VIP-spotting at the ballet

Martin invited me to the Ballet Gala of the Dancers Fund at the Stopera. Lucky for me, Martin is an excellent VIP-spotter, so he identified all celebs and royalty among the audience every time the lights were on. The ballet line-up had a strong focus on modern dance: only 1 Tchaikovsky/Swarovski-tutu dance, thank god! Absolute star of the evening was French dancer Aurelie Dupont, who brought beautiful emotion and intensity to her dance. Great evening!

Campy shorts!

Spectacular promo by Zeeman: bright yellow boxer shorts! You can order them for free online, max 1 per person. The "why" is a bit of a mystery for me. It's not a store promotion, but they don't really have a webshop either. But it surely is very campy! Move over Björn Borg, Zeeman is here!

The adventures of Carl & Ellie

On this drab and rainy Sunday afternoon we took the kids to see Pixar's Up in 3D. The 3D stuff doesn't do much for me since Jaws 3, but this movie was an absolute treat: a heartwarming, funny and incredibly original story. The first minutes of this film were so romantic, it gave me goosebumps! Forget the silly glasses; just don't miss it.

The Suspense!

The kids are captivated every evening by Het Huis Anubis (The House of Anubis), a Dutch TV-series aired on Nickelodeon. It's great to think that they will have their own Q&Q to remember from their childhood.

I scream, U scream, we all scream for ice cream

Generation Next, enjoying an ice cream together before taking the skelter around the island again!

Catch of the Day

During last year's Ameland weekend I heard all the fishermen's stories, without an actual fish in sight. But this year the Hofker fishermen actually caught lots of fish! Who would have thought they actually know what they are doing out there at the crack of dawn carrying around their rods and nets? Respect!

Buy Buy Cairo

Cairo is bustling and dirty and the traffic is horrendous. But fascinating all the same. In the Khan el-Khalili bazar you will buy stuff you absolutely do NOT want or need, and think you made a good deal. For a moment...and then your sanity returns. Then go out and have cocktails and dinner groovy outdoor lounge restaurant Sequoia, enjoy the river view, puff on a shisa...and all is forgotten.

Yes, they are still there!

On the left: the view from our hotel suite balcony. On the right, that's us on the steps of Cheops! Now try to imagine there are a bunch of weird tourists inside that sweaty pyramid who will step into the tomb one by one, while their friends circle around them in yoga posture continuously murmuring prayers as if their life depends on it. I practically had to push them aside to get out again. Freaks!

Pillar talk

The magnificant temples of Karnak and Luxor. What can I say, but go and see it yourself!

Death Valley

No photographing in the Valley of the Kings, but it is amazing that the wall paintings and carvings are uncovered and can be touched with your hands...

Osama, our friendly guide

Osama, our Egyptologist, entertained us with his historical background stories on all the temples we visited. In the evenings, Bart entertained us with his Osama impersonation: Remember, when you were in Abu Simbel two days ago? Remember that second pillar on the right? And then the third carving from the left? That carving, THAT is what I am talking about here..."

Cruising down the river

Nile cruising is supposed to be ideal for senior citizens, so we happily embarked on the Sun Boat IV for a good ol' Agatha Christie experience leading us from Aswan to Luxor in 3 days. The first day our cheerful Egyptologist Osama took us to Philae Temple, which was relocated to make room for the high dam in the 1960s.