Sandcastles in the Sand

It's Sand Sculpture time here in Noordwijk!
Every year to mark the end of summer, artists get together and carve great big sand sculptures.  Then they get judged.  They remain on the beach for about a month or so.  Fien and I enjoy going down and looking at them almost every day.
Yesterday Fien and I headed over (on the gorgeous day that is was.)  This year's theme was Space.  Although the poster had this picture of a giant rocket.  And there was no rocket in sight!  I really wanted a giant sand rocket!
Oh well.  Enjoy the rest of them...
First there was Snoopy goes to the moon complete with dog house.  This one was from the Noordwijk Space Expo which is currently having a "Snoopy in Space" exhibition.  Fien and I might go see it one of these days...

Then there's this weird Adam and Eve vs. Adam and Robot?  I don't know...but it's very well crafted...

And this satellite one which unfortunately has broken on the side...

And there were two Toy Story ones...both Fien's favorite.

(Fien did not knock down the barrier)

But my favorite was the Wall-E one...because he's just so cute...

And then just because we were on the beach, Fien couldn't resist being Queen for a moment.

(The statue is of Queen Wilhelmina.)

It was raining today (fickle weather,) so tomorrow we're going to go check to make sure there wasn't too much damage.  I don't really know how they protect them.  Oh well.
Hope you enjoyed your quick trip to the beach! With love, from the North Sea!

And for those wondering what the title of the blog is...

(it's from How I Met Your Mother)

Word of the Day: sculptuur - sculpture

Piece Of Me: Not much going on

Hey look!  It's the first of the month!  And I remembered to post!  And since this didn't take very long, I might even write another post for tomorrow.  Key word here is might.
So here is A Piece of Me...

This month (September)…
 
I like: My new haircut.  I got it today.

I don't like: that summer is already gone!  I didn't get enough beach time! Or sun time for that matter!

I want you to know: that I have two months left, then three months of exploring Europe on a visitors visa, then about a month in England, then probably Egypt, but THEN...I'm coming home...just don't ask me for the date.

I've planned: to hopefully see school friend and fellow blogger Ali, and a weekend trip to Friesland, the northern-most province of Holland

I want to say to someone special: Dear bro-sif...it's ridiculously cute how you try to be cool, but then  leave posts on my facebook letting me (subtly and rudely) know that you actually miss me.  Love you too.

Picture of the Month:

Word of the Day: September - September

Piece of Me: Lazy, Hazy and Late

So guess wht I realized?  I never did an "A Piece of Me!"  I know...it's one thing to fall behind on your recounting of your adventures...but to forget something that's due on the first and is an easy blog cop out for the day?  Then again I'm always forgetting stuff like this.  It's why I have payment reminders for my credit card.
So here is A Piece of Me...

This month (August)…
 
I like: that it's still summer.  People may be going back to school, but I'm not...I get to sit around enjoying the sun for at least another month.

I don't like: that this is probably the last month to really enjoy the beach...because it's going to start getting cold...fast

I want you to know: that I realize that I am a hypocrite when I said I would never again spend another winter in snow...whoops.

I've planned: a trip to London to see one of my really good friends Kate.  And while we're there I'm going to pop in on all my fabulous British friends I made while traveling.  And then Kate and I are going to go see Whoopi Goldberg as Mother Superior in Sister Act the Musical.

I want to say to someone special: Fien...I can't believe you're three.  You're just so big.

Picture of the Month:

Word of the Day:  Augustus - August

We were allowed to relax right?

After a very long (and delayed) plane ride, we arrived in Malaga airport to attempt to find our hostel.
So with very broken Spanish and thankfully enough credit on my mobile, I got a hold of the after house service at our car rental and waited patiently (and by patiently, I mean on the verge of tears from sheer exhaustion) for shuttle service.  Once we had gotten our car, we put in our GPS coordinates and I shifted the car into gear…for the first time in eight months.  Nina was scared for her life as I yelled at the GPS for making me get on the freeway and at the passing cars that couldn’t understand why 100 km/hr seemed like a ludicrous speed.  But we made it in one piece and thankfully found a parking spot (which almost had to be reversed into and in my current state, I was unable to figure out that you had to pull/push at the same time in order to shift into it.)

