An Unusual Garden Feature [Bici no jardim]

The Dutch are so mad about bikes to the point of using them as a decoration feature in their gardens. I do not see that in other countries, so I think it is something typical Dutch. Well, I wish you all a nice weekend !

Os holandeses são tao fissurados numa bike que usam as bichinhas até como inspiração para decoração de jardins. Eu não vejo isso em outros países, só por aqui mesmo ... Tenham todos uma ótima semana !

Angels In Passing

This has been a very sorrowful few weeks. several Angels have been called home, leaving the rest of us to look around in numbed confusion...expecting to see the faces of those Angels with every breath we take, but sadly disappointed because they are in a much HIGHER place than our mere mortal eyes can discern.



First was the daughter of a very dear friend. Michelle, my 75 year old friend's daughter, had been bravely battling the increasingly debilitating disease of MS. Michelle contracted the disease when she was 21...she died over thirty years later.

I was blessed to know her through the stories told to me by her 75 plus year old Mother...a wonderful woman who'd survived the London Blitzkrieg...complete with British accent, that I met after my own car accident eleven days (11) days after 9/11. Because of my accident and the injuries to my eyes from flying glass, two spinal cord injuries, nerve damage to my right leg, and tearing of my left hip that made using the gas and brake pedals "challenging"...I was forced to use Handicapped and Elderly transportation.

What I had thought of as the worst thing that had ever happened to me, turned into one of the most soul enriching events because through Winnie, I came to know her daughter, Michelle. As her body continued to ravage her mobility, Michelle left a legacy of beauty in words she created on her computer, programmed to allow her to use a pointer held in her mouth.

I cannot imagine what it had been like to be a vibrant woman then endure the slow, insidious degeneration of this disease while her brain remained as vital and alert as ever.

We all thought Michelle was going to die last Christmas, but even though she was now down to having only the ability to move her lips and blink her eyes, Michelle wanted to live. Her love was huge for all those of us who were lucky enough to know of her, and those who had been so blessed were equally saddened by the progressive horror of MS.

Again, I count myself blessed to have known this awe inspiring woman who accomplished AMAZING feats through the words of the creative beauty she leaves behind despite the inertia that kept her bound to her hospice bed...words that bring tears and humbling joy to those lucky enough to read Michelle's words.

Her legacy lives on as does her beauty of spirit. We may not see the physical shell that was Michelle, but we all carry a piece of the angel she always will be deep in the essence of who we are now. Love you, Michelle...Bless you Sweetheart.




Ed McMahon...we all grew up with Ed McMahon...even before he became the quintessential side-kick for Johnny Carson. His "HERE'S JOHNNY!!!!" echoes and reverberates inside ALL of us. He touched the entire world.

During his last year, he struggled with the ignominy of having his very security threatened because of too many bills. How he reached such a point, is not important. That others stepped forward to aid him in retaining the dignity he so continuously expressed is a testament to him being yet another angel sent here to make our lives a little bit better. Who among us did not feel happy after the Tonight Show with Johnny signed off each night? Who among us cannot remember favorite skits performed by Ed and Johnny that no matter how much time passes, still have the ability to bring smiles to our otherwise difficult lives?

He was not perfect...but then the best of God's angels here on Earth are angels because they bring joy to others despite their own difficult challenges...challenges that would reduce the rest of us to giving in to the sense of hopelessness that he continued to battle and rise above. Bless you Ed, and thank you for so many rich years of your talents.


Farrah Fawcett...Your story made me weep...your death, though not unexpected, was still heart wrenching. Your journey, fighting cancer, tore at me because you so richly described the battle against cancer that so many of us have silently, secretly, with shame, gone through. You showed the world the layers of extreme courage required to go one-on-one against the Big "C". You showed the tremendous amount of pain fighting it forces upon those battling this horrible disease. You showed the bottomless wellspring of love and compassion you felt for your family, friends, and all of the many anonymous fellow warriors in the battle against this relentless evil.

