Me Time

Recently I've been noticing my blog has become more impersonal than in the past. I rarely write long posts or updates on my life anymore, other than my travels. I wanna change this though. I miss writing and being creative. Sometimes I feel all the things I do and want to do leave little to no time for me. I'm always running from one place to another, and it's causing me to neglect "me time". I guess this is gonna be my early "new years resolution", I'm going to make time for myself, at home, at least once a week, for 3 hours. I can manage that - I hope.
I'm the kind of person who wants to do everything and be good at everything, and not only do I strive to do these things, but I get frustrated because there isn't enough time in a day or a week to develop hundreds of skills while getting enough sleep, spending time with friends and family, and having time for myself.
I'm trying to learn to relax and let go of some of my expectations, but it's SO hard.

Yeah Right...Smooth Sailing

My life right now

The Netherlands

About a month ago I took a trip to The Netherlands for the first time. It's a place I have always wanted to see, and even though I didn't go in tulip season, it was still more than worth the trip.
Here's some pictures:

 Our flight landed in Eindhoven, where we didn't have time to see much, but everyone says the only thing to see are these bowling pins, so apparently I've seen it all

Amsterdam: 

Because it is famous for its canals, which make the city seem so quaint and beautiful

the mall

 every tram has an information point in the middle where you can buy tickets (so fancy)

I wanted a picture with the I amsterdam sign, which was basically impossible, there were SO many people

basically you could do it letter by letter, but even for that the line was long, so after the "I" and the "d" we decided to move on

For anyone who knows this stock photo:

 Unfortunately it was already dark when I got there, but hey I have a picture in the same place 

even though this one was taken in a different spot, it made a better "semi" replica

if I paid 10 euros for a breakfast I might as well post a picture so it lasts, making it somewhat more worth the price

The Royal Palace 

 I have no idea why anyone approved this sculpture 

 Rijksmuseum

I don't remember the men who killed all the babies in the Bible being described as naked.... 

 Van Gogh!

 my face whenever I see or think of cheese

The Night Watch:

 this was probably the biggest painting I have ever seen, and I was really happy I was able to see it

Well that's all for now, it was a nice trip, and totally worth the visit. I hope to go back still as we weren't able to see Anne Frank's house (maybe then I'll plan it in spring so I get to see the tulips).

Bye

Pizza Pug

Just thought I'd leave this picture here :D

Self-Care

Sometimes I gotta remember to just do me.

Baku-Tbilisi

As a trip to China was not enough traveling for one summer, from August 13 to 18 Jacopo and I went to Azerbaijan and Georgia. 

We spend 3 days in Baku, and then took a 13+ hour night train to Tbilisi, where we spent another 2 days seeing the city and the smaller cities of Mtskheta and Jvari. 

Here come the pictures: 

Baku:

 airport selfie

 Baku is an EXTREMELY windy city!

 The fire towers are even prettier at night

 land of fire!

 fire temple (ateshgah)

on the train between the 2 countries, we had a nice little room

Tbilisi, Mtskhela, and Jvari:

 Georgian 'sweets' churchkhela

 cable car ride

It was an amazing holiday and, along with graduating from uni, the fact that I got to see 3 new countries this summer really lifted my spirits after a difficult year.

I have now officially been to 21 countries, so I'm still far from seeing all 196 countries but this is a start. 

I'll try to post more about my life, as I have lots to post about, just gotta free my schedule a bit.

-Nat