Before the flood

Just Because

Climate change is a fact. But do we know enough about it? In my view not.

This documentary gives a synthesized view of the enormous threats that the humankind is facing as a result of Climate Change and even though I cannot say I agree 100% with all the reasons for it that are being mentioned, what I find supremely valuable is that they are clearly stating the facts:

Global Warming is a problem which has started impacting us and is likely to impact even more the future generations
If things continue the way they are, the outlook is extremely gloomy
It is in our hands to solve this problem
We can do this by consuming differently – what we buy, what we eat and how we get our power.

I really think that this is something that children should study at school, so future generations of leaders and decision makers have it embedded in their thinking.

Be mindful and informed. It is our planet and our responsibility.

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Good Old Vintage

Experiences, Just Because

I`m not a particular fan of second hand items and the idea of using/wearing something that belonged to a stranger. But on the contrary and more importantly- I just love beautiful things that are unique and I inspire me in a noncommercial way. I also love the “hunting” process and the feeling that I ran into something amazing that I wasn`t looking for and couldn`t have found in any other place. It`s like a treasure hunt! And vintage markets can be full of such treasures if your eyes are opened enough to see them 😉

Ijhalen is one of the biggest opened second hand markets in Europe, opened for one weekend every month and an absolutely must visit place for anybody who is in Amsterdam. It’s a buzzing place, where almost everything can be found-shoes, clothes, jewelry, books, electronics, furniture, antiques.. Prices are mostly really low and could go even lower depending on your negotiation skills. But it`s so much more than just super cheap stuff-let me illustrate by sharing the discoveries of my last visit:

A pillow for my sofa – 0.5 Eur
A leather belt- 1 Eur
“And other stories” sweater in a perfect condition in a nude colour that I`ve been looking for the longest time, but could not find because it`s “from last season”- was 7 Eur, got it for 5 Eur.
Absolutely beautiful handmade Italian notebooks- on the more expensive side – 2 Eur each.
Awesome cufflings with the logo of Amsterdam that are just the perfect gift – 15 Eur
And the most unexpected and awesome discovery- A set of three huge american painting textbooks piblished in 1964– 5 (!!!) Eur for all of them.

More info about the market can be found at: http://ijhallen.nl/en/

And some tips on how to get the best out of your visit:

Bring cash and small change- you want to spend all the time hunting for great deals rather than queuing at the ATMs.
Make sure you bring a backpack or some extra bags with you to carry your purchases. Things might get tricky if you decide to buy a coat or a huge pile of books (like I did) and the seller doesn`t have a bag.
Take regular breaks- looking at all these unrelated items could be overwhelming and you need a fresh set of eyes to spot the good stuff!
Make sure you put those negotiation skills in practice- it`s a part of the experience!
For early finds make sure you go on Saturday morning, and for great cheap deals – on Saturday.
Getting there by public transport is absolutely fine, but if possible go by car as you might be carrying a biiig pile of stuff on your way out.

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The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time

Inspiration, Just Because

I like books that give you a different type of perspective. That move you and make you think. That stay with you long after you read them. “The Curious Incident of the Dog at Night Time” has been one of my favorite books for such a long time, because it accomplished to achieve all these things and even more.

It narrates what starts as a detective story through the eyes of an autistic child, a story that would be normally being classified as sad and unfortunate, but which in this case is fascinating and impactful. A story that shows that everybody, whatever restrictions they have, can make a difference if I they have a goal and put their heart into it. In a very compelling way, Mark Haddon allows the reader to go beyond the storyline, to dive deeply into the world of autistic children and to develop an understanding how they perceive (or fail to perceive) things around them and how lovable they truly are.

Of course, when a friend of fine who had also read the book suggested to watch the play together in London`s Gielgud Theatre, I was more than exited to do it!

The plot was re-created flawlessly and the actors were absolutely impressive. But what made it just unforgettable were the endless imagination and the inventiveness of the play. The innovative stage, visuals and dynamics, together with swirling sequence of the scenes made resulted in a play which was a true delight for the senses. Highly recommended!

More about the play at http://www.curiousonstage.com/

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