4-20.05: How I ended up visiting ‘half’ of the EU on my PRS (Pampering & Recovery Stop-over)

St. Petersburg had been my final destination in the North East Corner. Next corner on the itinerary was the North West, taking me to Canada and Alaska (US). Where would a Dutchy stop-over when traveling from West Russia to East Canada? Let me think… Obviously… the Netherlands! The ‘Corners of my World’ tour brought me back to the Center of my Universe; my parental place in Helmond.

I somehow managed to visit ‘half of the European Union’ in just over two weeks. Germany sneaked in first because its airport in Dusseldorf is simply the nearest to my birth place. My mom and I got the best welcoming committee ever; my nephew and niece came running up to us carrying roses. So here’s to the next person who will pick me up from whichever airport: try beating that 😉

The Netherlands was my target country so of course made it to the list. My visit coincided with my the birthday of my best friend, Joanne’s. She has uninterruptedly invited me for her birthdays during my residency in Dubai. This year, when she had never ever expected I could come, I showed up. Surprise!

My Dutch stop-over was a fabulous relax-and-pamper visit. Days flew meeting up with friends and family. I spend days with my horse, Adriaan. He -and I know in correct English it should be ‘it’ but he’s too important to be called an ‘it’!- is a 28 years old, gorgeous Haflinger horse). He still loves to go for a ride, that is if it is not too hot or cold or if his muscles don’t agree for which ever other reason. So on most trails I end up walking next to him but I don’t mind. He has been my best buddy since 1993. I can assure you that he knows quite some stories that no one else knows. Here’s hoping he will Live for many more years in good health.

The third country I visited on my stop-over was Belgium. It made it because I had a business meeting in its capital. Brussels honestly impressed me; it lives up to its reputation as Capital of Europe. I heard Flemish and French, loads of English but also Italian, German, Spanish, Russian, Chinese/Japanese and some languages that I didn’t quite recognise (so I guess I haven’t traveled enough yet 🙂 ). Its city center is drop-dead gorgeous with old buildings alternating nicely with cosy alleys packed with bars and restaurants. It could be an ideal European place to live after buzzing Dubai.

I did had a minor disaster in Belgium. I warn upfront;  it was a women’s thingy… So, men that are not up for such ‘crap’, please stop reading now.
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The issue was simple; my combination of top-and-bra was too much ‘push up’ for my liking for a [business] meeting. I wanted my counterparts to focus on my words rather than… well… you get the idea! I raced to the shops nearby but was unsuccessful, no bra shops around, well, except an adult shop (in Dutch: sex shop). I decided to check it out -although such places normally sell ‘ups’ not ‘downs’. I walked and asked -in Dutch- ‘Hello, do you sell normal bra’s? The sales woman shouted back that she only spoke French. O dear, a prelude for  upcoming disaster…

I tried again -in my best French- ‘je voudrais d’acheter un bra normale’, which translates as ‘I would like to buy a normal bra’, although the word ‘bra’ was still in English because I didn’t know this word in French. Of course she still didn’t understand me. So, I had to resorted to a technique that I had become good at in China and Japan; body language. I cupped my breasts, pushed them down and said ‘I need push-down’. The lady expressed her outrage in French. ‘O no! They are beautiful! You need more push up!’ I tried to explain that I had a business meeting and I would therefore feel more comfortable showing less. She shook her head vigorously and said that, ESPECIALLY for important meetings, women should always have more.

We went back and forth (‘Push up!’. ‘No, really, push down!’. ‘Mais non, push up, up, up!). Our both cheeks had turned red and we started to get rather annoyed with each other.  Luckily, we found an item that worked for me. She almost refused to sell it, but then sighed and probably thought that Dutchies are crazy creatures. Whereas for me… I was simply content that my situation was managed.

(No…. no selfi of the push up nor push down!)

PS: For those counting, the fourth and last EU country that I visited was the UK because I had a connecting flight in London Gatwick (more in my next blog).