Author: Mirjam

Düsseldorf- but more importantly Harry Styles

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It might be a bit upsetting for Düsseldorf lovers, but I really was not a fan. I am not sure what I was expecting before going, but I think it was a bit of a let down overall. The only thing that really made up for it was that we got to attend a Harry Styles concert. He is my favorite to say the least.

Our trip from Hamburg to Düsseldorf on the train went very smoothly. Only a few hours, we sat in first class and enjoyed the German scenery pass us by. Once we arrived in Düsseldorf, the confusion began. Having found ever other city rather straight forward with their transportation, figuring which machine to purchase our subway tickets from was quite the conundrum. With separate machines for trains, trams, buses, and subways we tried each one out till we assumed we bought the correct ones.

We then took the tram to our hotel which was a bit outside of the city-center but a good distance to the arena where the concert would be taking place. Our hotel was rather simple, with the bare minimum available. It was not a room I would want to spend the day in, so we quickly went back out to explore the city-center. We did enjoy the stroll by the water, with many little restaurants to get some authentic German food or little dishes.

My favourite part of the city however was the little Chinatown. We got to enjoy some delicious ramen noodles which never fail to make my belly happy. We then walked through the shopping area, majority of which was made up of luxury stores, well outside of my budget. It was interesting to see such wealth in such a tiny city. The contrast between the older section of Düsseldorf and this newer wealthier section was jarring.

All of this exploring was nice, but it was all in wait to the main event, Harry Styles. My boyfriend had purchased tickets almost a year in advance as a birthday present to me. We spent the year sending each other tiktoks of all the Harry Styles dances and outfits. We being mostly me sending them to my boyfriend, who deals with my small obsession.

Well, all of the anticipation was well worth it. Harry does not disappoint. The environment of the arena filled with other crazed Harry fans only added to the excitement. I would advise anyone and everyone to attend a concert of his if you can. It will be a memorable experience and seeing your boyfriend singing along to a older One Direction song will only make it better.

All in all, I would only recommend Düsseldorf to someone if they want to attend a concert in the arena nearby. It is very close to the border of the Netherlands so if you are a Dutchie or expat living in the Rotterdam area, it is rather simple to get to for a night. Other than that, I would skip Düsseldorf as there are many more interesting and lively cities to visit.

A Weekend Away in Hamburg(er)

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Fun fact: I lived in Hamburg, Germany for a few months back in 2018 working at a Maritime law firm.

Coming back for a weekend away, this time with my boyfriend, was one filled with nostalgia and fond memories. I spent the majority of the time dragging him to various spots I had been before, including my old workplace, apartment, and favourite restaurants.

To be fair, it took us quite a while to find the old apartment with so many changes having occurred in the area, but after getting lost a few times, we finally found it. Standing in the doorway, I quickly remembered the humiliation I felt when I was unable to unlock the door and some kind restaurant goers had to assist me (and my enormous amount of luggage.)

With all of the memories, Hamburg has a special place in my heart, and being a beautiful city, full of history, makes it easy to recommend to almost anyone. Here are a few of my top tips when visiting Hamburg.

  1. Explore the Botanical Gardens: Planten un Blomen
  2. Eat a Currywurst with fries (and mayo.)
  3. Visit the Maritime Museum
  4. Have brunch alongside the Alster lake
  5. Stay in the Ruby Lotti Hotel

Planten un Blomen:

Direct translation of this is Plants and Flowers. Which really does explain these gardens well. Full of pathways which lead through various plants, it is a gorgeous spot to spend your afternoon strolling. The greenhouse in the center of the gardens, it’s temperature kept tropical, transports you into what feels like a different country. Make sure not to dress to warm in here as you are quick to build a sweat. There are also a few little cafes to get a nice refreshing drink or bite to eat. If you are a fitness fanatic, you will always find a few people running along the stone pathways. But what really brings these gardens together are the lovely water features, which bring with them the sound of running water making an already peaceful walk all the more zen.

Eat a Currywurst with Fries

Currywurst is a national dish of Germany. It is a fast food dish that is easily found in many food establishments in Hamburg. Commonly a pork sausage, it is fried then covered in curry sauce and seasoning. Served with fries and mayo, all together it is a heavenly, satisfying dish at any time of the year. If you are in Hamburg, or anywhere in Germany for that matter, do not leave without trying this dish at least once. You and your tastebuds won’t regret it.

