GFH

Gerard Joling - Ai Se Eu te Pego

2012-02-13T18:44:00.001+01:00

Lots of people in the show bizz wish to make some extra cents by the easiest way.
Bad translation and probably filmed in a Surinamese beach.
I am not responsible if while watching the vid you vomit a bit in your mouth.
What am I talking about ? Check about Gerard Joling here and about the original song here.

Quando eu digo que esses holandeses não perdem uma oportunidade para faturar uns trocados nas costas dos outros... Tradução furada, clip filmado ali num matinho qualquer do Suriname, com mulatas falsas magras. Vejam o vídeo. Cuidado pra não vomitar muito.

White Netherlands: the country and the city.

2012-02-08T23:45:00.000+01:00

Somewhere in the Dutch countryside, last Sunday. Photo: courtesy from Heinz Lanz-Tenias.

Utrecht under snow. Photo: ANP

Kinderdijk. Photo: ANP. Yes, this is a photo - not a painting.

Gouda. Photo: ANP

Frozen figues in my backyard.

I took this pic when I was in the Ice Club in Het Twiske, last Sunday. It seems there will be a competition in Biddinhuizen, Flevoland.

Amsterdam, last Monday. Luckily I had the camera with me.

Lego houses...

Lunch break...

Nearby the Centraal Station, Amsterdam. Differently from the ring of canals area, I noticed the water here is not completely frozen (deeper waters ?).

Tô congelada mas eu tô legal !!

2012-02-07T20:27:00.001+01:00

* Eu tenho umas luvinhas de couro que cheguei à conclusão que não valem nada !! O efeito é o mesmo que usar luvas de renda. Quero daquelas negras de material sintético duro por fora e forradas de lã que parecem mãos de gorila.

* Aí gente, quem quiser dar vir um rolé por aqui compra luva decente, hein ? A dor nas mãos é insuportável quando não há proteção apropriada. Queima demais, parece que levei uma paulada com barras de ferro.

* Aliás, morrer congelado deve ser uma das piores formas de morrer. Todo dia leio no Metrô ou no Sp!ts sobre um mendigo que morreu congelado. O que foi triste mesmo foi o caso de um garotinho Michael, que estava desaparecido desde quarta-feira da semana passada. Saiu da casa dos avós em direção `a própria casa uns 100 m adiante e nunca chegou. O corpo foi encontrado em um canal ontem, depois de uma busca intensa de helicóptero e muito quebrar canais das redondezas em diversos pontos. Ele tinha um certo retardamento mental, então ao que tudo parece decidiu não ir para casa. Mudou a rota e acabou na água geladíssima que em dois dias se congelou e virou seu sepulcro. Triste.

Foto: Leidenvandaag.nl

* A ambulância de animais está tendo um trabalhão resgatando gansos, cisnes e patos com as perninhas congeladas. O pessoal vive chamando pedindo socorro. O negócio funciona assim: patinho senta um pouquinho sobre o gelo para descansar, já tá magro por falta de comida, puxa uma soneca, aí quando tenta se arrancar prá outra freguesia... não sai do lugar. Pena. Já vi um paradinho sobre o gelo, achei que a qualquer hora ele iria se mover e cheguei à conclusão que ele tinha virado estátua involuntariamente.

Foto: WFA / Harm Meter (METRO)

* Meu carro descarregou a bateria de novo. Sem comentários.

* Esses dias passou na TV o filme de 1999 De Hel van 63 (O Inferno de 1963) sobre o Tour das 11 cidades, quando a Holanda chegou a -19C. Teve um índice de dois milhões de telespectadores televisivos (creiam-me: é muito em termos de Holanda). E está de novo em cartaz de cinema - lógico, com o frio absurdo que está fazendo agora o pessoal já está pensando se vai poder acontecer o tour das 11 cidades nos próximos dias. Esse é o maior tour de patinação no gelo do mundo (200km de percurso ligando 11 cidades da Frieslândia, no norte da Holanda). Eu já tinha visto o filme no cinema e até bloguei a respeito aqui. A trama é ~~meio fraquinha~~ simples: fala sobre quatro jovens adultos que decidem participar do tour por diversas razões pessoais: um adolescente muito ousado e pobre aposta dinheiro para salvar a fazenda dos pais, um desempregado quer completar o tour para impressionar a mulher grávida que o abandona dias antes da dar a luz, uma enfermeira quer homenagear um amigo que morreu afogado e o quarto protagonista é um soldato fugitivo. Tudo em nome de uma medalhinha de participação no tour, aff ! Abaixo, um trailer do filme. O bonito são os efeitos especiais (quando alguns participantes alucinam de frio e vêem monstros e ursos de gelo, por exemplo). Pena que eu não tenha encontrado nenhum filminho no Youtube com essas cenas.

E prá quem entende holandês aqui está o filme inteiro (percebi alguns cortes). Quem não entende holandês tira o som. Holandês não é semelhante à nenhuma outra língua desse sistema solar.

Mudança de layout = subida no número de seguidores. Uhuu ! Obrigada ao últimos seguidores desse blog, esse é o maio incentivo prá mim ! Sigam-me também no twitter: @AnnaGFH
(E digam aí prá mim o que preferem ver por aqui. )

Cuties of the Week: Jan Kooijman and Chantal Janzen

2012-02-04T13:52:00.000+01:00

According to a research from deodorant brand AXE among one thousand Dutch these are the most attractive man and woman in the Netherlands at this moment:

For the women, actor, model and danser Jan Kooijman. www.jankooijman.tv He has recently become a father.

And for the men, danser, queen of musicals and TV hostess Chantal Janzen.

Yes, she is already a mommy. Still, the Dutch men find her the most attractive woman in the NL, together with Doutzen Kroes. (source: Metro, 3 Feb. 2012, page 09).

The View From My Bedroom Lateral Window (-15°C)

2012-02-03T22:26:00.001+01:00

Bilingual Post English / Portuguese

From my bedroom window, on the left side...

"Da janela lateral do quarto de dormir (...)"

When I told you about these morbid colours

When I told you about these sordid people

When I told you about this storm,
No you didn't hear me

"Quando eu falava dessa cores mórbidas

Quando eu falava desses homens sórdidos

Quando eu falava desse temporal
Você não me escutou (...)"

You do not want to believe me, but that's so common.

"Você não quer acreditar
Mas isso é tão normal"

Da janela lateral
Do quarto de dormir
Vejo uma igreja, um sinal de glória
Vejo um muro branco e um vôo pássaro
Vejo uma grade, um velho sinal
Mensageiro natural
De coisas naturais
Quando eu falava dessas cores mórbidas
Quando eu falava desses homens sórdidos
Quando eu falava desse temporal
Você não escutou

Você não quer acreditar
Mas isso é tão normal
Você não quer acreditar
E eu apenas era
Cavaleiro marginal
Lavado em ribeirão
Cavaleiro negro que viveu mistérios
Cavaleiro e senhor de casa e árvore
Sem querer descanso nem dominical

Cavaleiro marginal
Banhado em ribeirão
Conheci as torres e os cemitérios
Conheci os homens e os seus velórios
Quando olhava na janela lateral
Do quarto de dormir

Você não quer acreditar
Mas isso é tão normal
Você não quer acreditar
Mas isso é tão normal
Um cavaleiro marginal
Banhado em ribeirão
Você não quer acreditar

The Day After

2012-02-02T21:47:00.001+01:00

Last Sunday morning, on a forgotten alley downtown in Leiden.
A Dutch icon is waiting until a stronger wind splashes and crashes glass and beer into the ground.

Front Doors, Leiden

2012-02-02T11:28:00.003+01:00

Amsterdam has, of course, awesome front doors. Especially in the Old South quarter and the canals (Prinsengracht, Herengracht, Keizersgracht). However, these in Leiden are simply gorgeous old doors !!

As portas de Amsterdam são divinas, mas as de Leiden não ficam atras... antigas e um verdadeiro arraso no túnel do tempo. Isso é só uma palhinha, depois tem mais ! Fiquem ligados aqui no blog e sigam-me no twitter: @AnnaGFH

Está muito frio...

2012-02-01T22:17:00.001+01:00

A minha primeira viagem à Holanda foi no fim de dezembro de 1997. Fez um frio fenomenal, uns 20 graus abaixo de zero. Vôo Rio de Janeiro - Amsterdam direto, sem conexões pela KLM. Casacão de inverno emprestado por uma conhecida, que era modelo e tinha vivido na Europa. Albergues da Juventude super aquecidos, deixando a garganta seca, dando dor de cabeça e tontura. Na Holanda aconteceu em 1998 o tour em patins de lâmina ("Tour das 11 cidades"), lá no norte na Frieslândia. O casacão emprestado serviu muito, mas ainda assim fiquei com hematomas pretos perto dos cotovelos e nos joelhos. O povo durante o invernão seguia sua vida nornal: saía para a balada, andava de bici, ia ao shopping. Achei super legal. Mas quando chegava da rua em algum lugar (loja, entrada de museu, etc.) e tinha que falar o maxilar não mexia e a voz não saía. Estranhão.

Avançamos no tempo. Janeiro de 2012 e tá um frio podre. Claro que -7C não é a Sibéria, mas mesmo assim... E eu faço tudo normalmente de bici. Prá queimar as calorias e pegar uma ar fresco. Sinto o frio cortante mas não acho que vou desmaiar, apagar, morrer, etc. Minhas crianças toleram beeeem melhor que eu - lógico, nascidas aqui e filhos de um holandês. Já têm a genética 50% diferente do meu tipo mediterrâneo. Depois da escola e do judô nas quartas-feiras querem ir para a rua brincar e brincam durante umas duas horas direto, no maior frio.

Segunda-feira decidi levá-los para a escola de bici, chegando lá subi pedalando numa ponte de-va-ga-ri-nho e comecei a sentir que tomabava em câmera lenta. Blam ! Fiquei de pé no mesmo segundo, mas vi que minha menina que ia na cadeirinha atrás estava presa e eu não conseguia reerguer a bici. Chamei pelo meu menino mais velho que largou a bici dele e me ajudou a reerguer a minha. Ela abriu o berreiro. Foi mais o choque, o susto, o inesperado do que a dor (ficou com manchas roxas do lado esquerdo do corpo, no braço e na perna). Quase pensei: ainda bem que foi ela e não ele. Explico: ele demora muito mais para se recuperar de uma injenção, uma queda, um susto do que ela. Fiquei com tanta pena, mas tinha que me arrancar para o job então declarei que ela tinha que ficar abraçada chorando a ele no pátio vazio (a escola ainda estava fechada) pois eu tinha que pegar um ônibus. Fui tranquila para o trampo mas quando voltei para casa no final do dia a lembrança do acontecido retornou e fiquei com uma vontade imensa de consolar minha pequenina. Fiquei lembrando que ela me pediu para na terça não ir à escola de bici, mas "andando".

No trabalho eu tinha percebido que quando espirrava eu tinha dores musculares na barriga. Acho que foi da queda. Também senti muito dolorido no lado da sobrancelha esquerda. Primeiro achei que deveria ser devido a um movimento espasmódio que minha filha dá com o bracinho no meio da noite acertando sempre meu olho quando vai dormir na minha cama no meio da madrugada. Normal, já estou acostumada a levar golpes involuntários de crianças. Mas não, foi a queda mesmo. Também mancha roxa na batata da perna, por contato com o pedal.

Terça então decidi chegar à escola pedalando por outra entrada, evitando a ponte alta. E decidi que quarta e os dias seguintes só ir de carro para a escola (que eu evito pois gasto muito tempo pela manhã raspando a neve). Hoje, quarta, decidi pegar o carro pois teria que fazer várias viagens durante o dia, (escola, supermercado, levar e pegar do judô, levar minha menina ao médico para tratamento de uma verruga plantar, levar uma amiguinho do filho em casa, etc.). Raspo todas as janelas, coloco a chave na ignição e ouço "tchoón". De novo só para as crianças ouvirem: "tchóin". Descarregou a bateria, lógico, com o frio que fez. Descolada anunciei: "Vai ser na bici mesmo crianças !!" E o resto do dia foi a pé e de bici. Dureza.
No supermercado uma conhecida me perguntou como eu andava, se já estou acostumada na casa nova, se as crianças vão bem e se já tinham andado no canal congelado no meu quintal. "Como assim ?", repliquei. "Então vc não viu se está congelado e se dá para andar nele ?", ela perguntou. Ora bolas, com só dois dias de frio intenso eu não vou arriscar. Mas uma vez em casa fui lá ver a situação do canal. Liso e congelado. Me segurei numa árvore e pus o pé esquerdo no canal. Congelado e bem firme. Comecei a forçar o peso e ele deu uma trincada. Fui para a outra árvore, passei o braço direito na árvore e me segurei enquanto jogava uma parte do peso do corpo na perna esquerda. Forcei o pé direito na água congelada. Nada. Forcei de novo. Ouvi o típico ruído de gelo rachando. Parecia cena do filme Ice Age. (depois talvez eu coloque fotos dos canais aqui, tá ? Vou tentar). Voltei para casa decidida a contar às crianças mais tarde sobre evitar a todo custo andar sobre a água. O fascínio é grande, enorme, especialmente para crianças. E onde eu moro há várias ilhas, a village é toda recortada por canais e pontezinhas.

Na escola, meu filho foi logo me contando: "Fulaninho amigo do Sicraninho veio hoje para a escola andando, seguindo o caminho de tal e tal canal." Respondi: "Ah, é ? Ele não deveria fazer isso. Eu testei o congelamento do canal do nosso quintal e ele quebrou bastante quando bati com um pé. Parecia Ice Age. Lembram do filme Ice Age ? Super perigoso isso o que o Fulaninho fez." Eles concordaram que era perigoso e, sim, lembravam do Ice Age.

Dureza foi voltar do médico depois de ele retirar com faquinha pela terceira vez um pedaço da verruga no pé dela e depois queimar com nitrogênio. Sangrou muito. A bichinha voltou para casa sentada na cadeirinha da minha bici chorando a mil nas minhas costas. Muito vento, muito frio. Penei durante cada metro do percurso.

Meu marido conectou um cabo ao meu carro durante horas hoje à noite. Vou tentar andar de carro nos próximos dias. Não dá para chegar até a porta do trabalho dirigindo, mas pelo menos aqui na village onde moro vai ser de carango. Na área aonde moro há várias caçambas com sal para os moradores apanharem com pá e jogarem de balde nas entradas da casa. Saco isso. A neve pode ser muito charmosa mas também faz da sua vida uma melequinha. Dispenso (até parece).

Yarn Bombing = Urban Knitting = Guerrilla Tricot !!

2012-02-01T11:17:00.001+01:00

Bilingual post, English - Portuguese

Spotted last weekend in Leiden, near the train station: urban knitting. That's probably the world's most inoffensive grafitti, as some people put it. And in Leiden there was a lot of it. When I say "a lot" I mean A LOT.

Finde passado durante uma caminhada em Leiden percebi numa praça atras da Estação Central as seguintes árvores cobertas em sobras de tricô e crochê.

According to aunt Wiki, examples of urban knitting have been recorded as early as May 2004 in Den Helder, Netherlands. In the U.S., in 2005 Texas knitters used their leftover and unfinished knitting projects, but it has since spread worldwide.The start of this movement has been attributed to Magda Sayeg, 37, from Houston, who says she first got the idea in 2005 when she covered the door handle of her boutique with a custom made cozy. The movement has been said to be "changing the face of craft" as stitchers are more and more frequently being viewed as fibre artists rather than amateurs or vandals.

