The Sentinel Amsterdam vol.7 #16 by Consultancy Market Media

vol. 7 #16 – 26 August 2014

The Sentinel Amsterdam

Integrity, heart, humour

feature

perspectives

BUDAPEST: DENSITY NAKED ON THE DANUBE

CULTURE PERSPECTIVES LIFESTYLES TRAVEL OPINION REVIEW TECHNOLOGY ART FILM MUSIC TRENDS RECOMMENDED SPORT

content

feature - p.04

perspectives - p.26

culture - p.42

Budapest: Naked on the Danube

Dam in 60 minutes! Het Twiske

Catalonia – This is how we do it

‘Easily described as grand, very grand’

‘The water is calling my name’

‘Tougher times and politics make for social alchemy’

trends - p.90

sport - p.102

Brazil: I know what I did last summer

Childhood trauma as fashion

The Gold Room 3

travel - p.64

‘There is no reason, it’s nothing personal’ more perspectives - p.78

amsterdam city life - p.83

star beer guide - p.84

Density

Bring Back!

La Cress

recommended - p.86

spotted - p.88

film - p.89

Where is this in Amsterdam?

Room 2C

perspectives - p.92

health & well-being - p.94

technology - p.96

Walker, ranger, lover

Bad = Good?

User interface

sport - p.100

SFFL 2014-2015

The Sentinel Amsterdam

E-mail: sentineldesk@gmail.com Website: www.thesentinel.eu Contributors: Sam van Dam, The Observer, Dirkje Bakker-Pierre, E.R. Muntrem, Evelina Kvartunaite and Andrei Barburas

Editor: Denson Pierre Design: Dirkje Bakker-Pierre - no-office.nl Realisation: Andrei Barburas Webmaster: www.sio-bytes.tumblr.com Webhost: Andrei Barburas

The Sentinel Amsterdam does not intentionally include unaccredited photos/illustrations that are subject to copyright. If you consider your copyright to have been infringed, please contact us at sentineldesk@gmail.com.

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â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;A massive river reflected light from a moon and the many electrical installations within visual rangeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

Budapest: Naked on the Danube by Denson Pierre

What goes on in the brain when what is meant to be routine somehow becomes remarkable and matters appear to go out of hand? On heading to Hungary for the first time, 179 other passengers and myself only learned of a KLM flight delay out of Schiphol at the moment we were making our way to the gate for scheduled boarding at 19:25hrs. It said in red that the delay was to last some 90 minutes. This is a substantial amount of time and could only indicate that there was a problem with the aircraft. This is always an unsettling realisation.

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‘This after all is what the vast majority of the press group were here to report upon’

Descending into Budapest Ferihegy International Airport at night is a curious experience as well. You are aware you are meant to be landing somewhere very close to a city of some two million people, yet the concentration of light points on the ground seem sparse. The airport is actually in the middle of a vast former estate of vineyards and indeed is not one of those European airports which has you gliding in over the metropolitan area. Once off the aeroplane you find the airport is another of the modern and handilyscaled examples which saw me being in the company of my chauffeur a mere fifteen minutes after disembarkation. The drive then covers a distance of some 21 kilometres to the heart of the city. At a certain moment, after some very welcoming chat from Andrew, at the steering, we were soon sweeping around a corner which brought us to the area of my hotel. This could be easily described as grand, very grand, in the European sense of the word, and not the Irish or American senses which can become confusing. Impressive, and within the darkness a massive river reflected light from a moon and the many electrical installations within visual range. So this is a Budapest hello! Friendly reception at the hotel meant I was able to be filling my lungs and scanning the beautiful points

of light from my sixth-floor balcony window before bed. The next day was to explode into activity and touring. On meeting the hosts from the local tourism office and press trip organisers, the fullness of the programme was about to reveal itself. We had some waiting to do beyond the appointed time but once you realise that the international group was more than thirty in number (a few more were not taking part in the early day activities) you have to accept that group size always determines bad behaviour or at least shows up clichéd issues some professionals have with punctuality. The lateness and no shows could be easily explained however, as I was the newest arrival to the group, and all others had already had at minimum one full day in the city and in exploring the major reason why we were there: the Sziget Festival. Activities including open-top bus touring, a viewing platform (ferris-wheel) experience, major site visits, goulash lunch (for those who take meat), a tuk tuk mini-city tour by a newly sprung company, a refreshment break at a high rooftop terrace of a particularly trendy bar, and then a little ride on the beautiful and historic metro system which is noted for being the first of its kind on continental Europe (1896). Everything led up to us being back at the bank of the great river: the Danube. Now we could head to the substantial Island of Freedom, as the local festival organisers have dubbed Óbudai-sziget. How should we get there? Well, by speedboat while supping on a glass of Hungarian bubbly wine. It would be great to think that this boat service was just for the seven of us but these water taxis are for hire at all times when the weather is reasonable, although the glass of complimentary wine may not be offered on a rainy day in November. First comes the murmuring noise of thousands of festival goers and the pulses of various forms of amplified music as the boat motor is silenced, then

