| 55 ° 46 'N, 37 ° 38' E February 28, 2010, 21:41  The circus was today in Moscow. Depending on how you look at Moscow's almost always a big circus. But today we have tried to make a circle: the circle line 5 subway stop, we pulled, knowing that on that very line prachige subway stations are built. Fortunately we were not disappointed. There were really some wonderful drives in, with huge chandeliers that brighten up station with fluorescent tubes and large mosaics that the power of the former Soviet Union glorified. But perhaps the most dramatic of our underground experience was, is the enormous flexibility of the ssyteem. The Metro is like a body you anywhere you feel the pulse, there is a tight rhythm and follows that rhythm. The people walking in the rhythm of the Metro, the trains arrive and depart exactly on the beat and even in the sometimes immense long escalators with what good will the beating heart of the underground feel. The Moscow Metro is alive and healthy. A funny story, told by two Dutch travelers who arrived today in our hostel, is also about the subway. As in the Netherlands used the Metro in Moscow toll with chip cards. The system only works in a slightly different philosophy. Where in the Netherlands is closed gates, all gates are wide open in Moscow. In the Netherlands opened the gates (with luck) if you pass on your swing. In Moscow, the gates are only closed if you do not pay. And how! The designer of the system, certainly a sadist, has decided that defaulters should be put quite a fool. You go through a gate without paying, so our Dutch fellow travelers were experiencing firsthand, then shoot the instant stumbling knee bar between your legs and a happy circus music begins to play. "So you think you are special and not have to pay? Entertain us, but with some acrobatics! "
michiel Dewit | Tags: Smart card , Circus , Metro
Posted in Moscow | No Comments » 55 ° 41 'N, 37 ° 32' E February 27, 2010, 22:37 Briefly in between: who wants to learn Russian? Everyone screams how difficult it is Russian, but the spells to conjure a smile to be pretty easy. A few words of Russian do wonders! So who does it? What you need to know in Russia: We will soon have yet another equally well in studies. Tonight we took some nice people at a Russian party (no vodka, oddly enough) has got some help. As you can see a certain Russian tongue breaker and it is good to express even the simplest words for a long tour ... michiel Dewit | Tags: Russian , Language
Posted in Moscow | 3 Comments » 55 ° 45 'N, 37 ° 37' E February 27, 2010, 15:22  The first day of travel. That is, yesterday we have a whole day's journey, but because we started in Enschede day, but today is really only the first real day of travel. Completely configurable, we started the day late today. Around an hour or 10, to be precise. Still 8 hours Dutch time, but here it felt very luxurious. Yesterday I bought at the airport has two pairs of fast noise stops and I have certainly not regretted it. The tig-lane road from our hostel (full of nice people, by the way), for making the day a lot of noise. Impressive, especially when a police car breaks down, all the while producing strange noises, a kind of frog that 'rabbit' says.  What do you do first when you're in Moscow? A logical question with a logical answer: you admit to all the clichés and goes to the Red Square. Two stops on the orange metro line 6 ('Kaluzhko Rizhskaya-') and we were a nice step in the right direction. A walk (not too cold) on the street and there it was Varvarka suddenly: an immense collection of impressive buildings! Once on the square, we were overwhelmed by the grandeur, and not to mention the feeling of a picture have ended up. " Very special.  The big red wall of the Kremlin falls immediately. You can not miss it. Then your eye falls back immediately to St. Basil Basilica. ... So colorful and unusual. A walk across the square and visit the Basilica Gum we visited. With a list (a former student of yours truly) we see the churches at a discount. What we saw was totally different than expected: under one roof, there are 10 chapels, on the optimistic signs as "churches" called. Each chapel has hosted extensive collections of icons. Moreover, each shrine also has its own "secret" room in which all mystical rituals will have occurred. Oh, and cold it was there! On the Red Square was also an ice rink, sponsored by Gum. A huge job that few of the happy-Moscow wide attention and had fun. After visiting Gum - a department store / shopping mall where the Beehive is in a poor market stall - we understood the scale of the ice better. Gum is huge! The building consists of three classical passages, each three stories high, connected by corridors and sky bridges and covered with an impressive glass roof. Erase all in big, expensive brands represented. What splendor!  A guide, standing on a ladder at the ice rink, could not prevent us were listening when he talked about past and Gum: Gum was once a department store that was open to everyone. The stuff was affordable for everyone, but the choice was minimal. Now you can not think of selling it or Eraser, but there is hardly a Muscovite who can afford it ... And the Kremlin? We are no longer entered. We were walking all pretty tired and overwhelmed by all impressions. What a first day! On the way back to the hostel, we did some shopping at a supermarket and we came through a navigational error, accidentally on the busy subway station right opposite the Kremlin. We learned that in Moscow there are people directly and shamelessly push to get on the subway. As if by a tidal wave is flooded! Tonight we go to Marina, the lady who originally we would spend the night. She gives a party and we are warming up  I do not think we are late, but the adventure is calling ... michiel Dewit | Tags: Gum , Kremlin , Moscow , Red Square
