Have a nice weekend! :-)
Sting, Fragile
If blood will flow when flesh and steel are one
Drying in the colour of the evening sun
Tomorrow's rain will wash the stains away
But something in our minds will always stay
Perhaps this final act was meant
To clinch a lifetime's argument
That nothing comes from violence and nothing ever could
For all those born beneath an angry star
Lest we forget how fragile we are
On and on the rain will fall
Like tears from a star like tears from a star
On and on the rain will say
How fragile we are how fragile we are
On and on the rain will fall
Like tears from a star like tears from a star
On and on the rain will say
How fragile we are how fragile we are
How fragile we are how fragile we are
Saturday, 30 October 2010
Thursday, 28 October 2010
De Kemphaan
I like to go to the Kemphaan in Almere ;-)
To enjoy...
the Animals and the Art in the fields...
or just the Animals in the fields ...
or just the Art in the gardens...
or in the woods...
where we can sit down...
before going to the Lake to look at the Swans...
or the Plants nearby the restaurant...
 |
| From Almere (II) |
To enjoy...
the Animals and the Art in the fields...
 |
| From Almere (II) |
or just the Animals in the fields ...
 |
| From Almere (II) |
or just the Art in the gardens...
 |
| From Almere (II) |
or in the woods...
 |
| From Almere (II) |
where we can sit down...
 |
| From Almere (II) |
before going to the Lake to look at the Swans...
 |
| From Almere (II) |
or the Plants nearby the restaurant...
 |
| From Almere (II) |
Wednesday, 27 October 2010
Autumn is time to...
Autumn is time to...
go for a stroll and try to find mushrooms... ;-)
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| From Almere (II) |
go for a stroll and try to find mushrooms... ;-)
 |
| From Almere (II) |
 |
| From Almere (II) |
 |
| From Almere (II) |
 |
| From Almere (II) |
 |
| From Almere (II) |
 |
| From Almere (II) |
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| From Almere (II) |
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| From Almere (II) |
Tuesday, 26 October 2010
Autumn in Almere
Almere, Autumn 2010
When autumn wind goes running
It does some magic things.
It gives the shadows dancing shoes
It gives the bright leaves wings
When autumn wind goes running.
When autumn wind goes running
It does some magic things.
It gives the shadows dancing shoes
It gives the bright leaves wings
When autumn wind goes running.
 |
| From Almere (II) |
Friday, 22 October 2010
Cross-Cultural Experience: Two Indonesian Recipes
One of the reasons that I enjoy living in the Netherlands is the possibility of making friends from different cultures and enjoying so many interesting and rich moments!
I never heard about Martisor until my Romanian friend Mihaela gave me one. I didn't know of the existence of Koeksisters until I made here an acquaintance from South Africa.
Last month, I had another cross- cultural experience, this time, homemade Indonesian food.
A couple of months ago, I met Meiko, an Indonesian woman with a Portuguese surname, "Monteiro". Her paternal grandfather was a Portuguese who went to Indonesia many years ago.
Meiko has a great sense of humor, is polite and generous. We became friends and I went to her Birthday Party last month.
Look at this table...;-) She is such a great cook!! ;-)
So, I asked her if she wouldn't mind to share some photos and two recipes with Presepio's readers. As you can see, she was a dearest! ;-)
Let's enjoy then! ;-)
Rendang (top of the photo, in the white platter )
Ingredients :
500 gr of meat cut in pieces.
Grinded:red chilli, 5 garlic cloves, 4 small shallots/ 2 big red onions in fine pieces, 1 long lemon grass, 4 cm ginger/ 2 eating spoons of ginger powder, 4 cm laos/1 eating spoon laos powder, 5 citroen fresh leaves, 3 salam leaves. You can buy these ingredients in Indo Toko Supermarkets.
1 tea spoon djintan (optional), 250 gr coconut milk, salt, sugar, water.
How to cook:
Fry the onions and all the grinded ingredients until it smells nice.
Put the meat and stir it for a while.