Once prepared for departure the purser offered the explanation that a problem with one of the windows was detected earlier when the vehicle was coming in from Copenhagen. The problem required the window being changed. Most fellow passengers appeared not too bothered by this information but I of course wondered if there was one why not two etc. A windowseal problem detected during pressurised flight? Without fail I was allocated a window seat...

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‘One of the more likeable performers out there currently in pop’

Our hosts at Tourism Hungary had organised a meet and greet and most of the press group did their best to spend the time at the comfortable and well-watered tent, but there was also music performances to experience. This after all is what the vast majority were here to report upon and hopefully encourage future guests to try this rather impressively scaled urban funfair. The first small group to breakaway (including myself) were drawn to the enormous main stage installation for a concert by a performer whose talent none of us could be sure of. CeeLo Green must at least be a clever businessman and producer. At the beginning of his gig, flanked by a backing group of rather excellent all-female musicians and dancers saw nothing less than the awesomely impressive opening number (a cover) of I wanna be your dog by The Stooges test the sturdiness and height of fidelity and bass of the faultless, giant sound system. After a few more minutes into other covers of very well-known and classic pop songs however, most adults who knew something about music appreciation were making their way to other stages where they hoped they might find some soul-filling singing. It was a bit of a pity as his band look and sound great on their own. I was to find fun and settle at the Volt stage. It featured the Hungarian bands playing all styles of music. I reasoned that to develop the best sense of the passion

at the heart of the festival that it would make sense to party with the locals. It was a great decision and Ocho Macho were the band to put the crowd in the perfect mood for continued partying into the weekend. Bouncing ska, reggae, pop and Latin beats could well make them the Manu Chaus of Central Europe and their stage show is recommendable. The slightly bad poetry of my first full day and into the night at Sziget did not end with the expected flourish. Kelis was to take the A38 stage at 21:40hrs and 9,000 -plus fans and myself packed into the tent to check out the gig by one of the more likeable performers out there currently in pop. Somehow, and quite unprofessionally - in as much as the stage manager refused to update the tangibly angry crowd - Kelis was late; like an hour later than advertised. At a certain point I thought the crowd would riot for being made to wait like boxed lemons. I was frustrated to the extent that I could not allow myself to be open to her music, made my photo and left in a huff. An hour... No surprise soon afterward, in taking my time to leave the festival area, that just as a stream of us numbering in the hundreds were approaching the bridge connecting to the mainland that the heavens would open. There was no point in running as the distance was more than a few sprints worth. Wet onto the train and wet from the last stop to my hotel. My mood could not be easily described and as I stood naked at that balcony window, overlooking the Danube, again, I looked down at the pile of wet clothing at my feet. Next day I would try again.

comes the smell of warm mud. On the day before there was a great deal of rain and the trampling by some 85,000 guests made for an ankle-deep slurry over most of the surface area of the festival. On this afternoon, even though the 28C temperatures since the morning, and the wonderful breeze over the island helped dry-out massive patches, there were still a good number of pools left to remind that camping by flimsy, ground-lying tent is an adventurous decision to make in ‘summertime’ Europe.

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â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Hungarian bands playing all styles of musicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

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â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Flanked by a backing group of rather excellent all-female musicians and dancersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

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â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Wet onto the train and wet from the last stop to my hotelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

perspectives

Dam in 60 minutes! 26

Twiske

By Sam van Dam

perspectives

‘A peaceful place that almost convinces me to stay’

I fondly remember visiting various villages in that area for this series, and my inner voice urges me to go back there sometime soon to check up on the good life in those remote places that are so close to the big city. They always surprise me with their very different style of houses, clothes and the funny accents of the locals. While I am busy reminiscing other good times, my bike keeps pushing itself forward, into the sunshine and the refreshing breeze; on and on we go, deeper into the countryside. I cruise through the very pretty Landsmeer that mainly consists of beautiful houses with little canals at their front, creating little islands of wealth and happiness, it all looks very tidy and I’m sure I would enjoy living here if only I wasn’t emotionally so chained to my beloved Amsterdam. Kids play in the gardens, magpies and crows chase each other through their various territories and the road signs indicate that I have almost reached my destination, giving me a feeling of accomplishment and equilibrium. I am once again so glad that I live in a country that is so tiny that I can travel to such inspiring places after such a short time and by bike.

