SEC19 W5: “A change is as good as a holiday”

_{taken by my phone}

Hello steemians,

My son Yahya and I decided to do something different this time. Instead of spending our usual day at home or going for a walk around the area, we opted for a cultural adventure at the Orientalys festival, which took place in the Old Port of Montreal. It was a day that neither he nor I will soon forget.

As soon as we arrived at the Old Port, we were greeted by the vibrant atmosphere of the festival. The sun wasn’t quite out, but that didn’t dampen our enthusiasm. The slightly overcast sky added a mysterious touch to the city, and the fresh air put us in a good mood to explore all that the festival had to offer.

We started our day with a stroll through the streets adjacent to the Old Port. The old buildings, with their imposing architecture and ornate facades, stood majestically before us. Every street corner seemed to tell a story, and I enjoyed explaining to Yahya the history and significance of these historic buildings. He listened attentively, asking questions here and there, which showed his growing interest in history and culture.

Our first stop was in front of a large “I love MTL” sign. We took a souvenir photo, with the Ferris wheel in the background, an iconic symbol of the city. Yahya, as usual, smiled shyly for the camera, but I could see the excitement in his eyes. He was eager to see what the festival had in store for us.

As we headed towards the heart of the festival, we were drawn to a stage where a group of oriental musicians were performing. The sound of tambourines echoed in the air, and a crowd had gathered despite the light rain that was starting to fall. We pulled out our ponchos to protect ourselves from the rain, which added a little extra adventure to our outing. Yahya, dressed in his bright blue poncho, was all smiles, ready to brave the rain and enjoy the show.

The music was mesmerizing. The rhythm of the drums, the haunting melodies of the oud, and the powerful voices of the singers transported us to another world. The usually reserved Yahya began to sway to the music. I could see he was enjoying every moment, and it warmed my heart. This was one of those rare occasions when we could truly connect through a shared cultural experience.

After the concert, we explored the various booths of the festival. One of the highlights of our day was our visit to the calligraphy booth. There, an artist was demonstrating the art of persan calligraphy, with such precision and elegance that we were captivated. Yahya watched in fascination as the artist traced lines and curves, creating works of art from simple words. We even got to leave with a personalized calligraphy piece, a souvenir we will cherish for a long time.

As evening fell, the festival lights began to shine, creating a magical atmosphere. We walked under arches of decorative lights, each step bringing us closer to the end of our adventure. But before leaving, we took one last walk along the waterfront. Yahya posed for one last photo, this time with the lights reflecting on the water, a beautiful conclusion to a busy day.

The Orientalys festival was more than just an outing for us. It was an opportunity to discover a new culture, share moments of happiness and learn together. Yahya got to see with his own eyes the richness of cultural diversity, and I got to experience it through his amazed eyes. That day, we did something different, and it is an experience that I would recommend to anyone who wants to get out of their routine and explore the world around them.

As we drove home that night, I could tell that Yahya had enjoyed our day very much. He couldn’t stop talking about the music, the calligraphy, and the people he saw. It reminded me of the importance of these moments, of getting out of our daily routine and discovering new things together. Our visit to the Orientalys festival will certainly not be our last, and I’m already looking forward to what the next adventure has in store for us.

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Thank you very much for reading, it's time to invite my friends @khursheedanwar, @stream4u, @patjewell to participate in this contest.

Best Regards,
@kouba01