A guerrila do tricot é um ato lúdico, e os primeiro exemplos de tricô e crochê em áreas públicas aconteceu em Den Helder, na Holanda em 2004. Depois sairam imitando pelo mundo afora.

Tecnicamente é ilegal sair tricotando (ou crochetando - leva mais tempo) as árvores, lixeiras de ruas, cercas et tals. Mas eu não acho um ato de vandalimo. E sobretudo no inverno, quando tudo fica cinza e esmaecido, esse choque de cores em lã no espaço público me parece um ato lúdico. E é facil de remover.

Urban Knitting...

Vandalism or a form of decorative expression ?

Cool of Fool ?

E aí ? Acharam legal ou apenas... bobo ?

***
Follow the Greetings from Holland on Twitter: @AnnaGFH

Eyecandy: Rene Mesman, photographer

2012-01-26T16:50:00.001+01:00

Pheew, what a week ! I had to be up and down, turn left and right and being like a Shiva Goddess with many arms doing many things at the same time. I am truly a multitasker. Therefore I coudn't blog or go to the virtual world. I think I have lost my mojo with this blog, a feeling of je ne sais quoi. I have my doubts whether I can go further in blogland. I mean... where are the thousands of followers ? What's the point ? No time for pics nor texts. Therefore I let you for now with stunning photos from Dutch photographer Rene Mesman. The guy is sooo versatile. Genius ! His stills, food, interiors and travels are brilliant. And have humour. Talk about food porn, room porn, flower porn... I want to lick these pics. Enjoy !

Rene Mesman
Born: 1969

Education: Autodidact

Editorial:

Dwell Magazine

Elegance

Elle

Elle Decoration UK

Elle Wonen

Elsevier Thema

Linda

Red

Residence

Time

Volkskrant Magazine

Westland Utrecht

Advertising:

Auping

Barron

Bijenkorf

Campina

Converse

Eastpak

Found

Frame

HEMA

Nike

Nuon

Perry Sport

Tommy Hilfiger

Vroom & Dreesman

Woonz
www.renemesman.nl

Cool or Fool ?

2012-01-19T14:22:00.001+01:00

According to an international poll the top coolest nationalites in the world are: Americans, Brazilians and Spanish.

I am not kidding, check it here - while the link lasts !!!

The top cool nationalities are:

1- Americans
2 - Brazilians
3 - Spanish
4 - Italians
5 - French
6 - British
7 - Dutch
8 - Mexicans
9 - Argentineans
10 - Russians

The least 5 cool nationalities in the world are: Belgians, Poles, Turks, Canadians and Germans.

Art on Wall (Arte na Parede)

2012-01-19T13:02:00.002+01:00

During a recent visit to Nijmegen, the first thing that called my attention when I arrived in the city was this mural.
Há pouco tempo fiz uma visita `a cidade de Nijmegen e uma das primeiras coisas que chamou minha atenção na rua foi esse mural pintado na parede.

The characters from past and present hold potatoes.
Está relacionado `a batata e todos os personagens seguram o tubérculo. O plantio, a oferta, o passado e o presente.

The mural is located between a commercial area (left) and a residential area on the right. I think the mural is cute !
O mural fica entre uma área comercial `a esquerda e uma zona residencial `a direita. Achei fofo...

The shop selling French fries ( "patat" in Dutch) is just around the corner. I suppose the shop owner lives next door and ordered the mural to be painted bewteen his door and the shop ???

A lojinha vendendo fast food e também batata frita fica logo na esquina. Veja na porta de entrada da loja o saco de papel em formato de cone carregado delas. Acho que o dono mora logo na primeira porta perto da loja e mandar pintar esse painel, rs rs... Será ??

More about art on walls here.

The Netherlands from Above (A Holanda Vista de Cima)

2012-01-18T23:00:00.004+01:00

A new programme in the Dutch telly has been aired every Tuesday since the beginning of December 2011: Nederland van boven, with awesome godviews. It is divided into several themes (commerce, water, free time, nature, underground, residencial areas, dangerous areas...). I believe I have watched this week part IV ("residencial areas").

Unfortunately the whole show (which takes 19 -20 minutes each) was removed from Youtube. Therefore I am posting here some short previews of it. The images are stunning, plus there are some interviews with architects and people on the streets.

One of the interviews which called my attention took place in a helicopter with an architect who plainly classified the way people live in two major categories: alpha and betha. In general lines, according to him, the bethas like "things and machines like cars, caravans and boats, lots of material stuff around them, collections and an organized, calm public space, beautiful gardens"- thus the people who live in horizontal areas such as the suburbia. The Alphas (he considered himself also to be one) are " people who like books". They like authenticity, love consumming culture, zigzaging in confusing streets and be piled upon other people - they are the urban people who live in apartment blocks in the big cities. They find it fine. The bethas have an aversion to crowded, urban chaos.

Gosh ! I immediately recognized I used to be an alpha when I arrived in the NL - I like the style of living amongst different people, ethnic diversity, having quick access to public transport, lots of culture, shops, entertainment. In another words: being in the world !

But... Hey, I am an alpha person living a betha life for most of the time I live in the NL. I had to make this concession to my husband, who enjoys living in the village where he was born and near to his parents. But I guess most people cannot choose - they live not according to their nature, but according to what their financial conditions allow them. I confess that now I have learned to enjoy living in the suburbia in the complete silence and one stone away from the woods which I can spot from my bedroom window. Mostly, I like to live in a village because many things I can easily do with a bike, I have lots of space and I know more and more nice people here (more social connections). And the security !! With kids this is an ideal lifestyle. The public transport to Amsterdam is also excellent. However, I confess that even during the decade I worked daily in Amsterdam I "needed" go there also now and then on the weekends on a regular basis just to have a shot of adrenaline that only big cities can provide. I love enjoying the view of the historical buildings, I fantasize about the centuries old stories those walls would tell if they could speak... Yes, a village doesn't offer too much mental stimulation... :( and can be quite monotonous :( and people think and live more or less the same way !

For now, enjoy some previews of the show Holland from Above. As I mentioned before, the whole episodes were removed from Youtube. When they are uploaded again, I will publish them here. Notice how busy and crowded The Netherlands can be. It didn't impress me much when I first arrived here because Rio has millions and millions of people piled up. But now I recognize The Netherlands are a never ending urban area. You are never really alone here. There's really no middle of nowhere.

Another short preview of the second show:

Alphas and bethas fragment:

By the way... Are you an alpha or betha ? If you could choose... would it be a house in a village or an apartment in a big city ? Culture or nature ?

*****

Upadate 19th January: a friend just sent me a link to all episodes: http://nederlandvanboven.vpro.nl/bekijk-alle-afleveringen.html

Eggplant Towers (Torres de Beringela)

2012-01-13T13:33:00.001+01:00

Bilingual Post

It is enough for 4 people (or two very hungry ones, hahah!).

4 slices of brown bread

1 eggplant

light cheese, sliced

cream cheese

olive oil

1 tomato
chopped parsley

salt, pepper

Worcestershire sauce (optional)

Press the slices of bread with the help of a glass or metal ring. Spread cream cheese on the circles of bread and place them on a buttered tray. Top them with thin slices of eggplant. Sprinkle oilive oil on them as well as salt, pepper and the Worcestershire sauce.

Top each aubergine slice with a circle of (light) cheese and again with a thin slice of eggplant.

Repeat this process at least 3 times.

Top the tower with a thick slice of tomato. Sprinkle the tomato with oil and pepper and take the tray with the towers to a preheated oven (200°C) during 20 min.

Remove from the oven, sprinkle with the parsley and serve.

Tip: always use a low fat type of (white) cheese. I have used here a low fat (Dutch) goat cheese. It has a hard consistency and is totally different from other soft (French) goat cheeses.

Tip 2: instead of parsley, sprinkle some dry oregano on the towers before you por the tray into the oven. The oregano combines very well with the flavours of the cheese, eggplant and tomatoes.

Torrezinhas (ou seriam tortinhas???) deliciosas e fáceis de beringela (ou berinjela, tanto faz, hehe!) e queijo

4 fatias de pão integral

1 berinjela grande fatiada em lâminas finas

1 queijo branco tipo minas fresco

azeite

3 colheres de sopa de salsa fresca picada

3 colheres de sopa de cream cheese light

5 colheres de sopa de molho de tomates pelados OU 1 tomate

sal, pimenta e molho inglês à gosto

Pre-aqueça o forno à 200° C.

Com a ajuda de um cortador de massa ou um copo, corte as fatias de pão em círculos . Disponha os discos de pão em uma assadeira levemente untada com manteiga.

Passe uma camada de cream cheese sobre cada pão. Sobre ele coloque uma fatia fina de berinjela. Regue com sal, tempere com azeite, gotas de molho inglês e salpique salsa e pimenta. Sobre as fatias de berinjela coloque uma fatia de queijo branco. Repita este processo acabando com uma fatia de berinjela no topo.

Sobre cada torrezinha já montada ponha uma colher de sopa de molho de tomates pelados (tomates amassados junto com o suco apenas OU fatias grossas de tomate).

Regue com um fio de azeite, sal, e leve ao forno pré-aquecido a 200° C por aproximadamente 15 -20 minutos, ou até que perceba que as fatias de berinjela estão assadas e o queijo derretido. Retire do forno, salpique mais salsa picada e sirva.

Dica: Caso pretenda substituir o queijo, procure utilizar outro queijo magro, pois estes são ideais para o tempo de forno das "torres" sem que se desmanchem completamente. Eu usei um queijo de cabra holandês que é de massa bem firme. Os queijos amarelos comprometem o resultado final da receita, pois derretem rápido demais e a berinjela fica crua.

Dica 2: Experimente salpicar orégano seco em cima de cada torre antes de levá-las ao forno. Eu acho que orégano combina muito bem com o gosto do tomate+queijo+berinjela.

A Lovely White Apartment in Amsterdam

2012-01-11T13:29:00.004+01:00

Awwnn... I have just discovered this old apartment in Amsterdam that is a really an eyecandy. White covers the space - however, if you pay attention there are here and there some small Eastern motives or pieces of decoration. And very sparsely a touch of bright colour (pink, green in the kids rooms). Some Dutch people are getting more and more inspired about Scandinavian house interiors where white floors, and walls dominate. This combined with some pieces of dark furniture. Yes, I could move in immediately - I just would need some boxes to pack my own books and two pieces of suitcase. Let's get inspired, shall we ?

The entrance hall

The Kitchen

The Living Room

Upstairs

The light grey bathroom, modern & straight

And the bedrooms:

Ficaram inspirados ? Eu acho que branco dá a sensação de amplidão e calma. Cliché mas verdadeiro... Mas vou te contar: eu moro numa casa com escadas de madeira pintadas de um tom bem clarinho ("champagne" se não me engano). Dá para ver cada pelinho ou fios de cabelo, cada ponto de lã que cai das meias pretas e cada sujeirinha. Eu tenho que aspirar a casa com o dobro da frequência que eu fazia na casa antiga. Ah, mas que uma casa de piso clarinho é lindo, isso é ! (Mas dá um trabalho, ai... )

All photos: Taverne Agency

Follow me on Twitter: @AnnaGFH

Museon (The Hague)

2012-01-10T10:50:00.008+01:00

During the winter vacations we planned to visit the Museon in The Hague. The Museon is a popular science museum with educational purposes and an enormous collection (260,000 objects) for the stimulation of the children's minds. It is divided into five areas of interest: Geology, Anthropology, Biology and Environment, History and Archaelogy, Nature and Technique. My husband still had cards from Holland Pass since the summer and we decided to use it to get some discount for this attraction. Luckily the queues were not long, and we headed immediately to the ground floor exposition: Plantastic, the magic world of plants.

We soon realized that this was rather for little kids. There are interactive displays with flowers, seeds, roots, fruits... My little girl liked it a lot, but my son was after one hour a bit bored and wanted rather to go up to the first floor, where the skeletons and crsytals were.

These huge giraffes make a sort of "link"between the ground floor and the first floor. Near the giraffes there were boards with explanations of what/how they eat and what leaves they look for.

Still on the ground floor there was a workshop being announced: Origami for kids between 7 and 12 years old. Unfotunately my little girl couldn't take part on it becasue she is not 7 yet. But... c'mon ! She is an origami expert already. She should be teaching the other (older) kids. She is really intereted in making three dimensional objects with paper and sculptures with her own hands. She folds and cut paper every day. Every day.

Another workshop was this one: to make decorative paper plates.

These metal dresses were part of an old workshop.

On the extreme left side of the ground floor there was a "Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2011" exposition . The competition is organised by BBC Wildlife magazine together with the Natural History Museum in London. I was allowed to take photos of them. They are far, far prettier than you can enjoy here. No way I could get even closer to the beauty of the colour and the impact they cause. This first photo below is called "The Assassin". It is incredible that several different photographers around the world could register these special moments. Luckily next to each photo there was a long description (in Dutch and English) of how the photographer could capture each moment, under which conditions and where in the world.

The photographer was looking for a location in the Pacific for some photo clicks when he suddenly realized this area was full of seastars. He decided to click the place when he noticed the mysterious spirals being formed.

That's scary that the photographer was in the water as well, and so close to this polar bear.

As much as I remember, it took months (almost a year) for the photogpher until he could get the trust of this wolf. One day the wolf was comfortable enough to remain quiet and very close to the photographer. That's when he could take a snapshot.

Some pics à la National Geographic style...

The photo above with the pelicans is from Daniel Beltrá, from Spain.

The photographer take a pic a his own son admiring a bat who came seing for some flies.
Beautiful indeed and this photo has won many prizes.
You can admire these photos above up to the 4th of March 2012. Winning photographs are available to buy as prints. Check here for more info, while the link lasts !

Aaahhh... I love black and white. This one above I find lovely !

Now on the first floor: it was rather for what older kids. Lots and lots of minerals and crystals from around the world, huge skeletons of scary animals, rooms with expositions about the skimos and their lifstyle, replicas of a Neanderthal woman and a Homo Erectus, big primates and small primates, big monkeys and small monkeys. This family above was reconstructed from skeletons and skull remains. They were hunters and collectors who lived in the area now known as the Lowlands.

There is also a large room about the Roman times in the Netherlands. They occupied mostly the central and the south of the area, and brought many new eating and clothing habits. There is a wall with huge photos of the many foods they introduced in Northern Europe - and the many local produce they have incorporated in their diet as well. Also a huge book with famous recipes and ood ingredients according to Apicius recommendations.

Another pretty work: this angelic boy was reconstructed after skull,skeleton and clothing findings.

There were many other rooms on the first floor about ecology, main immigrant groups in the Netherlands, the Dutch emigration to the USA, Canada and Australia after the WWII, Islam and religion, African war weapons. We visited all of them, except a room called "Children in regions at War", because just the title of the this exposition revolted my stomach. So we told the kids it was time to leave - and indeed it was.
To finish this post I let the readers with a piece of a poem I have found projected into one of the columns at the Museon. There was no author and it sounds better in Dutch than in the English translation. But then I think in English you can get the "spirit"of it as well.

