Amsterdam or A Dam in the Amstel

This city hits you right in the face and I mean it in any good way possible. Every building, every shop and street have their own look and style.

Starting off early on Saturday, we get to the city by train from a district just outside Amsterdam. The train station building is amazing. It's almost like you come out of a castle. Walking down the main street to the Dam Square, we were always tripping on every step of the way, because we were looking up all the time at the buildings' facades and the Christmas decoration, which was giving the city center even more atmosphere.

We had a meeting with a Free Walking Tour guides at the War Memorial right across the street from the Royal Palace. It was raining cats and dogs. I was ready to run and hide in the "Madame Tussaud" Museum, but...! Sam (our tour guide) was so contagious with his energy , that we actually stayed to the very end. Thanks to him I learned a lot about the city, the country and the history, seeing some of the most beautiful places along the way.

Oh, my Italy!

Only three single steps to become a true Italian: dress well, eat well and enjoy life! You've probably read the book "Eat, Pray and Love" or maybe you've watched the movie or at least you've heard of it and the wonderful story of Elizabeth Gilbert. Honestly, what I really loved about her journey was Italy or the Get-to-know-the-Italians-part. I thought I already got an idea of what their lifestyle would be and I loved it. Until... my first visit to this beautiful warm country.

Walking down at the Promenade at Como Lake is where a person should start. Take your time, don't let the touristic drive overcome you. Just slow down life and let your soul feast on everything that this place could offer. Look at the sun playing on the lake's water. Inhale the perfume of all the flowers coloring the streets. Look up and around you and greet the passing by people. Make a stop at a gelato- shop, sit at a small Caffè.  Let your whole being live in the moment.

Next stop: Milan. You must get lost in this city. That would be the only way to experience it. With all the small streets full of well-dressed people, riding
cars that probably belonged to James Bond. Just sink into the atmosphere that of sunshine and warmth that surrounds Milano. It is inevitable, of course, to get to The Cathedral or also known as Duomo di Milano.

"The Alienist" ~ Caleb Carr

Picture:Wikipedia

First of all I want to warn you : do not eat before reading this book. You may not take this advice seriously, you may find it even ridiculous, but trust me the described images are not for every stomach.
At the very dawn of criminal investigation (fingerprints are just an idea) and psychology investigation a brutal murderer is on the loose.
The main character, Dr. Kriezler, uses as an investigation method the idea of context behind which stands the theory that behavior is determined in the childhood.
Mr Moore is a crime reporter for the New York Times and one would assume that he would be more likely to be in the role of Watson. Actually his good knowledge of New York's underworld helps immensely the investigation.
Ms Sara Howard assists as the connection between the team and the police (mainly with captain Theodore Roosevelt, that's right the future president of America). She brings of course the usual romantic side-story we see in every story.
Dr. Kriezler and his team face up something not very familiar to 18th century police: a brutal serial killer. And not just that, he targets kids, also known as boy-whores.
The way he kills them and displaces their bodies... You wouldn't expect that even from Stephen King.
If I have to be completely honest, I didn't find any of the characters very charismatic or well-developed, even the killer's background was a little watery presented, but the mere fact that he was identified almost only by analyzing his life and digging deep down in his mind was remarkable. Of course the help from the two forensic brothers Markus and Lucius Issacson was of great assistance, plus their presence added some good mood to the whole party.
The whole story is really dark and unusual, but that's why I believe you would enjoy it. It is something relatively new, exciting and a little scary. Almost only with the help of observation, analysis and knowledge on human nature, an unlikely team of people is able yo stop a troubled person and his evil self.

There is a 2-Season series made on this book and its sequel. The whole project is very well made. The cast and the represenatation of the times back then are (for the very first timeon my life) just as I imagined them in the book(s). 

"Child 44" ~ Tom Rob Smith

Picture:Goodreads

Another book that I've been avoiding for quite a long time... And again it was a huge mistake. After I read it I was sorry for not doing it earlier...
Tom Rob Smith has the amazing ability to present to you every character, no matter how minor to the story, in such a way, that it makes you part of his/her life, even for the one paragraph that he is in.
The representation of post-war Russia makes you feel weird. It is as if you are reading a horror story mixed with a tea spoon of "1984" by Orwell.
This book mixes every day life in Stalin-Russia with a dark and extraordinary police investigation. It makes you wonder: is it possible in such hard times for people to preserve the human in themselves, to keep caring for the others and continue investigating a horrible chain of events with the sole purpose of doing the right thing?
At first this book will make you doubt history, humanity and even maybe reality (especially if you never knew what exactly was life during Stalin's regime), but then it'll take you to another level and make you feel hopeful again.
I have to admit that the ending is somehow predictable, but even so, the idea that love could turn someone into a monster (with the rang of Jack the Ripper) is frightening. The idea that only 60 years ago reality and daily round were so harsh, that they would lead people to their animal instincts is horrifying.
This is no light book and this is no ordinary story and if you find it in yourself possible to "digest" it, you'll appreciate everything you ever took for granted and will be grateful for the family and friends you have.

