Liz

***

2007-02-08T18:04:00.001+01:00

... Neige à Bruxelles ...

- Le petit Sablon -

- Avenue de la Couronne -

Second party team @ Leiden

2007-02-08T16:44:00.000+01:00

- Pelikaan gracht -

The exams are finally over which is giving some space to relax a bit before second semester is starting. It's very quiet at Avenue Nouvelle as most of the students have gone home. After goofing some days with Seydi in Bxl I decided to have a long weekend myself with my family & friends. Leaving my simple student home in Brussels to THE PLACE TO BE - The Fusion @ Leiden - the student house of my bro.

- Mr. Ibrahim -

To make the second party team complete we invited Ibrahim to join us. I wanted to educate the kiddo a bit and visit The National museum of Antiquities to see the exhibition of Egypt with mummies & pharaohs. I was in minority as the girl and the two guys decided to stay in and play computer games all afternoon. But I don't blame the kid though: Tutankhamen or Batman... difficult choice for a 10-year-old!

During my stay in Leiden my brother was so kind to lend me his bike to move around a bit. I deeply love riding the bike, especially in The Netherlands because it's safe there! I have my own bike in Bxl but you must be crazy to take it, because it's so dangerous. In The Netherlands we have special paths & routes for the bike as where in Bxl you just ride between the cars on the road who are not so gentle with you. I've got deep respect for the Belgian people who do & even more for the ones who survive it!

As not many people take the bike in Brussels we have plenty of space to park your bike in the city where in The Netherlands it's the total opposite... you drive around for hours to find a place and to find it back again. It's like parking your car in Paris.

- O Brother's bike, Where Art Thou? -

To finish the weekend my brother took me out shopping for my b'day present which I for sure didn't refuse! I needed a new pc screen and we would look for a normal 17/19 inch flat screen, but when arriving in the shop we both completly fell in love with the new Samsung 22 inch wide screen. She is a true beauty and I think that secretly my brother is a bit jealous now :-)

As the "Soldes" in the Netherlands were still going on & I had some time left before catching my train my brother suggested to shop some more. It was the first time in my entire life that I went shopping for clothes together with my big bro but it was a great pleasure!

First party team!

2007-01-07T01:47:00.000+01:00

- Bertine, Liz & Leonie on expensive home made cocktails -

The clock has passed twelve, it's officially the 07th of january 2007 & I just survived after a small birthday party my first day as a 22 year-old. As my apartment for the moment is really small & we are in the middle of the exam period we decided to celebrate my birthday at the end of the month. For some of my Dutch friends this was unacceptable & the party team took the car & drove to bxl.

My place is very easy to acces from the high way, but as simple as it was my friends got completly lost with the car & I had to go out on the bike to find them. You know that bxl is nothing without it's rain so after an hour searching & my being totally wet we finally found each other & the party could begin!

- My Belgian birthday cake! -

It was a last minute party which consisted out of improvisation. With no birthdaycake with 22 candles we used Belgian wafels with whiped cream and little candles to blow. My coffee mugs & take away coffee mugs that I bought 03 years ago in Manhattan were transfered into cocktail glasses. As a student in a small student apartment I'm very limited in my room and belongings. I have two knives, two spoons, two glasses, etc... It's not much but enough for me and an very effectic method which forces me to do the dishes at least every two days!

- No comment!... :-) -

Further celebration is to be continued @ the end of the month...

Kicking off 2007 @ the Hague

2007-01-07T01:07:00.000+01:00

- Liz, Seraphina & the two gentlemen: my brother & little Taran! -

- Uncle Jan & Seraphina -

Since some years now we entered a new family tradition of gathering with uncle Jan, Dennis, Sanne & kids to celebrate the new year and enjoy the simple pleasure of being together. We moved the tradition this year from our family home in Hellevoetsluis to the Hague @ Dennis & Sanne. It was simple, great and heart warming to be together, talking, kids running around and eating the famous & delicious spinach/feta dish!