Add 2 glasses of water, salt and sugar.
Cook it for a while and then put the coconut milk and stir it until the water is gone and its color turns to dark brown.
The important thing is to stir it all the time when you put the coconut milk because that is what gives the taste.
Cook it untill the meat is soft and the color from the ingredients turns dark brown, in a low or medium fire.
Sambal goreng kentang (fried potato with chilli) (in the glass tray)
Ingredients:
250 gr potatoes (cut it in small cubes) and meatballs (optional);
Grinded:red chilli, 4 garlic cloves, 5 shallots/1 big red onion, 2 cm laos/2 eating spoons laos powder.
1 tea spoon koenjit [root of the kurkuma plant] powder, 2 salam leaves, 1 lemon grass (cut in half), salt, sugar.
How to cook:
Fry the potatoes until it's well done and if it's finished, fry all the grinded ingredients, salam leaves, lemon grass, salt, sugar, koenjit [root of the kurkuma plant] until it smells nice.
Pour a bit of water and cook it untill it boils.
Then put all the potatoes and meatballs.
Cook it untill all the ingredients mix with the potatoes, in a low or medium fire.
Enjoy!!! ;-)
Thank you, Meiko for such a lovely evening and for sharing with us such Indonesian delicacies :-)
Portugal, Indonesia and Netherlands...an old connection...
The first Europeans arriving in Indonesia were the Portuguese traders, led by Francisco Serrão, in 1512. They wanted to monopolize the sources of nutmeg, cloves, and cubeb pepper in Maluku.
In 1602, the Dutch established the Dutch East India Company (VOC) and became the dominant European power. Following bankruptcy, the VOC was formally dissolved in 1800, and the government of the Netherlands established the Dutch East Indies as a nationalized colony. (from Wikipedia)
I never heard about Martisor until my Romanian friend Mihaela gave me one. I didn't know of the existence of Koeksisters until I made here an acquaintance from South Africa.
Last month, I had another cross- cultural experience, this time, homemade Indonesian food.
A couple of months ago, I met Meiko, an Indonesian woman with a Portuguese surname, "Monteiro". Her paternal grandfather was a Portuguese who went to Indonesia many years ago.
Meiko has a great sense of humor, is polite and generous. We became friends and I went to her Birthday Party last month.
Look at this table...;-) She is such a great cook!! ;-)
 |
| From Coisas Minhas |
So, I asked her if she wouldn't mind to share some photos and two recipes with Presepio's readers. As you can see, she was a dearest! ;-)
Let's enjoy then! ;-)
Rendang (top of the photo, in the white platter )
 |
| From Coisas Minhas |
Ingredients :
500 gr of meat cut in pieces.
Grinded:red chilli, 5 garlic cloves, 4 small shallots/ 2 big red onions in fine pieces, 1 long lemon grass, 4 cm ginger/ 2 eating spoons of ginger powder, 4 cm laos/1 eating spoon laos powder, 5 citroen fresh leaves, 3 salam leaves. You can buy these ingredients in Indo Toko Supermarkets.
1 tea spoon djintan (optional), 250 gr coconut milk, salt, sugar, water.
How to cook:
Fry the onions and all the grinded ingredients until it smells nice.
Put the meat and stir it for a while.
Add 2 glasses of water, salt and sugar.
Cook it for a while and then put the coconut milk and stir it until the water is gone and its color turns to dark brown.
The important thing is to stir it all the time when you put the coconut milk because that is what gives the taste.
Cook it untill the meat is soft and the color from the ingredients turns dark brown, in a low or medium fire.
Sambal goreng kentang (fried potato with chilli) (in the glass tray)
 |
| From Coisas Minhas |
Ingredients:
250 gr potatoes (cut it in small cubes) and meatballs (optional);
Grinded:red chilli, 4 garlic cloves, 5 shallots/1 big red onion, 2 cm laos/2 eating spoons laos powder.
1 tea spoon koenjit [root of the kurkuma plant] powder, 2 salam leaves, 1 lemon grass (cut in half), salt, sugar.