The Winner Takes All

Swearing, hitting, killing...
Fighting is part of life
Such as eating, making love - quite normal

"That's right !", say the biologists
"Fighting is part of nature's way.
The strong survive, the weakest die."

"Come on !", cry the philosopers
"We are not wild beasts;
Fighting is unicvilised and dumb;
Discuss your differences, do not fight."

"Drivel !", Say the psychologists
"Know yourself.
You fight because you fear."

We fear the cold and the heat
and hunger, thirst, poverty and loneliness.
Power, humiliation, exclusion and death
Fear leads to hate

Hate is never holy, war is never just
For strife breeds only victims
and winners lose the most
It is war-war or jaw-jaw in palaces and village squares
We must make laws, set rules,
For all our sakes

www.museon.nl

Stadhouderslaan 37

2517HV Den Haag

Public Transport:

Bus 24, direction Kijkduin
Tram 17, direction Statenkwartier
Bus 21, from Scheveningen

Pão durismo é mesmo uma m...

2012-01-09T14:01:00.000+01:00

Acho que sofri pouco choque cultural quando vim pra Holanda. Afinal, ainda quando morava no Brasil hospedei uma holandesa que "conhecia" por cartas (a gente se escrevia desde os 12 anos de idade) e já fui tendo meu quinhão de decepção com a sovinice e falta de tato típicas desse povo - que também sabe ter seu lado muito carinhoso, diga-se de passagem.

Mas volta e meia ainda me pego pensando em um outro aspecto desse povo que me incomoda. Me incomoda porque eu fico pensando mais tempo do que deveria. Hoje à tarde, por exemplo, meu filho volta da escola e traz um amiguinho. Eu já estou aqui pensando no que servir de snack prá eles. Verificando se tem chocomel no estoque, e biscoitos. O garoto que vem aqui é super legal, e os pais dele mais ainda. Mas alguns outros pais de amiguinhos onde meu filho foi passar umas horas à tarde deixaram a desejar no quesito "um agrado pro lanche". Sim, porque ficar três horas depois da escola na casa de alguém e ser oferecido apenas água e um pirulito sabor cola... ou três jujubas...

Brasileiro é super entusiasmado no que diz respeito à alegrar a barriga. Até se a dona de casa está com preguiça de ir ao supermercado ou sem tempo ou sem grana, dá sempre no meio da tarde para fazer uns bolinhos de chuva com farinha, leite, ovos, açúcar e manteiga, né ?

Por isso eu ando me desprendendo dessa preocupação em fazer mini panquequinhas, ou brownies ou um bolo fresco. Oferecer uns cookies e leite já está de bom tamanho. Muitas mães holandesas ficam de dieta engolindo saliva a tarde toda e não podem ou nem estão a fim de ver açúcar ou sentir cheiro de chocolate. E não querem gastar um centavo comprando algo extra pro lanche. Nem um muffin. E aí esticam o braço e dão umas jujubas prá criança que veio brincar com o filho. Que feio, que horrore !

Ice Sculptures Festival, Zwolle

2012-01-08T22:12:00.001+01:00

Last Friday we drove to Zwolle in order to visit an exposition of ice sculptures. The festival has been widely covered by the Dutch press, however I have to confess that I first heard of it via Aledys Ver, From Argentina to the Netherlands For Love blog.

Checking the event's offical site, we discover that the temperature at the exposition hall is kept at -8°C. That's really cold, especially for the toes and fingers ! We packed shawls, gloves and hats... and the kids though Zwolle was somewhere in the North Pole

The exposition is downtown, and from the trein station or car parking of easy access on foot. We discovered it was market day on some of the streets downtown so we HAD to stop in order to buy some fried fish and roasted nuts. The kids pointed to a "ice sculpture" some meter away and asked me to photograph it (actually it is a glass sculpture in the middle of the market - not sure of the importance of it or whether it refers to the festival.)

Once in the exposition hall I found it difficult to photograph in there, due to different lights coming from several angles. Thus the result below is not the best. There were mythological figures, historical figures, boats, giant octopuses and scary deep sea fishes. Different types of ice were employed. The result is very, very pretty. I know, I know... it is not the most simple thing of the world to pack your bag and go to... Zwolle, the Netherlands. That's why I share eyecandies here in this blog. Have a look:

This last sculpture refers to the glass winged man wearing a suit I had seen outside downtwon near the market.

For more photos check here - while the link lasts !

Service:

Entrance tickets: adult € 8,50; child: € 4,50; +65 years old: € 6,50. We bought a "family ticket" for 2 aduts and 2 children (5 - 13 years old) for € 21,50. The Ice Sculptures Festival is open up to 29th January. We parked the car for €5 euro (the whole day) at the "IJsselhallen" (Rieteweg 4, 8011 AB Zwolle) and then walked to the Rodetorenplein. There are sign boards pointing the way. And also an ice hotel nearby.

Thanks for the tip Aledys !

Creamy Brigadeiro in Mini Bowls (Brigadeiro Cremoso de Potinho)

2012-01-05T17:15:00.000+01:00

Bilingual post English - Portuguese

This week my kids have vacation from school so I am the whole time at home with them and little friends. Or entertaining them in attractions indoors in other cities - I 'll be blogging about that later. Today I decided to make brigadeiros for them and a guest girlfriend. I have already blogged about how to achieve perfect brigadeiros here.

But today I am lazy and decided to spoon them in little pots. Or better saying: a small variation of the traditional recipe.

This is a recipe and serving suggestion serving for those who doesn't waste time rolling little balls !
You will need:

2 cans of condensed milk
2 table spoons of butter
1 cup chocolate powder
2 table spoons crème fraîche
chocolate sprinkles

In a medium-low heat, add butter into a pan and let it melt.
Add the condensed milk and chocolate and mix well.
Keep stirring the mixture slowly for several minutes.
When you notice it has thickened and you can see the bottom of the pan when you spoon across then it's time to stop cooking. Let it cool down for a while and then add the spoons of crème fraîche. Mix well an pour this mixture into little pots. Add the chocolate sprinkles - so that they can look like brigadeiros !

(Note: For the kids today I used the half of the recipe above. It was enough for 10 little pots).

Eu já publiquei aqui como fazer um brigadeiro perfeito, desse que ficam uma bolinha firme e não monstrenguinhos derretidos na forminha. Agora, essa receita e apresentação de hoje pode ser chamada de brigadeiro de colher ou brigadeiro cremoso de potinho - isso fica a seu critério. Porque cá entre nós: eu já cansei toda minha beleza com essa estória de enrolar bolinha, viu ?
A receita é da revista Casa e Jardim e eu fiz a metade. A receita na íntegra é:

2 latas de Leite Moça (não pode ser genérico)
2 colheres (sopa) de manteiga
1 xicara de Nescau (não pode ser genérico)
2 colheres (sopa) de creme de leite fresco
Modo de preparo

1. Em fogo médio, derreta a manteiga.
2. Em seguida, agregue o Leite Moça e o Nescau.
3. Misture e não pare de mexer.
4. Deixe no fogo até que comece a desgrudar do fundo.
5. Deixe esfriar um pouco e acrescente o creme de leite fresco.
6. Misture bem e sirva em potinhos individuais.

Nota: eu acrescentei granulados por cima. Acho que assim fica com mais cara de brigadeiro...

Michel Teló

2012-01-02T11:15:00.009+01:00

The dude above is called Michel Teló - and he is:

( ) Dutch

( ) Italian
( ) American

( x ) No idea. Who is he ?

Watching some shows and festivals on the Dutch telly during the last days of 2011 one get used to the total absence of singers out of the Europe - USA in the mainstream media. Because actually A LOT is happening down the Ecuatorian line at this moment, and you do not watch anything about it in the European TV. Well, at least not in the Dutch telly. Yep, South America remains the unknown continent - even if its largest country has reached the 6th position as biggest world economy.

Take for instance a BBC show on the 31st December I was sometimes having a look at. I watched some unknown singers (unknown to mee), some famous such as Caro Emerald and even Cindy Lauper. But... why no Brazilians, never, ever ? They sell millions and millions within Brazil. Is it the language barrier ? I don't think so ! My husband says cynically the top Brazilian artists are "too expensive" for the Dutch entertainment. (But then husband is the kind of guy who finds everything in Brazil too expensive during the last couple of years.)
Then reading the Brazilian press on line I just discovered a couple of days ago the most played musical video of the Brazilian history in Youtube. The singer is just a few steps behind Adele, Justin Bieber and Rihanna. One of his hits in youtube has had so far more than 162 million views !

His name is Michel Teló and the young guy is a huge pop success. He is a song writer, he dances, he plays accordion, harmonica, guitar and has lots of charisma. With extremely simple lyrics his hit Ai, Se Eu Te Pego (Ah, if I catch you) was number one in the radios in Portugal, Spain Argentina, Belgium and Italy. He was Top 20 in Holland and Switzerland and Top 40th in Germany. And many other countries in Middle East (hahahah!) as well. The style is sertanejo, a sort of Brazilian country music. Forbes magazine calls him a phenomenon. Check it out and enjoy !

Yes, 2012 ! (Que venha 2012 !)

2011-12-31T14:32:00.000+01:00

And another year has gone by !
From Flintstones lifestyle to The Jetsons'. From homo ~~sapiens~~ stupidus to homo galacticus. The pandora box is about to be open at any moment. Are we going to make it in 2012 ?

Thanks for all the comments and support.

I am off now, enjoying some oliebollen.

I see you again in 2012. Best wishes !

(Comments are closed )

Obrigada pelos comentários e apoio.

Fui ali comer um oliebol e já volto.

Feliz 2012 e os melhores votos !

(Comentários encerrados)

It Was a Very Merry X-mas (Foi Um Ótimo Natal)

2011-12-27T12:45:00.005+01:00

(Bilingual post, English - Portuguese.)

Ooops, a bit late for blogging about Christmas, isn't it ? I hope this blog readers have had a nice Christmas evening. By the way... is anybody reading blogs during X-mas and New Year's Eve ? I doubt it. I haven't checked my computer up to now. I was wondering about posting some recipes, and I will do it here in a very informal way. Some suggestions of easy hors-d'oeuvres then. First things first. A bit of the Christmas atmosphere at this bloggirl's home.
Êpa ! Acho que estou um pouquinho atrasada prá falar de Natal, né gente ? Aliás, será que tem alguém lendo blogs nessa época do ano, que é época corrida e também de muita preguiça ? Bom, se alguém quiser sugestões de petiscos paro Ano Novo, dêem uma olhada no que eu servi pro Natal. Receitinhas fáceis, sem frituras, montadas na hora e de sucesso garantido. Primeiro, um pouco da atmosfera natalina na casa dessa blogueira...

These hearts were an unexpected gift. They came together with the Christmas presents our kids got from my husband's employer. Our tree was already full, so they hung up them in the lamps.

Na caixa de presentinhos das crianças que ela ganham do trabalho do meu marido recebemos esses pendentes em forma de coração. Foi inesperado. A árvore de Natal já estava completa então decidimos pendurar no lustre. Ficou diferente. Os europeus são muito, muito criativos com decoração natalina, eu vejo cada coisa incrível com velas, pendentes, guirlandas, arranjos de flores. Principalmente guirlandas. Nossa, é de ficar tonta mesmo. Os meus novos vizinhos são muito bons nisso. Aliás os holandeses e americanos são bambas nisso. Dava para fazer muitos posts a respeito e aí eu não faço nada mais na vida, néam ? Eu dou uma palhinha aqui das minhas humildes idéias.

This year our children have received more cards than us. I glued them on some woodden pannels around the house. Pretty effect. I haven't had any guirlandes this year. But oh boy ! What I have seen around in my neighboorhood is amazing ! I could easily make a post of it - no time left though. The Dutch are really creative with flower bouquets and garlands. (But I think the Americans are the best on it ???)
Um efeito bonito e barato: pregar com durex os cartõezinhos de Natal em portas, paredes, janelas. Fica alegre e o custo é zero. Eu não tive nenhuma guirlanda, preguiça de procurar por uma mesmo. E pão durice. Vamos combinar que ninguém aguenta decorar e cozinhar, fotografar e chupar cana ao mesmo tempo né ?

The most beautiful - AND affordable - cutlery is found at the Spanish Zara Home (on the Kalvestraat, Amsterdam). Do not miss a visit to it when in the NL. And no - I do not get one cent to talk about it.
Os talheres mais "tchans" (e com preço acessível para simples mortais) eu encontro na elegante loja espanhola Zara Home (que em Amsterdam fica na super popular Kalverstraat.) Turistas de visita a Holanda: não deixem de passar lá ! (E eu não ganho um centavo para divulgar isso.)

The welcome drink: prosecco with a piece of pear ice-cream. I had looked for lemmon ice-cream, but pear was what I found and it's fine. You guess can also use pineapple, mango, kiwi or another tropical fruit. Easy and quick and it gives to the prosecco a fruity twist.
O drinque de boas-vindas foi esse prosecco com um pedaço de picolé de pêra dentro. Eu procurei por picolé de limão no supermercado, mas já tinha acabado. Acho que pêra deu um bom susbtituto. Se quiser pirar no cabeção pode usar manga, abacaxi, kiwi ou qualquer outra fruta. É um drinque super fácil de fazer e dá uma variada no tão batido prosecco. Fica de sugestão pro Ano Novo.

Now, three suggestions of hors d'oeuvres. No oven, no frying, and it takes a couple of minutes to prepare them. This first one is dried saucisson pur porc with a paste of dried fruit and nuts. I guess salami is also good instead of saucisson. I have found this rolls at Albert Heijn supermarket and they are really handy.
Como eu não gosto de fazer fritura na minha casa (odeio fumaça: o ar fica pesado e fedido, suja o fogão e azulejos, e comida frita entope as artérias do coração, hahahah ! ) optei por servir antes do jantar uns petiscos que pudessem ser montadaos na hora em alguns minutos. Poderia servir apenas uma ou duas distrações, mas como sou exagerada resolvi servir três. A primeira foi um salsichão defumado e seco (aí no Brasil salaminho fica muito bem como substituto) com uma pasta de frutos secos e nozes. Duas opções: figos secos com amêndoas ou ameixas com nozes. Acabei usando só o figo com amêndoas.

Suggestion number two: white endives with prosciutto de Parma, gorgonzola cheese and some jam of your preference. Believe me: the contrast of textures and flavors make a very interesting result. No Parma ? Use fried bacon then.
Essa sugestão eu tinha visto no blog da Fran e resolvi experimentar pro Natal. Folhas de endívia branca com pedacinhos de gorgonzola, presunto seco defumado e geléia de sua preferêcia - eu usei de ameixa que era o que eu já tinha aberto na geladeira, mas acho que de abricó ou morango fica muito bom também. O contraste de sabores e texturas (crocante e amargo da endívia, defumado do presunto, cremoso do gorgonzola e doce da geléia) é muito interessante.

Number three: tortilla chips with guacamole and little shrimps from the North Sea.
Esse também é ótimo e facinho. Tortilla chips de milho com guacamole e camarãozinho do mar do Norte (mas você pode usar qualquer outro camarãozinho, claro). Faça o guacamole com antecedência e mantenha-o até a hora de utilizar em um pote (previamente esterilizado) e fechado na geladeira. Ou você pode utilizar o guacamole comprado já pronto, isso fica a seu critério. O camarão eu tinha também na geladeira já pronto, cozido e descascado. Depois a montagem é vapt-vupt !

