Travelling around the seven seas

Certain things dont change, or dont seem to - especially the nice and recurring ones. True to our yearly habit, each of us is twirling down from all over Europe or beyond. Regular flights mix with low cost travels and more direct private planes. Oil gosling SUVs are parked next to compact Japanese intelligence. Exciting roaring sounds alternate with more down to earth purring of taxis or ecologic drivers. Suitcases are dropped. Rooms discovered. Moods switch to relaxation mode. And the MP3 music wakes up the celebrative vibes. Every year, we meet up in a different city, country or continent, usually for a couple days. Sometimes, the choice of the destination is driven by personal preferences, sometimes by local connections but, all together, mostly by the complimentary connectivity of our respective agendas. This time, we are all settled in a neighbourhood that is inspired by the majesty of one of Europes eldest universities. In our spacious shared apartment, comfortable bed rooms with facilities organized around the open kitchen and the well-designed living room are promising for a laid back stay. The dark wooden floor fits well to the white leather couches. Our plugin sound seems to be made for the setting. And the wine glasses blend perfectly with our smiles and mindset... Once everyone got his share of shower power and other arousing refreshments, we head to the nearby restaurant, as a first encounter of the local habits. Without any surprise, the aperitivo is still very representative of our respective personalities. Red wine, gin tonic, martini bianco, some beers, a coke, you name it. But as soon as the starters and especially the main dishes arrive, the immersion is complete, offering a tempting overview of the regional delicacies. Everyone is quite enthusiastic about the culinary discoveries. While some are enjoying a ginger flavoured fish or stick to the rock salt generosity of tender meat, others try to understand the layered tastes of a divine carrot lasagna or guess the exact name of the local vegetables whose taste is subtly combined with the chilli pepper olive oil. Very quickly, the conversations about local food and home grown wine change into vivid discussions on business life and intellectual interests. In a snap, the cosy dining table starts to look like an informal Davos gathering where the world gets reshaped through direct exchanges. Proponents of Koguts informal networks argue with fans of Luyckx-Ghisis intangible assets. News on exciting Muscovite electro mix are exchanged for information on the craftsmanship of Argentinian boots. TED-like fascination for technology interacts with carbon reality, medical innovation of oxygen less human lungs is confronted with feasibility studies or excitement about the latest sky diving turbines. Whereas one of the best moments of such weekends are those dedicated to long catch-ups and rich exchanges, the most exotic ones often start shortly after the last dessert and the second-to-last drink. At that moment, it is time for an excruciating choice that has a quite massive impact on the following hours: the choice of going out until the wee hours, meeting other groups of people, or lounging in our spacious temporary home

Jrgen Janssens | 2012

janssensjurgen@gmail.com

Unsurprisingly, usual dilemmas result into usual answers. Going for a last drink and some music extends in some enthusiastic moves on the dance floor. That extra dose of positive party energy attracts kindred spirits. New encounters means extra chats or some late night drinks, a quick goodbye or another round of life time discoveries. The late evening dip is over in a jiffy. Time flies by, along with the difference between night and day. Celebration, catch-ups, encounters. Memories of dark wavy hair or deep blue eyes. Satisfied smiles. Good music. Moments of philosophical deepness and physical enlightenment Depending on the momentary alchemy, some go for an extra round where the difference between guest, partner, visitor or temporary friends fades away. Others close with a last drink on the terrace, a nap in the couch, or a last restyling of the world before the city wakes up again. A couple of hours later, everyone is on his return flight. Little by little, reality hits back. All ingredients of this special weekend mixture fitted somehow together once everyone got together for brunch, lunch or whatever name exists for those late afternoon breakfasts. Tired. Satisfied. Dreaming about a head massage or a refreshing drink. In the end, there is no big difference between the moment each of us landed and the moment we took off again. Some of us might have gathered impressions of the hosting culture or know now more about some local habits. And we all have learned or even experienced new aspects of the gap between a two day stay and one of 60 hours. But what matters in the end is the reunited energy, of which catch-ups and shared moments are the sparks that turn a gathering or a trip into a diverse passionate stay. Thats definitely worth the travelling and the organizational exoticities, no matter what sea we have to cross or what boundary we have to pass.

Jrgen Janssens | 2012

janssensjurgen@gmail.com