Saturday, May 5, 2007

Day 76: Football, Culture Shock and Red Lights

Good evening.

I'm very happy to announce that after a two month pause I played football for the first time in The Netherlands ... and what a game it was.

I've been arranging this match for a long time through several people - my Iranian colleague lives next to a student from Iceland and he "has heard" that this guy from the northern land plays once a week. Finally I contacted Dori - the viking - and he invited me to join the team on Saturday afternoon.

I thought it would be a fun game between friends but suddenly I was playing as a right defender on a big pitch, 2 halves of 45 minutes, 3 referees, offsides ... - i.e official game for the university team called Ariston80.


Luckily it was quite an easy match and we won 10:2. Thank God I had started a week ago to run every night after work so that I managed to play 90 minutes on this big field. The central defender in our team is from Switzerland, the left defender from The Czech Republic. There was also a striker from Piza, Italy - international team. Before telling the others that I'm from Bulgaria they thought I'm from Latin/South America - Columbia, Peru - ok, I'll take this as a compliment for my elegant play :)

Unfortunately this was the last match of the season. Ariston80 finished first in the group and scored the 100th goal this day. The team gathers again in September to renew training but before that there is a weekend tournament in the end of May in Groningen. Cheers!

This was a busy Saturday. At 19:30 took the train to Haarlem because it was time for the traditional Bulgarian meeting. One new IT specialist arrived and started to work in a company in Amsterdam. We went to the city center where the celebrations for the Independence Day and the end of The Second World War II were held. A Norwegian "fusion" group presented a concert and drifters/поройници/ from the region had flocked to have a cigarette/drugs/, drink beer and sleep on the ground and rubbish that was all around. Some were laying as dead and First Aid equips were trying to "bring them to life". Meanwhile few boys started to fight ... I've never seen so disgusting people before, obviously this is part of the "western culture".

Our night adventures continued in Amsterdam and the famous "Red Lights". This is a whole quarter with several crossed streets looking like that on the photo. It was totally crowded. Photos are forbidden that's why I can't show you more spicy details. In short, girls stay behind windows and seduce passengers. Prices start from 50 euros but are mainly a subject of negotiation. You can see all kind of girls - from super models to ... :) As touring guides say: "this is a must see place for people coming in Amsterdam" aaand obviously another part of the "western culture". I'm leaving you in the company of "Sting & The Police" and their "Roxanne". Good night.

Roxanne, you don't have to put on the red light
Those days are over
You don't have to sell your body to the night
Roxanne, you don't have to wear that dress tonight
Walk the streets for money
You don't care if it's wrong or if it's right

Roxanne, you don't have to put on the red light
Roxanne, you don't have to put on the red light
Put on the red light, put on the red light
Put on the red light, put on the red light
Put on the red light, oh

I loved you since I knew ya
I wouldn't talk down to ya
I have to tell you just how I feel
I won't share you with another boy
I know my mind is made up
So put away your make up
Told you once I won't tell you again it's a bad way

Roxanne, you don't have to put on the red light
Roxanne, you don't have to put on the red light
You don't have to put on the red light
Put on the red light, put on the red light


Tuesday, May 1, 2007

Day 71: "Dutch defense" on the greatest Dutch holiday - "Koninginnedag"

Good evening.

Today was holiday here - Queen's day or "Koninginnedag" - because queen Beatrix has birthday on the 30th of April, she is already 69. I feel shame that I couldn't organize the other Bulgarians to visit Amsterdam and see the celebrations. I agree, I'm "liulak" - Dutch word that means "lazy ass" :) Sometimes colleagues call me this way when I'm late at office in the morning.

As every Monday there also was a traditional chess competition at the local club - this time rapid tournament, 5 rounds, 15 minutes time control, guillotine. "Fortuna" totally forgot me this night. In round 2 missed to win a super position against one very unpleasant man I've lost to several weeks ago /all the time he makes nervous grimaces and nasty sounds/. We started by surprising each other, this time I pushed 1. d4 on my first move /1. e4 didn't work last time/, he replied with Grunfeld defense and I responded with a rare variation that lead to a superior and strategically won position for me before entering the endgame. I finished the game very awkwardly and couldn't realize the advantage I had ... even at the end I was on the rim to lose but with 5 seconds left on my clock could reach a theoretical drawing position ... and survived.

