Trip to the Netherlands

I had the opportunity to spend two great days in the Netherlands.

First, I visited Amsterdam which is the capital and largest city of the Netherlands. Its name is derived from Amstel dam which means: a dam on the river Amstel. Founded as a small fishing village in the late 12th century, Amsterdam became one of the most important ports in the world during the Dutch Golden Age.

Amsterdam's main attractions include its historic canals, the Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum, Anne Frank House, its red-light district and its many cannabis coffee shops.

After that I went to The Hague which is the third-largest city in the Netherlands and the actual seat of government.

I felt in love with the country already from the plain while landing because of its incredible combination of land and sea. However, mostly I like this trip because of the people I've met. I really hope to meet them again one day in the future :-)

Fiesta de San Juan

San Juan's night is full of bonfires, fireworks, music, dancing, sardines and typical alcohol. It's the welcome to summer, and its celebration takes place during the shortest night of the year.

We spent the night at private party with Marquito's friends. By coincidence Bolivian band was playing there so when they were dancing typical dance from Potosí called tinku Marquito became the most important person of the evening as an expert on Bolivian culture :)

However, it was kind of funny how people looked at us, as we were probably the most diverse couple they have ever seen. And thus we had to told our story again and again :-) And as the 23rd is also our aniversary we spent really a wonderful night.

To see more pictures click here.

Islas Cies

Cíes Islands is one of the greatest adventures the Galician coast can offer. The maximum recognition as a Foreshore National Park guarantees the preservation and the improvement of highly exclusive but fragile ecosystems.

There is no doubt that the thinnest sand expanses, like a mirror for the sun, and the best ocean waters can be found here, colder and saltier than in inner gulfs.

Only 45 minutes by boat from Vigo those three islands from which 2 are connected by beach and rock "bridge" look like a wonderful paradise.

Living here for so much time we decided to finally explore these Islands. After our yesterdays party it was not that easy to wake up and queue for the tickets :) but it was worth it.

We arrived at noon to the Islands and decided to take a 3 hours trip to the top where is the lighthouse. It turned out to be a wonderful way full of spectacular views. Especially where three different gulfs mixed together with their distinct colors and force. We also saw seagulls in a different way as it is a breeding season and their kids from an egg to a small bird are all around the way.

Last but not least there are plenty of different lizards. I just wonder how the wild animals can live and breed next to the touristic path when there are so many people passing by.

It seams to be a favourite place for locals and their families for camping. There is actually no hotel, just the camp and only one restaurant.

After this trip we were tired enough to go to the beach and enjoy the transparent water. However, the landscape was very misleading. While it looked like a perfect place to swim and sunbath, it is still very cold..typical Galician wind..

In the evening we returned back to Vigo and had some more rest. What I like on this place is that even at 9 p.m. it looks like early afternoon.

Too see more pictures click here or go to "Pictures" on the right side of the page.

Museo do Mar

Friday evening we spent with bottle of typical Czech Slivovice. I still can't believe that it was for the first time Marquito tried. He was bit surprised by the 45% of alcohol so the drinking finished quite soon and bottle still survived.

This weekend was very much as a real vacation. On Saturday after having typical Spanish breakfast in the restaurant on the corner we decided to go for a walk from Bouzas port to Samil beach - as usually :)

We visited Italian ship staying few days in the port and obsessing Marquito all this time.

Then we spent some time in the new shopping centre. We continued through the market with oysters where we decided to give them a try. Well, I do not like the feeling the animals are still alive when you eat them but Marquito enjoyed and I was happy with glass of wine. While I was taking pictures, the marketeer didn't forget to inform Marquito about the aphrodisiac effects.

Walking away we found that Marquito lived in Vigo already in the 16th century which gives the right sence to many things :D

We ate some sandwiches in the lighthouse while we realized that the Museum which is there is opened. During the last two years we haven't seen it open! There is a large complex built and used as a Museum de Mar. You can see how different kinds of fish cans are made, how to catch and process see animals such as percebe or how to grow mussels. Separately there is an aquarium with the typical fauna of Galician sea. We were explained how is octopus smart and dangerous animal that must be separated from others, that fish also sleep but with open eyes and how crabs change their mail.

I was especially curisous about percebe which is a delicious gooseneck barnacle which thrives at the ocean’s foamy edge, slammed by boiling sea waves, laved in saline by constant saltwater surf which makes it also very expensive sea food. So it was a great surprise when we ordered bottle of wine in the evening and which was connected actually with promotion of plate of percebe. I have to admit, its excellent food. Just that you have to work hard to get some meat :)

Last exam passed

Today I passed the Final Exam - the last exam at the University

Still, keeping celebrations for later, next month will be spent working on the thesis...