Finally, I have reached Twiske and what a feast for the eyes it is. There’s a windmill happily waving its vanes at The countryside vibe has already taken hold of me and I me, families on boats float by with kids hanging from slow down to be able to fully enjoy the beauty of all the the side or swimming nearby, groups of young people plants, animals and waterways, exhaling the dusty air chill-out in the grassy fields or between the reeds and of the city, greedily sucking in breaths of the various once I find myself a good spot I follow their example flavours of nature surrounding me. Ducks carefully and get a book and my music player out and make my guide their ducklings through the canals, seagulls temporary stay for the next couple of hours. Canoes chase each other with loud shrieks and the occasional filled with teenagers pass by, dogs and their masters puffy cloud happily floats across the wide sky, smiling walk around, birds sing their songs and all is well. I at me. I pass a windmill and pause for a little moment lazily enjoy the ambiance and try to move as little as to admire this typically Dutch reminder of the past. A possible except for regularly turning pages and doing past when a large portion of the country was still under some serious sipping from my water bottle. Insects water, before the tremendous effort of the massive land inspect me, the water is calling my name and if this reclamation projects that shaped the Netherlands into was any more idyllic or peaceful I might simply explode the lovely land we stand on these days. Teenagers on from the joy and happiness. After hours and hours of boats, bikes and scooters swoosh by, enjoying a perfect doing nearly nothing, sadly it’s time to head back to the summer’s day. I continue down the little backstreets city, but I now have yet another hot spot to add to my and sandy paths that lead toward Het Twiske. personal list of favourite places in the Netherlands. Memories of past trips bubble to the surface of my mind, the Waterland area is just around the corner and

Today we head to yet another place that I had not visited before – Het Twiske. This is a large, natural area of northern Amsterdam. Starting at Central Station, I head through the building towards its rear where the ferries take on human cargo to be deposited at diverse points on the other side of the water to then carry on to their desired destinations. Once on the other side I mount my bike and follow the signs that luckily guide me as I was too lazy to check the route on Google maps in the first place. I leave the main road and barrel down the little path that leads me through the Noorderpark, a peaceful place that almost convinces me to stay instead of continuing on; I overcome that urge and bike on but not without putting the park on my list of places to visit in the future.

perspectives

‘I would enjoy living here’

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â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;I can travel to such inspiring places after such a short timeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

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â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;I now have yet another hotspotâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

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culture

SPAIN:

CATALONIA W O H S I S I H T T I O D E W By Denson Pierre

By now I had spent the better part of two weeks touring Costa Barcelona and Costa Brava, pretty intensely. This had been an amazing series of journeys and visits which, hopefully, I have been able to convey something of the majesty of through my simple stories over the past two months. There is still a fair bit of gloriously warm weather left in that part of the world, right up to and into October in fact, and for those who are not sun chasers, the cultural, cemented, paved and ornate are there to be enjoyed perenially together with its people in their highly-tuned natural surroundings.

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;I had spent the better part of two weeks touring Costa Barcelona and Costa Bravaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

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â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;We were meant to visit a volcanoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

taste buds. It is always the case that the most unusually sensual experiences come to you at moments you could not be expecting them to. At Restaurant Quinta Justa I had a starter of a soup that completely pleasured and left me almost without desire to taste anything else for the remainder of that day. It must have been my fortune in terms of being present at the right time of year when the ideal combination of seasonal ingredients could be blended to create what was simply the most delicious soup I have ever tasted (away from home cooking, which is to sometimes experimental standards and flavours). I was not able to get my full compliments over to the busy chef but I now consider his fresh soup legendary. It was all about cream of leek & apple with warm artichoke chips. So simple, particularly excellent.

The recreation area of Lake Banyoles is truly useful from the point of having the facilities and activities to hold the attention of young children, to providing, on its outer edges, the sort of terrain and challenges to even satisfy extreme outdoor sport participants and fans. As soon as you have made a pleasant circuit you can easily steer your bicycle into the built-up area of the town to find it being rather welcoming to cyclists in it for easy-paced sightseeing. A decent intensity of activity and before we knew it it was again time to approach a meal.