Rucolla salad with quinoa, cucomber, green apple, semi-dried tomatoes, Taggia olives, chalottes and shrimps. I am in a quinoa wave this year, cannot have enough of it.
Salada de rúcola com quinoa, pepino, maçã verde, azeitonas, tomates semi-secos e camarões. Eu já tinha os camarões marinados, cozidos e descascados num potinho, e a quinoa cozida também. Na hora só acrescentei o pepino e maçã e montei o resto. Aqui eu não tenho ajuda de ninguém, minha sogra não vê bem e não enfrenta a cozinha mesmo. A cunhada-preguiça ficou linda, loura, falsa magra AND sentada na pontinha do sofá com as mãozinhas nos joelhos AND sendo servida a noite toda. Meus filhos são muito pequenos ainda para dar uma mãozinha. Então eu tenho que planejar tudo nos mínimos detalhes e com antecedência prá ~~não me descabelar na hora~~ continuar linda, leve e no salto alto. Claro que maridão ajuda na lavação, no corte dos legumes, na hora de servir os drinks e lavar panelas. Mas eu é que fico no batente mesmo.

The pumpkin soup with coriander and coconut milk was ready in the freezer for a couple of months. I found it super tasty and added a Brazilian kick to the dinner. Apparently, my in laws too. But then the Dutch is not enthusiastic about praising.
A sopa de abóbora já estava congelada há meses. Levou coentro, alho francês, leite de côco, cebolinha. Eu tirei do freezer pela manhã no domingo e antes de servir coloquei na panela, acrescentei mais um cubinhos crus de abóbora e cozinhei (para a sopa não ficar com aquele gosto de Bela Adormecida). Acrescentei uns croutons, a sopa ficou linda de morrer e voilà !

My own French creation: confit de canard with wild rice, lentils, mushrooms sautée in garlic and a cappucinno of mushrooms. Confit de canard is super handy !! Thumbs up !!
O prato principal foi pato (confit de canard) que eu retirei da gordura e esquentei no forno. Servi com arroz selvagem e lentilhas, cogumelos salteados no azeite e um cappucinno de cogumelos muito macio e fácil de fazer.

This is very European: a cheese plate. Oops, I have photographed the photo camera cord too.

Minha cunhada trouxe esses queijos. O brie eu servi acompanhado de uma geléia de mirtilo (veja abaixo) que eu encontrei no blog da Fabi, o Figos e Funghis. Detalhe picante: minha cunhada no fim da noite recolheu os queijos, colocou num pote e levou prá casa !! No dia seguinte quando veio pro brunch de mãos abanando perguntou se eu tinha algum queijo brie ou de cabra e eu disse: "Claro, os que você trouxe. Seu irmão deve ter posto na geladeirinha da garagem, um momento que eu vou ver." Ela respondeu: "Ah, não mesmo. Esses eu já levei prá casa ontem!". Não vou falar mais nada, os leitores desse blog que tirem suas conclusões.

The Bailey's tiramisú with cherries went wrong. Luckily the Brazilian pudding was perfect. Recipe to be presented here, hopefully soon.

(Hey, is anybody reading posts in blogland ? )
Psst ! If you wonder how some gringos celebrated a Brazilian Christmas go here and here.

O tiramisú Baileys com cerejas ficou mambembe, bem "marromenos". Ainda bem que eu também tinha feito esse pudim de leite condensado no sábado. Ficou perfeito, desenformou fácil e deu bastante calda. É bem macio, sem furinhos. Vou estar dando a receita em breve, me aguardem.
Gente, eu adorei meu Natal e já estou pensando no menú do Natal para o ano que vem ! Vou fazer só UM prato único e uma salada, na linha indiana ou marroquina, bem exótico. Um curry ou uma tajine. E só uma sobremesa também. E esse ano fiquei morrendo de saudades do bolinho de bacalhau amigo que só meu pai sabe fazer e do peruzão cheio de paixão, ha-ha ! E aquela sauna de dezembro em pleno verão e batucada dos vizinhos como música de fundo. Me aguardem, me aguardem... Que de repente ano que vem eu arrumo as trouxas, pego uma criança em cada mão assovio pro marido, pulo num avião e desço na casa dos meus pais em plena comemoração natalina com 40C à sombra. Me aguardem.

Happy Celebrations

2011-12-21T21:31:00.002+01:00

Pheew, 2011 was not an easy year for me and lots of people ! Due to the economic crisis I had friends who preferred to quit their lives in Holland and go back to their home countries. I truly have witnessed many close acquaintances heavily affected by the bad economy. My old house is still not sold and this has provided me a bitter taste... plus the Eurozone is heading for a crisis. This amplifies my anxiety. On the other side, I have learned this year how resilient and driven I can be. I think I have also completed some karma that needed to be burned. Looking back I conclude that I have had health and love the whole year and that's all that matters.

Although I doubt 25th of December be the date of birth of Jesus (it really doens't matter what the "real"date is) we can all celebrate Christmas this year by returning to the true spirit of tolerance.
If you are not a Christian, you can always celebrate the beginning of the new solar year on December 25th.
Let's hope for more manifestations of all good things in the world and more synchronicities.
Occupy yourself !
I wish you a Merry Christmas and lots of good vibes in 2012 !

Now, on a lighter tone... My private gringo received a DVD from my parents: " Ivete Sangalo at Madison Square Garden". My children got as presents... binoculars ! They do not stop observing the neighboorhood's activity, it can be embarrasing sometimes (the houses on my new address have already very wide windows).
Read my last post of 2010 here. I had already talke a bit about Ivete then. Below, a video with her. Enjoy ! See you in 2012 and thanks for following my blog !!

Super Easy Orange Cake (Bolo de Laranja de liquidificador)

2011-12-14T13:38:00.000+01:00

Bilingual Post. Em português, na segunda metade.

Looking for a super quick orange cake ? Read this !

The juice of 2 oranges freshly squeezed
1 cup sunflower oil
2 eggs
2 cups baking flour
1 1/2 cups of sugar
2 tea spoons baking powder

Pre-heat the oven at 180°C (356°F ).
Grab a cake mold and grease it well inside (with butter or oil, it doesn't matter). Sprinkle inside with flour. Set it apart.

Mix well the eggs, the juice of the two oranges and the canola oil until you get a yellow and homogeneous cream. In a large bowl mix well the flour, the sugar and the baking powder. Add the yellow cream and mix well with a wooden spoon. Transfer this mix to the mold and pop it into the preheated oven during 45-50 minutes. You can remove it from the mold when it cools down.

This is a light and refreshing cake. Optional : garnish with powdered sugar and fresh fruit for a festive presentation !

Bolo De Laranja de Liquidificador

Quem não gosta de um bolinho caseiro super fácil e rápido ? Não precisa bater claras em ponto de neve nem fazer medições em gramas. Esse fica ótimo para ser saboreado numa manhã de domingo, com um café amarguinho. Ou então à tarde, com um chá de camomila como eu fiz. Meu filho adora passar manteiga e colocar uma fatia fininha de queijo prato por cima do bolo, enquanto toma chá gelado com limão ou ... suco de laranja ! Minha filha pede prá levar de merenda prá escola e gosta de comê-lo bebendo leite com chocolate. O maridão gosta mesmo é de curtir um bolinho de laranja depois do jantar enquanto vê TV e as crianças já estão dormindo. É... lá em casa todo mundo adora essa receita mesmo! Você vai precisar de laranjas ótimas para fazer suco. E os demais ingredientes vai ver você já tem até em casa. Vamos lá:

2 laranjas
1 xícara de chá de óleo de canola
2 ovos
2 xícaras (chá) de farinha de trigo
1 1/2 xícaras (chá) de açúcar
2 colheres (chá) de fermento em pó

Aqueça o forno à 180º. Unte uma assadeira ou forma de buraco com manteiga e depois polvilhe com farinha. Lave e esprema as duas laranjas. No liquidificador bata os ovos, o suco das laranjas e o óleo até obter um creme amarelinho e homogêneo. Numa tigela funda misture a farinha de trigo, o açúcar e o fermento. Adicione o creme de laranja-ovos aos poucos e misture delicadamente com uma colher de pau ou espátula de borracha até a massa ficar homogênea. Transfira a massa para a forma já untada e enfarinhada e leve para assar em 180º por 45 minutos, ou até passar no teste do palitinho. Desenforme morno, quase frio.

Eu disse que era fácil, não disse ?

Sentada ao lado da janela, comendo bolo e vendo a vida passar...

Hemaphrodite (It's really HEMA)

2011-12-13T13:40:00.003+01:00

Holland likes to sell the image of a avant gardiste country and where many taboos are broken. Oh well... At least in the advertisement world.
This model promoting a new mega push-up bra is a man. 100% man. His name is Andreij Pejic - a very versatile model (20 years old) with an androgynous look who performs on the catwalk wearing Marc Jacobs' or Paul Smith's men's clothes or wearing women's couture at Jean Paul Gaultier's fashion shows as well.

Newspaper De Telegraaf calls the model a HEMAphrodite.

I personally found this campagne very daring and have my thumbs up for the HEMA ! If you think well, who else than a man to prove that you can get 2 sizes bigger with such a product ??? I also consider the photos of very good taste. Simple and pleasant for the eye.

PLUS... it's is incredible that a man can have a job promoting clothes for both genders and in a such natural way.
And you ? What do you think from the HEMA initiative ?

Cool or fool ?

I have tried to find a video with Andrej Pejic talking about this campaign for the HEMA but I haven't found anything. There is this one below where he givs an interview during an interval of the Fashion Week in Brazil this year. English with Portuguese subtitles.

Brazil - the brand

2011-12-10T13:57:00.001+01:00

I just checked e-mail I have received from Hunkemoller (a very popular lingerie/bikini/nightwear brand in the NL) and then I discovered they have a new line of products called "Brazilian". I couldn't figure out what makes them exactly "Brazilian". But then quickly I started to "catch" the idea.

The models below look pretty Brazilian.

Well... Most Brazilian girls when living abroad have problems about finding suitable underwear. The slips in Holland (at leat by the Hema and Hunkermoller) used to be big (boxers) or tiny & uncomfy (strings). Nothing decent and charming for big butts. This Brazilian line and specially the pattern from Hunermoller reminded me a bit of the Brazilian lace and cut from DeMillus and DuLoren. Thumbs up for Hunkemoller !!!

And yesterday in the evening I passed by my favorite drugstore and spotted some products of L'Orèal . One hair colour is called "Brazilia".

Yes !! Not exactly black but very dark brown. Exactly the hair shade of the majority of people in Brazil. I think I go back to the Dirx and purchase some Brazilia in order to provide extra shine to my hair. In the UK you can find another shade of brown called... Brazil Brown. It is strange. Not exactly sun-kissed, not exactly brown. Have a look:

Anyway... I am a bit happier now living in Holland and expressing a bit more of my Brazilian... ess !! I still miss many Brazilian products though. :(

Volendam - Kitsch souvenirs, Cocaine and the Paling Sound

2011-12-09T11:31:00.002+01:00

If you are looking for a very typical Dutch fishing village you can visit within a couple of hours then Volendam is a must see. You can also combine it with a boat trip to Marken.

It seems the population of Volendam form a quite closed community of hard working people - and are pretty expressive cocaine users as well. It made national news a while ago. Sad.

Volendam is packed with tourists during the weekends. Souvenir shops with lots of kitsch souvenirs galore ! It is also possible to have yourself portraited in a very old fashioned way. This woman is going to be transformed into a typical Dutch woman. Okay, not a modern Dutch woman but one with those folklorical clothes, pointy lace hat in an over loaded background. I always wanted to have pics of my kids like Volendam fisheman and cheese girl in order to send some to my parents - but my son refuses it fiercely. My little girl accepted it, with clogs, tulips, cheese and everything else.
By the way, would you like to check how the client above got the looks of a traditional Volendammer ? Have a look below:

~~Kitsch~~ Pretty good !

At these souvenir shops annex photo shop you can find on the glass windows a lot of famous Dutch people dressed and protrayed like that: singers, actors, TV hosts and even Brazilian football players !

My little girl bravely decided to go with me to the back of the shop where lots and lots of clothes and accessories were. We were helped by an experienced photographer/salesperson and in two minutes my daughter was completely ready for the shots. She posed for the pics and within two minutes we were out of the shop - however, we should wait a couple of hours to have the pics printed and in our hands. Then we decided meanwhile to jump into a boat packed with tourists an visit Marken.

At the end of the afternoon we picked up my little girl's photo and decided to pay a visit to a bar with the kids and the rest of the family before driving back home for dinner.

Some tourists were departing back to Amsterdam and the locals were arriving at the bar annex restaurant. Many locals were arriving to drink (and already get stoned ?) and asking for extra stools. I could see the bar owner was rather concerned in arranging chairs for the loyal clients than for the tourists. I have heard the youth of Volendam are avid consummers of cocaine (50% to 80% porcent of all youngsters below 25 years old consumme cocaine everyweekend. The police says the youth in this village thinks sniffing cocaine is a "normal thing". Source: here. ) Anyway... There was a screen above the bar with typical scenes from Volendam and the back ground music was... Well, palingsound !! It's is weekend, you live in ~~Holland~~ Volendam and what else could you ask for ? Beer, cocaine and paling sound,of course ! (Nee, niet voor mij. Dankje. )

I love "paling". Paling the fish, not the sound (it is "eel" and juicy & delish delicious, not euwh !)

The fishing village of Volendam is also the birth place of many famous dark haired Dutch singers (The Cats, Jan Smit, Simon and Nick and many others) and their typical Dutch style of pop music. It is called "The Paling Sound". It seems the artists themselves do not see it as a negative label (Duh! The Dutch are always 100% proud of their produce). Check more about the paling sound on the video below. Nick and Simon traveled with a very tall Dutch model to Florence and sing "Rosanne". Why they hired a Dutch beauty for the video and not an Italian one I have no idea. Anyway, the paling sound... Best irritant en idioot melodie - but the Dutch cannot get enough of it. My little daughter and I guess all the kids at her school love singing Rosanne. This video has over 7 million views. Not bad for a country with a population of 16 million !

Curiosities...

2011-12-09T10:05:00.003+01:00

In case you still don't know...