Visit the Maritime Museum

Located in the HafenCity quarter of the city, the International Maritime Museum of Hamburg is a visit that is well worthy of your time. If you love ships, especially. However, even if you don’t just the sheer size of this museum with their nine floors of history with astonish you. View various shipmodels and read about topics varying from pirates to modern day ship routes. Time passes quickly in this museum so do not be surprised if you find you have spent a few hours here by the end of it. If you had kids, it even has some fun interactive activities to keep them entertained. If by chance you do not end up enjoying the museum, you will be in the Hafencity, where you will find lots of fun cafes and restaurants, as well as gorgeous, old brick buildings to marvel at. However, the museum for me, scores a 10/10 and will be a visit you will not soon forget.

Have brunch alongside the Alster lake

The Alster lake is one of the main attractions of Hamburg. Set in the center of the city, many shops and restaurants surrond it. Linked to the Alster Lake Park, where you can spend an activity filled day both on and off the water. I would highly recommend renting a small paddleboat there or taking one of their water taxi tours. One of my favourite meals is brunch, this can be on any day of your choosing but I feel brunch mostly feels special when it is a weekend. We had our brunch at a lakeside restaurant called Alex. I spent quite a bit of time confused as to why everyone working there had Alex written on their shirts, for surely it couldn’t be all their names? Once that confusion was sorted, we enjoyed a buffet brunch on the sun filled terrace. With a wide array of breakfast choices, we left with our bellies full ready to tackle the day.

Stay at the Rubi Lotti Hotel

Now when we had booked this hotel, I did not have huge expectations. Hamburg is a rather expensive city to stay so my choices were more budget oriented. Rubi Lotti filled all of my criteria by being close to the city center and not wallet breaking. Well, once we arrived, we were pleasantly surprised with what we were met with. With gorgeous interior design, filled with colours and lights, a comfortable bed with large shower, and delicious breakfast and drinks, I would recommend Rubi Lotti to anyone. We enjoyed it so much that we are planning our next stay in Germany at a different Rubi Lotti Hotel. The staff were super friendly and helpful with any questions we had and even went the extra bit to make conversation with us. It is small touches such as this, which make a stay the all more enjoyable.

Overall, our trip to Hamburg was filled with both old memories and the making of new ones. It is a place that will remain close to my heart always. While it is not the first place people think of visiting when it comes to Germany, it is one I hope that you do.

Montjuïc Cable Car- A Ride in the Sky

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One of my highlights from Barcelona was the Montjuïc Cable Car. This is a panoramic cable car trip that goes to the top of Montjuïc Hill.

It was one of the later additions to our trips itinerary due to us never hearing about it before. To be honest, even after we had booked the tickets, we were a little unsure what it was. But it sounded like a fun and cool way to see across the entirety of the city from the air. Thank goodness, we are both not afraid of heights.

With an easy commute from our hotel in the Gothic Quarter, we used the Paral-lel metro and exited at Parc de Montjuic. From there the fun part began. Having your tickets in hand, you wait for the gondola-like cable cars that will bring you to the top of the mountain. I had been a bit worried beforehand that it would be claustrophobic, having experienced this while skiing, but the view from the cable car quickly diminished such thoughts.

It is really quite impressive how large the city of Barcelona is. You feel it while walking from tourist attraction to tourist attraction, but seeing it from the sky is something else. Barcelona looks endless. At least, until it hits the shore. I had not realised how close to the coast it really was, but seeing the glittering waters in a distance, it made me feel like I was back at home.

The cable car ride itself, is rather quick. While we didn’t time it, per say, I would estimate it was under ten minutes. We spent most of it giggling in awe of the view and of course, taking a ridiculous, almost uncalled for, amount of photos. Most of which didn’t get close to depicting how beautiful it truly was.

We exited at the very top of the mountain. There are other exits you can take, but if you are going to go for a cable car ride, you might as well go to the tippy top. At the top, we were unsure what we would find, as our research skills beforehand were severely lacking, but lo and behold, we found what should be expected at the top of every mountain. A fortress.

To be more specific, Montjuïc Castle, a former fortress and prison. Just the towering brick walls, which were in better shape than one would have expected after so long, left an lasting impression. However, we were still indecisive on if we actually wanted to go into the fort. We saw it costed money and being on the broker side of life we needed time to think if it would be worth our hard earned cash. So, we opted to first go for a quick stroll around the fort.

The quick stroll, quickly turned into a hour long stroll, with us not having realised how enormously large this fortress actually was. In the near 35c degree heat, we were pretty much roasting pigs out there. It was only made better, with the happy thought of how many steps we were getting and the unexpected view of Barcelona’s harbour. Having a degree in international transportation, this was like my paradise.

