Memories that spark new adventure!

After months of staying within the Dutch border, it is soon time to step into an airplane and visit my BF in beautiful Canada!

For years I dreamed of travelling and seeing the world. After a fantastic journey last year of

almost 3 months through Australia, this feeling has only become stronger!

Not a day goes by in my life that I don't dream of travelling and going on adventures. The first real memory of myself "I want to discover the world" was when I was 5 or 6 years old. Just before this happened, my aunt gave me a red lacquered backpack. I was totally in love with it!

When I was in a mood that I felt that no one understood me I ran up the stairs to my room and grabbed all my stuffed animals and my favourite Barbie and put them in my red backpack. I rushed down the stairs and quickly passed my mother who looked curiously at me. "What are you going to do?" she asked. Walking away from her I replied, "I am going to see the world!". I didn't get any further than the gate, but with my fierce gaze and making big steps, I made great journeys in my imagination.

In the years that followed, I eagerly waited for the family holidays every year with my parents and my younger brother. While on our vacation every morning sitting on a camping chair in front of the tent in the damp grass my first question to my father was; "What are we going to do today, dad?".

I was trying to pretend I could read the maps and brochures that were on the camping table and I waited for my father to tell something more about these mysterious places in front of me. My favourite day during these holidays was my birthday. As a summer child, I celebrated my birthday almost always abroad.

One time we drove from Switzerland to Italy on my birthday to eat Italian ice cream and wander around lake Como and another time we went to an ice-cave or visited an astronomy center. During all our family trips my mom always kept a travel journal. Every evening she was writing in front of the tent. Combined with the pictures we took, this is a great way to revisit these memories. Maybe that is where my love for writing is coming from :)

I also love the many conversations with my grandfather Wim about travelling. On Sundays, a photo album regularly appeared on the table and grandpa told strong stories about where he had been with grandma and later about the bus trips with my uncle. My grandfather and grandmother used to be the first in the street who went on vacation in the Netherlands in a crowded light blue Volkswagen van. There was no running water or electricity. But my mother has fantastic memories of these camping trips.

At a later age, grandma Bep and grandpa Wim went on bus trips to Croatia with their sisters and brothers. The beautiful Plitvice lakes with sea green colour and waterfalls appealed to my imagination.

Grandpa Joop also loved travelling. Grandpa Joop passed away just before I was born, but the stories keep the memories alive. The many photos and objects in my grandmother's house appealed to my imagination; from the wooden camel to the Beber rug on the ground; souvenirs were found in every room. Together they made many special journeys, including a trip to Switzerland and Italy just after the Second World War.

The picture of my grandfather Joop with a camera in his hands and grandmother Bep in a summer dress between the pillars of the beautiful temple in Luxor is my favourite picture. After this visit to Egypt, grandpa continued to write with an Egyptian who worked in a hotel in Luxor where they were staying at the time.

Grandpa Wim's Croatia and Grandpa Joop's Egypt trips are definitely on my wishlist! But the first stop is Canada; the land full of stunning nature; high mountains and beautiful azure blue lakes. But above all the country where my favourite person lives!

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With a smile :)

Nicole