The city of Amsterdam has 1,281 bridges.	1 / 4 of the Netherlands lies below sea level.
The Dutch are the tallest people in the world.	People of 140 nationalities are living in Amsterdam.
The Netherlands are a founding member of the European Union.	The largest port of Europe is located in Rotterdam.
Most of the Dutch speak a foreign language.	Only 5% of the Dutch population works in the agricultural sector.
In Holland, there are still some 1000 windmills working.	The International Court of Justice (Peace Palace) is based in The Hague.
In Holland flowers are sold almost everywhere.	One in three Dutch is an active member of a sporting association.
The Dutch love to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, births.	In Holland it is impolite to help yourself; always wait to be invited to start.
In Amsterdam you can see 206 paintings by van Gogh and 22 works by Rembrandt.	In the Netherlands there are more than 15,000,000 bicycle paths, and the numbers of people and bicycles are the same.
In Holland, the religious ceremony may only be held after the civil marriage.	Indonesia (one of the most populous countries in the world) was a Dutch colony until 1945.
After the Scandinavians, the Dutch are the biggest consumers of coffee in the world.	The highest point of the Netherlands is on the island of Saba in the Caribbean: Mount Scenery is 877 meters tall.
The international airport of Amsterdam - Schiphol - is 4.5 m below sea level.	The Netherlands have the highest concentration of museums in Europe of which 42 are in Amsterdam.
The city of Amsterdam is the capital of Holland, but the seat of the government is in the city of Hague.	In the Netherlands, 35% of all babies are born at home. Home birth is almost routine.
It is considered anti-social when one doesn’t celebrate the birthday of a friend or relative.	In Holland herring is eaten raw with a chopped onion.
The Dutch played against the Brazilians four times in the World Cup. Results: two victories, one defeat and a draw.	When someone dies, a family member sends a card with a black stripe as a sign of the event.
Never forget to ask to your visits whether they would like to have more coffee or tea; that is a matter of politeness for the Dutch.	Holland is normally called the Netherlands (or, Nederland). The country got its name because of the 12 local provinces, “the lands”.
The Netherlands, with its 0.008% of the global surface, are the second country in the world, only behind the United States, in exports of agricultural products.	The Dutch celebrate Christmas for two days: 25 and 26 December. The exchange of gifts, however, is made on December 5, St. Nicholas Day.
The Netherlands have two autonomous territories in the Caribbean: since (10-10-10), the islands of Bonaire, Saba and Saint Eustatius are Dutch municipalities. Aruba, Curaçao and Saint Martin are autonomous territories within the kingdom.	In Holland, the birthday celebration habit is different: people greet not only the person having a birthday, but the family members and friends too.
The Netherlands are one of the most densely populated countries in the world, with 450 inhabitants per square kilometer. Almost half of the population lives in three cities: Amsterdam, The Hague and Rotterdam.	The Dutch national football team participated in nine World Cups. The best results were achieved in 1974, 1978 and 2010. In all cases, Holland was vice champion.
Dutch Guyana was a Dutch possession until 1975, when it became independent and adopted the name of Suriname.	New York, the largest city of the United States and one of the most influential metropolises in the world, was founded in 1624 by the Dutch. The town was named New Amsterdam and got its current name only later.
The Afrikaners (or Boers) are descendants of French, German and, mostly, Dutch settlers who established themselves in South Africa. They developed their own language, Afrikaans, which is currently one of the eleven official languages of South Africa.	The Brazilian city of Holambra (derived from the combination of HOLland, America and BRAzil), in the State of São Paulo, was named so because of a Dutch colony that settled in the region. Holambra is a one of the biggest flower producer (including tulips) in Brazil.
The shirt of the Dutch national team football is orange. Why? Simply, orange is the color of the dynasty of Orange, the royal family of Holland that began in 1544 and goes on until today with Queen Beatrix. Important detail: the country is a parliamentary monarchy.	The oldest national anthem is Dutch. It is called Wilhelmus and was composed between 1568 and 1572 in homage to William of Orange (martyr of the Dutch independence) and is used today as the official anthem of the country. The interesting thing is that it only became the national anthem officially in 1932 ...
The Netherlands is home to five international courts: the Permanent Court of Arbitration, the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, the International Criminal Court and the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. The first four are located in the city if The Hague, as well as the headquarters of the European Union's criminal information, Europol, is. This prompted the city to be nicknamed the “legal capital of the world” ...	The Northeast of Brazil was a Dutch colony for some time. The Dutch rule had three phases. The first one began in 1630 and was characterised by the Dutch effort to eliminate the main core resistant to invasion, Arraial do Bom Jesus, which fell in 1635. The second one was the consolidation of the Flemish dominion, from 1635 to 1645, with emphasis on the administration of Maurice of Nassau. Finally, the third one lasted until 1645, the year of the Pernambuco Insurrection.
Over ninety thousand Brazilians visited Holland in 2010, which means an increase of 50% in comparison to 2009. This information comes from the Dutch Bureau for Tourism and Congresses (NBTC). Source: Radio Nederland Wereldomroep 2011, January 12, 2011	In 2011 it is also 350 years ago, on 6 August 1661, that the treaty of the Hague was signed between Portugal and the Dutch Republic of those days. In this treaty the Portuguese accepted their losses in Asia and paid the Dutch the value of 63 tons of gold (4 milllion Cruzados) in compensation for Brazil, to which the Dutch rejected their rights.
The crown Prince Williem Alexander and princess Maxima married on February 2, 2002 (02/02/2002). Maxima Zorreguieta is Argentinean.	The Netherlands have 17,701 64,336 bikeways and pathways where you can ride a bike, putting 29,000 kilometers available for the cyclists ... 84% of the people of Netherlands have a bike. Many have more than one bike, so there are 18 million bicycles to 16.5 million persons.

3 Typical Dutch Delicacies / 3 Delícias Doces do Inverno Holandês

2011-12-08T13:46:00.002+01:00

Bilingual post English / Portuguese

Wondering which sweets the Dutch enjoy in December, during Sinterklaas and Christimas celebrations ?
Well, I have already talked a bit about it here.
And here below that's what we enjoyed during last Saturday afternoon, while waiting for the Black Peters knock at the door (and before the visschotel: fish and salad buffet in the evening).

This one gets an 8 from me. Speculaas koek with almond.
O primeiro doce que apresento é o bicoito gigante speculaas, que é servido quebrado. Sequinho e crocante, com gosto de canela, leva bastante manteiga. Diversão média para mim. Posso tranquilamente passar sem.

Number #2 is... Speculaas cake. I do not care much about this. If there was a list of all sweets from Holland this one wou get a 5 (because I am in a good mood today).
Bobagem doce número dois é o bolo de speculaas. Nem vou falar a respeito.

Aaah, my fave from all Dutch pastries: Amandelstaaf. Moisty inside, crispy and dry outside - just like a croissant... a truly 10 (in my humble opinion) !! And then my husband arrived last Monday home carrying more of this he had received at his work. AND I am visting the gym more frequently this week.
Item bom de patisseria é esse: um folhado de massa de amêndoas,a açúcar e manteiga. Não é muito doce, tem maciez & granulosidade por dentro e é mais ou menos como um croissant por cima. Dá para brincar de muitas texturas na língua.

After enjoying the sweets, tea and warm chocolate ~~my parents-in-law's neighbour~~ Black Peter knocked wildly at the door. Everybody's hearts bumped quicker (me too - duh!) and the kids ran to the back door. They have found two sacks with little presents (cadeautjes).

Depois de curtir essas doçarias inúteis enquanto bebericávamos chá ou chocolate quente ouvimos um batidão na porta. Ui, pulei no sofá de idiota. Era o vizinho que tinha combinado num tal e tal horário bater na porta e deixar os sacos de presentes, fazendo as crianças pensarem que alguém chegou. Claro que encontraram dois sacos com presentes, deixados pelos Pedros Negros (Black Peters).

And we read the poems and we luckily could decypher the hidden messages on them...
E lemos os poemas em cada presente e deciframos do que se tratava as mensagens em códigos...

Sinterklaas rocks ! (not)

2011-12-06T16:31:00.002+01:00

Last Saturday we celebrated Sinterklaas at my in-laws'. I decided not to post anything about it this year because you can find enough material in this blog. The big surprise is that my husband bought two little presents for me AND he had enough work also bothering to writing poems. I thought only the kids would get presents and poems. Therefore I didn't buy anything for him and he came back home with empty hands. Well, he did got presents from his parents and sister but nothing from me. He was a bit disappointed. I will try to compensate that with Christmas (for a Dutch person this has not the same value).

My parents-in-law got this CD from my ~~husband and me~~ Sinterklaas.

Then yesterday at my kids school on my way back to the car I heard an American mother who was passing by telling her kid: "... and within some days the real Santa Claus is arriving in the NL, with rendeers..." I laughed out loud. Pardon ? The "real Santa Claus" ??? How is it possible ? She is lucky enough to raise her kids in the Netherlands - where the real Nicolaas traditions began, right? And then she says the real one is still going to arrive ? I guess this kid will rebel when he grows up ! Or not ?

Now, seriously: sometimes I think it would be far better if Sinterklaas just merged with Santa Claus and arrived during X-mas. Let's make life simpler.

100 Anos de Imigração Holandesa no Paraná, Brasil

2011-12-06T14:02:00.004+01:00

Como meu irmão é veterinário de animais de grande porte e adora assistir a um Globo Rural (e de quebra meus pais também), minha mãe me ligou há uns dias atrás só para falar desse programa. Comemorando os 100 anos de imigração holandesa no sul do país - mais especificamente em Carambeí, no Paraná - o Globo Rural começou uma série de reportagens.

Uma que me interessou foi essa aí abaixo sobre fazendeiros holandeses no Brasil e a família deles lá na Frísia. Notem que o fazendeiro holandês usa uniforme, o típico macacão azul. Eu não vivo numa área rural aqui na Holanda, mas sempre que vejo um fazendeiro trabalhando por outras partes do país ele está com esse macacão. Quem trabalha com gado ou com a terra sai pouco ou nunca de férias, tem dificuldade em econtrar esposas - existe até um programa de TV a respeito e já falei aqui no GFH. Ah, e recebem subsídios do governo. Fazendeiro na Holanda... uma profissão quase em extinção - o país tem pouca terra destinada à agricultura, é muito povoado e tem uma sociedade pós industrializada.
Mas bom, antes do programa do Globo Rural, achei legal esse videozinho sobre um parque histórico em Caranbeí. Eles receberam uma ponte levadiça de Harlingen, na Frísia, para comemorar o centenário da imigração.

E aqui (em holandês) um vídeo da construção da ponte em Harlingen na região da Frísia que foi enviada ao Parque Histórico de Carambeí em comemoração dos 100 anos de imigração. A ponte foi enviada de navio durane uma viagem que levou um mês. Fofo esse presente, não ?

E finalmente o programa do Globo Rural. Prá quem gosta de ver vacas e tetas. Achei os primos holandeses gente boa e equilibrados com as vidinhas deles - nem de mais nem de menos. Tipo: tanto faz levar uma vida rural no Paraná ou na Frísia. Quer dizer: mais ou menos igual. O dia começa muito cedo, a ralação é grande e o mundinho é pequeno. Vidas sem luxo e centradas nas famílias. Mas... o primo que vive no Brasil, o Jacob Zilstra, conseguiu se arrumar com uma esposinha, né gente ? Prá esquentar os pézinhos dele debaixo do colchão quando fizer frio. Ele tem "patrão"mas tem um funcionário também e aposto que consegue sair de férias com a família... Já o primo holandês, o Siebe Reistman, não pode desgrudar um dia sequer das vacas. Sei não, às vezes acho que os fazendeiros holandeses são uma espécie em extinção. O negócio é continuar imigrando para a Austrália, Brasil, África do Sul, Polônia...

Clique no centro da foto abaixo para ativar o vídeo.

P.S.: Eu sei que a comemoração do centenário foi em outubro e que eu estou um pouco atrasada (e tudo anda lerdo no blog) - mas no início de novembro eu estava em plena mudança de casa. Uma mudança que aconteceu em muitas etapas e foi realizada sem caminhão, nem ajudantes, nem nada - apenas meu marido acoplou um carrinho ao carro dele e colocou nossas camas lá. Até hoje vou de carro ou de bike à minha casa antiga resgatar algo. Já trouxemos a TV, a máquina de lavar, de secar, e todos os objetos pessoais. Como não vendemos a casa antiga o resto ficou por lá mesmo: sofá, sala de jantar, estante, escrivaninha etc, etc. Prá encher os olhos dos potenciais compradores. Estamos usando móveis velhos de parentes na casa nova.
Pois é.

Cuties or Hoties ?

2011-12-02T22:48:00.004+01:00

For the girls, show host and columnist for FHM magazine Dennis Storm is our Friday cutie.

And Nicolette Kluijver - also a show hostess and interviewer in many Dutch TV programmes - is the Friday cutie for the male readers. The ex-model is a bit tomboy, a bit clumsy and a bit naif.

That's it for a quick Friday post: two cuties from the Dutch TV.

( Mmm, or should I call them hoties ?)

Safadjeenhos esses holandesinhos, neam ???

New Home, Old Problems

2011-11-28T21:16:00.000+01:00

Estou assim há três dias. Sem uma gota d'água na cozinha.
(I am living like this during the last three days:
without one drop of water coming from the tap:)

Deprimi.

I'm depressed.

I ♥ Farofa-fa !

2011-11-28T18:26:00.001+01:00

The Potato Eaters, Van Gogh.

Holandês não sabe comer (não quer, não suporta olhar, não vai provar) farofa.
Nunca o saberão. Fato.
Nem se rolar um bife de panela, um franguinho assado, um espetinho, uma feijoadinha light...
Não.
Nada de farofa.
Niets.
Niks.
Nooit. Jamais !
"Parece areia", ouvi, ouço, ouvirei.
O negócio desse povo é batata. Só batata.
Alguns estrangeiros chamam os holandeses de kaaskop - "cara de queijo". Oi ?
Eu acho que esse povo está mais mesmo é pra "cara de batata", viu ?
Cabelinhos cor de batata...
Pele cor de batata...
Empombei...ai.

I ♥ Koefnoen

2011-11-25T16:12:00.000+01:00

Because ~~I hate~~ I have enough posts about Sinterklaas I have decided not to do any this year. Click on tag "celebrations" if you wish to learn something about the Black Peters and how Sinterklaas is celebrated in Holland.
Ok, then parodies instead. Let's enjoy the Dutch program Koefnoen.
First, the commercial from Milner cheese. "Enjoy less fat: Milner. It is in our nature. "

And hereis the parody by Koefnoen: "Swilner: nakedness and cheese. A golden combination. Now in a new taste: old fresh belly button cheese. Directly from a belly button to your table."

Gifts from Holland

2011-11-24T13:37:00.002+01:00

I have recently followed a discussion of expats on Twitter and Insego about which Dutch items to bring to your family and friends when visiting ~~home~~ your country of origin. How many times can you buy clogs and tulips ? Well, here are some of the best suggestions in my opinion:
LEGO's and wooden toys for the kids
Delft Blue porcelain
Grolsch and Jenever
Hagelslag (sprinkles) in several varieties
Pepernoten
Chocolate letters
Bicycle accessories
Kids stuff from Nijntje or Jip & Janneke (such as lunch boxes, plastic bottles, postcards, etc. found at the HEMA)
Old fashioned plastic fantastic from Kitsch Kitchen. I specially love the uber kitsch umbrellas.

Fashion and accessories: Jurianne Matter, Pip-Studio, Sissy Boy, Blond (found at V&D stores), Oilily, "artcessories" from Roeffel, Passion Blue.

Roeffel

Jip en Janneke

Hagelslag, sprinkles in several variations.

Speculoos is the best - in my humble opinion.

Oilily bags

chocolate letters

pepernoten

BLOND-Amsterdam

Jurianne Matter paper articles

Pip-Studio

Any other suggestions ???