From the moment our appointed personal geologist and guide arrived I realised we were not going to be toasted. The volcano turned out to be dormant and the reserve park area around its collapsed crimson, brown and black crater rim is a superior area to do eco-educational walking tours, preferably accompanied by someone like our guide Elisabeth, who has the feel, and local knowledge as fuel to her purely Catalonian passions. It was Elisabeth who was able to field a question, from leftfield somewhat, to do with the number of Catalonian flags I had been finding [photgraphing and publishing] more and more of as an ever-present feature, even out here as displays on the small number of buildings and businesses to be found on such a reserve. Having answered all of our questions about the exciting area of her expertise, in her home town, Elisabeth suggested that I ask any of the other guides to answer that same, particular question. She did say that Catalonian independence from the rest of Spain was the issue at hand and that she was pro-

We were now headed to lunch in Olot which, given my sometimes overactive imagination, I surmised could have meant it being my last. According to the programme, we were meant to visit a volcano directly after lunching. If my irrational thinking was to do with impending fire from the bowels of the earth consuming us as we toured, then there was one particular dish during this lunch that had a real seismic effect upon my

Our press group had just a little more fun and discovery planned for us before we would head to the shopping mall that is Barcelona International Airport. On our final full day we were to be reminded of our sporting ways back home once again, but within a landscape and freshness of air of sure difference to that of Amsterdam. For those who might have forgotten or never really understood, Barcelona city and surroundings hosted the 1992 Olympic Games. This provided an opportunity for the region to receive a serious, late-20th century facelift and infrastructure revamp. Where we stood soon after breakfast, alongside our bicycles, was in fact very close to the lake used back then for the rowing events. You can guess that we were a group of happy Dutch folk â&#x20AC;&#x201C; cycling around beautiful nature with water nearby.

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â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;One particular dish during this lunch that had a real seismic effect upon my taste budsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

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‘If I wanted heat, well, now I had it’

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‘It is here that the world famous haricots [Santa Pau Pesols] are grown’

found it funny then, but now realised that it was maybe something more Catalonians think they mean. Our guide had confidently told us that: “The problem with the economy is due to immigration… Immigration from Spain…” It was at that point I remembered that scenery is not edible and tougher times and politics make for social alchemy.

The next morning would be our last in Barcelona Province for a while, and it again involved fire. Controlled fire this time, as we did a lovely tour of the traditional bakery in the cute, flat -lying village of This village is tiny and if you could you should try Vall d’en Bas. This entire region meanwhile is pretty staying there for at least a night at the very charming fascinating and seems to cater for all manner of tastes hotel Cal Sastre. Of pleasant surprise for us was to and thinking. It remains one of the more desirable learn later that evening that the hotel proprietor was regions to visit throughout Europe, and I only hope indeed the business leader at the very fine restaurant what we experienced as reporters and what I did as some 150 metres up the hill - the focal point of village an individual and expressed in here, can help create entertainment. The service and food is actually of a very inspiration that leads you to visit the Catalonians at high order and the entire welcome and even eventual home. Just do not tell them you like being in ‘Spain’ farewell next morning means this little village is a while in their domain. recommendation to drive or climb up to. Very ideal in terms of developing a quality impression of hill -village Partners on this final leg of the press trip: life and fine dining within this diverse region. It was here that we also learned that the referendum (to test Club Natació Banyoles (Lake Banyoles) the readiness of the electorate in relation to support of a full referendum on independence) causing the Garroxta Tourism increased flag waving was imminent [September]. As ca.turismegarrotxa.com/empreses/laquintajusta/ always, I wished to follow advice and establish meaning. I asked our local guide about what the objectives of Santa Pau Tourism the independence movement could mean for a village santapau.com/patronat such as this; slightly off the beaten path as it was, and clearly being better off being reliant on visitors. Cal Sastre Apart from everything else she responded about, what calsastre.com struck me as odd was one of the remarks relating to what the ‘problem’ in terms of the current Catalonian Vall d’en Bas Tourism economy stemmed from. I had heard it once before, vallbas.cat/turisme/turisme/ at dinner a few days earlier in Costa Barcelona, and

detachment. If I wanted heat, well, now I had it. Like good troopers we left the fields of discussion about geological time and headed to the medieval, hill-top village of Santa Pau. What this village and tight area has that is pretty unique is soil of very high fertility (volcanic substrate), which ensures that organically grown vegetables, grain and fruit there have distinct and appealing taste characteristics. It is here that the world famous haricots [Santa Pau Pesols] are grown and auctioned off to connoisseurs of exceptional tasting legumes.

