Tracy Chapman (solo)

Thankfull to say that I was present at this concert. Sunday night. All alone. Snow falling, wind blowing. Amsterdam. Managed to get a spot at the front; could literally touch the stage. Nothing or nobody blocking my view. One of the best musicians ever. Solo. For a couple of hours, which I never wanted to come to an end. Just herself and a guitar, in a small circle of light. She seems to be such a benign person. Very friendly and honest. And her music is só good!!
Out of all the music on my iPod, she puts my thoughts and feelings into words like nobody else.

Feel like my head must be glowing like a light in the dark, out of pure happiness.

Culture in Sweden.

Both were experienced in one night. Walked straight from the theatre, into an Irish pub.

I am home, but I was in Stockholm

Not the best pictures I ever took, but they'll do. They'll have to, because it's all you'll ever see about this trip to Sweden.
We (a total of seven of us) took the 'surf-bus' to Germany, watching a movie on a laptop below. Three people hitch hiked there and one (100% Dutch) friend studying in Norway for a couple of months, came over as well. Shouldn't forget him, he was the reason we started travelling in the first place :)
We went to ballet, 2,5 hours, for just 4 euros. (I have to admit it wasn't with the whole group, just me and two of the guys.) We enjoyed the 'singing' language the friendly Swedish people were speaking. We drank expensive beer. We took the ferry to travel from one of Stockholms' islands to another. We've experienced the funniest church service I've ever visited. And of course we walked around in the city, visiting a library, döner kebab restaurants, a requiem and a museum.

Like babies.

Temptation

Picture this. Or, smell this.

One of those late afternoons, already dark as the night itself at this time of the year. Travelling home using public transport, after a long and tiring day. Last slices of bread were enjoyed hours ago. I'm busy trying to get the most out of my 2,5 hrs of travelling time; music in my ears, for sure, and, whenever I'm not on a bike, I read a book, mostly a study book, but sometimes (as a treat) a reading book.

And that's when it happens! After a first sniffle, I'm starting to be aware of a fat smell. And a bit salty. I hear the sound of a 0.5 L coke bottle, being opened for the first time. Somebody's eating 'fries with mayo' or one of the snacks the Turkisch immigrants introduced; döner, or a turkisch pizza. ... I bite my lip, or chew on my pencil (when I was studying math) and I try to concentrate and forget that watery taste in my mouth...

And this is my view, while I'm trying to remember where in the world I parked my bike that morning...

This period, I'm taking math (4 mornings filled with classes; 2 books in 6 weeks; they're nuts) and 'Soil and water I'. For the latter, the past two weeks, áll classes were about water. And it will still be the same subject next week... :)

Mathematics feels like an impossible task, because I miss a huge part of the basics that most students were learned during the years in highschool. The positive side is that I am improving every day. We'll find out if I learned quick enough during my exam on the 18th of December...

But I will be taking a short break this weekend! This coming Friday night I will be flying to Stockholm, Sweden, with a bunch of friends. Should be back Sunday night late. We're driving to Düsseldorf, Germany, first, because that's where the cheap plane will be leaving. Mhmmm. Have to make sure I don't forget to pack some warm stuff.