Posted in Moscow | 2 Comments » 55 ° 46 'N, 37 ° 38' E February 27, 2010, 14:56 Just one funny fact about how inexperienced we still are. Last night we both wanted to have a shower before bed. Delicious. Michael and I both so another shower. The shower was a slide valve, which you could move from left to right. This indicated that the left was warm sotnd Enr really cold. After the valve had been left not warm to him, I turned to the right (ie to the blue dot to cold) and promptly became the hot tap. Simply waterledingen improperly installed. When I finished I knocked Michael unreported or that I had a shower so cold. What was, then in warm not hot water came out in 30 seconds, he walked into the shower without the other side to try  We still have much to learn appears. Furthermore, half of our hostel from Ikea, we feel it so bad at home. Just e hebbenw password and optimize the wireless itnernet obsolete so we enjoy our sitting room to type. What we all did today writes Michael surely have some fun. ... Iki am going first time just a nice shower. juutsel | Posted in Moscow | No Comments » 55 ° 46 'N, 37 ° 38' E February 26, 2010, 20:32 It is now about half past ten at night and we have installed. It's gone incredibly well on the road ... if we really get used to the fact that they write differently here in Russia, the train was going well ... but then we had in the metro and there is nowhere used the Latin script. Luckily we had already prepared and we are just at a time went to the hotel, no detour, or look wrong. Actually it is warm here, a few degrees above or below 0, not unlike the Netherlands in recent weeks When we came out of the subway, I was totally impressed immediately, what a beautiful building. We had actually expected a bit more east block style with beautiful buildings that are not maintained, but the 200 meters at the Hostel were dazzling. The Hostel is very cute, we have a small room (there is a 2 pers. Bed and a table and chair). There is a kitchenette with a kettle (tea!) And three showers and three toilets in the hallway. Just a moment without backpacks out to buy a drink and see if there are stores. Great, 50 meters on a 24 hour shop with decent prices, so we have a treat broken. Michael is currently studying with a Russian speaking American, really kind of a living room atmosphere. I feel sticky, tired and satisfied, miss the washing machine now ... A very wise cousin (Otto) compared vandaaag on a journey of adventure, I totally agree with him. We are on a journey and adventure has really begun. The stress is already at Heathrow slipped off me and for now what I did not return. Enjoy and immerse in Russia ... Moscow to start (tomorrow is vodka made it!) juutsel | Tags: Moscow , Russia
Posted in Moscow | 1 Comment » 51 ° 28 'N, 1 ° 33' E February 26, 2010, 10:17  The first flight of our great journey is already over. Very early, at 7:25 this morning we flew from Schiphol, "ahead of schedule, to Heathrow, London. Judica was the first to note that all service trucks and shuttle buses run left. The penny dropped quite late. A great situation here. To begin with we were almost half hours working (almost as long as our flight!) To the "fast track security" to come. That all went smoothly indeed, but many sihks for us (with turban and hair pins), were of course all be gefoeieerd  With the help of a friendly Brit (so far we have come across no other kind) that Acer laptops sold (we made him proud to see our MiniMe) we found a place with free internet. So now we sit on a bench opposite WHSmith and its clandestine books this eyewitness account to draw. Reading makes you an accomplice! We are now looking for real English tea. Judica not fully realize that 'English' black milk does not green and lemon (and sweets). They further stated that the smart people here all seem Vief and Roger. That is a great compliment, but striking. Brits are almost as strikingly different as sihks and pilots. Oh yes, this morning, we were therefore three hours tonight, were kindly out of bed gebonjourd and arrived with the help of friendly Enschede good time at the airport (P1, line 13, in "the dike" against Martinair, which as a hint in case the car is still being sought). A cup of hot coffee / tea and a few warm handshakes / kisses eventually lead us through the gate. A soft flight followed with an even softer (squishy?) Sandwich and an espresso cup orange juice. To be continued. michiel Dewit | Tags: England , flying , airport
Posted in Along | No Comments » 52 ° 8 'N, 5 ° 27' E February 22, 2010, 22:22 Last Saturday was our 'we go on a world' party and now is the time it really slowly come "until December" to tell people. With all the tensions and turmoil we have chosen the first night in Moscow to take a hotel anyway. We can relax a little easier. Today I have my father explained how A: my laptop, and how Skype functoineerd. Although we have skype out and we can just call to regular phones ... if we want to talk with a webcam is handy that he knows how. Furthermore, I just found a site that does not quite what we want but it seems to be that you are now able to follow via Twitter. Therefore how much you can read about us ... it still means that I say goodbye to your life ... because I can not as extensive tracking. Tomorrow is a day of fun with friends and then the last injection and returned to Enschede. We are a week away ... but it's too weird for words. Well, it will all be off leash only brand that I am busy with not much that we are gone, but with even more away. Seems also normal. Many people today the mail last Saturday said they were jealous ... luckily there were a number of the negative aspects of the journey were able to sufficiently illuminate us too much to be envied. Thanks for the reality check I go to sleep, tomorrow is another night and less then 1 night and then I see my sweetheart again. juutsel | Posted in The journey | 3 Comments » 51 ° 51 'N, 4 ° 38' E 13 February 2010, 21:29 Today was the first big test to see whether I did or not people blood. This kind of testing is traditionally performed by a needle