P. S. I'm not slipping almost anything about the plot, because I don't want to ruin anything for you while reading. Once you finish the book, my last sentence will make a lot more sense... I promise.

"God travels always incognito" ~ Laurent Gounelle

Picture:Goodreads

I was really surprised by this book. I avoided it for a very long time assuming that it has to do with religion or something spiritual. An advice :never assume by the cover or in this case by the title.
This psychological work will make you know yourself better. It will show you how to face your fears and how to push yourself up from the bottom of your life. Even if you think and know that you are not so low, I still would recommend reading it. The author will lead you through the difficult path of knowing how to get what you want, how to be yourself and most importantly how not to let others influence your own wishes and life.
This book is full of helpful tips and wise words, worth taking into consideration when you look at your real existence. Take a minute and think over some of your every-day tasks and encounters. You will be surprised how much you withhold and miss from having a real life.

Lіfе іѕ nоt а thеоrу. І bеlіеvе оnlу іn thе роwеr оf рrоgrеѕѕ оn thе grоund ехреrіеnсе. Тhаt саn rеаllу сhаngе а реrѕоn. Еvеrуthіng еlѕе іѕ nоnѕеnѕе аnd іntеllесtuаl mаѕturbаtіоn."

I'm only not sure about the ending of the book. It gives a lot but you'll have to figure it out by yourself. 

"The most important things sometimes stay most unnoticed."

The whole story is a slow and meaningful way to becoming who you are and who you should really be, only the last few pages stream like being in the fast lane of life where you indeed need to make it on your own with fast steps.
Enjoy this book, don't skip a word and give yourself time to rationalize it.

Morocco: What you should know

After our trip to India, I've learned my lesson and prepared myself in advance, or at least with some knowledge about the country. This is probably the best tip to have in mind when travelling for the first to a country that is much different from your own: always get to know the place you plan to visit in advance. The best way to do it by personal blogs or personal reviews in places such as Tripadvisor. People's thoughts, advice and impressions will always help you be aware of the atmosphere you're about to meet.
There is of course no way to fully understand a country before visiting it but it is always better to know what to expect( every culture is unique and surprising).
What I got to know before coming to Morocco:
- Don't worry much how to get dressed. As an Islamic country the dress code and way of showing you and your emotions is a little bit different than the way in Europe for example. Although I saw many tourist with really short shorts and sleeves I would recommend to the ladies to consider something not very provocative, knee-long dresses or pants would be fine. Not that it's a problem to show a little more skin, but you'll save yourself the looks and laugh behind your back, as the locals don't miss a person to look at.
- Warm clothes. If you don't visit Morocco in summer you must have warm clothes. Despite the high temperatures, the wind is really cold. In March the locals were wearing pullovers or even their winter jackets. It wasn't so bad, but still make sure you have long sleeves and jackets, the nights are especially cold!
- Learn French. Just kidding. You don't need to learn a new language for your 1-2 week trip. Most of the people in the tourist areas speak English well enough. But if you plan a trip outside the big, crowded, noisy places you must have an offline french dictionary!
- Overall the big cities are safe,both for driving and walking.
What a learned while in Morocco:
- The hotels are a bit overrated. Don't be impressed by the beautiful pictures, but read the reviews, they are usually pretty much clear and true. Anything under 5-star hotels probably will disappoint you, but if you are on a budget the 3/4-star hotels will be fine.
- There are like hundreds of merchants on every street, trying to sell you something. Just say No or simply shake your head and avoid them, that will discourage them quickly not to follow you.
- Always bargain. The merchants would tell you some unbelievable prices as a starter, but then agree to what you say. Don't be afraid (or shy) to say ridiculously low prices, most of the stuff don't cost much anyway.The fastest way to get your souvenir for the price you want is to just leave. They'll call after you, hold you even to stay until they sell the product.
- Always wear cash, especially small banknotes. People there always expect a tip. Even if you bool an organized trip and prepay it, be sure that along the way you'll meet relatives/friends of your guide and they all will be expecting something in exchange for their "help", small tour or guidance.
- If you plan to go hiking/trekking be prepared in advance. Some paths are difficult to find on your own, there are tens of people waiting to help you (and of course to receive a 5€ tip)and it's honestly not so well marked. Read a lot in advance about the valleys or mountains you want to hike and make sure you have a reliable GPS navigation.
- The best way to travel: a rental car.
- When at a gas station, you should wait for a guy to refuel your car, pay him and don't bother to wait for a receipt. But that's only in the cities. When you are on a motorway /highway you should be able to pay with a credit card and receive a receipt. Shoot for the big gas companies, such as Shell, Total.