So at two in the morning we rang the bell of our quaint little hostel to be greeted by the camel-faced (and I mean that in the most adorable way possible) Sam who insisted on giving us a tour and an explanation of the hostels workings even though I wasn’t processing anything he said and Nina was swaying a little, close to falling asleep while standing…backpack and all.

But the next day, we slept in as late as we wanted, got our free coffee and breakfast and headed literally just across the street and onto the beach to increase our Vitamin D levels for the day.  After immediately making friends with several of the current hostel visitors, we made plans and drinks together for the night of the Festival of San Juan…of the bonfire jumping/ocean diving/beach spectacular that was about to take place upon sundown.  Discovering cheap boxed sangria, and a love for the game of “Spoons” made it easy to get into the party mood and soon we headed down to the Mediterranean to enjoy the new friends, hot fire, and the start of the end of summer.  And it was fantastic.

The next morning we woke up with no plans except to once again enjoy the sun.  And we succeeded.  Of course we also made friends with the hostel owners, one being Jorge...

An adorable grandpa with a passion for creating new shots, making paella, and cheering for the Spanish Soccer team…all three of which were experienced the next night.  Now those of you who know the results of the World Cup can understand my need to not cheer for Spain ever again, but at the time, they were not against the Orange, and it was fun to cheer for the home team…

It was also Flavio, another hostel worker’s birthday so during half time we enjoyed yummy chocolate cake.  Plus a dip into the ocean at around two in the morning.  Because we were on the beach and the water was nice and really what other reason do you need?

We did finally manage to check out the actually city of Malaga as seven girls from London, Australia, and the US went on a search to curb the incredible craving for a very authentic Spanish food…the Big Mac.  No seriously…

However we did also get to stop at the Malagan Picasso Museum which, in my opinion, far surpassed the Barcelona one.  It was filled with much more of the “Picasso” painting if you know what I mean…arm when the ear should go, triangle boobs, etc.  And there was a special exhibition on "Picasso's horses" and the importance the animal played in many of his paintings.

On our way back to the hostel we stopped into a pub to watch Germany kicked England’s butt in the semi’s.  I had no urging need for either to win but I found the British boys surrounding me hilarious as they yelled at the TV for the entire two hours…even half time.

The worst part was having to leave around 3 in the morning and then sort of sleep a little at the airport waiting for our plane, but instead eating M&Ms, almost losing our passports after almost leaving them in a bathroom stall, skillfully passing my 15kilo backpackers pack for a 10 kilo carry on, while slowly going crazy from lack of sleep then finally getting into Noordwijk with plans for a quick nap and then watching the Netherlands game, but instead sleeping for six hours, waking up, having dinner, and falling back to sleep for the rest of the night.

We made a couple treks to other cities which I'll tell you all about tomorrow.  Although we went because we had a car and it would have been a waste not to use it.  However we both wish we could have just laid on the beach for the entire week.  Malaga was truly a wonderful and much needed break for both my sister and I.  The hostel was incredible and I can’t wait to go back for some more rest and relaxation.

(View from our room)

Word of the day:  playa - beach (Spanish)

A Break from the City

Last weekend I got to go see Lily in her new house in Amsterdam.  (I say new house, because she switched families because of some visa complications.)  Anyway, we rode our bikes over to Amsterdam Bos - a forest on the south side of Amsterdam with plenty of trees, fields of flowers, bike paths, jogging paths, and a lake.  It reminded me of Lake Elizabeth - a lake near my hometown where many a picnic, play date, and group barbecue were had.
So we set off, Lily on her sunshine yellow bike, and me on a borrowed bike with two broken spokes...if you've ever wondered how essential a bike spoke is to the functioning of a bike as a whole entity...try breaking one.  You'll be freakishly surprised.  But I made it (in Amsterdam traffic no less) so I guess it wasn't too big a deal.
As we rode towards the forest, we made a quick stop in front of the Olympic stadium/museum...

We didn't go inside, or explore any of the surrounding area, but we made plans to do it soon seeing as Lily lives about five minutes away.
Then we got to the adorable little forest.  We rode past crew teams practicing on the lake while the trainer biked by us, screaming obscenities into a bullhorn and definitely not looking where he was going.  We rode past a cute little restaurant that we thought was a Starbucks, but really it was just a green circle.  We rode on a non-bike path and got shot dirty looks by the oncoming joggers.  And we ended up in a field...a field of poppies and angel breath and adorable yellow bits of sunshine.  So of course, Lily had to add a little more...

