All The Right Places

[got-lost-wandering]

Through the window: Montpellier - Nîmes

As the plane approaches the coast, I can already see the ground much darker yellow and green with many brown tones, barely any water.

Blue haze over the sea, green-blue water with yachts, swamps with land almost in water.

Terrain is completely different: grass burnt from sun, houses from brown and yellow cement.

While we drive through Montpellier suburbs to the train station I look at the old buildings. I take the train to Nîmes and as soon as we leave the city I can notice typical dusty soil, trees and wineyards. 

While the heat is uncomfortable to travel in non air-conditioned train, I still like the feeling of it and realise how much I missed the mild wind and this soft warmth that settles on the skin. I also think that I should try to travel more by train/car because I love watching the typical landscape and see how it changes throughout places. I don’t even put my headphones in, the humming of the train feels really relaxing.

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[got-lost-wandering]

Notes from another time in Paris

After I dropped the luggage off, I head out for some lunch but show up at the place where I have a dinner reservation later that night. Safe to say I find another cute place for lunch and the dinner restaurant becomes one of my favourite restaurants in all of Paris - Pouliche!

Musee Gustav Moreau - small but nice old house with a lot of his works and beautiful staircase (pretty sure I saw the staircase on instagram and came only for that)

Lafyette- absolutely stunning decorations; terrace with great view but average bar

Mariage Frères tea shop - like a museum, they still use old scales

Laduree macaroon and coffee - I take that away to Jardins du Toulleries and sit down feeling like a real Parisian

Walk towards Eifel Tower

Bd de magenta - all wedding clothing stores

Rue du fauburg st. Denis - esp buzzing at night but also during the day; 

Old parisian bistros and cafes, beautiful style

Monmartre in the morning, get mildly harrased; busy around sacre coeur; walk past cemmetery and then south from there

Pompidou with its mind-blowing collection of modern and contemporary art; esp great timing due to Yves Saint Laurent exhibit - clothes next to art it inspired...

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The view from the Top of the Rock

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First hour in NYC / train ride from JFK

Stream of consciousness as I feverishly ride the train to midtown Manhattan only to not pick up my phone and note anything down in the next 6 days.

I take the AirTrain from JFK to midtown and while some of my excitement disappeared at the long border wait of one hour, I get excited again when I see the skyline of all the skyscrapers. Being used to european sizes, US surprises with a lot and big everything. Starting with my train to the centre. My transit takes me through Jamaica station, and while the cold draft numbs my fingers, I observe my surroundings. So far, nothing like any movies or shows, my first impression is that the Big Apple is kind of filthy and industrial. As my vantange point is from the train platform, I don’t think I should be particularly surprised. Later as the train gets closer to Manhattan, I see more of the famous skyline. And while we’re passing some of the neighbourhoods, it makes me think that even though I don’t know how they look inside, outside looks like a set of a theatre play - where the main character rises from nothing.

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One addition to this: the following days I felt like I was living in a movie. NY was a surreal trip as so many buildings, squares, even pizza parlours were seen before and then they were in front of me in real life. All the movie soundtracks were mixing in my head at the same time.

[got-lost-wandering]

L'Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped by Christo and Jean-Claude (2021)

[got-lost-wandering]

Paris

The first weekend of October I take a very short trip to Paris. We go primarily to see Christo and Jean-Claude's L'Arc de Triomphe, Wrapped.

I take the Friday evening train from Amsterdam and the atmosphere feels like a weekend getaway. The moment I step out of the train I feel my observation mode is on. I also don't need the earplugs anymore, I listen to the sounds of the city and the different languages of the passengers (my favourite so far is a drunken mix of French and Arabic). Friday night feels very lively and more diverse than Amsterdam. I immediately see the difference as well, everything in Paris just feels older. The metro stations, old-style bridges, buildings, even pavements (everywhere we go, pavement is made from stone).

The first thing we go to see is the arch at nighttime which is brightly lit and looks majestic. We continue the cultural visit first thing the next morning, too (well, right after some delicious pastries and coffee). In the daylight, the impression of the artwork is even bigger. The usually busy roundabout is now closed and crowded with people. Everyone is taking pictures and queuing to get all the way next to it. Once right in front of it, I am mesmerized. The shimmery grey material turns out to be much thicker and heavier than from afar yet the arch maintains its graceful shapes and feels very aesthetically pleasing. It is a privilege to be able to come in time and see this once-in-a-lifetime artwork. From there, we head the tourist route through the Champs-Elyseés and then north to Montmartre and Sacre-Coeur. It starts raining which influences our decision to come back to the hotel before dinner.

Sunday morning we wake up with a proper downpour outside. We decide to grab breakfast in the hotel (where I learn that a mini-croissant is called Viennoise) and spend some time inside and that's how we end up in Pompidou centre. We definitely don't have enough time allocated and I conclude I'll have to come back. Overall, the collection of classic modern art on display is fantastic. Among all the most famous artists of the 20th century, I find a piece I love and discover a new artist in every room. The cherry on top is also the cool architecture of the building itself and the magnificent panorama that can be seen from the top floor.

