Sunday, December 05, 2010

Sunday December 5: daytrip to Berlin!
To see Panic! at the Disco!

Rain didn't stop me from cycling to the trainstation; made it!


Got on the train to Deventer to catch the international train to Berlin...


..which left on time despite the snow!


There was snow in Germany too!


But I arrived in Berlin exactly according to the schedule \o/


I got on the S-Bahn (subway) to Alexanderplatz and walked to Gontardstrasse to catch the tram.


But first I stopped to get a souvenir hatpin:)


And I took a picture of Alexanderplatz (with City hall in the background on the left)


Then I caught the Tram to Landsberger Allee...


...where I eventually found the entrance to the Velodrom. Yay!


Inside the BMX and skating competition had already started, but that's not why I was there...

I came to see Panic! at the Disco and was thrilled to find out they were having a signing session before the concert.

I got in line with Peggy. Can you tell I'm excited?


Look, look: it's Brendon Urie and Spencer Smith, wahay! (I took this after I already got my autographs:)


First the Trashmonkeys performed; they looked like teachers on a schoolperformance, but I liked their sound and enthousiasm very much. They rocked:)


After another round of BMX and skating it was time for Panic! at the Disco.
We are so ready. \o/


Spencer on drums, Dallon on bass


Brendon being a spaz, yay:)


Ian on guitar and Brendon on keyboard.


\o/ Panic! at the Disco \o/


I know it's not sharp, okay. But it's Brendon being fierce. *g*


This is my absolute favorite photo of the night.

It was AWESOME. The end. :-D


After the orgasmic Panic concert I had a crepe-kirsch and a Sprite while the rest of the girls went out for a smoke (We all have our own way of enjoying the afterglow, I suppose;)


Because I had a lot of time to kill until my nighttrain back home, I stayed for the rest of the competition, the awardceremonies and closing concert.
(seen on the big screens next to the concert-stage)


Final act was Boy Sets Fire. I had never heard of them: loud band.
Crowd seemed to enjoy themself in the mosh pit. I'm glad I was watching from the bleachers;)


Bye Velodrom! You warmed our hearts so we are able to face the snow outside with a smile:) Around 22.15 we took the tram to Alexanderplatz.


Around 22.30 walking from the tram to the Alexanderplatz S-bahn station: a bear. (FYI: it's the symbol of Berlin)
I said goodby to the other girls at Friedrichstrasse. I had a good time hanging out with them!


Berlin Haubtbahnhof (Central station) had very pretty decorations.


See? Huge glass tree!


I read my book in the heated waiting area until it was time for my nighttrain to leave. This so called 'sleeper-train' would take me straight to Arnhem in the Netherlands, but...


...when I arrived at the tracks, they announced a 90 minutes delay. It was freezing at the station and I was adviced to take the last train to Köln (Cologne). For a connection to the Netherlands I would have to change trains in Duisburg. I was tired but worried about changing trains around 4.50 a.m., so I didn't get a lot of sleep.


Duisberg station: I had to wait an hour for the train to Viersen (still Germany;). It was also freezing here, so I had a hot chocolate and read some until 05.56 a.m.


In Viersen there was a connecting train (6.33 a.m.) to Venlo, just across the border in the Netherlands.


I slept a bit on the train from Venlo to Nijmegen. (from 07.00 until about 07.45)


In Nijmegen I had about 20 minutes before my train home. I was relieved I was on familiar territory again and had a little time to admire the decorations.

Final train!

On the train from Nijmegen to Zwolle (8.20 - 9.43) I had the breakfast I bought in Berlin last night and I read some more in Luck in the Shadows (I may have found another bookseries to fangirl!)


When I arrived home (around 10.15 am) I found presents from Sinterklaas on my table! Ooooh <+:-)>

Perfect day. Freezing, but perfect.

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Saturday, December 04, 2010

For the first time in 40 years I won't be in The Netherlands for Sinterklaas celebrations. Instead I had my own little party today, in between preparations for my trip to Berlin tomorrow (to see Panic! at the Disco:)

Breakfast:


Dessert:


And of course a chocolate letter:

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Tuesday, November 23, 2010

My Harry Potter Marathon Weekend

To prepare for the new Harry Potter film Deathly Hallows part 1, I once again planned a movie marathon to view all the previous films on the big screen in my attic and I invited my Potter freaks friends to join me. Sadly not everyone who was here last year could make it and some people opted to watch only part of the marathon program, but I'm happy to say we converted yet another newbie.
Here are pictures of my long weekend, no spoilers of any of the films, just the Potter Posse and hopefully a little taste of the fun we had:)


The entrance to my lair attic. Every visitor got to take a witches' hat home as a souvenir:)


Saturday November 20, 2.30 pm: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone with Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans (yes, American spelling on the boxes, I had a rough week at work and forgot to check my spelling *hangs head in shame*)


Of course I also made a Honeydukes candy-corner, with chocolate frogs!


First Potter Posse: Judith, Benthe and Richard (a new addition to our crazy group:)
The three of us watched the first two films together.


Around 10.00 pm: after dinner and The Chamber Of Secrets, it was time for The Prisoner of Azkaban


Brotherdearest Hans joined the Potter Posse for the third film:)

-End of day 1 (around midnight)-


Sunday November 21, 11.00 am: Gayleen arrived for The Goblet of Fire and after lunch the five of us watched The Order Of The Phoenix.


Richard had to leave before dinner and after my (in)famous pasta/spinache the other three apparated back to respectively Amsterdam and The Hague.

So the winner of this year's Harry Potter Marathon is.....


Me! I watched The Half Blood Prince in the company of a big box of tissues and loads of chocolate;)

-End of day 2 (not done yet!)-


On Monday I travelled to Amsterdam to meet up at the cinema for The Deathly Hallows, part 1. Of course I couldn't resist a bit of shopping and some touristy photos...


Amsterdam, Damrak, building site


Amsterdam, Nieuwe Kerk, Dam square

After I bought myself the two hardcover editions that were still missing from my 'adult' Harry Potter series, I went back to the station to catch the metro to the Arena Cinema (Bijlmer)


Amsterdam, Damrak towards main trainstation


Amsterdam, Damrak towards main trainstation


Ooooooh, the stairs in the HUGE Pathé Arena cinema change colours. I love them.


Potter Posse the fourth: Hans, Jelle, Judith, Benthe


Tadaah! In front of platform 9 3/4! \o/

No spoilers for the film, but here are some promotional shots.


Oompf.


Oh, how I love this cinema.

I had an awesome time. Can't wait until the MegaMarathon next year. Who's with me?

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Sunday, November 14, 2010

On my way to town yesterday, I cycled past this sign. Thought it was funny. Well, in Dutch it is :-D



Dyed my hair tonight, here's the before and during. The after will follow tomorrow :-p

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