Dogodivščine na nizki zemlji

is a must, of course.
We were extremely lucky with the weather. The days we spent in Leiden were mostly rainy and depressing, while the days we set out travelling were sunny and most beautiful.











This banner beautifully shows what the area of the present central train station looked like centuries ago. The area was a port and most of Amsterdam that is now streets and roads was once canals.







From the station, we strolled into the city along many a canal.




















It might strike you as a joke, the way I placed the statue of Rembrandt in the Rembrandt Square in Amsterdam overlooking the Smokey coffeeshop, but in reality, it is exactly the same. Really, hahaha. Is it now the look of approval, disapproval or craving, we'll never know, hahaha. However, he does seem a bit stoned already, not minding that pigeon on his head.





Bicycles are central in the Netherlands, that's a fact. So this kind of street art is quite a logical consequence too, isn't it?
Hanging toys in a tree, on the other hand ... I don't know but it looks rather cruel to me.



















Wandering the streets of Amsterdam, you can see plenty of interesting things, places (boats-turned-houses) and people. For example, this man caught my attention straight away. A somewhat mad scientist figure or an eccentric history teacher with a folder in one hand and a cigarette (a cigar would have been even better for the image) in the other.



















One day, I took Irena to this coffee place Bagels&Beans in Leiden, just to get something to eat. She loved it so much that that cafe' became our haven from the commotion and bustle of the city in every place we visited.
















A stop in one of numerous souvenir shops fits the role of the tourist.
















Speaking of various interesting figures in the capital, I'd like you to listen to this guy. He was sitting on the pavement at the Damrak (the main street leading from the central station to the center - the Dam). The sounds he produced with that 'dish' (I don't want to sound disrespectful. I really don't know the name of that instrument) were simply amazing and the whole atmosphere was enchanting. We couldn't but stop and listen. In the hustle and bustle of the city, he created an oasis of peace and delight. Not that I don't like a vibrant city life. On the contrary. It felt good back then, though. To just stop and listen for a minute or two.

Early September I returned to the Low Lands and this time I brought my sister with me. :)

It actually felt like home, coming back. I've really got used to being here.







When we finally arrived to Schiphol Airport (after almost 3 hours delay), I rushed to the famous yellow machines, got us train tickets and off we were. Where to? To the West (west is the best!), to Leiden Lammenschans (a train station closer to my flat than Leiden Centraal).












By the time we arrived to my flat, it was already night. Our flight back in Treviso was delayed, so we arrived several hours later than planned. As you can see, Irena didn't have any problems with that. Smiling, eager to travel and to get to know new things, she posed for me in front of a Dutch yellow-blue train.






I, on the other hand (and on the other photo), was completely exhausted and waited (like I had done for the whole day already) just to get to my cosy little kingdom.

My dear friends!
It's been a while ...
I think it's high time I make it up to you all. And since I've completely neglected the non-Slovenian speaking share of my friends, I've decided to only write in English (or Dutch) from now on.

I have to admit I behaved like a child. When I got this blog (got cos my nephew created it for me so I shouldn't get any credits for it), I was all excited like children about their new toys. But then, once they get tired of them or get new one toys, they dump the old ones. That's approximately what happened to me and my blog. Not that I got another blog, hahaha, I just kind of got tired of writing I guess. I'd say that could be reason no. 1.
Reason no. 2 would then be me getting tired of computer and not wanting to spend free time at the computer since I use it for study as well as for work.
And reason no. 3 - extremely difficult to admit - I've turned pretty lazy lately.
Reason no. 4 is also not to be neglected - though I am usually the one who says you can always find time for the things you like if you really want to - I've been pretty busy lately.

I guess I turned lazy back home in Slovenia when on vacation at the end of August/beginning of September. No wonder. I was being pampered by my family and friends and mostly spent the time partying.
That August day when I arrived home was extremely hot. I couldn't stop sweating. And I loved it, hahaha.
Welcome at home was perfect - my family, sunflowers and a CAKE! Yeah!




I'm enclosing the following two photos for two special reasons, let alone they feature two of my most special people. First, for the hill/mountain behind my sister and me! Note that I've been living in the Netherlands for the past year. And second, for the difference in tan between my sister and me, and especially between my nephew and me. So, in case you didn't believe me when I said it had been one sad summer in Holland. Behold, the proof! :)

Po dolgem času se spet malo oglašam. Po enomesečni monotoniji dela za računalnikom sem se včeraj namreč spet malo podala v 'svet', kar bi mogoče bilo vredno omembe.