Your talents in the past showed you were more than just a gorgeous body with an incredible mane of hair. As a survivor of sexual abuse, your portrayal in the BURNING BED was so realistic, I could not watch it. That portrayal was enough to tell me I would also not be able to watch the one where you turn on your rapist...even though that would be empowering...I still could not watch what was, for all intents are purposes...too close to home.

Given that, I am amazed that I could watch FARRAH'S STORY...but I am eternally glad I did. You bravely showed what so many of us keep hidden...for whatever reasons...you showed the world that everyone who battles cancer is a soldier who deserves the BRONZE STAR, the PURPLE HEART, and every other medal given to warriors battling an evil foe.

An Angel...you played one of Charlie's...but Farrah, Charlie was a fictitious concept created by the late Aaron Spelling...you, dear lady, are a REAL ANGEL, and I for one, am humbly grateful for the halo you wore while you shared this Earth with us.

Bless you, Dear Farrah, and may you now be pain free and enraptured within the arms of Heaven's Glory.


I cannot ignore another passing...though I do not look upon this person with the same gratitude and respect that I feel towards Michelle, Ed, and Farrah. I am, of course, speaking of Michael Jackon.

Michael Jackon WAS a musical genius...but genius does not translate into majesty. Abused as a child...and I DO believe Michael's claims...but as with many abused, the cycle continues and the abused becomes the abuser. He claimed that there was nothing wrong with sharing his bed...lovingly...with children. No adult man should share his bed with children...and yes, the parents of the children were wrong too...but that does NOT mitigate Michael's own deeds.

I know the Jackson family wants to bury their heads, but Michael claimed the appropriateness of his actions in his own words and on film...hard to discount that.

Michael Jackson dangerously dangled his own child from a high window with a precarious hold upon the baby he called "Blanket". That cannot be disputed since the video of this act made world-wide news and is replayed over and over again. Anyone else would have lost their children and been forced into counseling for this one deed...but NOT Michael Jackson.

The Children: Prince Michael I, Paris Michael Katherine, and Prince Michael II (Blanket)...if a DNA test was done on these children DESPITE Michael's claim that he had Debbie Rowe for the first two and an anonymous surrogate for the third (Blanket) impregnated with his, Michael's sperm...would prove they are NOT Michael's.

Biology is exacting...Michael Jackson...despite his years of facial and skin tonal alterations, did NOT have Caucasian characteristics in his genes. Joe Jackson and Katherine Jackson are BOTH as dark skinned as Michael was up until he'd performed the video for THRILLER and many of his subsequent hits. A skin disease would not have altered his chromosomes to the point where the three children he claimed to be his biologically, show not a smidgen of the darkness that is at the very nuclei of his genetic makeup...

And no amount of buying off people alters the fact that Michael's endless fascination with being PETER PAN and surrounding himself with children, changes the basic profile of what he was...he was an abused child who grew up to become the abuser.

I know there are those who are going to argue and say...he was found NOT GUILTY...but the defense put the mother on trial...and yes, her acts were suspicious...but ultimately, Michael WAS guilty of corrupting minors by admitting, on tape, that he allowed children to sleep in his bed and saw nothing wrong with it. At the very minimum, that's contributing to the delinquency of minors...at the worst...it's pedophilia.

So while I honor the talents of the ARTIST that was Michael Jackson, the man whose Peter Pan Complex allowed him to admit and then challenge anyone who found it inappropriate that he shared his bed with children fits the profile of a pedophile. Pedophiles never think they are doing anything wrong.

Michael, I wish you healing now that you have crossed over. You were forced to face the images from your life...feeling the harm you caused from the point of view of your victim as part of your Orientation of Passing. No longer can you hide behind the "little boy voice" or the protestations of your loving innocence. One day, you will earn your halo, but that hasn't happened yet...and is going to require a LOT of Soul work...NOT SOUL TRAIN work...but work on the spiritual essence that we all take with us to God when we leave our Earthly bodies.

I truly wish you well, and Bless you for the work you have YET to accomplish.

