXk/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=wq4phj5h33xi

[wanderingzo-blog]

We arrived in Rome on a Sunday afternoon, welcomed by a thunderstorm that soon turned into hail. We found refuge under a €5 umbrella and in a pasta restaurant. Still had fun, though! Here’s just a taste of the storm at #PiazzaVenezia (at Rome, Italy) https://www.instagram.com/p/BpcARulBn1u/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1czpkjou20fjt

[wanderingzo-blog]

📍Rome, Italy A city perfect for wandering — I fell in love with the colors and shapes, was ready to walk for hours (at Colosseo, Roma, Italia) https://www.instagram.com/p/BpaaPLeh6vr/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1k8oxca8czthm

[wanderingzo-blog]

📍Athens, Greece I love it here (at Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center) https://www.instagram.com/p/BpFv9Z5BHoX/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=g6aiv4muy756

[wanderingzo-blog]

The serene little life we had for 3 days in St. Paul’s Bay was perfect — from the outrageous storm that passed over, to the comforting sound of the family of ducks that lived in the port below. Malta truly encompasses the island life I’m used to of beachfront small towns with a cluster of hotels and casinos, fishing boats in the harbor, and palm trees lining the sidewalks. Old buildings from a far off time, looking like military fortresses, walls a golden orange, dramatic rocky coves — but contrasted by high rise hotels, construction cranes, and unfinished housing complexes. Nothing is more comforting to me than seeing the sun glisten off the calm sea. Riding on the bus through the hills and towns I’m reminded of both Morocco and Greece, no surprise there as it sits right between the two places and I’m sure has been influenced by both. Maltese is a language that to my ear sounds like a mix of Arabic, Greek, and Italian with something else mixed in that I can’t quite pinpoint, beautifully jumbled and complex. I’m grateful to have been given this little window into a new world, one so strange and yet so familiar. (at Malta) https://www.instagram.com/p/BpC173kBbLY/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=ujod86qj4hr6

[wanderingzo-blog]

📍Malta New island, same Zo https://www.instagram.com/p/Bo-QuWphfMg/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=130jub14ukfz3