První výlet za hranice Holandska. A rovnou tam, kde ještě nemám připnutý červený připínáček na mapě světa. Země hranolek, pralinek, přístavů a kulturních variací, v městě diamantů-Antverpy.
A very first trip far away from the Netherland´s borders. And right there, where I haven´t had any chance yet to pin my pushpin on my World´s map. A country of french fries, pralines, ports and cultural variations, in a city of diamonds-Antwerps.
Cesta/ The route
It was a pure innocent accident, when I was scrolling down the Instagram and I bumped into an ad by Flix Bus. Incredibly helpful app, when you need to save some cash, or your train doesn´t really go, where you need to be. Thanks to this app, we´ve crossed the Belgium´s borders in less than two hours, by paying 5 euros only-it is literally a student gift for their budget.
Něco z historie Antverp/5 minute Antwerp history
V roce 1447 se široká veřejnost poprvé informuje o falešných diamantech, které by neměli skupovat. Už od té doby byly Antverpy slavné, díky své distribuci drahých kamenů.
V roce 1885 na Akademii umění, je sděleno Vincentu Van Goghovi, aby si našel opravdovou práci. Vincent si utírá slzy a smáčí je několika loky z absinthu a stěhuje se do Paříže.
2008-rok jemného nedorozumění o řeku mezi Holandskem a Belgií- Belgie si přeje mít svůj přístav hlubší, širší a dostupnější, aby se k nim dostali ty největší lodě z celého světa. Někteří Holanďané nesouhlasí, a na protest Belgičané přestávají jíst mušle, vylovené v Holandsku.
According to a legend, the giant Druon Antigoon is asking taxes to sail on the river. Antwerp did not like taxes so local hero Brabo cuts off Antigoon´s hand and throws it away. (Throw away a hand= "hand werpen", in Dutch.Hurray, here we have a city´s name!
In 1447 a decree warns the public for fake diamonds, which proves that Antwerp is already big in the diamond industry.
1885-a student of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts, Vincent Van Gogh, is told to go look for a real job. Vincent washes away his disappointment with some glasses of absinth and moves to Paris.
2008 A small diplomatic riot with the Netherlands about the Schelde river. The belge want the river deeper, so the biggest new ships can also visit their harbour. As a protest, some people even stopped eating mussels from Netherlands.
Na co se mrknout v pár hodinách/ What to see in a few hours
It definitely might be the Central Station, wich you should see-an architectonic giant, which reflects its importance and essentiality. Right behind this tremendous building you might find also a ZOO, which has been built after 2nd World War.
Onze-Lieve , a gothic Cathedraal from 1523. It is very close to the Grote Markt-a place surrounded by small slightly dodgy pubs with local beers, restaurants full of french fries and cafés, selling the best chocolate pralines. By the cathedraal there is also very close a Stuidhuis-a Town Hall full of international flags, hanging beneath the farm markets.
A co ochutnat? /What to taste?
Fries- obchůdky s hranolkama- lokální nezdravá delikatesa, nasáklá olejem- no co, je to součást kultury :-) Nemusíte si nutně dávat hranolky, najdete několik dalších smažených pokrmů v místních menu.
Poté to budou kavárny a v nich již několikrát zmíněné pralinky od Leonidase. Nechte si namíchat sezónní mix těch nejlepších čokoládových hříchů.
Nezapomeňte na vitamín B!-pívo! A právě to belgické je echt kvasinkové. Jedno belgické pivo vám dám pálku do hlavy po pár locích. Místním pivem rozhodně žízeň hasit nedoporučujeme-tímto jí spíše rozmazlíte.
A hlavně, aby nás maminka pochválila-samé coffe breaks! :-)
Fries-the small shops all around the whole place, packed with fried products-oh well...it is a part of the culture :-). You don´t necessarily need to get the fries, you will definitely find more unhealthy alternatives from their menus.
After that, it might be a café Leonidas, packed with the chocolate sins. Leave it on the house, to choose the best seasonal mix of chocolates for you.
Don´t forget also about the vitamin B!- the beer, especially the one which comes from the local pubs in Antwerps! But this is definitely not a drink, which should take the thirst away-it is incredibly high in alcohol percentage and by drinking it quickly, it might give you an absolute head-smash, right into your brain!
And mainly, to make mum proud- don´t forget to coffe break a lot! :-)