Italia & Nederland

It seems that things happen faster with me than I can record here. On one hand this means a pleasant frequency, on the other hand this can mean a pleasant saturation. However, I do not want to miss to record any of my recent trips.

ITALY IN JANUARY

Our Italian market required some changes. The opportunity found us and we reacted by changing distributor. Italy called us, we travelled there and also found time for sightseeing as well. We started and finished with the tourist part in Venice and San Marino and arranged the business part in Faenza (near Bologna). Here I'm going to deal with the tourist part of it, of course.

Venice

Third time being in the town of canals and lagoons. First with the choir during elementary school, second with my ex-husband during carnival season. Each trip is different experience. This time I had the chance to look around in the Palazzo Ducale - thanks to my boss. Man is just marvelling and lost in wonder inside. Particulars, circumstantial details on frescos and ceiling paintings, prepared with meticulous care by ancient artists like Tintoretto, Titian, Veronese... How they could make it? How long did it take to create such masterpieces? Art. This is undoubtedly called ART. And history and so much more.

Nowadays, Venice is struggling with the rising level of oceans which could cause its complete collapse under water. 

Scientist are searching for a solution to this arduous problem: one example is the construction of a barrier (known as the MOSE project) to prevent the flooding and sinking of this unique little architectural and urban jewel, the city of Venice.

Republic of San Marino

Unesco World Heritage Site. Third smallest country in Europe, only Vatican and Monaco being smaller. Its size is just over 62 km2 with a population of 33,000. Only country with more vehicles than people. :-)

Although, it was not my idea to visit this country enclaved in Italy, but was definitely a good idea. It gave something that I always need when travelling: scenery. The microstate has no flat ground, therefore the panorama is beautiful from each point of the country. 

Although, the highest point is just 749m on Monte Titano, you can feel yourself in heaven if the position of the clouds seems you are above them. Pine scent, rainbow, candles, good lunch with great view and a parking ticket machine made the trip memorable. 

Latter said "Stampa biglietto in corso..." and this sentence made me happy to realize that a lot of words can be deduced easily on English or even Hungarian base. I started to play with the idea again of learning the Italian language there at the parking area of San Marino. I already had thought of the same in the past more times but never started seriously.

THE NETHERLANDS IN FEBRUARY

Amsterdam

The Dutch capital and the RAI welcome us as old returning visitors/exhibitors. This year's exhibition gave me the final shot to arrive at the decision of learning the third language. This was partly thanks to our Italian partners' habit and attitude, their 'perfetto' communication

with their customers brought to DEXON's booth, partly to the host of values of Italy (history, fashion, food involving pasta & pizza, vespa, wine, etc...), partly to my Italy-fan friend's enthusiasm over the country. Thanks to our boss (again), each member of the DEXON staff got a free day. The third day was mine out of the four show days.

Giethoorn

This city made me enchanted even before my arrival. Right at the end of the second day of the exhibition I went to the train station at Amsterdam Zuid to travel till Steenwijk. I was prepared and careful but was a little bit afraid. It was my first time trying 'airbnb'. Based on the ratings of my certified host I shouldn't had have to. Erik seemed a reliable, perfect host with practice and had a beautiful farm house, exactly the one I wanted to be accomodated during my stay from location point of view as well.

 The name Giethoorn means “Goat horn” and is derived from the first inhabitants’ discovery of hundreds of goat horns in the area. Unfortunately, today you can’t find any horns here. Giethoorn is often referred to as the 'Dutch Venice', 'Instagram famous village without roads'. For me, it is just simply a 'fabledom'. It is so peaceful, so different and has just simple beauty that is hardly seems real. Even the village’s website says that “the loudest sound you can normally hear is the quacking of a duck or the noise made by other birds”. The village is only fully accessible by boat. (Usually by “whisper boat”, which has an electric, noiseless motor, because diesel engines are forbidden in this area.) Most houses of the village is located in small, private islands which are connected by bridges (over 180).

Getting off the train even the first breath smelled very different. (Especially, if someone was coming from Amsterdam...) Snow. There was snow! I haven't seen actually any snow in the season at home. Real fairy tale began in the fabledom. My host was waiting for me and it wasn't very difficult to find me because station Steenwijk is a small one, not many people were there then. Erik stood at the entrance. 
He was tall, had medium-long curly hair, was wearing long coat and gloves. He was elegant. After the introduction he invited me to his car which was a nice black roadster seated for two. On the way his house we spoke in an easy-going way. (I was sparkling and well in practice in English thanks to the whole-day discussions on the booth.) After parking the car we needed to walk. And I definitely wasn't disappointed. Everything was just like I imagined or even better. Erik's house was a roomy family house with cats, living alone, divorced, his children of three grew up, left the nest. 
Naturally, I needed to take a night walk upon my arrival before bedtime. To tell you the truth, it was a real Winter Wonderland! Serenity, tranquility. Fresh air. And snow. Did I already mention the snow? A friendly cat cozied up to my shin unexpectedly while I was taking some photos. Next day I explored the whole village on foot and enjoyed the scenery. I met not so many people. Two walkers with dog, a smaller Chinese tourist group, a postman and a film maker group of four. That's all.