Always drive with the permitted speed. If the police stop you, always ask for proof that you broke the speed limit! 

Being completely honest, I was a little afraid and prejudiced toward this trip and the country, but I learned that if you are nice to people, aware of your surroundings and belongings, everything will be just fine. Just relax, enjoy the new adventure, absorb the atmosphere and collect great memories!

India: First experience

The most spontaneous trip we have ever did. Me and my husband were invited to a wedding in India and it took us about 2 months to think about it. Two weeks before the event we decided that we are doing it. We were actually going to India! It sounded so exotic and so far away, even a little bit scary, but we were all in.

First of all, you need to make sure you get a visa. Then you can start looking around for airplane tickets, although in our case we were pressed to change the order of events, because for such a destination you can't book last minute (price and probably no luck with available seats). It was pretty easy actually, because you can apply on-line and then get your visa within 2-3 work days. 

Vaccination: our doctor said that the obligatory ones are Hepatitis A and B, Typhoid and of course the basics like DT. There are also the Cholera, Malaria and Japanese Encephalitis, but if you are careful enough, and staying at 4 or 5-star hotels, you should be fine only with the first three. 

Packing? That's easy! It is always hot and all you need is some light linen clothes (preferably long-sleeved) and your flip-flops. Be careful though, the sun could be really strong, so don't forget your sun cream! Now the fun part of packing: make sure to have enough anti-bacterial soaps, wet wipes and whatever else that comes to mind when considering disinfection before eating. Unfortunately the hygiene there is poor and we were strongly advised avoiding drinking tap water as well as not to brush our teeth with anything else than bottled water.

Getting from A to B: Uber is your answer. If you by any chance have an Indian sim-card then you can also use the alternative called "Ola". 

Funny story: We went to see this (castle/temple) by the shore and had a good time, took some nice pictures but then... the Uber App crashed, so did our hopes to get home, too. There were no taxis, we could not get the Indian alternative "Ola" and we were just staying there looking like confused tourist which in India is equal to easy money. We were approached several times by a Rikshaw driver. [We of course, kindly rejected his offer to get us back to our hotel. The idea of travelling at approximately 30km/h on a highway with this traffic....And of course, was double the price.] After 30-40min and no luck with the app we had to get the deal. Best experience ever! Just imagine: highway, cars are flying around us with over 100km/h, we are moving at about 20-25km/h. Then, the Rikshaw suddenly stops in the left lane (oh yes, they drive England-like), middle of nowhere and we have not the tiniest clue what is happening. We are looking each other in horror for the next 30 seconds, while the driver gets out of the Rikshaw, opens his seat and gets out a... 2,5l Coca-Cola bottle full with something yellow-ish. Then he gets another, smaller bottle full with something 

green-ish. He mixes the two substances and... refuels. That was the moment we could breathe again and just enjoy the rest of the ride.

The traffic: There are no rules. At least none known to us in Europe. There are traffic lights, there are signs, there are zebras, but nobody cares very much about them. There are three lanes, well-marked with white stripes, but you actually can see 5-car lanes with small motorcycle lanes between them. You just drive and wait for the others to signal you if you are in their way. The cool part is that as funny and dangerous as it may sound to us, it somehow works, people don't get nervous and they are actually moving. Rarely would you stay long at jams.

Temples: better read or ask ow to proceed when entering a temple. Barefoot is a must for some and it is usually worth it.



India could be polluted, unorganized country but if you look at it more as a crazy, colorful place, you will be able to experience the real beauty of the country and its people.



P.S. I almost forgot...Do try coconut water from a street merchant... The best way to freshen up your hot day!