I ♥ Tokos

2011-11-24T11:45:00.001+01:00

Vontadinha de comprar feijão preto com carne seca, macarraozinho lámen, aipim (AND pimenta sechuan a pedido da sogrinha que anda perdendo o paladar depois da retirada do tumor no cérebro). Dei uma passadinha no meu "toko" (loja de produtos comestíveis asiáticos) favorito em Zaandam onde dei de cara já na entrada com uma travessinha de bacalhau desfiado a 4,75euros por 400 gramas. Hum, eu acho que o preço está razoável, néam ? Aliás, foi a primeira vez que vi escrito em holandês como bakkeljauw ao invés de kabbeljauw. Quase abracei o garoto chinês atendente do toko e fui cantar "Ilariê-Ilariê-ô-ô-ô" quando peguei o bacalhau ! I ♥ toko shops.

Nunca, mas nunca mesmo em anos e anos vivendo na Holanda tinha visto bacalhau salgado. Fiquei superfeliz, pois meu marido ~~é tarado por pratos de bacalhau~~ adora receitas brasileiras que levam bacalhau salgado que é cozido e desfiado. ("Oh, a pobre já fica feliz de achar umas ripinhas de bacalhau seco e salgado. Que simplória" já tou ouvindo neguim pensar...). Acho que vou fazer algo fácil para o segundo dia de Natal: uma brandade. Vou por fé na qualidade desse bacalhau de toko ! E receita de brandade é tão simples, mas tão simples que até parece comidinha de criança. Mas vou te contar, hein ? O resultado é divino !

Estranho ela não ter posto nem creme de leite fresco na massa nem ter acrescentado queijo parmesão ralado e levado ao forno mas... tudo é valido.
Abaixo, um vídeo interessante com uma varição da receita clássica. O chef acrescentou presunto e azeitonas. Fica ótimo também. Eu tenho esse anel de metal e vou tentar.

Ou será que faço bolinhos de bacalhau ? Mmmm...

Oh, dúvida cruel !

Natal 2011

2011-11-22T21:56:00.004+01:00

Domingo passado tomei ~~vergonha na cara~~ coragem e decidi fazer uma mega sopa de abóbora. Uma sopa muito especial, diga-se de passagem: vai servir de entradinha para o jantar de Natal aqui em casa.

Orgulhosa e serelepe do meu feito (afinal usei duas abóboras japonesas, de casca brilhante e muuuito dura, aff quase destronquei o dedão) coloquei no Facebook: "Sopa creme de abóbora com alho francês, coentro e leite de côco pro Natal já tá prontinha, descansando lindamente qual bela adormecida no freezer." Niqui uma amiga reagiu: "E o peru ? E a farofa ? E o bacalhau ?" Então me toquei que o povo lá no Brasil (o povo = meus amigos) ainda não sabem que por aqui (aqui = Holanda) ceia de Natal significa um jantar fino, com entrada, prato principal e sobremesa. Pratos internacionais (asiáticos ou europeus) e principalmente carnes de caça como prato principal - pode ser coelho, faisão, salmão, rena ou pato. Não é aquela estória de cozinhar um mundaréu de comida para meio exército e colocar tudo ao mesmo tempo na mesa. Peru ou pernil, arroz de festa, salada, salpicão, farofa, frutas, pratos de bacalhau... tudojuntoaomesmotempoagora ! Aí todo mundo ~~se empanturra~~ come feliz. Primeiro round. Dá aquela leseira... Aí come de novo - é o segundo round. Quando ninguém aguenta mais tem sempre um que diz: "só mais um bolinho/empadinha/farofinha..." Outro comensal diz: "Prá mim, mais uma fatiazinha de peru... mais um abacaxizinho e um pavezinho e um pudinzinho." Arre égua !

Meu primeiro Natal na sogra achei pouco especial. Ela cozinha super bem, mas é bem limitada com as coisas que faz ou se arrisca a fazer. Se uma receita cai no gosto da família ela repete, repete, repete... Bom, então o primeiro Natal. Fez uma vichyssoise, uma salada com salmão e como prato principal legumes cozidos, purê e pato (confit de canard). Realmente uma delícia esse pato ! E já vem pronto, conservado em latas e na própria gordura. Basta retirar da gordura super aromática, colocar os pedaços de coxa numa travessa e levar ao forno até a carne ficar bem quente e macia a pele ficar bem sequinha e crocante.
Depois desse primeiro Natal o cardápio mudou pouco na casa dos sogrinhos. Rolava de acompanhamentos sempre batata e legumes. Boring.

Eu quando tive meu primeiro filho em 2003 e meus pais estavam por aqui de visita ofereci um Natal aos meus sogros e cunhada. Fiz uma sopa de mostarda, alho francês e creme de leite de entrada que todo mundo adorou. Depois uma salada americana chamada "Creole" com camarões ao curry. E finalmente... peru, purê de castanhas, farofa com nozes, salada de frutas. Não queria nem ver batata ! Não é que eles reclamaram que "tudo estava sem acompanhamento de molhos, tudo seco e sem batata". Argh, diferenças culturais ! Eu estava de licença maternidade ainda, com dores, amamentando, tinha passado o dia inteiro em pé na cozinha na maior animação e eles RECLAMARAM da comida. Minto: não cozinhei tudo pois meus pais se responsabilizaram pelo peru que tinha ficado a noite anterior numa marinada e estava o fino do finório, bem molhadinho por dentro. Mas holandês é "franco", "sincero", "direto" e se algo for diferente do que estão acostumados aí... apitam mesmo.

Durante os outros anos (4 em total) passamos no Holiday Inn em Leiden. Ótimo bufê, falei ano passado a respeito.
Mas chega de passar Natal com desconhecidos e orquestra histérica e cafona. Depois do fiasco de Natal da minha cunhada (o petisco com berinjela semicrua, derrubou vinho inundando a salada, a entrada de cogumelos mole e fria, o confit de canard frio, frio, tudo feito na má vontade, a sobremesa foi... eu quem levou.) o Natal de 2011 é na minha nova casa. Não fui eu quem impôs isso, foi consenso geral. Meus sogros estão ficando mais limitados e com menos energia, ninguém aguenta mais aquele Holiday Inn Leiden e seus quartos abafados e super aquecidos, minha cunhada prefere não cozinhar mesmo - isso não é a praia dela, não fica nem constrangida gente ! Meu marido fica super feliz comigo tomando à frente de tudo e até convidei minhas sobrinhas para dormirem aqui. Vai ser frio de rachar, vai ser puxado organizar tudo, cunhada preguiça não se oferece pra ajudar ~~e é até melhor assim pois fica no canto e não atrapalha~~, a sopa de abóbora vai bater um bolão, vou me superar na salada de camarão com quinoa, no tiramisú, nos acompanhamentos do pato, na decoração, o escambau, tudo. Afinal, a vida é curta e se posso proporcionar isso à familía e principalmente às crianças então... maravilha !

*****

Ah, e no dia seguinte tem uma galera grande pra desfrutar um brunch lá em casa. Bora pra cozinha. Tãotá xacumigo.

A Dutch Cutie for your Friday: Caro Emerald

2011-11-18T16:51:00.002+01:00

It's Friday and cold in the Netherlands.
Let's warm things up !
I get in the mood for some 50's rythm with Dutch jazz singer Caroline Esmeralda.
A curvy lady with retro looks and a delicious, sexy voice.
But... first hit first:

Doesn't the name "Caro" ring you a bell ?
Well, I am pretty sure you have already listened to this one:

And finally Caro's most recent hit:

"A night at the Copacabana can bring all kinds of excitement: wise guys on each side of the room making sure the big bosses are happy. Cigarettes sparking flames and smoking hot dames with jewels the size of Everest on their fingers. Those kept ladies can't stop what our narrator already knows. In a devoted plea to the handsome crooner on stage, nothing's gonna stop our girl now."

A nice weekend to you all !

Bom fim-de-semana !

Een fijn weekend !

I ♥ Tins

2011-10-31T16:46:00.001+01:00

This one is pretty old...

Not so old... 1980, Queen Beatrix celebrates 25 years on the throne.

A castle... how lovely is that ?

Everything together.

Tudojuntoaquiaomesmotempoagora.

Colecionar latinha prá mim funciona assim: quanto mais antiguinha... melhor ! Uso todas. TO-DAS. Quer dizer... algumas são do maridovski (ele guarda selinho de desconto que ganha no posto de gasolina). Dá uma peninha se começa a surgir uma ferrugenzinha aqui ou ali... E olha: não troco, não vendo, não barganho.
E você ?
Gosta...
não gosta...
ou não tá nem aí ?

My Favourite Painter

2011-10-19T14:17:00.002+02:00

When my father was here last summer I requested him a work of art. Yes, I do that a lot ! I tell him exactly what I am dreaming of and somehow he translates my wishes into oil on canvas.

No último verão quando meu pai esteve por aqui ele já veio sabendo da minha encomenda: uma pintura para a casa nova. Eu contei exatamente o que estava buscando e ele me propôs uma pintura com o tema: "floresta esmeralda-tropical-com pássaros em movimento".

For one of the living rooms in my new house I was dreaming of a dense tropical jungle. There are not many pieces of furniture there: a TV and a big couch, and a big vase with a plant. And want to keep it simple like that. So I wanted to add some art on the wall. I discussed with daddy and my husband about the possibilities, the time it would take (hey, we anted to enjoy our vacations too!), the size, the theme. Above all: a wanted much green on it. The coulour green... that's eyecandy for me. We ended up finding a reasonably big canvas on the shop 4Art in Zaandam.

My father in action. He and I found the price of (oil) painting ok when you compare to what you have to pay for in Brazil. He used oil from the brand Van Gogh because he is rather used to work with it (than acrylic). But the price of canvases in Holland he found expensive.

Above: a photo of a tucan we have found on the net. It gives perfect inspiration to what my father painted (below).

It is important to search for photos so that yo can check the proportions...

Muito importante ter fotos como referência para a proporção...

I also wanted to add more movement "escaping" from the painting. I think the group of birds below works good on that.

And I also wanted some silhouettes...

Eu também pedi para meu pai acrescentar algumas silhuetas...

The jungle my father built up on the painting is not a real jungle. I mean, the different species of trees and plants come from different tropical forests in the world: Guatemala, Borneo, Congo, Amazon.

A floresta da pintura é uma invenção, um mosaico e não existe na vida real. As diferentes espécies de plantas e árvores vem de lugares como Guatemala, Borneo, Congo e Amazonas.

My father has also "hidden" some insects on the green area of painting, such as a ladybug, a butterfly and a grasshopper.

Meu pai também escondeu na pintura uma joaninha, uma borboleta e um grilo. Para treinar e testar o olho não só das crianças mas dos adultos também. Sacumé.... ver se estão espertas.

Wondering how the painting has become ? Voilà !

Querem saber como ficou o resultado final da pintura ?

It's resting on a garden table for a while... The result is exactly what I had asked to my father: a landscape with lots of shades of green, with different levels of depth and splashes of colour here and there. I LOVE big tropical flowers and birds on canvases - and this is a recurring theme in my home. I think it suits perfeclty in my Dutch home - hey, not so Dutch, after all ! It reminds everyone of my origins: the jungle, haha !

A pintura teve que ficar secando horizontalmente por um mês. E enquanto aguarda um tempo apropriado para ser pendurada ela descansa numa mesa velha. O resultado é exatamente o que imaginei e pedi ao meu pai: uma pasiagem com domínio do verde, com diferentes níveis de profundidade e uns toques de cor viva aqui e ali. Adoro pássaros e flores tropicais pintados a óleo, tenho outras pinturas com esse tema pela casa. Se eu fosse rycah iria ter muito mais, cheia de pinturas com folhas de bananeira, carambola, mico leão dourado, jaca, haha ! Bom, a minha casa holandesa fica bem mais interessante assim, com uma florestinha lembrando a todos as origens da dona.

Most photos you see here are from the book "Jungles", Frans Lanting, Taschen.

Others we have found on the internet.

A maioria das fotos nesse post são do livro Jungles, Frans Lanting, editora Taschen.

As outras fotos achamos na internet.

I hope someday I can have a whole wall depicting several tones of green...

Quick Pics...

2011-10-10T13:13:00.001+02:00

Zaanse Schans

The Verkade Museum (Het Verkade Paviljoen)

2011-10-09T17:09:00.002+02:00

Last summer I have visited with my parents and kids the Verkade museum. It is a section of the Zaanse Museum and is located in the Zaanse Schans in Zaandam.

The Verkade products are very popular in Holland and many are found in other European countries. Specially famous in Holland are the Verkade chocolate letters you find in supermarkets during November and December.

In the 125 years of its existence, Verkade has produced 48 different cookies, several types of chocolate, toffees, bonbons, waffles, cakes, snacks and... candles.

Below, some of the old machines used in the factory.

The Verkade museum also displays a huge quantity of adverstisement produced during the years. Some are quite popular and you can buy such vintage metal plates at Loods 5, in Zaandam.

I love them !

(photo above: The Verkade Museum archive)

At the end of the XIX century, Verkade was one fo the first industries in the world ~~exploiting~~ employing women. The "girls from Verkade" were hundreds of young Amsterdam girls who went every morning to work in Zaandam by train. In the museum, I have read a testimony of a woman working as secretary for Verkade in the beginning of the XX century. She found unbelievable how hard the girls had to work, hour after hour during many long days. She herself was very happy and feeling lucky for doing administrative work and not being one of "those (blue collar) girls". There are also written testimonies of the Verkade girls, how they were gathered in Amsterdam every morning at the Central Station in Amsterdam, how they bonded with each other singing in the train, how they had to perform domestic chores at home after factory hours, and how they tried to steal cookies to take home during the World War II. Life was tough !

The last years you watch now and then on the TV commercials from featuring "the girls from Verkade" - mostly naif, young & sweet girls who make cookies at the company. Hey, but apparently on Fridays they get "a bit naughty" because they make salty cookies with herbs. (Check vid below). Talk about eroticizing products...

Well, that was it. My kids loved visiting the museum while my parents got a little bit disappointed because nothing was in English. The absence of translations in the museum is really a negative aspect. Anyway, next to the exit/entrance to the museum there is a lunch room and a souvenir shop. You can also visit the shop without having to pass by the museum first.

Above: wooden molds (in the shape of a windmill and dolls) for speculaas cookies. I think such molds are also funky when used as decoration items hanging on the walls of a kitchen.

The museum shop is a large one, and has a wide range of items such as reproductions of vintage posters, illustration cards (with themes such as butterflies, flowers, fruits and the Dutch landscape), books, tea sets, trays, kitchen utensils, cookies, chocolates. Very lovely and pretty.

Below, a parody of Verkade girls made by the comediants from the program Koefnoen.

At Verkade we know what delicious means...

You just put blushy blond ladies next to a pack of cookies

and it sells itself.

Thus our sweetenes in a tasteful jacket.

They are de Verkade girls !

A delicious combination of boobs and cookies.

And while you get distracted by them,

the real Verkade ladies are working hard making cookies

in order to deliver to whole Holland

something that is good to dip (in tea)

according to tested recipes.

(voice off) Old Cookie - by Verkade

Quick Pics...

2011-10-09T10:30:00.000+02:00

Spotted in Volendam.

Epke

2011-10-07T13:38:00.000+02:00

Beautiful, hermoso, smukke, bell, mooi, belle, schön, όμορφη, bello, vakker, piękny, frumos, красивый, vackra, güzel, belo, 美しい

Gymnast Epke Zonderland is our Friday cutie...

... or actually a hottie ?

Taxis in Amsterdam ? Think twice.