- Dennis our kitchen princess -

- The Theethbrushing Team -

Holidays at the Fusion

2007-01-06T23:35:00.000+01:00

It's been a while but Liz has been travelling quit a lot these last months so no time to write much. It has been a hell of a crazy time and definitly in need of some holidays to calm down a bit and enjoy some quality time with family & friends. X-mas & New Year was to be spend in Leiden this time with my bro & his friends @ the Fusion. My first time to spend it in Leiden & and it was quit nice... we did nothing much but eat, play games & watch a lot of tv! Liz finally would have seen The lord of the rings part I till III but my bro invited another girl (there are only guys living there!) so... --> two girls & wine= chatty girls = never saw the movie!

- Josien in action during "Operation backing Oliebollen" -

When being Dutch you can't have the New Year celebration without oliebollen! Even though the best oliebollen in the Netherlands are to be bought in a little temporary shop on wheels in Rotterdam, my brother & I still preach that there aren't such good oliebollen like the fresh home mades. Josien was so nice to take over for me while I was having a phone call, but I forgot after hanging up and eventually she spend backing all!

- The Fusion -

We ended the old year with great French champagne & watching from the rooftop of my bro's apartment to the firework over entire Leiden... Pure magic! Afterwards more friends of my bro came and we drank, did singing star on tv, drank & sang some more again. Would like to tell more about it and I'll... someday... when I remember again! ;-)

- Josien again in action but this time oliebollen with raisins... :-) -

The wind that shakes the Barley

2006-10-23T20:34:00.000+02:00

The plan was, after a long search and discussion, to see the German/Danish movie Adams æbler (Adam’s Apples) but at the cinema we discovered that there were only french subtitles which wasn’t a problem for me, but for my partner of that evening it was... We had to decide in an eye blink for a different movie, but I wasn’t able to find one that was speaking to me & suggested to go have a drink instead as we were in the center anyway... the proposal was rejected and replaced for the movie The wind that shakes the Barley (Le vent se lève)... A film that gives a (non-objective) look at the Republicans in early 20th century in Ireland.

The movie started horribly. There were two thoughts constantly shooting through my mind:

I) Next time I select the movie!
II) How am I going to get out of this place?

I’m not the kind of lady that is easily frightened by shocking or bloody scenes. At a very young age I always succeeded to sneak underneath the dinning-table (when I should have been in bed) to watch secretly the scary movies that my big bro was watching. But with this movie I even had to turn my head away during the first scenes and even then my stomach was turning from the sounds that remained. After surviving this part, the movie started to get along and became less stirring and hope for a good film to come was there again.

However that hope was dissapointing. There was no actual match between the story that has been told & the images that were shown. In one scene they tell you a big national problem, the next scene they show you a group of local boys who fight against this in their own area, where the scene after that tells you that this has a big positive effect on the national problem, but they never show what... only telling the problems, showing the fights & telling you the solution. And actually writing this it may sound like logic but the way they show it in the movie takes away the logic.

For me it made the film unreliable and not clear which message the writer wanted to bring and from which angle the director was working.The film left me more the impression that I saw a try out film with a draft script. This is a pity because the actors played very well & convincing, putting on strong characters. Also the makers of the film had some amazing shots. It’s sad that a movie with such great, strong material is not brought to its full value.

Inside the VRT studio's

2006-10-23T18:39:00.000+02:00

- The control room & my favorite spot at the VRT studio's -

It was great to have the opportunity to be present at the VRT (one of Belgium's biggest station) Saw a lot of great things that you as viewer/listener have no idea about and being present in the live shows of Radio Donna & Studio Brussels brought back old feelings from the times that I worked as a presentor at our own local radio station in the Netherlands.