Skulduggery Series (Books 1-5)

Picture:Wikipedia

The first two words that come to mind: witty and funny. This story is not just wizards with sticks shouting in some incomprehensible language. You've got more than just spells and the cliché vampires and zombies. Every character is unique, with its own interesting abilities and personality. I find this series much more interesting than any other magic story. Every creature is being developed in a different way, being at the same time given not only good but also bad, sometimes reaching evil, features. 

Honestly, I read the first book three times, because I wouldn't take it seriously. To me it was just a children's book. But then I realized I was a child once too and I could identify myself with a young girl who would love to be part of something so unreal, dangerous, new and fun. 

One of the main characters is a teenage girl, who goes through a huge transformation. At first she is just a little girl, not sure how to control or understand her powers, let alone the amazing new magical world she steps into. 

Picture:Goodreads

 At first everything is exciting and thrilling and cool. The idea to have a double, while being on the way to your next big adventure, would appeal to anybody, I'm sure. But very quickly things get serious and a little too dark: her chest had to be literally opened in order to lock her real wizardry name. Which is why I love this series. This is a good premise to turn each character into something a little bit more. Valkiria and Skulduggery are the main point around which the story develops and Valkiria as the new kid in town seems to grow a little too fast. Soon she gets more aware of the real world, missing her parents, friends meetings, boys attention. This leads to a mix up of her both worlds, which just takes the plot to a new level. Every time you think everything is over, there's nowhere more this could take you, the writer sends you to a new journey. 

There's so much happening in the first 5 books that I don't even want to try to tell you a bit. It is just impossible to describe each and every character, his powers and stories. You are on your own here. Let yourself get lost into the world of constant surprises, real fights, inflammable chasing and above all pure magical experience.

"The Address" by Fiona Davis

Picture: Amazon

This is the second book I read by this author. After The Dollhouse, I thought it could not get better but guess what, it got much better. There's everything in this novel, historical New York City, a secret to reveal, personal challenges to overcome and the best of all such emotional feelings, that make you feel exhausted, as if you got through them. In present days it is still difficult for people to show their feelings openly, imagine what was it like 200 years ago with the difference in the classes, the opinion on women's place, the etiquette which everybody had to consider and most of all having an affair with someone from the staff while being well-married. Despite all that two beautiful people, being almost constantly together, but divided by society's critical eye, can't help but fall in love and make it look so pure. After diving into the story and swimming through it like being in a wonderful dream, you can't help but feel betrayed at the end. You would think that what's happening is just unfair, too cruel and too real to be happening to them, to you. But eventually everything falls in the right place, Sara sacrifices herself in the name of the well being of her son, along with knowing that she doesn't have much time left, which justifies her decision of taking someone else's guilt. It's a lovely story of ambition, of creating the glamorous city of New York, of love and loss, of taking and giving.

"The Dollhouse" by Fiona Davis

Picture: Amazon

I wanted to read this book for so long that now I'm sorry I didn't do it earlier. The story is so well written, it takes you flawlessly through the two eras that it describes. Every character is so rich and well developed that it makes you feel a part of their own lives. The life of two women at the same place but at different times turns out to be a great plot for a touching story. Darby McLaughlin has a very exciting life, at least for the first couple of months of her life in New York. Her story is rich and full of emotions that you can't help it but to fall in love with her. Her first experience with the big city is am example if every woman who went through it too. Her first encounter with popular modeling girls is what every teenage girl feels when dealing with such people. Her first love, a boy so perfect that even makes you fall in love with him, is exactly what goes in every girl or woman's heart. ( Here, I have to admit, my eyes got watery at the end when their relationship came to reveal itself). Rose's story is almost similar but taking place almost 50 years later, although she already had her big and bad times in the Big Apple, she already had her big love, who, by the way, turned out to be a real politician. Once his interests became more important than love, love, as well as any compassion, ceased to exist. After all the failures that Rose went through, Darby's life was the thing that gave her hope and meaning to keep working, living and letting new feelings come into her life. And that's what I really loved in this book: its representation of women. Even though they were (and are) underestimated and supposed to know their place (always there for the man), these two women show the readers that you can achieve something good and positive, despite the difficulties. I don't have enough words to describe how this book makes you feel, you need to experience it and let yourself sink into every detail of it. P. S. I didn't forget Esme of course. This ambitious girl, always fighting for what she wants, will make you ignore all her imperfections and show you how a woman should strive to get what she needs and wishes.