One round to go, with 3.5 points out of 4 games, I was in the lead accompanied only by Richard Oranje. We had half point more than others ... and our game decided the tournament. I had white pieces/this is an advantage in chess, white starts first/ but only to see the "Dutch defense" in reply to my 1. d4. I tried to play quite creatively but at the end entered a position where my bishop hit Dutch wall of pawns and I hit my stupid head. I lost and I needed only a draw to take the 1st prize. Again shame on me.

Lyubomir Mishkovsky - Richard Orange, 30 April 2007, 0 : 1

Playing the endgame like real "liulak"

Nevertheless I managed 3rd place and won 5 euro award. Do you see, I can make living here of chess :) Here is the tournament link:

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Day 65: Some more photos

Good evening.

I'm back from the chess club. I won this night but my score until now is not so good - 2 wins, 2 draws, 1 loss - sharing some 15th position in the ranking. Look down at the harmony in black pieces.

Gerard Bilars(NED) - Lyubomir Mishkovsky (BUL)
Delft, 23 April 2007
0 : 1

One of the company's two Citroens C2 you can book for free for the weekend.
/parking is always a problem/

Silvia - a very close friend of mine

Chris & Silvi

Silvi & Lubo

Uh, what a complicated position. What kind of defense is it?

Silvi

Tulip - shot in "macro mode"

Monday, April 23, 2007

Day 64: I believe I can fly ...

First of all, I hope mom is not reading this.

Sunday began like a normal Sunday - Silvia, Chris and I woke up, had chocolate for breakfast thinking what to do (forgot to tell you that they came from London especially for the tulips in Kuekenhof). We decided to go to the beach in Scheveningen and have there a coffee and walk next to the sea.

Suddenly Silvi said: "Why don't you try the bungy?". Upsss.

Hey, you know, drinking coffee in a sunny day like this is too dull. Let's do something crazy.

Ok, sign up here and do what you want.

Bungy Tower

Did I tell you this is my first working day here?

Hm. This one survived. Why shall not we?

Stairway to Hell

:-) don't worry. I've done this 100 times before. By the way, where is the toilet?

Ok, it's already late for it. Aouuuyyeeeuououeee!!!

Supersonic

So quickly? Hm, this formula G=m.g really works. Trust your physics teacher.

Silvi & Chris, thanks for the nice weekend!


Remember that Sunday when my friend's wife surprisingly gave birth?
Hey, listen me! I want my calm Sunday!
I wonder, what's next ...

Saturday, April 21, 2007

Day 63: The Tulip Mania in Kuekenhof

Good evening.

Have you heard that Dutch people are crazy about tulips ... wait to see these photos and then I'll askyou again :))

From the beginning of April till mid May you can enjoy the beautiful tulip gardens in Kuekenhof. This is the biggest flower garden in Europe. Together with two very close friends I spent whole Saturday in walking there, taking hundreds of photos(discovered the magic of shooting in macro mode), laying under the sun and eating strawberries with cream.

Dutch people are really experts in arranging flowers. They have great traditions in it. Read about the Tulip Mania in the 17th century. The garden is splendid. You can even find there the face of "Pippi Longstocking" represented by tulips.




Have you heard that Dutch people are crazy about tulips?


Sunday, April 15, 2007

Day 57: Rotterdam Marathon

The traditional Rotterdam marathon was held today, 15th of May 2007. Several thousand people competed in different groups( professionals, amateurs, kids) and distances(42, 21, 10 kilometers). Our colleague Bart took part in the longest competition and we went to support him. The weather was unusually hot and it was very difficult for the racers. Bart ran the whole distance and he did it for us! While waiting to see him we tried all cafes in Rotterdam :-)


Alle Tammos

Annelies

Dutch Tulip

Ik wil een beer /Steff & Lubo/

Finally on bike