Trip to Horsham

Last week I made a break in my studies and I went to Horsham.Horsham is around 30 minutes by train from Gatwick airport to the south, in West Sussex. In 2006 it was pronounced the second best place to live in the UK. I spent great two days in the Cisswood Hotel however, there was almost no time to really explore the town. So, I just have a tip where to go for vacation :) Now back home to study...for the last exam thus the most difficult, the most scary and finally, the most painful.

The best semester ever

May be because it was my last semestr at the University it was also the best :) But not just because of that but mostly because of the great CEMS students here in Prague. Comparing to last semester when I felt mostly pitty and shame for the cemsies I met, this semester compansated everything and even more. I had the opportunity to work with the best individuals and probably for the first time really really enjoy the team work and benefit from it in the same time. I feel sad this is over. There was so much work and suddently it is over and I feel bored :)

Well, I passed my 3rd state exam this week so I was still busy but rather bored: reading is nice, memorizing is awful.

Now I'm waiting for the final one however, there is no available date yet so I have to wait and meanwhile I should write the thesis already which is another obstacle which looks like never ending story. Well I have the best motivation to finish soon since my job hunting will hopefully give some results soon.

Lost in the opportunity

During the last week I was really busy and didn't have time to blog about other beautiful things that happened in Vigo. Like a great lunch in a Brazilian restaurant that we had with our friends Tony and Maria (you can see them on the pic); some small shopping, walking on the sea shore, eating the ice-cream hidding from the wind, or just the wonderful small things which make us alive, happy and that much in love.

Again I am in a different world back here in Prague, most likely this is called the reality :-) . Since the end of my Uni duties is approaching, and my responsibilities there are getting over, I start to worry about what to do next. I have actually never thought about that: where my friends went I went there too. Now it is different. I have to decide on my own and nobody can help me. But I do not know how, where and what to choose. I feel lost in the opportunities I might have now. May be it is because things are that easy in Prague as they do not seem to be outside. But there might be more somewhere else, I know.

Suddenly, however, I can't find the little voice somewhere deep inside of me telling me which way should I go. I just know that any kind of job offer I might get, even the most perfect would never be good enough if Marquito won't be by my side.

Now there is the biggest task in front of me; what to do to connect my personal and work life in one. It seems to be more difficult than I've ever thought.

Escape to Vigo

It was a nice surprise when I arrived to Vigo this time, it was extremly hot and sunny. I changed my winter shoes for summer "bailarinas". We went to the beach, took sun, walked on the cliffs watching small fish, enjoying the sun.

I forgot how cold it might be here..till Monday..it started to rain again and the wonderful weather was gone. Since then we had to put on jackets again and better not to go out if not necessary :)

Well, Vigo is simply like this, has lot of faces and changes fast. But it still has some magic, sure because we are together here.

All the week we were kind of busy. Marquito was working each day at least five hours and I was busy with my projects since my classes are finishing soon and there is still lot of work to do.

I also tried to fix my CV here and I started to apply. It seems to be hard to find good job here in Spain. Definitely iy is not as easy as it seems to be in Prague :-) since Spain has much more people and thus companies have plenty of applicants. However, yesterday we went out with Marquitos friends who already passed through all the things we are passing now; they made it and found the place where to live together which is filling me with some kind of optimism again.

Btw. I put new pictures on picasa, just check "Pictures" on the right side.

Men in the Czech Republic

There are significant changes happening in the Czech society lately, the traditional role of men is changing.. :)

Gift from my baby

Today Marquito asked me to see this song and told me: "I was thinking about us, Im in love..esta cancion dice todo lo que siento por ti, lo que quiero darte ahora.."
After 3 years and 6 months of a relationship I guess it is a good sign :)

One Week After LASIK

It has been already one week since I was waiting for my laser eye surgery. I remember how nervous I was. I knew I didn't really want it but once being convinced by others there was no way back. I was happy not to see my doctor MUDr. Mikšovská since I really didn't like her from our first appointment. She tried to be nice however, I still had the feeling she's just "trying" :)
Unfortunately I saw her the second day, she was playing a bit with my flap correcting its positioning. I was confused since I didn't know what was she doing and why, she didn't really explained it when I asked and I was more confused when she stopped talking at all and after a while told me..."you can go away"... well strange in a private clinic isn't it?
I expected bit more. I remember she didn't even ask me that day how I felt (1 day after surgery).

