Planned: The Places I Will Go

In the winter I am usually tempted to just stay inside all day and do nothing much. I rather save my holidays for the summer. Despite that I still have booked some daytrips and other short trips. After all, life is more fun when you have something to look forward to. So these are my planned trips for the coming months:

Antwerp – Belgium

The city which almost became the capital of Belgium and where I planned to do my internship when I was 19. In my mind, a very nice city, but actually I haven't visited it for some years. Time to go again!

 

The Hague – the Netherlands

One of my friends will be visiting the Netherlands so we have to do some touristy things. She chose The Hague for a daytrip. The last time I was there was when I went on my first vacation with my friends when I was 16 and we were not allowed to go abroad yet. Oh, the good old times (neh, kidding, it was raining all the time. I was over-exited when I could start traveling to other parts of the world).

 

Berlin – Germany

I will go on a group trip with my student organization. I am super excited because despite living very close to Germany for most of my life, Berlin was still far, far away. I have heard many things about this city and I cannot wait to go and see it for myself.
 

 

Brussels – Belgium 
This will be just a small weekend trip with a friend to get away and have fun. I like Brussels. I know many people think it is a dirty city and lots do not like it, but it surely has it's charm. But well, me and my friend will have fun in any city we go so it will be good no matter what.

 

 

Summary: lots of fun is waiting for me! And in March I will go on a longer trip that is further away. But more about that later.

CityTrip - Heidelberg (Germany)



It is almost Christmas time. That means Christmas songs, Christmas movies and Christmas decorations. All very lovely. Last weekend I has two Christmas dinners and 2 concerts with my choir. Also very (very!) lovely. Of course the Christmas markets cannot miss from this list. I have seen the one in my city about five times already, so now it was time for something new.

 

 

 

 

So to make that happen, I went to Heidelberg last weekend. The bus was picking us up at a time that should be forbidden as a meeting time for the weekend. But since we went with a tour we did not have much of a choice. I was impressed by myself for even making it to the meeting point early (taking the first bus of the day). Luckily I was together  with friends so the three hour trip went by fast.

 

See here a small impression of the Christmas markets (yes, they have several small ones) of Heidelberg:



 

 

 

 

 

 

Of course I sampled some of the food at the market. They had some interesting things there, some of which I had never seem before like roasted almonds with cappuccino flavour (eating those now) and crepes with nougat cream. Unfortunately there was no way to try all.

 

 

Next to a whole bunch of Christmas markets, Heidelberg has a beautiful castle. We went up there by funicular (the price is included in the entrance ticket for the castle, which is 6 euros). Some pictures of the surrounding of the castle:

 

 

 

 

At the courtyard of the caste, there was also a pharmacy museum. The museum is not very big, but the collection is very nice. You can a lot of herbs and dried plants and hundreds of little jars.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Moving on to another building, you can find some giant wine barrels. You can climb the stars and walk on top of the barrel even (photo on the right). I read somewhere that this barrel can contain 27000 litres of wine. That's a lot of very good parties!

 

 

 

 

Since the castle is on a hill, the view is amazing. Have a look:

 

 

 

 

The houses we passed on our walk back from the castle to the city centre were also lovely. Some really looked like little castles. All had a different design and building style. There was also one completely covered in plants for example. Really cool!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After our castle visit I met up with some friends from France who happened to be close to Heidelberg that weekend, so I was too busy talking to take any more pictures. But it was great nevertheless! All in all it has been a very good day.

 

 

The random monkey of Heidelberg greets you!

 

How St. Nicholas Day is Celebrated in Different Countries

Only a couple more days to go and it is St. Nicholas Day. Kids are starting to get over-excited and parents are probably running to the store to stock up on some more candy. I used to think celebrating St. Nicholas Day (Sinterklaas) was something typically Dutch, but it turns out it is celebrated in several other countries as well. So I decided to find out more.

 

 

 

 

The Netherlands

Let me start with the traditions I know. In the Netherlands, Sinterklaas (Sint) travels from Spain with his helpers (zwarte pieten) in a big boat. This boat arrives to the Netherlands in November. There will be a big parade in which Sint and de Pieten pass by hundreds of kids while handing out candy. Usually there is music and dancing.

 

 

 

 

 

Next we enter a period of endless TV programs about the adventures of Sint & de Pieten. Also, kids leave their shoe at the fire place, usually with a gift for Sint and his horse Americo (a drawing or letter for Sint and a carrot for the horse). Next morning, there will be a small gift or some candy in the shoe. Rumor has it that Sint rides Americo over the rooftops and de Pieten climb in through the chimney to deliver the gifts.

 

 

 

 

Then when the 5th of December comes around, it is time for the big finale (so not on the 6th like in other countries). The whole family gets together and usually some song will be sung. Then, unexpectedly, someone will throw candy all over the hallway. It's Piet! The kids get up and excitedly grab all the goodies together to bring them to the living room. Then the doorbell rings and everyone runs to the door as fast as they can. But not fast enough, because Piet already ran away quickly. He left a bag full of presents though! All presents have a name on them and will be unpacked and admired one by one. Oh what a lovely night. It took me a long time to figure out how our "Piet" managed all that.

 

 

 

Oh, and one thing. Don't be naughty, because then Piet will kidnap you and take you back to Spain.

 

 

 

 

 

France

 

In France, St. Nicolas is accompanies by a little donkey carrying baskets with candy and gifts. The family gets together on the 6th of December and stories are being told. In many stories St. Nicolas has an evil protagonist; Père Fouettard. This is a butcher that wants to eat the children. Luckily St. Nicolas I there to protect them and hand out gifts and candy.

 

 

 

Italy

 

 

In Italy, San Nicolo (or San Nicola in some parts) is a patron who protects children and unmarried women. On the morning of the 6th of December there is a special mass that unmarried women can attend if then wish to find a husband. Also, gifts are given to young women and children.

 

 

 

Germany

 

 

On the 5th of December), children in Germany put a shoe outside the from door. Sankt Nikolaus will pass by to check if the children have been good and in that case they will receive gifts and snacks. If not, they will receive a tree branch in their shoe. Nikolaus and his helper Knecht Ruprecht sometimes visit children at their home or at school and if the children have been bad, Knecht Reprecht will punish them.

 

 

 

Croatia and Slovenia

 

 

Sveti Nikola brings gifts to the children and complements them on their good behaviour. If the children have not been good however, they will get a visit from Krampus, who will leave a rod for the parents to discipline the children with.  

 

 

 

Other countries that celebrate some form of St. Nicholas Day are:

Malta, Ireland, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Luxembourg, Slovakia, Czech-Republic, Hungary, Croatia, Romania, Greece, Serbia, Bulgaria, Lebanon, Palestine, United Stated, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

 

 

 

 So this holiday is a lot more international than I expected! And there are many similarities between the counties too. Happy St. Nicholas Day everyone!