After staring at the harbour and marvelling over the inner workings of it, my cousin finally dragged me away. With lots of protests from me. After we had walked the entire outside of the fortress, we decided we owed it to ourselves to at least see the inside of it. We paid the ten or so euro entrance fee and walked directly into more sun.

Most of the inner fort, its turns out is also outside. Or at least the parts we had access to. Needless to say, it was also stunning. To think of the history and all that had went on in this fortress and prison almost boggles the mind. After reading all the information and touring the insides, we happily decided it was a worthy visit, that we would recommend to any others exploring.

Quite tired from all the sun and steps we gained, we took the cable car back to the city and quickly went on for a cold, cold drink and a well deserved chill on a terrace.

So. The next time you are in Barcelona, I would highly recommend taking the cable car trip. Whether you visit the castle or not, the views were worth everything.

Special Mention: Hotel H10 Montcada- Barcelona

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Some places are so nice and give you such a sense of peace and fulfilment, that they really do deserve a special mention. In this case, it was the hotel we stayed at for three nights in Barcelona’s gothic quarter. Hotel H10 Montcada.

It may have been due to traveling on a flight for a few hours, sitting in a train for almost a hour more, and the 20 minute walk in 30 degree weather that we did, but walking through those doors felt like coming home. The cool crisp breeze of the well needed A/C hitting our faces and flowing through our hair. The lovely glass of bubbly upon check in helped too, putting the pep right back in our step.

The receptionist, a charming young man with a cheery smile which made us feel at ease, was quick to get us checked in and filled in on all the hotel had to offer. If you are worried about a language barrier, you will not find one here. This was much to my relief since it had been over ten years since I last took a Spanish class and all I remember is, ¿Cómo estás? Muy Bien, Gracias. That would only get me so far.

One of my favorite parts of going to a hotel is walking into the room for the first time. Of course this only accounts when it is a nice room. Not a motel 6 type of room. You will find no heaven in those. Hotel H10 Montcada did not disappoint. The rooms are clean and bright. With no wrinkles in the sheets nor stray hairs for that matter. The colors of white and tan leather bring a modern feel to the room, but one which stays cosy at the same time. Big closets with lots of space for clothes and shoes add to its overall appeal. So, I am happy to say that for me the aesthetic aspect I hoped for was met.

At night, the beds were comfortable to sleep in, with no noise coming from the outer hall or from outside of the hotel. This was rather surprising to me, as it was in the center of a city, so one would assume you would have at least some noise. Being from a large city myself, I tend to like a little noise at night, but if you are looking for quiet, here you will find it.

Finally, one should always been sure to try out the rooftop bar while they stay at Hotel H10 Montcada. It was a highlight for us. While the drinks are on the pricier side, they were delicious and most definitely did the job that they are supposed to do. A little tipsiness never hurt anybody. The bartenders operated a bit more on spanish time, which is to be expected since it is Spain. So, if you are expecting speedy service, you will not find it here. But while you wait, you can bask in the sun and appreciate the beauty of the city from above. Or if you are more like my cousin and I, you can people watch to your hearts content.

All in all, we had a very pleasant stay at Hotel H10 Montcada whose location is prime with metro stations near by as well as many bars and restaurants within walking distance. I would recommend it to anyone who is going on a quick trip. It won’t break the bank and you will get all the rest you, likely, need and deserve.

In Barcelona! (Cue George Ezra music)

On By MirjamIn TravelLeave a comment

I had never been to Spain before. All the countries around it, but I just kept missing Spain. So when the opportunity to go on a girls trip with my younger cousin arrived, you bet I took it.

When you think of Spain, you are likely visualising places like Mallorca, with lush beaches, sea breeze, and tropical sun. You aren’t thinking Barcelona architecture, massive hills to climb, and sweltering heat which makes the sweat drip from every pore in your body. But that being said, Barcelona is worth missing your idealistic Spanish vision.