Was strange though as well to deal with people who are big presenters/celebs in Belgium and I had no idea who they were. It was nice as well too because on this way there was a possibility for neutral communication. It reminded me a bit of last summer when I was visiting a hanball tournament with Mr.B & Hervé and there was this (appearantly famous) french player Laurent Puigségur and under the people there was much excitement and it took me quite some time to figure out why --> Definitly a Liz moment!

- break down of the election stages -

- Radio 2 -

- "Ketnet's Studio" -

- Radio Donna (On Air) -

*Special Thanks to Neil van Craeynest*

Celebrity week-end @ Delft

2006-10-11T17:05:00.000+02:00

- "Tarzan" -

- "Rubeus Hagrid & Mr. I. Potter" -

- Our own home version of "Garfield" -

- "Professor Severus Snape" -

Na regen komt zonnenschijn

2006-10-01T23:12:00.000+02:00

Yesterday Janneke asked me to join her on sunday to go to the center of Bxl. She needed to do some research for the Uni and suggested to have a drink afterwards. I agreed and after spending a wonderful short night and a silent sunday morning (= without construction workers) we left to have a walk through Brussels.

Ten minutes after we left it started raining but we went on and eventually the sun was stronger and beated the rain! A beautiful rainbow smiled to us with all her grace. The picture reminds me a bit of the advertisement of the movie Mongolian Ping Pong.

I was especially touched by this little sculpture. Normally I don't find them very interesting, but the street sign which says "Alley of Gifts" gives it such a great touch.

Eventually we never did the research and dove straight into an Irish pub. I drink sometimes, but I never liked beer. It's quite impossible to integrate and become a legal Belgian if you don't drink beer, but to my amazing this place serves really GOOD beer! Finally there's a beer I like & with this there comes an end to the period of being an outsider at parties where people drink nothing but beer. The music & atmosphere were a bit less, but they have big screens showing sports... Finally a good beer & sports, what more could a girl wish for?

A long, noisy way to Morphée's arms

2006-09-29T09:35:00.000+02:00

For the people who read my message of yesterday... Forget I said anything about the sundaymorning works at the railtracks near my window. Appearantly they also do night work. Till 02 am I had the privilege to listen to the harmonious sounds of construction workers before falling into Morphée's arms!... Sundaymorning at 08am doesn't seems so bad anymore :-)

Re-location... finally!

2006-09-28T19:06:00.000+02:00

Well... After many long weeks of administrative work I picked up my keys of my new place. There isn't much to say about it. It's amazingly small & the picture actually says it all. On the contrary the apartment building has a great location, the street is very quiet & near the center, low rent as the building is quite old, trainstation, trams & busses at the end of the street, the Uni only 07 minutes walking and lots of cute little restaurants and pubs in walking distance.

It will be an intermediate solution untill all papers are ready & I'll have my residence permit. I think the only "negative" thing to say is that it's small, but in the same time also comfy and nice. It's just enough for me. And it's nice as well to be close to everything and everyone, as most of the people I got to know here, are living in the same area or building.

Yes, it definitly doesn't sound so bad at all... And the fact that where there is a trainstation there are also traintracks, which in this case are running underneath my window is also acceptable. First it's annoying, but after some days you don't even hear the intercity anymore that goes by 06 times an hour. What I also can understand is that people need to work on the railtracks to keep it safe, but not that it has to be on sundaymorning at 08AM!!! Especially not understandable for someone who just reached her bed two hours before...

Welcome in Belgium's Paradise ;-)

On the move...