Saj ne da ogled romantičnega filma s tremi moškimi ni omembe vreden, hahaha. Nasprotno! In pa odlična kuharija mojih cimrov, ki me kar razvajajo. Pa klepet s cimrom, ki se je vrnil iz Slovenije in bil navdušen nad njo in šel na Triglav in celo dobil tak certifikatič, da je bil gor, in sploh. Tudi občasno igranje nogometa je nadvse zabavno, še posebej, če je zraven še košarkaško igrišče in lahko v pavzi mečeš na koš. Da ne govorim o enem ali dveh dneh ma mesec, ko je zapalilo sonce in sem ga z vso močjo objela in pustila, da me prežarči skozi in skozi. Kdo ve, kdaj bo spet taka šansa. (Danes gotovo ne, saj pošteno pada in piha!)

Vse to ima svoj čar in zame VELIKO vrednost, saj sem drugače ta mesec bolj ali ne sama. Tako da veliko pomeni, če se občasno pojavi kak cimer ali cimra in z njimi lahko poklepetam.


Drugače pač človek razvije navidezna prijateljstva, hahaha, tako kot sem ga jaz z legendarnim Heathom Ledgerjem, hahaha. Od prijateljice sem za rojstni dan namreč dobila njegov poster in zdaj kraljuje nad mojo pisalno mizo. To je bilo res izjemno presenečenje! Ob tem lahko najdete na steni tudi svoje kartice. Voščilnice stojijo na eni polici, tako da nič bat, če svoje ne dobite. Vse zelo cenim!

Sploh pa je šok, če pride en dan totalno nepričakovano paket, ki je dejansko zate. Sem namreč v preteklem mesecu prevzela kar nekaj paketov za druge in zato res nisem pomislila na nič drugega, ko je en dan pozvonilo pri vratih in je poštar rekel: 'Pakeeet!' Ampak, ko sem vprašala, za katero številko je, je stričko rekel 836 in mi kar ni bilo jasno. Tako da sem se komaj zmogla podpisati, hahaha.
Ja, človek se v osamljenih in monotonih dneh nauči ceniti res veliko stvari. :) Naj na tem mestu vendarle poudarim - da ne bo nepotrebnih skrbi -, da sem res ok, čeprav precej utrujena.

Ampak ajde, a ne ponavadi res pišem o čem bolj senzacionalnem ... Čeprav ja, imate prav: sem senzacionalna sama po sebi, hahaha. Uuuuu, a je komu zrasel ego?! Hihihihi.



Torej, včeraj sem s par Slovenkami šla na ogled 'ladijskega' spektakla v Amsterdam - Sail Amsterdam. Enkrat na toliko let pridejo v amsterdamsko pristanišče starinske/zgodovinske ladje z raznih koncev Evrope in najbrž tudi s sveta. Nekatere vozijo naokrog, nekaj pa jih je zasidranih in greš lahko tudi gor. Neverjetno koliko ladij, koliko jamborov, vrvi, jader. Veličastno! Bi kar postal mornar ali pirat. Te kar prevzame vzdušje iz Pirati s Karibov.


Poleg ladij smo ženske seveda opazile še vse možno in senzacija dneva je bila gotovo restavracija Fifteen slavnega Jamieja Oliverja, ki smo jo odkrile na promenadi.









Sploh je bilo super, ker sem spoznala še en nov del Amsterdama, ki ga običajno človek na obišče, ker gre za bolj stanovanjsko naselje. To je otok Java, ki se nahaja za železniško postajo na reki IJ. In bilo je nadvse fascinantno videti zasidrane ladje, ki so se preobrazile v stanovanja/hiše, zanimivo arhitekturo in vse možne alternativne uporabe odvečnih cevi in odpadnega materiala.
Nadvse je pašalo iti malo ven iz Leidna in vnesti v ta mesec dan-je-enak-dnevu malo novega vetra v jadra.









Finalno razbitje monotonije pa je že na vidiku. No, je res, začenja se novo šolsko leto in cimri se bodo vrnili v mesto. Jaz pa mislim te dni na drugo vrnitev. Čez nekaj dni prihajam namreč na obisk v domovino. Med 26. avgustom in 7. septembrom bom 'obiskljiva' na svojem domačem naslovu in dosegljiva na stacionarnem telefonu, v kolikor seveda sploh bom doma.
Na snidenje!