So here you go. A few general takeaways from my five day trip to the famous Barcelona:

  1. Do not go in August. Or any time in the summer period really. You will melt into a puddle. When they say it is hot, they really really mean it. I would recommend fall or early spring. It will be cheaper, there will be less tourists, and if you are wearing makeup, well it will stay on your face. #worthit
  2. Skip any restaurant that is geared towards the tourism market. The tapas will not be authentic and it will be insanely pricey. Instead go to some of the side streets, little places hidden in pockets you might miss if you are not looking closely. They might be confusing with menus primarily in spanish, but the tastes that are left on your tongue will leave you dreaming about it for days.
  3. Wear good, likely more expensive, durable sneakers. If you like to keep track of your daily steps, Barcelona is the perfect place to do so. Your step count will be off the charts. literally, it may break your app or fit bit. Make sure to take in account the incline steps because they will do you dirty. I had not expected such long hills, mostly because google maps does not show when something is a hill, but I quickly learned. Hills + heat = Mirjam in distress.
  4. Use the public transportation. When we first got to Barcelona, we had decided we would walk everywhere. This plan was quickly deserted. Barcelona is BIG. And very spread out. Waling everywhere will take you hours and if you are only there for a few days, time management is important. So take the public transportation. It is easy to figure out, and will literally take you anywhere. It also has A/C, which is always a plus.
  5. Use your street smarts. There is a lot going on at once in a city like Barcelona. There are tons of people, cars, bikes, and buses all going at once. Stay alert. It is easy to walk and look up at all the beautiful architecture around you. But it is also easy to accidentally walk into a busy street and get hit by a car doing so. So just pay attention, please. I think the whole pickpocket fear is blown out of proportion. Every big city has them, so just keep you belongings close to you. But you don’t have to be so paranoid. Finally, at night, don’t go down any dark alleys alone. You never know what is lurking in the dark. That’s just common sense.
  6. The architecture really is stunning. Go see all of it. It will take your breath away. You will be left wondering how some people can be so talented and why this talent couldn’t have been given to you.
  7. Barcelona is a safe city. We went, just us, two young women. There was no point during the trip we felt unsafe. Of course, we are both from big cities so we’re maybe just used to that type of climate. If you are from the middle of nowhere, you might feel a bit different or just out of place. But to me, it was felt safe. So take that however you want to.

Well. That’s it. My takeaway. Maybe one of these days, I will write you some tips on which places to go and where we stayed. But for now, I like general information. It’s always good to do some research on your own. We all like different things, so figure out what you like and hop on that plane to Barcelona!

The Revamp.

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Ready. Set. Go. Here is a short list about me.

My name is Mirjam. Dutch pronunciation please. How to Pronounce

I am 29 years old.

Having a bit of an identity crisis. Again.

Living and loving in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

This is my revamp.

I won’t lie, it had been fun writing about the bits of my life that have turned me into the person I am today. But trying to be inspirational is not an easy task. In fact, for me, it was rather draining. It could, of course, in part be due the fact that I am still only 29 and lacking much wisdom. So, who am I to tell people how to live their lives? What do I know?

So here we are doing the revamp. It is time to write about the parts of life I enjoy a love. The parts I know I am good at. It’s time to let you in to some of these experiences.

  • Travel & all that comes with it
  • Food and Dining
  • A nice mocktail or cocktail
  • Concerts & Events

Thats it. That will be the blog. Simple and easy. But I hope you all have a bit of gluttony in you, as this will be sure to ignite it.

A blog centered around my travels , the random eating establishments I enter, and the events I sometimes go to. The rare moments when I am a social butterfly. Most will be basic and casual places, but some will be more pricey and boujee. Doesn’t everyone deserves to treat themselves sometimes? I promise you loads of unbiased opinions and reviews, cause well, ain’t nobody paying me for this. The goal? Is just to write. I will do my best to keep things interesting.

So, follow or don’t. Who am I to order you around?

Job Interviews

On By MirjamIn life, workLeave a comment

Ah, the dreaded job interview. I know the anxiety has to be bubbling in your stomach just thinking about them. The job interview life is the life I’m currently living being back on the job hunt.

As we are moving to Rotterdam in the next two months, I have spent vast hours scouring the job sites, writing cover letters, and sending my CV to potential employers.

Some jobs are random and others are what I consider “dream jobs.” I’d really be happy getting any of them. #moneyplease

The wait for responses is brutal, anxiously opening your emails to check and see if anyones interested, it almost feels like being back on a dating app. It is especially difficult when each job you apply for, you believe you’d would be a perfect fit for. You and twenty others, that is.

While the wait is hard, it almost feels worth it when you do get a request for an interview. like, YES! SOMEONE WANTS ME! I AM WORTHY!

Then, the reality hits, and it’s like, SHIT, INTERVIEW TIME. :/

Interviews are no joke. The interviewer staring you down, analysing your responses, thinking of impossible scenario questions, almost trying to trip you up. Really, they can be soul crushing at times.