2006-09-13T14:50:00.000+02:00

As the university is about to start again these coming weeks my obligations in the Netherlands are finishing and starting in Brussels. Lots of paper work to arrange in both countries. As I can't go into my place at Brussels yet there is nothing much left then to travel up and down. In the beginning I didn't mind so much, but when having frequent (major) delays it's not so funny anymore! As the international train promotes on the outside with the new Fortis Banking slogan "Getting you there"...they indeed get you there, but not saying when or how :-(

- Brussels South trainstation -

But when arriving in Brussels it's great to be there!!! :-)))

- A part of the Uni @ BXL (main part of my department) -

For me the university of Brussels is huge and I'm getting to know my way a bit, but I still remain impressed by the gigantic places. The university is surrounded by a lot of nature. It looks like an enormous parc & gives a lot of great opportunities to study outside in the sun or to rest between classes. It reminds me of Central Park in Manhattan. It's quite nice because it's so near the center of the city, but when being there it seems like you are far away from it. No disturbing city sounds, no impatient drivers & cabs hunking annoyingly their car over 7th avenue. Only here and there some ambulance/fire/police sirenes going through the city.

I can't deny that despite the long days I enjoy the traveling as well. It's great to see so many different people with all their own stories. When arriving back at Delft (late in the evening) there were two ladies getting on the tram. They were quite old (above 70) but acting like in their twenties. They had a night out and were on their way home. The neighbourhood we where isn't so safe and mostly you don't see elderly people on the tram. Normally you can find them in big groups (during the day) on bus 60 or 64 going to "the Hoven", which is their "headquarter". But not these ladies! They just sat between the young ones, being fresh, full of energy and enthusiastic from their night out at the Bingo. By this I nominate these ladies for Grannies of the Year! ;-)

Sète & Agde

2006-09-07T21:00:00.000+02:00

- Sète -

From Béziers I took some days as well to visit the little places Sète & Agde. In Sète I decided not to go to a tourist office and just wonder through the town and see what's on my way. It was simple and comfy. In Agde I tried differently, but got completly lost all the time and wanted to visit this one place, but after walking & searching for a long time I gave up and went back. Later I discovered by a maptown at the trainstation that I wasn't far away if I just walked a bit longer!...

- Agde -

When walking by a small parc in a side street in Agde I discovered a little group of old men playing "Jeux de Boules". I stopped to look and they were so enthousiastic that they told me endless stories about all and asking me to come play with them.

- My new "play friends" -

Escaping the cold

2006-09-07T12:44:00.000+02:00

- Charleroi Airport, day of departure... -

During my holidays I had some weeks with great temperatures, but as this never last long in the north I also spend a long time in rain & cold. A good moment for me to pack my bags and go some place better...
Destination: Mr. B. 's @ Béziers :-)

It was a long travel as it seemed that everything was delayed and it took me forever to get there, but Mr. B. promised me to take me to the beach when arriving & go play some volleyball. The idea that I would be on the beach that same evening with a group of sweaty men playing volley kept me believing all will be fine. Unfortunatly ('cause of the delays) I arrived too late for the match, but Mr. B. took me out for a great beach walk and some warm chocolate milk and eventually this was even better than the sweaty men!

- Left & right bedroom view from 5 star hotel "Casa de Mr. B." -

During the day, when Mr. B. was working hard, I went out to discover Béziers by myself. There was a nice young lady at the Tourist Office who gave me a map of the city and some brochures for things to do & see. We spoke French the entire time, but as mine isn’t perfect she asked me if I wanted the French or English versions. I asked for the French (to practice a bit) and she looked at me concerned asking if I was sure. I told her it wouldn’t be a problem... she said OK and putted the English versions into the French ones just for “security” ;-)

- Allées Paul Riquet & Mr. Riquet "himself " -

- Cathédrale St-Nazaire & Palais de Justice -

- Place des Bons Amis -

- Plateau des Poètes -

The weekend was “Hand ball weekend”. On friday evening I went with Mr. B. to training, where I catched some nice playing tips from Coach and eventually had my sweaty men ;-) On saturday morning we took the car and drove to Prades where Mr. B. had to attend a handball tournament. There we also met Hervé (co-referee of Mr. B. and after this weekend my second favorite French guy!) I saw some matches here and there and accompanied Hervé to transfer young referees from one gymnasium (in Prades) to the other (in Jacou).