2011-10-06T13:22:00.003+02:00

When people (=mostly friends and family members visiting the country) ask me about the eficiency of public transport, how to rent a bike, taxis etc. in the Netherlands they get very suprise about the following:
Can anyone believe I have never been into a taxi while living in the Netherlands ?
NEVER.
How's that possible ? Well, my father-in-law brings us to Schiphol airport when we go abroad. He's also there to collect us when we arrive in Dutch soil. When he also goes abroad with us and the rest of the family, we know someone with a mini-bus who will bring us to Schiphol charging a fair rate. For the rest, I will take a tram, a bus, a boat ("de Pont", for free) or ride my bike.

I am also disappointed/sick about the stories I have heard since my first day living here. For a shocking story (in Portuguese) from a fellow blogger in The Hague read here (the taxi chauffer threatened them with an iron bar).For a full article in English click here while the link lasts. The title says all: Amsterdam taxis rank poorly in European test.
On the film below, an experienced Dutch chauffer gives a reasonable point of view. English subtitles.

Tips:
* If at all possible, avoid the Taxi Rank at Amsterdam Central Station (a taxi rank Amsterdammers refer to, without any subtlety, as the "Gaza Strip"). If you do go there, look for a TCA taxi.
*You can also order a TCA taxi. In this case it may be best to have the taxi pick you up in front of the St. Nicholas Church — directly across from Central Station. To order a TCA taxi, call 020 – 777 7777 (7×7)
* If you are a tourist just bring nice comfy shoes and walk around. Amsterdam is a beautiful city, and most tourist attractions can be easily reached by tram.

Sambadam

2011-10-06T13:12:00.003+02:00

A little break

2011-10-04T11:32:00.002+02:00

Folks, I am going to be posting again hopefully next week. I have to renew my google storage plan. At the moment I cannot post many photos.

Pessoal, aguentem aí que eu já volto. Tenho que renovar meu plano com o google e se tudo der certo volto semana que vem. No momento não está dando para postar muitas fotos por postagem. Preguiçaaaa de renovar o plano.

Tuesday blues

2011-09-27T10:59:00.003+02:00

* Hahaha ! The weather report was predicting yeaterday a "summer day" for today. It is cloudy and I had to wear a leather coat this morning. Summer... hahahah ! Where are the promised 23°C ? I am feeling cheated by www.weer.nl

* The world is exploding in a huge economic crisis and what one reads in the Dutch papers ? "Lady Gaga will perform at Formula 1" (so what ?); "Pamela Anderson half naked in a reality show" (has she ever been decently covered ?); "Many drivers in the NL stoned" (duh !); "The Zaanstad mayor makes a formal complaint about a pie accident" (really ?); "Let's make a deal with criminals - says influential police research Cyrille Fijnaut" (even more ?). Where are news such as this one (click quickly while the links lasts) ? The Dutch media completely ignores international embarrassment of politicians and bankers.

And then I read the title: "Blues legend Harry Muskee dead". After 35 years as a singer, Harry Muskee died yesterday at the age of 70 years old from cancer. Have you never heard of Harry Muskee ? Me neither !! And then I decied to read the whole article which described the ups and down of his career and his work with the band Cuby & the Blizzards. At the end of the article I read that "...photographer and film director Anton Corbijn chose the melancholic Window of my Eyes for the ending credits of his film The American, with George Clooney (2010). The band received and Edison award for the song." - a lovely song which I divide with you during this gray Tuesday.

Through the window of my eyes
I can see the rainy day
Sitting in the chair
Of my cool room
Looking for a way
To be the one I am
It's useless to cry
For the things I once have known
Thinking it will come back and reach my home

It's like a distant, like a distant face
It's like the shadow on my wall
Something that
That I cannot touch
A heavenly past that calls
the shelter of my mind
Hides my laugh and my tear
and I keep on looking for a reason which is not here...

Friday Hotie, Hot Candy

2011-09-23T22:28:00.001+02:00

Candy Dulfer (Amsterdam, 1969) is a Dutch alto saxophonist and a worldstar.

She has played with Beyoncé, Maceo Parker, Aretha Franklyn, Prince ("When I want sax, I call Candy") and many others.

And she has a much, much younger boyfriend - how hot is that woman ?

Her new album Crazy is per October 1st available.
It's Candy's 8th album.

Randoms

2011-09-23T15:43:00.003+02:00

* Weather predictions for the NL for the next weekend: sunny and dry. Not exactly a synonym of putting a bikini on and diving into the ocean but anyway... you can barbecue outdoors and maybe sail for a while. Maybe even put on some hot pants, who knows ? Let's toast those cellulitis ! I need some vitamine D. Oh, and I need to take more pics of Dutchie things too.

* The next weeks I will be living in two houses for a while which means my head will be splited into two parts. And there will be renovations on the main road in the pueblocito / dorpje / little town / petite ville where I live - up to November. The chaos is about to start - which means I have to be even more organized with time planning than usual. Absolute perfection and beyond. And I need a new haircut. Wish me luck.

* And tell me what you like to see here in GFH. Oddities & nonsense? Attractions & entertainment ? Lekkere dingen & hoties ?

* Follow me on Twitter: @AnnaGFH

Crazy Dutch Traffic Signs

2011-09-21T21:56:00.001+02:00

Holland has traffic signs in EXCESS. I sometimes thinksthey even distract you form the traffic. But then there is ... ahhh, the Dutch creativity ! Above, somebody applied a sticker with the Death on the board where you read: "dead end path".

Another interesting sticker which regularly appear somewhere in a road in theregion of Brabant. The locals consider it funny. The local mayor considers it the work of a vandal.

Some people even plan and order their own private traffic signs. A farmer ordered this one above and place it along a road near his property. He has a deaf cat and on the sign one can literally read: crossing deaf cat !

And the explanation of this one above... I have no clue. Any ideas, anyone ?

What should I do now ?

"A little kiss and you drive away". What ??? Well, you spot this nearby schools. The parents should give a quick kiss and drop their kids without parking the car. There are also "K+R" painted on the streets, which means: kiss & ride.

No comments...

Dolfinarium

2011-09-17T22:21:00.004+02:00

Continuing with the attractions I have visited with my family this summer...
Ta-da ! The Dolfinarium !

Two shows you cannot miss: the first is the "Spetter" with dolphins in the Dolphin Domain (DolfijnDo Mijn). Loooove dolphins (and big primates) - but by now you know it already, I guess..

Sorry for the blurred photos... The show is quite good. I give it a 8 (I enjoyed it far more two years ago. It was another story then.). The story of a girl who dreamed of dolphins and fought the nightmare monster - the best part of the show, the guy was really mean and powerful but was kicked off by the super intelligent dolphins, of course.

I said "no" to this blinking-magical thing, my parent said "yes !"and purchased a couple of them for my kids. Oh, well... okay then... Let's watch the Band of Pirates (in the Crazy Sea Lion Theather) the second great show you cannot miss. A pirate and a bank manager and his helper (a very playful and intellingent seal), in a very simple story. Really funny, really surprising.

Appropriate for kids from 0 to 100 years old.

On the first page of De Telegraaf you can read: PIRATES !! Let's hide the money !

Not to worry: the seal give the pirate a well deserved lesson at the end.

They all look like jelly, huh ?

These animals are incredibly sweet and well trained.

That's it for now. Goodbye !

The Dolfinarium is located in Harderwijk, in the province of Gelderland.

(If you like orkas, seals, sharks and the super intelligent dolphins you cannot miss this attraction. It is not needed to understand Dutch at all in order to have a good time at the Dolfinarium, so no worries if you are a foreigner. Needless to mention: there are a couple of restaurants there and all facilities you could expect - but the fish stalls on the street nearby the entrance are also great ! Lovely fried cod from the North Sea... you cannot forget to give it a go ! )

Wanna know more ?

www.dolfinarium.nl

Strandboulevard Oost 1

3841 AB Harderwijk

The Netherlands

The Dolfinarium can be reached via the A28 (Amersfoort-Zwolle). From the motorway, please follow the Dolfinarium signs.There are plenty of municipal car parks with paid parking (also for coaches).

If you are coming by train, get off at Harderwijk (NS station), then take the bus (no. 144, 147 or 148) to the Dolfinarium.

From the bus stop it is just a few minutes’ walk along the harbour to reach the Dolfinarium.

The video below is not Dolfinarium related, but I though it is a lovely video to finish this post. I wish I could hypnotise some sharks liek that... while dressed like a ninja of the seas - exactly like the incredible Cristina Zenato does. I have to start rubbing some noses in order to get some practice...

Only in the Netherlands

2011-09-08T20:22:00.000+02:00

When I comment with Dutch people that there is an excess of signs everywhere in the country they seem do not have a clue about what I am talking about. Please have a look at this one below and judge yourself.

What do you think the sign above means ? Choose only one option.

a) Attention, water. You may drown.

b) Attention, water. You may drown.

c) Attention, water. You may drown.

d) Attention, water. You may drown.

(Picture taken nearby a small pond in the Zaanse Schans)

Dutch Hoties: Do

2011-09-04T11:04:00.001+02:00

My selection for today is singer Do (née Dominique van Hulst). An ex-tennis player, she had a break through as singer in 2003 with an unplugged version of the hit Heaven. Since then she has worked as an actress in musicals (see below)...

...modelled for Hunkemoller (above).

And of course posed for the Dutch Playboy.

On the vid, Do sings a Dutch classic hit "He believes in me", from Andre Hazes. She has recently got a golden plate for it. At the moment Do works on her third studio album (in English) and a single is planned to be released this month.

Awesome Front Doors (Zaanse Schans)

2011-09-04T10:49:00.000+02:00

How incredible can these doors be ? Check more about the Zaanse Schans here. I will be soon posting more about this special place, so keep tuned... (and do not forget to follow my blog if you are stil not doing it - ahem !)

Street Art

2011-08-30T12:26:00.000+02:00

When you walk from the Amsterdam Central Station towards the OBA (the city's public libray), you pass by a big new hotel, a huge Chinese restaurant on water, you enjoy the beatiful views, and before you reach the bridge taking you to Nemo...

You find this.

Ápparently, it seems to be an interpretation of Noah's Ark.

Only in Amsterdam...

Brazil through Dutch Eyes

2011-08-29T22:15:00.000+02:00

Ever wondered why some Dutch people would live in Brazil ?
How would they adapt ?
Read about it here and here.

Madurodam

2011-08-29T20:07:00.001+02:00

Bilingual Post (English/Portuguese)

Me with my mom and daughter in front at the park entrance. There is an open (paid) parking lot near the entrance, but fortunately we could just park for free near the tram tracks - just a two minute walk further.

Hans Brinker: the little Dutch boy with a finger in the dyke.

I have always thought that Madurodam was much smaller than it proved to be in reality. In my mind you could admire some Dutch buildings in miniature and that was it. I tell you: Madurodam is a quite BIG park surrounded by woods. It has a (self service) restaurant, a couple of bars, a theater room where you can enjoy a short film and special effects (laser & holograms) and a train ride for the kids. Yep: expect to spend almost a whole day while in there.

Eu sempre achei que as mini maquetes de Madurodam ocupassem uma área bem menor. Algo como: um par de prédios que ocuparia o tamanho da minha sala de estar. Pois olha: o parque é imeeenso e não dá para visitar em algumas horinhas não ! O visitante gasta horas e horas, se bobear a maior parte do dia dá para ser passada lá... Há um restaurante self service, alguns bares, uma sala com um filminho cheio de efeitos especiais e até um trenzinho para as crianças que roda o parque todo.

There are many paths for the visitors so that they can admire the architectonical details of every maquette very closely.

Há muitos caminhos para os visitantes passearem no meio das maquetes e assim apreciar de pertinho cada detalhe.

Now, I funny thing I think it is worthy to point out is that the building are not agrouped per theme or city. For instance, it is NOT that you will see maquettes of famous Dutch cathedrals agrouped in one side of the park. There are some streets where you can spot a famous museum located in Amsterdam neighbouring a famous church actually located somewhere else... Still, the result is pretty.

Algo engraçado que acho importante destacar. Os prédios não são agrupados nem por tema nem por cidade. Por exemplo: numa mesma rua você vê um museu de Amsterdam junto a um palácio de Haia e uma universidade de Utrecht. Ainda assim, o resultado é harmonioso e muito interessante.

Suddenly we heard via the loud speakers that a film with special effects was about to start. We rushed to the place (a white salon) and the so called film started. it was in Dutch with English subtitles and lots of laser . It told the history of the fight agains water, the water tragedies, the Delta works. Everything in a simple language so kids (and foreigners with a basic English) could understand it. Film finished, on the way out the visitors follow a path that end up in a... souvenir shop. (You cannot avoid them. If you feel like not visiting one, then you end up visiting an attraction with the exit giving to a shop. So typical Dutch. ) I have bought some candy for my daughter and a book for my old one.

De repente, ouvimos através das caixas de som que um filme iria começar. Descobrimos o acesso com uma fil para um salão de projeções. Muitos efeitos especiais de laser e hologramas, um filme narrado em holandes (e com legendas em inglês) contava a estória da luta contra o mar, as tragédias passadas quando nível do mar aumentou, e os trabalhos do Delta no sul do país - bem como a construção dos enormes diques e comportas. Terminado o filme, na saída o caminho leva par dentro de uma loja de suvenires. (Isso é tão típico holandês, colocar uma loja no meio do caminho mesmo quando você faz de tudo para evitá-la... Bom, comprei uns docinhos pra minha filha e um livro para o meu garoto.)

Madurodam is a "Holland in a nutshell". If you have just a couple of days to visit the country, just go to Madurodam and discover how the old and the modern most important features of the Dutch architecture look like. Everything is replicated to the smallest detail on a scale 1:25. Btw, You will feel many times like a bird, appreciating aerial views. And birds gallore in Madurodam !
Madurodam é uma cidade em miniatura, com todos os pontos culminantes da arquitetura da Holanda. As réplicas estão numa escala de 1:25 e os detalhes são preciosos. Na verdade, é um grande cartão de visitas do país e se você tiver pouco tempo para visitar a Holanda, basta dizer que conheceu tudo através de Madurodam, hahaha ! E você vai se sentir como um pássaro, com tanta "vista aérea". Aliás pássaros são o que não falta em Madurodam, especialmente corvos e gaivotas...

In the restaurant there two options of soup, hot dog, and typical Dutch hearty pastries such as sausage bread, cheese soufflé and sandwiches. Around noon time it was announced a puppet show.

No restaurante self service há duas opções de sopa, cachorro quente, e os típicos folheados de salsicha e queijo, ém de sanduíches. Por volta do meio dia um teatro de marionetes foi anunciado para as crianças.

Afterwards, a girl dressed as a clown showed up in order to make some balloon figures for the kids. They could choose which colour they preferred and which animal.

... and my little girl returned home so happy with her new balloon !

Entrance fees: Adults: 14,50 euros

Kids (3-11 years old): 10,50 euros

Address: George Madurodamplein 1

2584RZ Den Haag

Tel: 070 416-2400

www.madurodam.nl

By public transport: take the train to The Hague and travel by tram or bus.

From Den Haag Central Station: tram 9 or bus 22, in direction Scheveningen, stop Madurodam
From Den Haag Holland Spoor: tram 9, in direction Schevening, stop Madurodam
From Scheveningen Beach: tram 9 in direction of Central Station, stop Madurodam

Life Lessons

2011-08-29T13:56:00.000+02:00

"A vida é igual a andar de bicicleta: para manter o equilíbrio tem que continuar se movendo."