Goodbye MJ

Spectaculair Brazil [Brazilie Sensationeel]

Since a couple of years ago the Brazilian Ministery of Tourism has launched a new campaign about tourism in Brasil. It focuses mostly on the diverstiy of attractions the country has to offer: several natural parks, biological diversity, great gastronomy. Huge cities and all the cultural life they have to offer in contrast to activities in the vast nature. So much different of a decade ago when it was always a girl in bikini (70% of the photo), and a mosaic of little photos: coconut, churches, beach and a panther. Os something like that: a girl, dolphins, a pineapple and a baroque theather. Or maybe: two girls, a turtle - or a smiley alligator - a star fruit and the Corcovado. You all know what I mean....

It is the first time I see something of that campaign on Dutch papers. The text says basically: "Come to Brasil. Nature, history, culture and happiness. All in one place."

Great !

If you wish to know more visit: http://www.braziltour.com/



Gente, e' a primeira vez que vejo em jornais holandeses a nova campanha do Ministério de Turismo do Brasil. Concentra-se na diversidade de atrações que o pais tem a oferecer e não mais naqueles pôsteres bregas que a gente estava acostumado. Vocês sabem: uma boazuda de biquíni ocupando mais de metade da foto e cercada de fotinhas com um igreja histórica, um abacaxi, cataratas do Iguaçu e um jacaré sorrindo de orelha a orelha pra câmera. Pow ! Cansou.

Veja a tradução do texto abaixo:
"Descubra um ambiente de tirar o fôlego, os diversos parques naturais e os muitos resorts ecológicos. A área amazônica e' uma das regiões mais ricas em diversidade biológica e tem a maior floresta amazônica do planeta. Um destino que você pode visitar a qualquer momento do ano. E onde você pode se hospedar em hotéis confortáveis e de luxo. Não perca a oportunidade de conhecer o tradicional Teatro Amazônico e visitar Manaus para conhecer a gastronomia local. Venha para o Brasil Para natureza, história, cultura e felicidade num só lugar. "

Classe.

Summer in Train Stations

Remember my last post about Train Station Sloterdijk (under label "spring")? I commented then it was the only train station I have ever seen with decoration features under the theme "spring". Well, check now how the summer feeling has been anounced in the same station: flamingos and palm trees. Mmmm... I think about travelling to Florida, about southern Asia, about Brazil...

Há umas semanas atrás eu passei pela estação de trens de Sloterdijk e fiz um post sobre a decoração de primavera. Eram abelhinhas e narcisos amarelos, bem alegre. Curiosamente eu nunca em mais de uma década de Holanda tinha visto algo igual em outras estações. Agora passando por Sloterdijk ontem eu vi que a decoração já mudou. Agora são palmeirinhas e flamingos. Hummm, okay. Época de grandes férias, o verão nos remete a lugares quentes. Eu penso em Miami, no sudeste asiático e no Brasil (mas mal sabem os gringos que está o maior invernão por ai né galera? Nevando e tudo, uhauhauha !!)

A Chic Rack for Bikes

Beautiful rack for bikes in Gothic style. Patio of a cathedral in Mechelen, Belgium.

Um elegante suporte para bicicletas em estilo gótico. Pátio de uma catedral em Mechelen na Bélgica.

Lack of Space [Falta de Espaço]

It is well known that Holland is a densely populated country and that the Dutch are fond of using a space to the maximum of productivity. I found this garden below a good example of creativity as solution for small space. In spring they use the tree as a support for a big pot of flowers. In the winter they decorate the tree with Christmas features. There is always something new. Hopefully I will be coming again here with more pics from this garden later on this year. Keep watching !
A necessidade é mãe da criatividade e todas as invencionices. Acho que é um fato bem conhecido de todos que a Holanda é um país densamente povoado. Por isso os holandeses aproveitam cada centímetro de terra ao máximo. A foto desse jardim ai é um bom exemplo do que estou dizendo. Agora na primavera eles colocaram um vaso com flores. No inverno a decoração da árvore (ou dos restos dela) é bem natalina. Os moradores dessa casa estão sempre fazendo algo diferente. Vou tentar registrar a mudança desse jardim ao longo das estações. Fiquem ligados no brogui !

