Entry for March 31, 2006

Instead of dreaming, better keep your eyes open and try to achieve your dreams because there will be a moment when you wake up and life will be the same...

If only....

"If I had my life to live over, I'd dare to make more mistakes next time. I'd relax, I'd limber up. I would be sillier than I have been this trip. I would take fewer things seriously. I would take more chances. I would climb more mountains and swim more rivers. I would eat more ice cream and less beans. I would perhaps have more actual troubles, but I'd have fewer imaginary ones.

You see, I'm one of those people who lived sensibly and sanely hour after hour, day after day. Oh, I had my moments, and if I had to do it over again, I'd have more of them. In fact, I'd try to have nothing else. Just moments, one after the other, instead of living so many years ahead of each day. I've been one of those persons who never goes anywhere without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, a raincoat, and a parachute. If I had it to do over again, I would travel lighter than I have.

If I had my life to live over again, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. I would go to more dance, I would ride more merry-go-rounds. I would pick more daisies. "

if....

Some of the old stuff

Always have the courage to take a risk for the truth that lies in your heart but never lie to yourself when listening to what it tells you.

Another step, another bridge...

Walking around Amsterdam, bridge by bridge (over 1000 in total), you can not not notice the resemblance of the buildings who are leaning towards the front or the back. The explanation (given on a boat tour) is that they keep the rain off. Great architecture though, with very high windows, old layout (most from the 1700s) and sometimes no footpath :-p

What does one do if they drop something out on the window?
Instead of having the car parked outside, you get to have the boat!

The other type of living is in floating 'houses' which, amazingly, have everything one needs.
Even a deck outside with plants, garden furniture and pets. The exciting part is that you can easily see inside their homes if you go pass by boat (maybe that's the ideea), and judging by the looks they are not at all bothered (as most of them don't have curtains). Utilities are as normal as in any home, gas, electricity, etc.

And another bridge....

Onthaal aan Amsterdam!!!

...oh yes it exists! Only in Amsterdam. Just by the Hash Museum (funny that isn't it?), same street with the window-girls. Where else?!

You can buy it at the market (the flower market) or from the souvenir shops and you can grow your own for just 3 Euros. It is only a starter kit and you have plenty of seeds :)

It all started in a cold, rainy morning, in a blue dutch tram which stopped in front of a bar in central Amsterdam. Good start for a cold day...coffee...not a coffee shop! Unless highness is the main purpose of the day.