Found Peru in the Dutch Havana
Ok. I checked into my blog last night. And checked out the drafts. There are 2 posts hanging in the virtual notebook of my life since last May, waiting to be finished and pulished. What a shame...
If I had time....!
Although, I have.
Plenty.
I don't think I'll ever have more time (not in my next few decades at least) for myself than these days - unless I am made redundant. Quite unlikely but may happen. Nowadays anything like this can happen. For instance, a(n ex) collegue of mine, around 30 was "fired" last week, with a one day notice - I am not exactly sure how severe mistake he had made. I don't think he made any serious one to be honest - this is just the way things happen today when you are not the one in power.
At work, in life, in love.
Sometimes there is no sign at all of an upcoming bad turn. A break-in, break-up, an illness, a loss. Sometimes it just happens. You can never be ready for it.
But the good news is: the opposite is also true.
Sometimes there is no sign whatsoever of an upcoming good turn. But surprisingly enough: you may not be ready for it either.
Still, the only thing to do: go with the flow.
Well, exactly what I did when last Summer (2012) I signed up for the trip to my dream destination, to Peru (I know, I know no blog about it.... still in the pipeline) to spend 2 weeks with people I never met before. What are the chances to find friends there and keep in touch? And still....
Yep. Life is good!
I then moved back to the Contient a few months ago and became country neighbours with my Dutch friends. After a trip to Bretagne last May (yes, post in the pipeline) we happened to meet up for a weekend in the Dutch riviera village: Scheveningen, just next to The Hague, mid October.
Now the 2/3 of the post title makes sense, let me briefly explain the last bit.
So I drove over on a Friday evening right after work - a mere 2 hours drive from Brussels as I managed to avoid rush hours. What a planning: we arrived just in time for our dinner, with 1 min gap. Never worse planning! After sorting out the crucial car park issue (not obvious and quite expensive: 18€ for 24hrs) we were heading out for dinner to Crazy Pianos bar on the beach (no, no more 25 degrees to sit out) with live music (2 pianos, a drummer, a cellist, good food, great fun) with litres of (free) beer in the middle of the night (how come??), public dancing and singing of international and Dutch tunes (well, how to say... :) ), staff dancing on the pianos (or sort of on a "stage" inbetween) and instead of the usual condoms, mini-vibrators to be purchased from the lady's room's vending machines. Only seen it, of course! This is Holland. I meant to mark this point. Makes a big difference.
Our night ended rather sober around 2 pm, in bed by 3 pm. Don't asked what happened inbetween as hotel was only 5 mins walk from the bar. At this time of the night everything takes time. :) Saturday started with a big breakfast around 10am, late for my friends early for me (and now I know the Dutch love putting the little chocolate crumbles,that my Dad used to call "egérszar" ("mouse shit"), on the slices of bread, well girls, enjoy :) I rather stirred it into the morning capuccino... at least I don't see it :)
So. Stomach filled, we hopped on to train No.9 and 15 mins later we found ourselves in the middle of the Hagues. Pretty! The day promised to be chilly and sunny but it did not last. The sunny bit. We still made the most out of it with a long walk in the downtown (linked to some shopping) until we got chased into a café to get some rest, warm, drink, food. Great place overlooking a great store: the Sting! (no, nothing to do with the singer) we stayed there until being gently dropped out (politely asked to order some food, as dinner time, or to leave) so we decided to get back to Scheveningen and the Crazy Pianos.
As a Hungarian saying goes: "Ember tervez, Isten végez" ("Man proposes, God disposes"). Planning is certainly one thing - re intro of this post. Horrendous rainfall prevented us from getting back to the tram.... so we literally ran into the first bar on the horizon. Named Havana. Funny coincidence, as I am planning a trip there soon. Great latino atmosphere, pity no salsa dancing - well no dancing at all before midnight.
We had some food, chat over some cocktails and glasses of wine, great fun and great time. I am still amazed how we can be connected at this point of after such a short (although intense) time spent together. We all recall that trip as an experience to remember, individually, which makes it something even more special.
Havana released us at around midnight, just in time to catch one of the last trams back to Scheveningen (still can't pronounce correctly this word). All ready for the party, well, not exactly, but 66.6%, which is majority and a perfect % for a good night out :)
D brought a magic suitcase with plenty of dresses miraculously fitting me too. After an hour of improvised fashion show, accompagnied by a glass of red, styliste counseling and make-up advise, just like in your twenties (not that much in mine), we got ready....
.... and then woke up!! Roughly 2 hours later!!
Lying in our beds, all dressed up, just ready to go.
Well, that's a huge difference being in your thirties vs your twenties. There you actually went out after getting dressed up for a party. Not only teasing yourself with a promising night out! Out of question falling asleep instead! Jayz' let's face it girls, we are not getting any younger... not to say old!! :)
So between 2 bursts out in tears & laughters we swapped heels to slippers, dresses to pyjamas, and the wine bottle just opened (and hardly touched) to a glass of water and a toothbrush.
Then off to bed. For real.
At this age, you need to take it easy and not to overplan your days. Especially your nights!
Just make sure you get your 8 hours sleep a day (/night) so you can start anew with new adventures.
That's exactly what we did. ... and had a great Sunday with a long, sunny walk on the beach (with some scarf hunting, unfortunately never found... :( ) amongst running kids, dogs and families: bit of kitsch, but we all loved it (have I said we'd getting old ?? :))
After a brief visit to Mini Holland (Madurodam) where I got 2 pairs of wooden clogs (klomp) for the price of one from the local "mini- manufactura" (long story) we went for our "last supper".
Not having a clue where to eat but being lucky enough of finding a parking spot just in front of a "tastes of the world" restaurant we were delighted, again, by God's will. Except that the place was reserved for some private event for middle aged people, mostly men... who were kindda sad seeing us 3 young ladies leave after 5 minutes of "negotiations". I am sure they would have agreed on us to stay :)
Anyhow, our "last" supper was rather empty and sad, true reflection of our inner state of mind and feelings... so we decided to meet every 3 months from now on, as half a year, between so close "neighbours", is a bit of a shame.
We'll see where and when, but I know it will happen because we all would want it. That's all that matters. That's how you can tell friends apart from people you just randomly met.
That makes the whole difference in life.
Take care girls. Daaaaaaag!
PPS: pictures may come later, problems of down/uploading... ah, IT!!
Megjegyzések