If they won't eat it, thrust it in, is my motto when we're talking about culture.
Other than me, my family isn't that culture minded. So to put the scale right I took them to the 'Over 't IJ' festival. I thought it would be nice for those cultureblockheads as getting there is with a ferry. Who doesn't like that? Standing in line, the youngest of the tribe called out: 'Jeez, there are a lot of Alto's here, aren't there? For those of you who don't know what an 'Alto' is, it's a frase used for people who look - but don't act primarily, alternative. That used to imply Birkenstocks and goatsocks, well, the 'hip-people' took over the Birky's and what's left? Exactly, the socks. And so, the tone was set. With a fresh blush on the cheeks, actually it was a rather cold wind that blew us over the water, we set foot on land. I hoped to get the cards I ordered so we could get a bite at one of the nicest restaurants I know over there - Noorderlicht. The festival hadn't open yet, the bar was being set up, but that was it. The rest looked a bit gloomy. So we went directly to the restaurant. After an hour we went back to the festival location hoping the boxoffice had opened, it hadn't, so we had another drink at the bar. The little-one-with-the-big-mouth went to the trashcan to throw away his plastic cup (alternative as it may be, plastic is the thing they used). He gave a big yelp and with a face full of disgust he came back to us: 'You have to see this!' We all went to the can, expecting the worst...and the worst is what we got! I hope, reader, you haven't been to this place and have eaten there 'cause what you are about to witness might turn your stomach!
After that we went to a sound/light performace in a tunnel under the Central Station, going there again with the ferry. The entrance into the tunnel was terrific, the music - a trembling noice which grew louder, you could feel going through your body when you lay down on the sheepskin (there you have the goat/sheepthing again) sofa's. The lightshow was disappointing. 'Interesting' is the expression you use for such performances, I think. Ferry again and then a terrific work called 'All the people I didn't meet'. We met eachother and had a great time in a room full of mist. I loved hearing some-one talking to me on a phone and telling me about my favourite book: 'Les jeux sont faits,' what can I say: indeed, they are!