Claufoutis Au Chocolat [Kersen Chocoladeclafoutis]

Sinterklaas (translation: my mother-in-law) really knows about my tastes - literally ! Last year I got from "him" this little book above, which has become very popular in Holland: "500 Recipes with Chocolate: delicious recipes for simple and sofisticated desserts with chocolate as main ingredient." I use it a lot since then, very handy ! Now, I am not crazy about chocolate - I prefer cheese - but I do love culinary art books and I do like cooking for others. That said I will share with you a very easy and classic recipe- the French Clafoutis - but with a twist: chocolate (of course !).

Papai Noel (aham, leia-se "minha sogra") realmente sabe dos desejos e preferências das pessoas. Ano passado eu ganhei "dele" esse livrinho: 500 Receitas com Chocolate, receitas deliciosas para sobremesas simples e /ou grandiosas com chocolate. Uso sempre ! Eu não sou louca por chocolate (tenho loucura sim por diferentes queijos) mas eu adoooro livros de arte de culinária e adoooro fazer sobremesas para as pessoas. Dito isso - e eu adoro clarificar as coisas - vou mostrar pra vocês aqui uma receitinha francesa clássica chamada clafoutis mas com uma variação: chocolate (óbvio). A receita é bem facinha !

You will need:

50g butter

3 spoons of flour

2 spoons cacao powder

3 large eggs, beaten

60g very fine crystal sugar

4 1/2 dl milk

1 spoon of rum (of your choice)

700g dark cherries, washed and without stones

(note: 1 spoon = 15 ml)

50g de manteiga

3 colheres (sopa) de far. de trigo

2 colheres (sopa) de cacau em pó de ótima qualidade

3 ovos grandes, batidos (de preferência bio)

60g de açúcar cristal

4 1/2 dl (=450ml) de leite

1 colher (sopa) de rum a escolha (ou outro licor)

700g de cereja sem caroço

(1 colher de sopa = 15 ml)

Preheat the oven at 220C /gas mark 5.

Spread generously some butter in the bottom and sides of an ovenproof dish.

Sieve the flour and the cacao in a bowl. Pour the eggs and the sugar and mix them well. Warm up the milk in a pan until it is tepid (and not boiling hot). Add the milk and the rum to the mix in the bowl and mix well again.

Spread the cherries in the bottom of the ovenproofdish and pour slowly the cream. Spread some pieces of butter on the top of the dessert and insert the dish in the oven for 25 - 30 minutes until it is firm. Take it out of the oven, spread some sugar on top and serve immediately.

You can also have this dish cold, but straight out of the oven is better. Serves 6-8 persons.

Pré-aqueça o forno a 220C
Unte generosamente o fundo e a lateral da forma que irá ao forno com parte da manteiga. Peneire o trigo e o cacau juntos numa tigela. Acrescente os ovos ligeiramente batidos e o açúcar. Mexa. Aqueca um pouco o leite até ficar morno. Acrescente o leite e o rum mexendo bem a massa até tudo ficar bem misturado.
Espalhe as cerejas no fundo da forma untada e despeje a massa por cima. Coloque pedacinhos de manteiga por cima da massa e leve ao forno por 25 a 30 minutos até ficar firme. Retire do forno, polvilhe com açúcar e sirva imediatamente. Você pode servir o clafoutis frio, mas quentinho saído do forno é bem melhor ! Serve 6 a 8 pessoas.

It became just like the photo from the book and veeery delicious. If you like to order it:
500 Chocolate Delights, by Lauren Floodgate
ISBN 978 90 5920 905 3
Price around 10euros in The Netherlands


O clafoutis ficou bem macio, com a consistência entre a de um bolo e de um pudim. Ficou tão bom, mas tão bom, que não sobrou nadica de nada. Mais esperta que a maioria das ursas tratei logo de fazer uma foto antes que o pessoal raspasse tudo ! Recomendo essa sobremesa agora no inverninho brasileiro, principalmente no sul do país onde deve ser mais fácil achar cerejas.