Then I had to enjoy matching the scenery, while being able to be in the sun...

Then we settled down for a little picnic.  When we were done, we had fun making flower wreaths like we did when we were younger...

And overall had a fantastic day!  It was a lovely little day trip, and I'm glad I got to hang out with Lily.  And now that the sun is out, I pan on visiting such parks over and over again!

Visit Lily's blog for more pictures plus copies of these ones because I stole them from her facebook page!

Word of the Day: bos - forest (yes that means that the name of the park is "Amsterdam Forest")

Piece of Me: May flowers

So many things to post this month!  Be excited!

But for now, here's A Piece Of Me


This month (May)…

I like: The SUN!  Hello bright ball in the sky!  I’m glad you’re back!  You were missed!

I don't like: that Cinco de Mayo will not be celebrated here...I WANT MARGARITAS!!!

I want you to know: that in the next couple of months, you’re going to read a lot more freak outs about the fact that as of right now, I have no idea what I’m doing from when I’m done here in November to next August when grad school starts…FREAKING OUT!!!

I've planned: to go to a Third Eye Blind Concert, Lady Gaga’s Monster Ball Tour, and the German Movie Park.  Hooray busy weekends!!!

I want to say to someone special: Dear Universe, seriously, any ideas, signs, etc. would be greatly appreciated...thanks!

Picture of the Month:

Word of the Day: Mei - May 

From Spring to Sisqo in ten steps or less

As of two weeks ago, the calendar declared it’s officially the season of spring.  As of one week ago, the city council declared it’s officially tourist season in Noordwijk.  And as of yesterday, I have declared that it is officially sandal weather!!!

Now many of you have read about my love (that quickly turned to hate) with snow.  What can I say?  I’m a California gal (And don’t you wish they all could be…)  Living in southern California for the last five years has skewed my perception of “winter.”  When I was in school, there was maybe about two months that I didn’t wear sandals.  But as soon as the 52º frost wore off, the cheap target brand ones were brought (more accurately, bought) out never to be taken off again (save for a cute pair of heels, or sneakers that “just made the outfit.”)  But since I’ve been in Holland, I have yet to wear them.

But no more!  Here is what I’ve noticed about flip flops…

-They’re an excuse for a pedicure with fun nail polish colors.

-They go with everything (in the case of the heels or sneakers that are sometimes obligatory, the sandals would still work, just fyi)

-I like the “flop” sound they make

-You’re more relaxed and ready to heal the world when you wear them…it’s true

-I get to build up my Bigtoe/Indextoe calluses that have worn off from lack of irritation.

-Your feet never stink from sock sweat

-What you lack in stench, you make up for in dirt (of which I wash often don’t worry)

-They are one of the only types of shoes that you can literally “slip on.”  Even slip-ons sometimes require handling.

-When you spice up the name, they rhyme really well with “you at Kinko’s straight flippin’ copies”

So grab your favorite pair, and let me see those thongs…

Word of the day: sandaal - sandal

Recipe for a perfect afternoon

Ingredients:
1 – awesome aupair

1 – awesome two-year old

1 – sun minus the clouds

2 – pairs of sunglasses

2 – light (as in not winter) jackets

1 - cheap gold "winner's" medal

2 – Homemade freshly squeezed orange juice pops made in those fun plastic popsicle containers from back in the day

1 – soccer ball

1 – wall that works nicely as the goal

Directions:

1. Make sure the two year old is rested from her nap.

2. Don the medal, sunglasses, and jackets and head outside into the sun filled garden.

3. Eat your delicious pops while getting the melting juice all over your clothes/face.

4. Play with the soccer ball for a good hour or so.

5. Teach the 2yo how to yell “GOOOOOOAALLL!!!!” every time the ball is touched, even if no substantial distance or kicking is involved.

6. Occacionally kick the ball in the opposite direction of the goal.

7. Be sure to stop for dance breaks.

Steps 4 through 7 can be seen in the below demonstration video.

Serve warm with a slight breeze!

Word of the day: sinaasappelsap ijsjes – orange juice pops