By the time we leave Pompidou centre, the sun is out and it truly makes the city shine. Walking the old streets and seeing historic architecture makes me feel inspired. Paris is full of beauty, fashion and very aesthetic. I am aware I choose to see this side of the city and ignore the dirt or poverty that is also ever-present.

In my last hour, I walk to the Île-de-cite to see Notre-Dame. Walking alongside the large fencing and seeing pictures of the fire feels very sombre. The front towers are still standing and I remember following the tragedy online and its aftermath.

Before I leave, I sit down for a quick bite. There I think to myself: could it get more touristic than sitting at a bar by the Senne? And it seems that it could: taking a bus full of students and backpackers back to Amsterdam. The trip takes a while but I even manage to do some work on the way and with the stroke of midnight marking the end of the weekend I am back home again.

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I carry moments in Paris and seeing my family with me into the week. I can conclude that travel is what makes my soul full.

[got-lost-wandering]

[got-lost-wandering]

Layover in Milan

Exactly a year ago we spent a night in Milan. Even though it was only 12 hours or so, we got to have plenty of food and do some sightseeing. At the night of arrival we have some antipasti and pizza. We leave quite late and walk around emptying night streets. Our airbnb is very old but it’s okay for one night.

We start the day with delicious breakfast - good coffee, fresh pastries and standing by the bar. After we have enough energy to climb many stairs, we make our way to the cathedral and to the roof. I was very scared to climb up but it was totally worth it and I would probably do it again. The intricate details were stunning. By the time we’re down it’s time to head to the airport and get ready for a long flight to Male.

[octume]

[luxurylearry]

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Feb 2020 was a different year

My two impressions, two experiences, two sides on one island that felt like two different worlds.

The beach had the picture-perfect, insta-worthy views that will stay in my memory for the rest of my life. You see worry-free tourists in bikinis, spending their days under umbrellas, sipping on fresh coconut water (mind you, not alcohol).

The rest of the island was unexpectedly... poor. Walking through the streets, you see half-built, mostly grey houses next to tidy, colouful tourist accommodations. We saw fully clothed locals walking in the dust or riding the ever-so-present scooters.

And so were we, lying on the beach in the sun one moment and the next one walking through the town fully dressed observing the local life. It was interesting to participate in this switch marked by the beach line where two worlds collided. It was definitely not how I imagined it would be. Maldives can be totally different than what the stereotypes of luxurious resorts suggest.

In reality, the nature was more beautiful than any pictures - none of them portray the heat and the seabreaze, the sound of the waves splashing and the palm trees rustling. We have definitely enjoyed the underwater world the most. I have described it as living in "Finding Nemo" and it was absolutely exciting to see any of the fish from the film swim by, not to mention thousands of other species that we saw the moment we stepped in the water. Finally, I never knew you can hear fish eat. In the beginning, there was a constant crackling noise and I couldn't understand why until I realised that there were so many fish and that they were constantly feeding on the corals.

This was just one of many wonders on our trip but now I know that if I have a chance I will not pass on getting to know more marine life in a different part of the world <3

[got-lost-wandering]

Cafés and bars I like here

(Constantly updated)

Cafe Brecht - stuck in nostalgic 1920s and prices are good too, hence always busy.

Keep reading

[got-lost-wandering]

To add:

Juniper & Kin (possibly closed) - 21st-floor rooftop bar which will make you feel like you are in a proper big city. Not in the city center, though.

Bakkerswinkel - A chain bakery and cake shop where I would recommend to try their jam. They tend to be inconsistent with their service and sometimes really busy.

NEMO terrace - rooftop with the view of the city centre. Located in a Science museum for kids, so a lot of joy but also screams around. 

Fou Fow Ramen, SORA - go when they open to enjoy great ramen.

Ysbreaker - A nice restaurant on Amstel.

Louie Louie - one of my favourite contemporary style bars on the corner of Oosterpark.

The Breakfast Club, Bakers & Roasters, Drover’s dog, Omelegg, Local Heroes, Selma - all similar style, great food, busy brunch places.

Factory girl - another great brunch spot. Food is great with a Mediterranean twist.

Scandinavian Embassy - hands down the best coffee in town for me. Rarely a free spot available, though.

Massimo gelato - speaks for itself.

Fuoco Vivo - real Neapolitan pizza.

W hotel rooftop bars: W lounge or Mr Porter - great views but 5* plus prices.

Casa di David - popular Italian restaurant located on Singel.

Vegan Junk Food Bar and Deer Mama - both delicious vegan burger places.

Dignita Hoftuin - while they have a few places, this one is my favourite. It’s in the back garden of the Hermitage museum and if the weather’s nice you can sit outside (but inside is super cozy as well). I usually come for coffee but stay for food.

[notyourdolly]

Last week we gave away the keys to that place and the garden with my tulips (luckily, I saw the whole process until the end). I saw (and documented) 25 of them blossom in different colours and felt like a proud mama. Or a crazy flower lady, depends how you look at it. In conclusion, project Tulips was a success ✔ 🌷 #flowers #garden #bloom #spring (at Amsterdam Oud-Zuid) https://www.instagram.com/p/BxXOFIFgaBz/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=2ztwyqs46aa7