On saturday evening we drove to Frontignan where Hervé & Mr. B. had to referee two matches together. One moment I don’t see handball for weeks and the next moment there’s handball everywhere again. At the end it was tirening, but when finishing we went to Hervé’s home to spend the night there and meet his family.

I could sleep in the room of his daughters who had a high sleeper. After climbing into the bed and hitting my head a couple of times to the ceiling I found some sleep. In the morning it took me about 15 minutes to figure a way out how to climb out of the bed again. After surviving we had a nice French breakfast with Scooby Do!

Sunday was another day full of matches at the tournament in Prades, but as Mr. B. was injured and I couldn’t see any more sweaty men, we drove back to Béziers and spended the rest of the time there.

- View from Place de la Revolution I -

- Allées Paul Riquet -

- View from Place de la Revolution II -

Craving for fish

2006-08-26T17:21:00.000+02:00

Today when waking up around 7am I had a craving hunger for Haring, tipical Dutch raw fish served with raw chopped onions. It has been at least 06 months since I didn't eat this as before I ate it every week. So after updating my coffee addiction and a warm shower I took the bike to go into the city a bit and find the market to buy some fish. As it was still in the morning it wasn't very crowded. Only millions of Japanese tourist groups going out for the same reason as I, exploring the city and looking for this famous Dutch fish.

The famous haring and the guy on the left was eating his "I don't know how maniest" haring. He liked them a lot and his enormous enthousiasme when buying one more each time could only bring big smiles to the lady behind the counter

The best way to see Delft is walking. There are millions of little streets, "grachten" and little funny shops hidden between these (do take a map when you're not familiar!) When I was little I spended most of my free time at Delft at my grandmother's apartment. I always had to go with her to the local market on thursday, but my grandmother was already old and pretty forgetful. We always spended our entire day to buy fruit & vegetables as she always got lost for hours & as stubborn as she was (runs in the family :-) she would never listen to me as she knew best as the adult!

When being little I always said that I would marry at this building (above-city hall)

On my way to find my bike back (that's harder than you might think :-) I walked into this chair which quite surprised me... I stayed a little while, but my prince charming who putted the yellow rose there was not around... ;-)

The Hague again...

2006-08-25T19:20:00.000+02:00

Before this week it was ages ago that I was in The Hague and now I spended most of my days of this week there! I got a great address for a new hairdresser which I visited yesterday & did an amazing job. Ok, it was quite expensive and it delivered my wallet much pain, but (like Sanne said) the feeling when you get out of bed with a great haircut is fantastic (& definitly unpayable :-)

Liz and her new haircut (and too much Rosé) & a Mr. Whohadtomakepicturesofthis!...

A day of pigeons, diapers & Winnie the Pooh!

2006-08-21T22:44:00.000+02:00

Dennis & Seraphina preparing dinner

This morning I went to The Hague to spend a day with my cousin Dennis & his family. It's been months since I've seen Seraphina and my very first meeting with Taran who is about 04 months now. The first moment was strange for Seraphina to have a visitor, but after I was inside and she was able to show me her Pooh bear collection we became very good friends again :-) We had a great day together, going outside to do groceries, running after the pigeons & dogs and other little children, putting the kids into bath, having dinner all together - Seraphina "stealing" my meat and trying to feed me her apple that she didn't like :-) And off course the inevitable... diaper changing! However Taran enjoyed it the most as he was lying comfortable and laughing at me most of the time! Hereby a little view of our day...

Seraphina showing Liz her Sesame Street book collection

Seraphina watching Winnie the Pooh with Sanne & Taran on the background

The ladies having their private reading session

And while the ladies had their moment Taran had his own :-)

Volver

2006-08-21T01:05:00.000+02:00

Finally, after waiting for a loooooong time and hearing reviews from my friends in France and Spain who already saw the movie I was a lucky girl to attend tonight (sunday) the special premiere evening of Almodóvar’s new movie Volver which will be released in the Netherlands on the 24th of august.