How to cook:
Fry the potatoes until it's well done and if it's finished, fry all the grinded ingredients, salam leaves, lemon grass, salt, sugar, koenjit [root of the kurkuma plant] until it smells nice.
Pour a bit of water and cook it untill it boils.
Then put all the potatoes and meatballs.
Cook it untill all the ingredients mix with the potatoes, in a low or medium fire.
Enjoy!!! ;-)
Thank you, Meiko for such a lovely evening and for sharing with us such Indonesian delicacies :-)
Portugal, Indonesia and Netherlands...an old connection...
The first Europeans arriving in Indonesia were the Portuguese traders, led by Francisco Serrão, in 1512. They wanted to monopolize the sources of nutmeg, cloves, and cubeb pepper in Maluku.
In 1602, the Dutch established the Dutch East India Company (VOC) and became the dominant European power. Following bankruptcy, the VOC was formally dissolved in 1800, and the government of the Netherlands established the Dutch East Indies as a nationalized colony. (from Wikipedia)
Thursday, 21 October 2010
History Week in the Netherlands
Welcome to The History Week!
Sinds last Saturday until next Sunday, you can participate in the activities of your city, province or elsewhere in the country!
Did you already participate in the History Week? Or will you do it in the following days?
(Spakenburg, October 2010)
Last Sunday, I went to Spakenburg, located in Utrecht province, one of the few places in the Netherlands where some women still wear local traditional clothes (Kraplap).
Spakenburg is a very good example of the strong connection between "Netherlands and the Sea" or "Nederland en de Zee", this year's theme of The History Week ( "Week van de Geschiedenis").
Spakenburg is a very religious village (Calvinists/ Dutch Reformed Church), so the stores, restaurants and bars were closed last Sunday.
I wished this restaurant was opened, so I could eat a hot meal. It was so cold!
Remember also that 18.30 pm is time to dinner in the Netherlands...
Nevertheless, it was a nice walk!
Well, you know already how I like boats ;-)
Places like these are magical to me...
I have lovely memories of the fishery's world ... ;-)
Remember Portugal's great liaison with the sea....
Sinds last Saturday until next Sunday, you can participate in the activities of your city, province or elsewhere in the country!
Did you already participate in the History Week? Or will you do it in the following days?
 |
| From Spakenburg |
(Spakenburg, October 2010)
Last Sunday, I went to Spakenburg, located in Utrecht province, one of the few places in the Netherlands where some women still wear local traditional clothes (Kraplap).
Spakenburg is a very good example of the strong connection between "Netherlands and the Sea" or "Nederland en de Zee", this year's theme of The History Week ( "Week van de Geschiedenis").
 |
| From Spakenburg |
Spakenburg is a very religious village (Calvinists/ Dutch Reformed Church), so the stores, restaurants and bars were closed last Sunday.
 |
| From Spakenburg |
I wished this restaurant was opened, so I could eat a hot meal. It was so cold!
Remember also that 18.30 pm is time to dinner in the Netherlands...
 |
| From Spakenburg |
Nevertheless, it was a nice walk!
 |
| From Spakenburg |
Well, you know already how I like boats ;-)
 |
| From Spakenburg |
Places like these are magical to me...
 |
| From Spakenburg |
I have lovely memories of the fishery's world ... ;-)
 |
| From Spakenburg |
Remember Portugal's great liaison with the sea....
Wednesday, 20 October 2010
Huge Surprise of the Day!
Mihai found it one hour ago near the neighbours's garbage bin ...:-)
It was so dark, I don't know how Mihaela and Adrian's son has seen the little one...;-)
So cute!!!
 |
| From Coisas Minhas |
It was so dark, I don't know how Mihaela and Adrian's son has seen the little one...;-)
 |
| From Coisas Minhas |
So cute!!!
 |
| From Coisas Minhas |
Monday, 18 October 2010
What do you bring back from your country when you go on vacation?