Today it was very different. I prepared myself to meet her again. What a surprise when other doctor picked me up. I was still worried Mikšovská will come, but she didn't. You think I am crazy? Well, I am just one of those who like doctors treating them well. Let's be honest, doctor has a real power over a patient, it is a great example of information assymetry. You are going to the doctor asking for help, prepared to rely on him/her. If they don't treat you well will you really trust them? The health is yours, you take the responsibility and all you want from them is to be honest with you and to tell you everything you need to know to make your own decision. I have always been liberalist in my political opinions but last days I am not sure if privatization of health sector as a whole is a good idea. Why should a private clinic earning thousands of euros monthly tell people they might cause them some damage?

Well, my new doctor saw my eyes, answered all my questions, gave me other drops and I went home. I still have to wait some more months for the definitive results of my eyes.

Laser Eye Surgery (LASIK)

Last week I underwent the laser eye surgery called LASIK (Laser-Assisted in situ Keratomileusis). I hope I will join the majority of patients who do not have any complications. However, I have made a small research on internet and it seems there are plenty of patients who have serious irreversible problems after this surgery. And the more I read the more I know I made a mistake. Even if my surgery was successful the most important part is the healing itself and there is no garantee to the future.

I am very disappointed with the information on most of the clinics' websites. They do not inform seriously about possible negative consequences. How is it possible that the surgery doesn't hurt at all and patients do wake up the second day watching things clear as never before? I couldn't have opened my eye 30 first minutes after the surgery and each morning I wake up with pain. I see clearly most of the time but most of the time I feel pain behind my eyes and sometimes the vision blurres. Am I an exception? I asked my doctor about those concerns the second day and the only answer she gave me was that it is absolutely normal after such a surgery - so why the hell there is nothing about it on their web page neither they tell you before so you can count with it?

For anybody thinking about LASIK I can recommend to check following website - not to scare you but to give total picture about possible outcome: News from Ministry of Health in the US see movie from Chicago news and any other youtube movies about lasik.

The Thesis

There is one big thing I have to do to be able to move to Spain, it is The Thesis. Sounds so easy but.. I remember when I was at the beginning of my studies and people talked about The Thesis, I felt some kind of respect and thought that one must have a lot of knowledge to be able to write something so sophisticated. Now I am in this situation, The Thesis is here, before me lying as a high mountain, as an obstacle and I do not feel smarter than I was at the beginning. Sure I got experience but I am not sure I can really use those in The Thesis, surely not in the theoretical part. I am so close to the successful end of my studies and yet it seems so far..

Telling bad things is never easy

After the whole bureacratic process I passed at the university last days, I realized I do not have any classes to pass from my engineering program and I only miss 2 more exams, write and defend the thesis. I started to check job opportunities for the upcoming next 3 months. I still have to attend CEMS classes and pass other requirements connected to CEMS, I also went for a game organized by MOL.

After some days I found job. I started this Monday and since then I was not sure if I am doing the right thing. Moreover, I realized I can't do it since our CEMS Business Project at ATKerney started MOL game consumes plenty of time, I can't keep with my other responsibilities and after all, I can't go to sleep earlier than midnight.

Since I always like to spend some more time giving "it" or myself chance, it took me almost one week to decide. During this week I was so desperate about my indecisiveness that I started to google things like "I can't decide; quiting job, etc..." :-)

Marquito told me I shouldn't ever work if my motivation comes from feeling sorry for the boss. In this situation I really felt like that, I couldn't quit the first day even if I knew I don't like it, I simply felt sorry for my boss killing herself with plenty of work. I spent hours and hours thinking about it. There was a time when I thought I can do everything, I was sure about that but still I was not doing anything, may be I wanted but I had other things to do. Today around noon I made the decision. Suddenly everything was clear and I decided to quit, I just had to think how to do it, how to tell to my boss after one week that I changed my mind. I decided to call her and appologize, that was it, not more than 1 minute of chat, she was not happy, sure, I understand her, I think she understood too, it won't help anybody so it doesnt matter. I feel free and happy, all the stress is gone..Again I confirmed to myself how important are feelings in our lives and we should pay them more attention while making decisions.