I’ve realised the key to them, is to be bubbly. Every interview I have done, I’m just Miss Bubbles, cause even if I’m not the perfect fit, they can’t say I wasn’t nice. That I didn’t have personality. Bubbly also gives me confidence, it makes me feel more likeable, and relatable. In turn, it makes me become the person I like and the one I want people to see me as. I think it portrays the most inner version of me.

I think a company that doesn’t like bubbly, wouldn’t be the place for me anyways. Cue: DEPRESSING.

Mostly though, interviews are just talking about yourself. If you love yourself and are proud of yourself and your accomplishments, most of the time they won’t go badly.

Just remember, if it doesn’t go your way, don’t give up. There will be a job for you and in the meantime, just look at those interviews as practice for the next ones. The more practice, the better you get. Soon, you’ll be a Miss (or Mr) Bubbles too.

What are some of your tips & tricks to crushing an interview?

Comment Below!

Home Is Where The Heart Is

On By MirjamIn life, RelationshipsLeave a comment

I have moved over six times in the past four years. I have lived in five different countries since I was born, each time allowing that place to become ‘home.’ Yet as I sit here in Connecticut, the place where I grew up and lived for over twenty years, I know for a fact, home is ONLY where the heart is.

For me that home is wherever J is.

Of course, I love being in Connecticut for a visit, but after two weeks, my heart has started to hurt a bit. While I know all the ins and outs of my childhood home, I somehow feel like a stranger being here. It surprising really how homesick a person can get while being in a familiar place surrounded by family.

I’ve changed a lot over the past few years. Done a great deal of growing and getting to know myself. This included growing out things and people as well. It has also taught me who and what is important in a happy life, things that previously in life I may have dismissed. Mostly, I have learnt to let love and happiness in and not to let my past dictate my present too much.

Love is the biggest lesson for me. It’s been the most special one to me as well. It has taught me that I am capable of loving and capable of being loved back. That if there is anything I really want out of life, it is to know that I loved as hard and as freely as I could. That I never held back even when I was terrified. I believe I can achieve that out of life.

Mostly though, love has taught me that home is not a place, but a person for me. That it is with that person I feel safe. That I feel I can be 100% myself and never judged. That I can sing and dance and feel beautiful always. Just the two of us, surrounded in the love we have made together. Yeah, that’s home for me.

Healing & Friendships

On By MirjamIn lessons, life, Relationships2 Comments

I have never had an easy time with making friends. It’s an area that I feel needs a lot of trust and I have trouble giving that out.

One of my biggest faults is that I am so closed off from people. It is difficult to open up and let people in. It is definitely a side of me that has not fully healed from the past.

When I meet a new person, I like to observe them, see what they are about. This often comes across the wrong way, as it can be seen as judging. Fact of the matter is, I’m not judging, I’m just trying to figure out whether I am safe with the person.

Can I trust this person? Can I tell them things about me? Let them get to know me? Will they find a way to hurt or betray me? Analyse, analyse, analyse.

Too much analysing usually makes you lose your chance though.

I wish I could be the open, carefree person, who is just friends with everyone. The thought alone scares me though.

As often as I talk about wanting new friends, the truth of the matter is, I’m probably just not ready for new ones. I’m learning to be okay with that, in a world where everyone seems to be amazing at socialising. Healing takes time, building trust takes even more, and the right people will come and be patient. Most of all, they will stay.

Becoming American

On By MirjamIn life, TravelLeave a comment

I may not have been born in America, but I grew up here. We moved from Curacao when I was four and I stayed until I was 23. From there, it has been a lot of back and forth between America and Ireland for me. But I have always been American, just my status as an Alien Resident said otherwise.

It is a strange thing to feel so American, sound so American, act so American, yet not fully be considered American for so many years. I also wouldn’t be considered fully Dutch, as I haven’t lived in the Netherlands since I was one. So, for the longest time, it was conflict between the Dutch side of me and the American. Figuring out which one I truly was.

If you ask me now, I’d say I’m both. I have my parent who raised us with Dutch traditions and the Dutch language, but I have my whole childhood and adulthood which made me American.

As of yesterday, October 6th, 2021, I can proudly say I am an American citizen. It was 27 years in the making, but it’s finally official.

It’s a weird sensation becoming a citizen, both an emotional one, but a calming one. Emotional, as I feel a big weight lifted off my shoulders, but also calming because I finally feel that I belong.

I will always consider myself to be Dutch American, never fully one or the other. It fills me with pride to have such background and I am honoured to be able to be both. But ‘American’ has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?