Peony/Paeony [Pioen]

The flowers you see on the first photo are called peonies. I got them last week from my siter-in-law when she came with her familiy to have dinner with us. Before living in Holland I had never known of their existence. My mother-in-law have them in white in her front garden. My favourite ones are dark pink. They come in the shades of white to red or yellow.


Essas flores se chamam em inglês peony. Eu as ganhei da minha cunhada que veio com sua família jantar conosco semana passada. Antes de viver na Holanda eu nunca soube da existência dessas flores repolhudas. Minha sogra tem no jardim na cor branca. A que eu mais gosto é a peony de cor rosa escura, quase fúcsia. Mas há também variedades de vermelho ou amarelo.


Peonies are native to Asia, Southern Europe and Western North America. The Chinese call them the King of flowers or the Flower Fairy. There are 30 species of Peonies. They were named in honour of Paeon, the physician of the gods. In traditional folk medicine, Peony root was used as a treatment for menstrual cramps, asthma and convulsions.


As peônias são originarias da Ásia, sudeste europeu e da parte oeste da América do Norte. Os chineses a chamam de "Rainha das Flores" ou "Flor Fada". Há cerca de 30 espécies de peônia. São chamada assim em honra a Paeon, o médico dos deuses. Em medicina popular tradicional, a raiz da peônia é utilizada como tratamento para dores menstruais, asma e convulsões.

Since ancient times, Peonies have been regarded as the symbol of wealth, luck and happiness. Peonies always represent elegance and poise.
If grown in the sun, leaves of Peonies turn from green to burgundy in just one week ! Blooming inlate spring and early summer, Peonies produce large, often fragrant flowers. Peonies' exquisite, large blossoms make excellent cut flowers.



Desde os tempos antigos as peônias tem sido consideradas como símbolo de riqueza, sorte e felicidade. Sempre representam elegância e autoconfiança. Quando crescem ao sol, as pétalas das peônias passam do verde ao burgundy em uma semana ! A floração acontece no final da primavera e inicio do verão. As peônias são flores bem grandes e fragrantes e resistem bem quando cortadas para decorar ambientes e interiores.



I played a lot with my new camera and tried different compositions of flower petals and hors d'oeuvres for this post. Also tried a more convential composition of flowers in a champagne jar with a tapestry on the background (see below).
If you wish to know more about peonies click here. And have a nice spring weekend !

Assim que minha cunhada me presenteou com flores eu comecei a brincar bastante com minha nova câmera digital e tentei diferentes composições de canapés+pétalas. Também tentei uma composição mais tradicional colocando um vaso para champagne com peônias diante de uma tapeçaria que tenho na parede da sala-de-estar... Que tal ?
Alguém conhece a peônia aí no Brasil ? Ah, desejo a todos leitores um ótimo finde !

Police Work [Policia para quem precisa]

"They need you so that they can grow up in a nice city".
"Eles precisam de você para crescerem em uma cidade agradável".

"She needs you because every party can get out of control". (Jarret de Cunha, party animal)

"Ela precisa de você porque toda festa pode acabar em confusão" (Jarret de Cunha, festeira)

Already for some months I have been spotting these posters and many others spreaded in the streets of Amsterdam. Also in some newspapers. First I could not exactly figure out what the whole thing was about. Maybe a campaign to estimulate citizens to be less egoistic and individualistic ? One day I decided to read the whole text. An example: "Dance parties attract sometimes 10 thousand people. Some even much more. If something goes wrong, the consequences can be disastrous. A little argument can escalate into a fight and panic situations. Therefore, the police makes previous agreements with party organisers for the best control (of security) and support to the victims when needed. "

A-ha ! It is thus a campaign from the Police of Amsterdam. It seems the Police Department needs to attract thousands of candidates to become police officers and they appeal in the campaign for the importance of policework as being a social work as well. I read in their site that "...police agents should also be good in contact with the victims". That is why candidates to the function of police agent who already are graduated as Social Workers or Social Juridical Assistents can conclude their education to police agent within 2 years (the education to all round police agent nomally takes four years).

