Neighbors

Netherlands is filled with people living on a geographically tine piece of land. While in Finland the amount of people per square km is 16, in the Netherlands the number is a staggering 404. So you really need to learn to live (and love?) your neighbors. 

While in Finland you barely know them, here you are more or less expected to participate to parties, weddings and funerals of your neighbors  While planning our wedding, on our guest list is "buren", because we are not sure of all of their names. 

Yesterday we got a brochure via mail of an instance, that helps settling disputes between the neighbors. Based on a reality program Bonje met de buren, I think this would be on the top of my most-hated-jobs. Phew.. Well, somebody's gotta do it I guess.

Gardening

Summer is here! At least periodically.

The last days have been filled with gardening (or learning how-to). We had some visitor's over who asked what all the herbs are. Mmm.. hmm.. well there is mint.. and.. some salad.. and..

That's what you get when buying 5-in-1 box of herbs and throwing away the leaflets. At least cooking will be exciting from now and with a trial-and-error method :-)

Queen's Day / Vappu

This was the last year that the Finnish Vappu and Queen's Day coincide. So we decided to make it count. On Monday evening we made a visit to the city even though first doubting whether we are too old for it :) The bus was completely packed, so we got out as soon as possible and walked the last bit.

All the squares were full of people and live music. The big vrijmarkt stretched through the narrow streets and many of the houses had their windows and doors open with music from Vivaldi to techno. It was just one big gezellig party. My favorite was a guy with a crate of beer, a chair and a sign saying: "Vertel je sterk verhaal en krijg een biertje" - freely translated tell your extraordinary story and earn a beer. I bet he had one interesting evening listening to people. Glasses of prosecco sold on the streets for 2,50 € ensured that we also didn't get too dehydrated.

On Tuesday we started the day with watching the crowning festivities and after that enjoyed a picnic in Dutch-Finnish company. The day continued with enjoying the sun and listening to saxophone-pop-techno band on Janskerkhof square. After ten hours of enjoying the relaxed atmosphere (and maybe some wine) it was time to bike back home, which went surprisingly well :-)