The movie was programmed at my favorite cinema Cinerama which is located in the heart of Rotterdam. I love this place particular because it’s small and simple, but they have so much to offer. The outside has a kind of American design while the inside has a warm atmosphere and a fancy attitude. They also have a big offer in foreign movies in original version, which is rare.

It was a small group of around 50 people. I’m always surprised to see the variation of people who come and see Almodóvar’s movies. Behind me was an elderly Spanish lady who was telling beautifully about an evening in Madrid, proximatly 30 years ago, where she saw her first Almodóvar movie :-)

Volver was again a tipical Almodóvar movie from the first second till the last, but I was missing some (for me important) ingredients. Especially after his latest movie La mala educación I found Volver too soft. I love Almodóvar for the openness in his movies, how he isn’t afraid to speak out about difficult subjects & bringing it out to public, to aware them. Volver didn’t really contain this or at least not in the ways we’re used from Almodóvar. There was a lot more humour than usual which also made the movie & it’s problems lighter than normal.

The story wasn’t too complicated and less mixed up. Normally with Almodóvar his story line is like a puzzle where there are big parts missing. During the movie you collect these pieces and you try to fit them at the blank spaces in your mind to understand the story line better, but it remains quite impossible as they never seems to fit. Where at the end everything comes together and all the pieces fall in their place and you walk out of the cinema feeling completly blown of the world and trying to re-capture the film again to understand.

Volver on the other hand was much better to understand and easier to follow. Maybe this was done on purpose to make his movies more accesible to the people, but I founded it sad to miss this aspect as this makes Almodóvar so special and different. It gave the movie a little American “chewed out for general public” attitude that didn’t involve the audience to let them think deeply or to be active like putting the pieces together themselves.

However... It was an Almodóvar movie and as I adore his works there were millions of things to love as well. What was there not to love about Tía Paula!? ;-) Even though she only had a short visual appearance. Her words reminds me of my grandmother and her physical appearance was corresponding completly with one of my aunts (including the moustache and the big glasses! ;-)) I won’t say any names though :-)

Tía Paula on the right :-)

It was also a deep pleasure to have Penélope Cruz in this movie. Her appearance is never unremarkable and when she plays her characters it’s impossible to not be moved by her. She lives in her role and she plays it well enough to make you feel her character, to laugh with her, to cry with her, to be touched by her...

It was definitly worth waiting for this movie and for the ones who didn’t see it yet... GO! It's already long worthy to see Penélope who brings the Spanish passion to your heart.

Unexpected visitor

2006-08-14T19:41:00.000+02:00

Enjoying the sun on our balcony after it have been raining cats & dogs for days!

Un jour ordinaire à Paris (II)

2006-08-14T02:13:00.000+02:00

...Round in Paris...

the best view into Paris...(& ½ La Tour Eiffel)

...Restaurant Hotel du Nord...

This restaurant had a great atmosphere, excellent Rosé and no possible complains about the food. Had an excellent evening, but ain't sure if it was because of this place or the french guy who sat in front of me! ;-)
Monsieur C. ... mes excuses pour voler de toi. C'est numéro deux sur ma liste à quoi nous devons travailler (après les erreurs de grammaire ;-)

Un jour ordinaire à Paris (I)

2006-08-14T01:07:00.000+02:00

In a crazy mood I booked myself an unexpexted last minute trip to Paris. This city fascinates me as I've been there many times before & each time there is something new to discover. As always, Miss Liz travels in style... 1st class Thalys, pure luxury! Was a comfortable train ride between 10 business men glued at their laptops during the entire ride and a group of 04 snorring Japanese tourists. A short visit, but enough time to shop and do some "must have been there" sight seeying :-)

...Devant la Tour Eiffel...
(Amazing expression of the face!)

...Palais de Justice...

2006-08-14T00:36:00.000+02:00

Mademoiselle petite Curieuse