On the photos of the campaign you see real Amsterdam citizens posing who have all been victims of some kind of threatening or violence, and not models or actors. There is a woman who was 18 times stolen, Ajax fans John and his little son Nils, an homossexual victim of prejudice, Hamito Seffage who was not accepted to enter in a disco club, the prostitute Nikki whose clients due to drug abuse sometimes go beyond the limits and a 13 year old victim of harassments from a gigolo.

I think it is a great campaign, completely out of the traditional ! If you wish to know more visit the following site: www.politiewerk.nl

Em português por favor...

Já há alguns meses eu venho vendo os cartazes acima (e muitos outros) nas ruas de Amsterdam. As vezes vejo também em jornais. E eu não entendia porque diabos sempre dizia "Ele/ela/eles precisam de você porque..." Será que era alguma campanha da prefeitura para estimular os habitantes a serem mais solidários e menos egoístas uns com os outros ? Ate' que um dia decidi ler um texto todo. Um deles diz assim: "Festas dançantes 'as vezes atraem cerca de 10 mil pessoas. Alguns eventos ate' mesmo um número bem maior de frequentadores. Se alguma coisa sai errada, as consequências são desastrosas. Uma discussão pode levar a uma briga e situações de pânico. Por isso a policia sempre entra em contato previamente com os organizadores de grandes eventos públicos para supervisionar a segurança e dar apoio quando necessário. "

A-ha ! Então essa e' uma campanha feita pela Policia de Amsterdam. O Departamento anda precisando atrair milhares de candidatos ao cargo de policial e apelam então para a importância do trabalho policial como sendo um trabalho social. Eu li no site do departamente de Policia Amsterdam que "agentes policiais deveriam também ser especialistas no contato com as vitimas". E' por isso que candidatos a função que já sejam formados em Assistência Social ou Assistência Jurídico Social podem concluir o curso de formação em 2 anos (normalmente o curso completo dura 4 anos).

Nas fotos da campanha há verdadeiros cidadãos de Amsterdam posando, e não modelos ou atores. Todos já foram vitimas de algum tipo de ameaça ou violência. Ha uma mulher que foi assaltada 18 vezes, os fans do clube de futebol Ajax John e seu filhinho Nils, o homossexual Yair da Costa que já apanhou na rua, o norte-africano Hamito Seffage que foi barrado na porta de um clube, a prostituta Nikki que teve clientes drogados que quiseram ir alem dos limites, e uma mocinha de 13 anos - a Maaike - que foi intimidada por um gigolô.

Acho que essa e' uma ótima campanha do Departamento de Policia para recrutar novos agentes. Dinâmica e totalmente diferente das campanhas tradicionais. Os que toparam posar para as fotos foram também muito corajosos ! Se você quiser saber mais sobre a campanha visite o site: www.politiewerk.nl

SENZ Umbrella [antistorm paraplu]

Facts of life in the Netherlands:

1) In Holland it rains and winds a lot.

2) The Dutch are world masters about water engineering.

Therefore...

They developed an anti-storm paraplu. I am not kidding. Such thing is called SENZ Storm Paraplu. It costs around 50 euros, will never break or go inside out, gives good vision and is beautiful. You can purchase one at : www.senzumbrellas.com or click here to see some little funny films. I especially like "SENZ and the City" one.

I loved it. I need one (hint) ; )

Esses holandeses são mesmo danados: desenvolveram um tipo de guarda-chuva que não se quebra nem se inverte durante ventos e tempestades. Também da boa visão e tem design bacana. Ele é comercializado por SENZ. Vá ate o site (em inglês) para ver melhor a descrição do produto e alguns filminhos muito divertidos (Clique nas palavras em vermelho acima ou aqui). Custa cerca de 50 euros e tem tamanho pequeno, médio e grande. Beeem carinho, mas olha: eu compro uns dois a quatro guardas-chuva (o plural se escreve como ?) por ano na base de 7 euros cada. Faz as contas...

Pedicure in the Netherlands

Galera, quem quiser saber mais sobre mim (em portugues) passa agora no blog da Mara, o Esmalte no Pé. To dando pinta la e falando das pedicures holandesas. Outras brasileiras expatriadas pelo mundo afora tambem virao.