I am back... or almost !

2011-08-22T15:06:00.000+02:00

I am so sorry I haven't blogged the last 4 weeks. With my parents around to be entertained, two houses to keep (I am living in a house on sale and making restorations in a new one) plus a personal project of mine and the result was that it was impossible finding time to blog. I guess I will be able to post something next week - hopefully even before that !
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Desculpa aí gente por não ter postado nada ultimamente e ter dado uma sumida. Meus pais estavam por aqui de férias, fizemos muitas coisas juntos e eu ainda tinha que resolver muitas coisas na casa nova que está com uma pequena reforma. Mais um projeto pessoal meu que me manteve ocupada... e o resultado foi que sobrou pouco (nenhum) tempo para blogar. Espero poder fazê-lo a partir da semana que vem. Fiquem ligados que vai aparecer postagem nova, ainda não desisti de blogar não !

Brasil Festival Amsterdam

2011-07-20T22:27:00.000+02:00

Ew !

Apparently, I haven't had the drive to blog on a regular basis lately. Blogging comes on the bottom in the list of my priorities right now (and the coming months). A big SORRY also to other bloggers for my absence.

Sometimes, it is very difficult to be me. Not easy.

But then I got a tip from my other significant half, via e-mail:

Him: "During the months of October and November there will be happening the Brazil Festival Amsterdam. Maybe you feel like blogging something about it ?"

Me: "- Of course, thanks !"

And here is what I have found on their site (in Dutch):

"After successful festivals about India and China, Amsterdam is during the months of October and November welcoming Brazil.
Brazil Festival Amsterdam promises to be a surprising introduction to the Brazilian culture. Because Brazil is not only the land of carnaval, samba, football and capoeira. This South American country has a dynamic economy and a blossoming culture with a wide range of forms, from classic to modern. The key word to Brazil is "multicultural". This is noticed in the bossa nova, the XXth century dance culture and the present classic music. But also in the film, arts and the architecture. Everything is in there. From indian origins and western baroque to the most modern expressions. The Brazilian culture looks like the Brazilian kitchen: a fusion of the best from many worlds. "
More info: www.brasilfestival.nl (yes, Brazil as it should be: with an "s", ha ! Unfortunately, everytime they mention "São Paulo" they write it Sao Paolo - ARGH !! ).

Below, a few examples of what you can enjoy:

Balé da Cidade de São Paulo.

Bianca Gismonti and Claudia Castelo Branco. An explosion of "pianofire": Duo Gisbranco.

Documentary "Sweet Dutch Brazil"(O Doce Brasil Holandês). I have already talked about it before.

On the 9th of October, Zuco 103 (= Brazilian Lilian Vieira, German Stefan Schmid and Dutch drummer/producer Stefan Kruger) will be performing songs in de samba de gafieira style for kids: "Secrets for Your Ears", for kids older than 6y. Sitting while watching is not possible ! (Oops, and this reminds me I really have to enter in contact with Lilian for a interview here at GFH. Zuco 103 tours around the world - but it is totally un-famous in Brazil, btw.)

Lilian sings mostly in Portuguese, sometimes also in English.

Ana Carolina has alredy been in Amsterdam on the 7th of July and I MISSED IT.

But there is much, much more about Brazil during October in November in Amsterdam.
Vamo que vamo !
www.brasilfestival.nl

Dutch Cuties: Jacqueline Govaert & Alain Clark

2011-07-15T12:33:00.000+02:00

Today's male cutie is handsome Dutch pop sensation Alain Clark (Haarlem, 1979). He is touted as the Netherlands' answer to Will Young.
In the video Alain's warm and inviting tone against the dry earth and grit of his ageing father's creates a perfect-fit contrast. (The song "Father & Friend" can be found on Clark’s debut album ‘Live It Out’).

My second cutie is singer Jacqueline Govaert (1982). She has a son and a daughter and lives in Haarlem. Below, her first hit I would Stay (1999). She had then a boyish (but cute) look and performed with band Krezip. Even after all these years I still love I would Stay.

Alain and Jacqueline have appeared together in a Senseo coffee machine commercial for the Douwe Egberts in the Dutch telly. Good Ideas Start with Good Coffee.

Below, they sing a little piece of the song Wherever I go in the commercial during the program De Wereld Draat Door - or simply known by the Dutch as "DWDD".

Jacqueline + Alain = Great duo !

Hugo Boss Orange Fall Winter 2011 Amsterdam

2011-07-15T12:16:00.001+02:00

Hugo Boss Orange Fall 2011 Campaign stars Dree Hemingway, Lily Donaldson and Eniko Mihalik sporting the labels casual fall pieces along with male co-models Ryan Thomas, Casey Taylor and Jon Kortajarena in the outdoor spread ‘Hugo’s Day Out’ lensed by Matt Jones.

Dutch Hoties for Your Weekend

2011-07-08T23:10:00.002+02:00

Let's have a break with the Dutch cuties and start with the Dutch hoties, shall we ?
For this weekend, super nice Arie Boomsma, TV host (Uit de Kast) en interviewer (De Wereld Draait Door). He also works regularly as a model.

Yep, that's St. George tattooed on his back.

Actress-model-writer-and-singer Anna Drijver.

Anna Drijver has worked for the TV and the big screen (Bride Flight, Er Komt een Vrouw Bij de Dokter and Loft.)

The Cultural Shock... and the Backlash (post bilíngue)

2011-07-06T10:34:00.004+02:00

Bilingual post, em português na segunda metade.

Due to some discussions happening lately among other fellow bloggers living in the NL about the cultural shock, I decided to summarize here the phasis that someone arriving in a new country may go through. IF you are not planning to live abroad but you have friends of family members who have done that - then I recommend you to read it, anyway. As always, plese forgive my occasional mistakes in English - thanks !

1) Cultural shock on arrival to your new country. (Actually, the cultural shock can last years - and not only immeditely after you arrrival.) Basically, you do not understand precisely why people do the things the way they do. Why the toothpicks and matchsticks are different. The sun is different and the air too. What the heck - even the barbecue is different: and may not have red meat at all ! Okay, being the conscious traveller you are probably you have already read the most important books in order to grasp some of the country's past history and become aware of cultural differences - but still... Then you build up a blog to share your surprises, revolt and contentment with other fellows. Pheeew ! You are not alone, taking part on the local blog community you see there are other people that also find absurd the way people react and things work (or do not work, depending the point of view or the country, haha !) in the adopted country.

And then after a while you start idealizing you home country (the same one that had some characteristics you were fed up about when you left f.o.r.e.v.e.r.) and start planning you vacations to see old places and friends. Aaaah, you just cannot wait until you step H.O.M.E. !

That's when probably your are going to experience...

2) A reverse cultural shock. This happens when after some years living in your adopted country you go for a vacation in your country of birth. Oddly, upon arrival, you find strange that certain things in your country of birth are the way they are. Yep, you enjoy lots of things, your favorite foods, the people - but things do not seem to have the same taste. You do not know how to explain that. Strangely, sometimes during your vacation in your home land you even miss certain things from your adopted country. How strange.

And then there is the third phasis:

3) A big crisis for realizing you do not really belonged to your previous country but still do not feel (maybe never will) at ease with your adopted one. Maybe you should look for thereapy - but believe me: blogging is cheaper though.

Below, a video featuring Titans - a Brazilian rock band from the 80's. It is called "No where".
Oldie but good.

I am not Brazilian
I am not a foreigner
I am not Brazilian
I am not a foreigner
I belong to nowhere
To nowhere I belong
I am not from São Paulo, neither Japanese
I am not a carioca, neither Portuguese
I am not from Brasília, neither from Brazil
No nation conceived me
I do not care about there
I do not care about here

In another video, Titans sing about the refusal of adapting into circumstances/routine and the world in general. Why do we have to fit in a scenario and fulfill others expectations ?

I do not fit in the clothes
I used to
I do not fill the house
with joy
Years have passed by
While I slept
And the one I loved
Forgot about me

Did I say
what nobody listened to ?
Did I listen to
what nobody said ?
I am not going to adapt myself
Adapt myself...

I do not have the face
I used to have
In the mirror this face
is not mine
When I realized it
I found it so strange
My beard
Was so big

Did I say
what nobody listened to ?
Did I listen to
what nobody said ?
I am not going to adapt myself
Adapt myself...

I am not !
(Going to) Adapt myself !
I am not going to adapt myself !
No way !
I am not going to adapt myself !
__________________________________________________________
Devido aos últimos posts que ando lendo em blogs de brasileiros que moram na Holanda (e de estrangeiors que foram viver no Brasil) eu decidi fazer um post psico-antropológico-sociológico dando um panorama do que se passa na cabeça de um expatriado. Mesmo que você não planeje ir morar no exterior, provavelmente tem um amigo/conhecio ou parente que já o fez - e por isso seja interessante dar uma lida nas fases que um estrangeiro passa.

1) Choque cultural. Você leva sustos diários (positivos ou negativos) por perceber como os interiores do prédios e táxis são, as estradas, a burocracia, o molho da salada, o palito de dente, o fósforo, o adubo, a água de beber, a paquera (ou a falta dela). Até o que eles chamam de churrasco é diferente e pode até não ter carne vermelha !!! Com mil morcegos Batman !

2) Choque cultural ao reverso. A Beth do blog Noites em Claro já levantou esse tema há pouco. Ela está há 17 anos vivendo na Holanda e há 12 anos sem visitar o Brasil. Está cheia de expectativas de ver e visitar coisas nessas férias. Não posso esperar para ela compartilhar as conclusões quando voltar. Negócio seguinte: você está vivendo tranquilamente no seu país adotado, se livrou daquela bagunça e calor infernal do Brasil, mas anda pesando passar umas férias lá - afinal ninguém é de ferro, neam ? Vai ver coisas lindas, e comprar umas coisinhas que te faz falta (CD's ? alicate de cutícula ? ~~Tesoura de cortar pelo do nariz ?~~ feijão de verdade ? carne seca ? umas roupitchas de arrasar ? estocar cera depilatória para cinco anos ?), vai comer as coisas que gosta e visitar lugares bacanas. Aí... você descobre que o ator que achava bonito está uma pelanca só, virou gay ou engordou muitíssimo ou já morreu, nem existe mais CD pra comprar com essa banda que você gosta, as roupas não cabem pois os brasileiros são todos anões ou pré-adolescentes que vestem tamanho 36, a picanha está pela hora da morte, o alicate de cutícula é uma porcaria e... putz, até já quebrou a mola antes de você embarcar pra casa. E tem mais: ficar fazendo escova pra ficar toda na estica é C.A.F.O.N.A.A.A.A.... !

Isso te leva para a terceira fase...

3) Crise por estar entre duas culturas, sem pertencer exatamente a nenhuma delas. Você execrava coisas do Brasil quando vivia lá, mas ainda acha estranho no novo país chamarem de churrasco um frango mirrado no palito com molho de amendoim. Solução ? Vai relaxar vendo os vídeos do Titãs, Legião, Barão Vermelho ou banda que o valha ou vai relaxar blogando - custa beeem mais barato que fazer terapia. Eu não tô nem aí !

Só o Bilhete de Ida

2011-07-05T19:40:00.001+02:00

(Texto originalmente publicado no Brasil com Z blog).

Sentindo falta de uma melancia, de uma água de côco injetada direto na veia.

Quem emigra, sempre escuta a seguinte pergunta: "Vai voltar ou não para seu país de origem ?". Esteja vivendo há poucos meses ou há alguns anos no novo país, é batata: sempre ouvirá a pergunta !

No meu caso, como vim para a Holanda para ficar ao lado do meu amado (que é holandês desde a pré-história e até debaixo d’água) eu vim para ficar… para sempre. Pagamos hipoteca aqui, nossos filhos tem escola gratuita, vivemos num país bem internacional e economicamente estável e central na Europa: fácil para ir para a Escandinávia, para o Mediterrâneo, para a Europa oriental, até para o Oriente Médio e para o norte da África é "pertinho".

Voltar ou não voltar para o país de origem é uma decisão muito pessoal, decisão essa influenciada por motivos nem sempre racionais (claro, o ser humano não é um bicho lógico). Já conheci vários estrangeiros europeus que após alguns anos decidiram enfiar a viola no saco e voltar para o país de origem. Apesar da Holanda ser um país rico e que oferece muitas oportunidades, eles sentiram que seriam eternamente estrangeiros com sotaque, e por isso preteridos no mercado de trabalho. Voltaram para a Itália, Irlanda, Croácia, Alemanha e Espanha e foram estudar ou ter um trabalho semelhante ao que tinham na Holanda – mas sem o estresse de terem de se justificar porque estavam na Holanda, porque não falavam (ainda) holandês fluente – isso quando falavam. E sobretudo agora no país de origem estão próximos a seus entes queridos.
Conheci algumas escandinavas que apesar de casadas com holandeses bem empregados quando tiveram filhos deram um ataque de pelancas e arrastaram marido e prole para a Finlândia e para a Suécia. Atenção: países com menos oportunidades de emprego/carreira e bem mais frios que a Holanda. Elas não aguentaram ser estrangeiras (apesar de louras e de olhos azuis e sem dificuldades para aprender o holandês) e viver fora do aconcheguinho do lar frio lar de origem. Elas dizem que estão melhor mentalmente, vivendo em países menos populosos, com mais natureza, menos competitivos e com menos engarrafamentos.
Sim, eu poderia voltar perfeitamente a viver no Brasil. Mas aposentada, com os filhos encaminhados nos estudos. E só viveria alguns meses por ano, quando fosse inverno e início de primavera na Holanda. Me pareceria muito interessante passar de novembro a abril no Brasil, fazendo várias rotas pelo sul do país, pelas cidades históricas de Minas, esticando para o Chile, Uruguai e Argentina. Descobrindo pousadas escondidinhas no Rio e em São Paulo.
Por enquanto eu ainda me tensiono ao descer no Galeão, ao dirigir por estrada esburacadas, muitas vezes sem acostamento e de mão dupla. Eu acho a mobilidade pública no Brasil muito cara e limitada – os preços das passagens aéreas são irreais, viajar de trem de norte a sul, leste a oeste… inexistente.

Meu mundo por um queijinho minas.

Eu não creio que se voltasse a viver no Brasil por alguns meses por ano, eu teria uma “crise de identidade”. Eu iria curtir muito um solzinho da manhã ou fim da tarde, rodízios, comidas a quilo, água de coco, o frango assado pingando óleo e o pastel da padaria, a melancia e a manga que só existem em terra brasilis, as roupas e calçados leves, a comunicação fácil entre as pessoas. Eu teria sim uma baita crise se tivesse que viver novamente o dia-a-dia eterno numa sociedade tão machista, com tanta divisão social, tanta valorização das aparências e tanto descaso com tudo que é público.

Mas creio que em 15 ou 20 anos a situaçao do Brasil estará melhor, tanto em termos humanos quanto tecnológicos. Há muito chão a percorrer. Por enquanto eu vou labutando e sendo feliz por aqui.

Será que alguém aí pode me oferecer um pastel, uma bolinha de queijo, um croquete de camarão ou um bolinho de bacalhau ? Tô no seco.