As an expat, each time I go to my homeland, Portugal, I like to bring back some typical Portuguese products. ;-)
Wines...
Mateus Rose...
Mateus is a brand of medium-sweet frizzante rosé wine produced in Portugal. This wine is sold in its distinctive narrow-necked, flask-shaped bottle, with a baroque historic mansion label (Mateus Palace in Vila Real) and real cork stopper (as it should be).
This year, when I was in Alto Douro Vinhateiro, I visited Mateus Palace and its beautiful gardens.
Moscatel de Setubal...
The Moscatel de Setubal is a sweet wine, with a graduation between 17º and 20º. The color varies between light topaz and dark topaz. When old, it gains an unmistakeable perfume. There are two types of Moscatel de Setúbal: the white and the purple one, this one more rare.
Alvarinho wine...
A variety of white wine grape from Monção (northwest Portugal). We believe that it was presumably brought to Iberia by Cluny monks in the twelfth century. Its name "Alba-Riño" means "the white [wine] from the Rhine".
If you go to the North of Portugal, you must pay a visit to Solar do Alvarinho, in Melgaco, nearby Moncao, in Minho province, and enjoy a glass of this exquisite wine.
Red wine Defesa from Herdade do Esporao.
Such a beautiful place, Herdade do Esporao! It is located in the South of Portugal (Alentejo province), where you can enjoy a delicious and exquisite lunch and guided tours to the wine cellars.
I also brought from Portugal...
Pudim Flan El Mandarin...
Gelatina Royal...
Different kinds of Chourico...
Tea Gorreana...the only tea produced in Europe is from Acores, Portugal.
Forks, knives and spoons from Palacoulo, brand MAM. I bought them when I was in Miranda do Douro.
I brought also Portuguese shoes because they are of excellent quality.
The leather is outstanding! These are from Foreva. Very confortable to walk. If you go there, ask for "Softinas" collection. Really Portuguese!
So, when I went to Portugal, I bougth several pairs of shoes because I like the quality and the prices are very reasonable.
And you? What do you bring back from your country when you go on vacation?
Wines...
Mateus Rose...
 |
| From Coisas Minhas |
Mateus is a brand of medium-sweet frizzante rosé wine produced in Portugal. This wine is sold in its distinctive narrow-necked, flask-shaped bottle, with a baroque historic mansion label (Mateus Palace in Vila Real) and real cork stopper (as it should be).
This year, when I was in Alto Douro Vinhateiro, I visited Mateus Palace and its beautiful gardens.
 |
| From Palácio Mateus |
Moscatel de Setubal...
 |
| From Coisas Minhas |
The Moscatel de Setubal is a sweet wine, with a graduation between 17º and 20º. The color varies between light topaz and dark topaz. When old, it gains an unmistakeable perfume. There are two types of Moscatel de Setúbal: the white and the purple one, this one more rare.
Alvarinho wine...
 |
| From Coisas Minhas |
A variety of white wine grape from Monção (northwest Portugal). We believe that it was presumably brought to Iberia by Cluny monks in the twelfth century. Its name "Alba-Riño" means "the white [wine] from the Rhine".
If you go to the North of Portugal, you must pay a visit to Solar do Alvarinho, in Melgaco, nearby Moncao, in Minho province, and enjoy a glass of this exquisite wine.
Red wine Defesa from Herdade do Esporao.
 |
| From Coisas Minhas |
Such a beautiful place, Herdade do Esporao! It is located in the South of Portugal (Alentejo province), where you can enjoy a delicious and exquisite lunch and guided tours to the wine cellars.
I also brought from Portugal...
Pudim Flan El Mandarin...
 |
| From Coisas Minhas |
Gelatina Royal...
 |
| From Coisas Minhas |
Different kinds of Chourico...
 |
| From Coisas Minhas |
 |
| From Coisas Minhas |
 |
| From Coisas Minhas |
Tea Gorreana...the only tea produced in Europe is from Acores, Portugal.
 |
| From Coisas Minhas |
Forks, knives and spoons from Palacoulo, brand MAM. I bought them when I was in Miranda do Douro.
 |
| From Coisas Minhas |
I brought also Portuguese shoes because they are of excellent quality.
 |
| From Coisas Minhas |
The leather is outstanding! These are from Foreva. Very confortable to walk. If you go there, ask for "Softinas" collection. Really Portuguese!
