2007
New Year I will welcome in South Africa!
I have 3 weeks to explore culture of this country with my two very special friends: Dominika and Johann.
Afterwards, back in Europe and again new work, new country, new people...
This time it is Berlin:)
I wish everyone, including myself, to find the right direction in the coming year!
Skiing...
One of the main things I definitely miss from Vienna is
skiing.
Belgium is a very flat country so there is no such a skiing craziness as in Austria...
Some recalls from our skiing weekends in 2006.
Going up.
Sometimes going down.
Getting excited after reaching the top of the mountain.
Some beautiful views...
We went with Roman to buy ski-goggles together. Somehow, even though we have different shapes of heads, we decided on the same kind of goggles:))
Having a bit of rest on the ground.
After skiing, the best you can wish for yourself is relaxing at thermal baths.
Skiing is so much fun...
Sailing
It is hard to describe how much energy, freedom, power and freshness brings sailing...
Simply spending time on the open sea, can clear your mind and refill you with the new wind:)
It is astonishing how long you can stare at the sea, sinking in your thoughts...
Taking advantage of living in Belgium I went for two sailing weekends in september 2006. One went on in a very calm, quiet, sunny way. The other one was speedy, windy and very shaky;)
Here some of the photos/memories I like...
Sailing 15.09-17.09.2006
Nieuwpoort - Blankenberge (BE).
We organised two teams of friends: 12 people + one professional skipper for one boat.
More or less both boats were sailing together.
Our boat was smaller.
This is the other boat.
Tibor - our skipper (captain of the boat).
Kamila - polish friend.
Jan - cool czech guy:)
Askhat - DHL friend from the very no sailing country - Kazakhstan.
Me:)
It was a beautiful, sunny, lazy day.
Slow, sleepy atmosphere...
We were absolutely creative in finding different (mostly lying) positions on different parts of the boat:)
Here with Kamila and Askhat.
Spotting some boats on the horizon.
Kamila.
Checking our position.
Followin the other boat.
Very lazy but cheerful day...
Getting to the harbour - at this point everyone gets busy.
Sunset walk on the beach.
Party on the boat of course, at the end of the first day.
Welcoming the second day on the boat of course - breakfast together.
This day Nathalie joined our boat.
Tibor and Askhat.
Got a bit grey this time...
Jan, Nathalie, Kamila.
Time for a sailing lesson.
Me.
Last drink after the sailing together:)
Sunset in Nieuwpoort.
Yes, we enjoyed the experience.
Sailing 29.09-01.10.2006
Breskens (NL) - Oostende (BE)
Also this time we created two teams but boats were sailing separately...
Askhat at the helm.
Guys sitting at the top of the boat.
Our skipper - Raul.
Askhat.
Girls of the boat: me, Ilke and Kamila.
Alexander.
Mark - tough guy of this sailing;)
I was passionately taking pictures of every boat that was passing by.
Steering is never easy...me at the helm:)
Sometimes it was very steep on the boat...
...and fast, we were reaching up to 13 knots.
You can see a winch in the picture, everything turns around it:)
Sometimes it was quiet and sunny...
Almost end of the 10 hour sailing day.
Getting to the harbour...
Kamila.
Ilke.
Me.
Fishing boat.
Our boat moored between two other boats.
Walk by the sunset in Oostende.
Next day we got even more of shaky sea.
Teaching how to steer or at least in which direction to go.
Me:)
We got safely to the harbour. Our skipper had to check however the top of the genoa (sail).
That day we got some troubes with ropes. We had to cut two lines during sailing. Once, the boom went out of our control and hit the arm of our skipper... It was not as that smoothe as expected but still amazing experience:)
Flower carpet in Brussels
Every two years, in the middle of August, the Belgians cover their beautiful square Grand Placa with a magnificent flower carpet.
The first one was created in 1971 by the landscape architect E. Stautemans.
You can check this
link with the photos of flower carpets from previous years.
Every flower carpet has a unique theme. This year inspiration was alchemy of the Middle Ages.
Stars are moving:)
Lots of people are crowding around to see this...
The flowers, begonias, are packed together one by one so tightly (no soil is used at all) that they cant be blown away by wind.
Here with my aunt...
...and with Tibi.
Grand Place by night.
My update IV
Some small changes in my life again:
- changed the job
- taking part in a management program
GrOW- at yellow company again (DHL Express)
- moved out from beautiful Vienna
- live in the centre of Brussels now
- still will change department and country two times within the next year (rotation program)
- single again
Vienna will be greatly missed...
Some memories from my Viennese room.
Bird from Dominika which flies with me everywhere:)
The latest nice news is that we, Vienna friends, managed to organise vacation together, few days in Italy in October:)
It was a quite challenge to get in one place at the same time friends from Vienna, Natasha from Russia, Mariusz from Poland and me from Brussels:)
Naschmarkt in Vienna
One of my favourite places in Vienna – Nachmarkt.
It is a colourful market located in the centre of the city.
You can find here fresh fruits...
vegetables...
exotic spices...
fish...
cheese...
bread mixes...
and all other colourful food from around the world... 
The origins of the market go back to the 16th century. At that time "Asch" was the name for a milk bucket made of wood. In the 19th century people started to call the market "Naschmarkt", a wordplay because of the fresh food and sweets from virtually any place of the world that could be bought.
Current location of Naschmarkt is on Wienfluss, Vienna's second river, which was roofed over during the 19th century. Some dealers put up their stalls on top of this roof and that was that.
The range of vegetables and fruits is outstanding.
Particular specialities include goods from the Balkans, as well as Central European and Asian fare. The Naschmarkt itself is a multicultural place, you can hear any language from Chinese to Turkish and smell any type of food.
It is also a great place to have a beer and lunch at one of the many stalls, coffee shops and restaurants.
On Saturday morning, next to the food market, there is another attraction - Vienna's major flee market, that sells anything from junk to antiques.
Records, clothing of all kinds, jewellery and a whole assortment of odds are on sale.
My aunts having fun...
Naschmarkt and flee market are very nicely located...
by two beautiful art deco houses built by architect Otto Wagner...
close to Karlsplatz...
not too far from Secession - exhibition building of Viennese Secession Group.
Today, Naschmarkt is a unique mixture of Austrian traditions and oriental influences.
Even if you do not intend to make food shopping, the market is definitely a great place to visit, to walk through the streets, to enjoy the smell and colours, to take a glance at the gorgeous Art Nouveau buildings along the streets...
Naschmarkt