Latest updates

January and February: time is fortunately running, unfortunately too much. I passed my 2nd state exam - 2 more are missing. I am undertaking the bureaucratic processes regarding my studies which occupies me more than I expected. E.g. I just realized I can't finish my thesis earlier than 6 months after I announce a topic. Marqui is busy too: exam, moving, classes, job hunting.. Soon I will blog more often again, but first I really need to find my topic :)

Happy New Year 2008

I remember last year that we celebrated with Marquito and my best girlfriends in Prague. We played games, later went out and Marquito was a bit drunk :)
This year we celebrated alone just we two here in Santiago. We called our families and then went out expecting there will be something infront of the cathedral. The streets were totally empty however, the closer to the cathedral and to midnight the more people we met. Infront of the Cathedral there is a huge space were would fit a lot of people. Next to the cathedral there is a smaller church, not that much space - I wonder why they are making all concerts there.. So this time all the people were there awaiting the New Year. We joined them, celebrated together and later listened to the local band hired by the town hall. They played cumbia so we didn't stay that long :D It was around 1 a.m. when all the bars, pubs and discotheques started to open. We went to a nice place with english music (not that easy to find here) and danced together (as the only once). It is funny to see local people how they are trying to have a fun - there are girls staying at dance floor not dancing, just drinking and watching all around, on the other side there are boys drinking, chatting and ignoring the girls..and it is like this till the early morning..I really do not know how these people are getting into some relationships :D After some time the english music changed to Spanish "whatever" so around 5 a.m. we decided to leave not being able to stand the music any more haha.

Night out

We went out with Marquito yesterday night. It was not easy to find some place first, because here people go out usually very late. It was around 8 p.m., they still call it afternoon here :) Finally, we found a nice place.

Usually we do not drink much however, we ordered a nice bottle of white wine and got "tapa" (Spanish are used to give some small pieces of food as a present to your drinks - olives, chips, etc.). We started to share some old stories and had a lot of fun. It was around 10 p.m. when we finished the bottle and still stayed with lots of stories laughing as kids. Bit dizzy, we ordered second bottle. It was really great evening even if I do not remember much once we finished that bottle. =)

Christmas in Santiago de Compostela

I arrived to Santiago on Friday 21st in the evening. Marquito was waiting for me and took me home. Again the feeling like if I am coming back from short shopping, we both agreed on that :)

We spent a wonderful X-mas full of happiness. First we went to make our Christmas shopping together choosing presents we wanted for us and later we cooked together and talked with our families, everything was great. Since then our days here in Santiago are exactly like this, perfect.

We are still playing with our new toys - a camera (you can see the pictures, what a difference right ;) and Marquito's new cell. I still have to find out how to use the flash without killing the people on the picture, haha.

All pictures are here.

Exams and Leaving Ireland

After 2 weeks of "revision period" I had three exams, each took 2 hours and there was no surprise - large open questions covering topics we were pointed out by the teachers. Actually after all I can say the semester was not that difficult here, I was busy because I tried to read all we were supposed to - and it was a lot. However, most of cemsies were too lazy to read and for the exam it was not needed at all since you could have read just exactly what the teacher told us we should! I cant even say I got some extra knowledge while reading it :) I just found more opportunities for my future carreer and I am even more confused what would I like to do. There are so many things I like, how should I choose just one and how should I choose the right one?

Thursday night I had my last exam, I returned home before 9 p.m. and started to pack, finally! I felt really tired but I didn't have more than 3 hours of sleep to take a taxi before 4 a.m. As we were driving through the city it was full of drunk, poorly dressed Irish people desperately looking for taxes - as always. It was very cold outside - as always =).

I arrived to Madrid in the morning, changed my SIM card and spent the next few hours speaking with Marquito on the phone and organizing my computer files. I was tired but happy.

I didn't have much time to think about all that happened to me in Ireland and truly there are lots of things that I do not want to recall. It was not that bad, just too long and I'm happy it is behind me. Again I have the kind of déjà vu that it actually never happened :)

Christmas shopping in Dublin

Several times I was complaining that Dublin is a small city. However, I didn't expect that it is so small when it comes to Christmas shopping. I spent several hours in Graffton street where all the shops are. I was warned not to go during the weekend since it is really crowded, so I went on Monday. It was really crowded anyway! More over, what was my disappointment to realize that I cannot buy any of the "to be presents" that I thought about. Everytime there was something why they either told me it would not work outside of this small island or it was just a product with poor quality. I wonder why there are always the worst products on the market during the Xmas - is it really because people are willing to buy anything? I guess so. I saw them all; stressed and in a hurry, buying everything they could. I bought some small souveniers for my parents and we decided with Marquito to go shopping together in Spain. It seems like he has the same problem with shopping as I do. :)

Hopefully it was the last time I was in the city centre untill my departure. I closed the bank account on Monday - on Wednesday they called me if I really mean it :S

I just realized that this Xmas I do not need to study during the holidays, it is a good feeling. Also my revision for exams these days is not that hard since I start to think that it is probably impossible to fail an exam here, when you need just 40% overall grade to pass! I hope I'm right.