So, when I went to Portugal, I bougth several pairs of shoes because I like the quality and the prices are very reasonable.
And you? What do you bring back from your country when you go on vacation?
Sunday, 17 October 2010
Presepio featured in the Blog "A Touch of Dutch"
Presepio is being featured in the Blog "A Touch of Dutch", one of the most respected blogs about Netherlands and Expat Life.
Thanks, Isabella!
Isabella sent me the questions below. I could refuse some of them if I wished. I decided to answer them all. It was a good moment, after two and a half years living here, to look back and remember how I felt the cultural shock.
Where are you from originally?
What city do you live in currently?
What brought you to the Netherlands?
What inspired you to begin your blog?
When you first arrived in the Netherlands, what were the biggest differences you noticed from your own culture?
If you'd like to share, name 1-3 pieces of advice to anyone who comes from the same country as you to the Netherlands (eg: what to bring, cuisine and other funny differences, tips, etc...)
Name at least one of your favorite things about the Dutch culture.
Name at least one of your least favorite things about the Dutch culture.
Has family or friends come to visit you since you have been in the Netherlands?
What do you like best about the city where you currently live?
Where would you suggest to someone else (from your native country) to search/shop for the same (ingredients for making) traditional foods and/or to buy decoration for the special occasions/holidays?
With learning Dutch, what do you find to be the most difficult: Reading, writing, listening or speaking?
To read the interview and leave a comment, please, click here.
Thanks, Isabella!
Isabella sent me the questions below. I could refuse some of them if I wished. I decided to answer them all. It was a good moment, after two and a half years living here, to look back and remember how I felt the cultural shock.
 |
| From Gouda Kaarsjesavond 2009 |
Where are you from originally?
What city do you live in currently?
What brought you to the Netherlands?
What inspired you to begin your blog?
When you first arrived in the Netherlands, what were the biggest differences you noticed from your own culture?
If you'd like to share, name 1-3 pieces of advice to anyone who comes from the same country as you to the Netherlands (eg: what to bring, cuisine and other funny differences, tips, etc...)
Name at least one of your favorite things about the Dutch culture.
 |
| From Texel |
Name at least one of your least favorite things about the Dutch culture.
Has family or friends come to visit you since you have been in the Netherlands?
What do you like best about the city where you currently live?
Where would you suggest to someone else (from your native country) to search/shop for the same (ingredients for making) traditional foods and/or to buy decoration for the special occasions/holidays?
With learning Dutch, what do you find to be the most difficult: Reading, writing, listening or speaking?
To read the interview and leave a comment, please, click here.
Saturday, 16 October 2010
Patricia in El Parador de Zamora...
Dedicated to Patricia.
We are saved here...the Guard is taking care of the Palace...;-)
The Hall is cosy...don't you think?
Come with me, Patricia... I want to show you your room...
I think you will stay in the room 122...;-)
Tomorrow morning...
shall we meet in the terrace?
We can enjoy the swimming pool ;-)
Sleep well!!!
The angels will care for you ;-)
We are saved here...the Guard is taking care of the Palace...;-)
 |
| From Parador |
 |
| From Parador |
The Hall is cosy...don't you think?
 |
| From Parador |
 |
| From Parador |
Come with me, Patricia... I want to show you your room...
 |
| From Parador |
I think you will stay in the room 122...;-)
 |
| From Parador |
Tomorrow morning...
 |
| From Parador |
shall we meet in the terrace?
 |
| From Parador |
We can enjoy the swimming pool ;-)
 |
| From Parador |
Sleep well!!!
 |
| From Parador |
The angels will care for you ;-)
 |
| From Parador |
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