In English please: Readers interested in knowing a bit more over pedicures around the world please visit Mara Pusch's blog: Esmalte no Pe. There is a post written by me where I talk about the differences of pedicure and manicure between Brazil and Holland. Most used brands, frequency, colours, prices and different techniques. I think Brazilians are unique in the world for being so obsessed with good lookings (body hair waxing, hair strainghtening, frequent pedi's and mani's...). Maybe due to the tropical weather ? Certainly a strong cultural trace.

La Rive [Amstel Hotel]

Some days ago hubby and I visited one of the leading restaurants in Holland. We had dinner at La Rive which has been awarded a Michelin Star and serves French-Mediterranean delicacies. La Rive is located in the five star Amstel Hotel.


I had received in December 2008 a voucher from my work, as a Christmas present. It consisted in dinner for two with wine arrangement at La Rive and it should be booked up to beginning of June. Spring was just perfect time for sitting outside and have some rose wine. We started with this combination of nibbles below: a kroepoek of manioc and parmesan cheese, curry mini cones with salm and caviar and the mini bacon rollades with two types of mousses. Work of art !

Deep fried tomatoes in a crust with a ginger caramel followed.

The third starter consisted of delicate pieces of fruit-de-mer served in a shell and with asperge mousse and olive oil scented with lemmon.

We were then invited to enter the salon and had a table next to the window. It was wonderful to look into outside and see people in their boats passing by. Time for foie gras, two different sorts of pates and chutneys with a very good baked bread.

Below: fish with spinazie and asperge. Hubby and me we disagree about the fish names. Sorry, but I am not a food critic and this is not a restaurant review. Therefore do not take my text in this blog so serious.

Below: a shrimp with sweet peas puree. Fantastic !

Main course: roe deer.

The service was superb without excessive formality. Not too quick, not too slow. We were pampered just in the right measure. In the picture sommelier Mr. Ted Bunnick. He did not mind to be in our photos ! Have I mentioned before that we had beautiful views of the Amstel ?

Amuse served before the dessert:

The lovely dessert: une fête en rouge ! Red fruits and white chocolate.

And also mignardises and macarons with the coffee.

Every dish was in perfect balance, delicate, tasty and in perfect combination with the wines. The evening we visited La Rive all tables were occupied. The clients were some couples in love, businessmen and a small group of Americans. I guess everyone with a thick wallet. If you would like to visit the Amstel another (less expensive) option is to have afternoon tea there in the conservatory. The sphere is very elegant anyway.

If you wish to know more click here (in English) for a full description of the menu and wine cellar. Or visit their site: http://www.restaurantlarive.nl/

A Weekend in Het Twiske

The weather forecast for the coming weekend says: dry and sunny - at least for Saturday.
Wishing to visit Het Twiske ? Great ! But check first the visitor's center (Bezoekers Centrum).

A Bit of history about the area: In the beginning of the 60's sand was collected from 't Twiske for the buidling of the Coentunnel. That's how the Stooterplas (a big lake in Twiske) was made.

In 1972, around this lake, beaches, pathways and other facilities for recreation were planned. Other areas of Twiske were left untouched. Twiske has a size of 600 ha being 20 ha of water.

The entrance to the Blauwe Poort water park is free. There is a pirate ship in the middle of the lake and the water is just 1,40m deep. In the water park there is also a restaurant and a snack bar. Another restaurant option, near the marina De Roemer, is Het Pavillioen. You can rent canoes, motor boats or a sailing boat for maximum 5 persons and visit the most beautiful areas of  't Twiske. Check for sailing route information in the visitors' center.

When ciclying in Twiske you can spot hares, many different types of birds and foxes.

The construction above is for the bees to deposit their eggs. I have learned a lot with my kids about the disappearance of bees and the fragile balance of nature.

And you can also buy in the visitor's center souvenirs and local produce, such as honey.
I will start having honey in a daily basis starting in  January next year, in order to prevent me from pollen allergy when May arrives. Honey is a natural antibiotic. I hope it will help me.