with a nasty finger to fruition, but at a somewhat cumbersome way: by traveling long distances with limited luggage. Strictly speaking, the test was not entirely adequate for today: I have a smaller distance a rather extensive luggage transported. My stuff, to be exact. Our stuff had a trip to Den Bommel. And lack of furniture (and toasters) we live after that trip now with my mom's attic. Anyway, the result is: yes, that is to say so. Unfortunately, the test is not quite properly conducted. Yesterday afternoon, the cause remains unknown, I went through my back. Fri annoying. It made the whole affair a bit rough and painful, and it is certain that he is therefore not a realistic picture of my trip talent shows. Even so glad that everything is in roughly the same number of parts has arrived in which it has gone and we now carry on work not have to think. The countdown clock has now become again a few decibels louder, it seems. Only 12 days and then it goes off. Five days still work. What a relief, but what a crazy idea too. The next two weeks, the day every day a little more loose and free people are going to seem less and less and the life we have in two centuries were accustomed to live. It's quite exciting, but the smell of adventure - even my nose picks him up - arouses desire. michiel Dewit | Tags: Toaster , Clock , Storage , Back , Moving
Posted in The journey | 1 Comment » 51 ° 47 'N, 4 ° 37' E February 4, 2010, 22:36 Nearly two months ago I spent a whole afternoon applying for various visas that we should have to come abroad (for loyal readers, December 7: "visa"). The phenomenon you plan from the world bank / behind your laptop again proved wonderfully effective. So the whole time we were able to track the travels took our passports and when they would leave the embassy by simply logging into a website. Last week came the good news ... our passports were back on their way home. They travel these days more than we, but we have patience. When we ordered the visas we have given the address of my mother because we did not know where we would live. We immediately called Monday if anything had arrived, but bad news. "Registered mail will not lose touch," I sometimes hear people say, but in my experience is not true. Tuesday there was nothing inside, so we have only sent an email. Yesterday a phone call, the passports were sent to the old address to be and come back because no one lives there. Where could they go the passports now send email transmitted and thus came vnadaag a tough man of the TNT for my autograph. Envelop, passports out and looking at pictures (attached letter which said that I immediately had to check if errors were not ignoring). Stress. ... Because we have another train dates booked for travel between Irkutsk (Russia) and Ulan Bator (Mongolia). We arrive in Ulaanbaatar on January 10 on, and our visa but extends to the ninth for Russia. After a phone call to the visa service (gee, they're hard on it in Russia, if you are a tourist staying illegally ...), I was really worried. As a true couch surfer I have searched the organization where we have booked the tickets to find out that I do not go to Great Britain to email or call but that I can go to an interview via Skype. Let's see if that tickets could be done yet. What was all panic enit,. You came to us on January 10 in Ulaanbaatar, but we took the slow train, which departs on Jan. 8, and sometime after midnight we cross the border with Mongolia. Reassured and still a little surprised about the technique I was moving back into the bank ... to Russia with love, but then we must also wegkunnen again. juutsel | Tags: Russia , visas
Posted in The journey | No Comments » 51 ° 47 'N, 4 ° 37' E February 4, 2010, 22:31 The pre-travel day today in brief: New bike in 's-Gravendeel, passports (with visas) finally returned, a successful presentation without bosses. Maybe I have a brief explanation. Headlines work better on TV than here, with me on my white screen. This morning, in the early morning, there were "workers" engaged in the bus station 's Gravendeel (Bus Station is a euphemism for a loop bulge in the road where buses ever seen). They were new bicycle racks at the sites. Just before the elections is of course only expected decisiveness, which citizens can also get it, even if it holds five souls unreasonably asked them to warm cloths off. The whole operation matineuze explains why I had lost my bike yesterday. Probably the same laborers (or relatives), all with drag bike run. Furthermore, much interested. That the visas are ready is bigger news. We were there quite a bit of time on waiting. Via the Internet we faithfully followed the movements of our passports through embassies in The Hague and Brussels. This afternoon we could see the stickers and stamps the tangible evidence of the wanderlust of our identity documents are taken into consideration. Beautiful! Digital images will follow soon, though I warn now that the holograms that both the Russians and the Mongols on their visa stickers have probably put bits and bytes will do less well. Incidentally, the red books by mistake to our old house - now boarded up and ready for scrapping - sent, by registered mail, though. And the last topic: presentation of my "product" to my colleagues this afternoon. That sounds grander than it was. Actually it was a chat with some pots pictures of the magic lantern to the whole thing a bit more official to make. Tasty (but not all that tasty) stroopwafels leukten the event a little further. The two bosses of the big run-your-rot in our game that is played on the case were both excused themselves. Something with brown beans and exhaust. Anyway, it was three quarters friendly to me moreover once again gave the opportunity to brag about our travel plans and the ever-dwindling number of days that alvor reality. Just one day ... michiel Dewit | Tags: Embassy , bike , passport , presentation , visas , work
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