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â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;A quality impression of hill -village life and fine diningâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

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â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;What the objectives of the independence movement could mean for a village such as thisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

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â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;This entire region meanwhile is pretty fascinating and seems to cater for all manner of tastes and thinkingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

culture

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The Mediterranean as it once was.

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www.visitgent.be

travel

I KNOW WHAT I DID LAST SUMMER By Shane Brady

travel

THE BOYS FROM IPANEMA: THE DUTCH TEAM HIT THE BEACH IN RIO FOR AN IMPROMPTU KICKABOUT BEFORE THE TOURNAMENT STARTED.

BUT STAR ARJEN ROBBEN PREFERRED TO PLAY RACQUET BALL.

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COACH LOUIS VAN GAAL POSES FOR A SELFIE WITH A DUTCH FAN.

LOCAL WOMEN IN TRADITIONAL DRESS SURVEY THE ORANJE INVASION OF SALVADOR’S HISTORIC MAIN SQUARE BEFORE THE OPENING GAME AGAINST SPAIN.

MEMBERS OF THE UBIQUITOUS BUT LARGELY ORNAMENTAL CIVIL GUARD LINE THE ROUTE TO THE STADIUM IN SALVADOR.

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THE TRADITIONAL ORANJE MARCH TO THE STADIUM TURNED HEADS IN SALVADOR.

THE SPANISH WERE PUMPED UP FOR THE MATCH BUT THE FICKLE FINGER OF FOOTBALL FATE WAS ABOUT TO BURST THEIR BUBBLE.

THE LOCALS ENJOYED THE COLOUR AND SPECTACLE OF THE BUILD-UP TO THE MATCH BUT DIDN’T PLAY FAVOURITES.

XABI ALONSO PUTS SPAIN AHEAD FROM THE SPOT AFTER DIEGO COSTA WAS FELLED IN THE AREA BUT THAT WAS AS GOOD AS IT GOT FOR THE WORLD AND EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS.

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THE FLYING DUTCHMAN, ROBIN VAN PERSIE, SCORES ONE OF THE ALL-TIME GREAT HEADERS TO LEVEL THE SCORES JUST BEFORE HALF-TIME TO SET HOLLAND UP FOR THE FIRST BIG UPSET OF THE TOURNAMENT.

SIGNS OF BRAZIL’S STATUESQUE DEFENDING WERE APPARENT FROM EARLY ON IN THE TOURNAMENT.

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GERMAN DEFENDER PER MERTESACKER HEADS AWAY AS PHILIPP LAHM, PORTUGAL’S FRUSTRATED SKIPPER CRISTIANO RONALDO AND MANUEL NEUER WATCH ON..

GERMANY’S HAT-TRICK HERO THOMAS MUELLER IS SHADOWED BY THE PORTUGUESE DEFENCE.

PORTUGAL’S RAUL MEIRELES, POSSIBLY THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS, GETS UP HIGH FOR A HEADER.

GERMAN DEFENDERS AND PORTUGUESE FORWARDS TANGLE AS THEY CONTEST A CORNER.

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HOLLAND’S NIGEL DE JONG GETS HIS HEAD TO A MILE JEDINAK FREE KICK THAT BEAT THE WALL IN THE THRILLING CLASH AGAINST AUSTRALIA.

FRANCE DEFENDER MATHIEU DEBUCHY IS TRACKED BY SWITZERLAND’S ADMIR MEHMEDI IN THE ENTERTAINING 5-2 ROMP BY LES BLEUS.

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MEXICAN FANS WERE EVERYWHERE IN BRAZIL AND HARD TO MISS IN THEIR WRESTLING MASKS. 71

THESE IMPECCABLY DRESSED SPANISH FANS STILL FOUND REASON TO SMILE DESPITE THEIR TEAM’S EARLY EXIT FROM THE CUP.

THIS FAN WAS HAVING AN IDENTITY CRISIS AT THE SPAIN V AUSTRALIA GAME IN CURITIBA, TO BE SURE.

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STUNNING EXAMPLES OF OSCAR NIEMEYER’S MODERNIST ARCHITECTURE WHICH DOMINATES BRASILIA.

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DAVID VILLA’S SUBLIME BACKHEELED OPENER AGAINST AUSTRALIA HELPED EASE SOME OF THE PAIN FOR SPAIN.

THE EXCITEMENT WAS ALL TOO MUCH FOR THIS SECURITY GUARD IN THE CAPITAL BRASILIA.

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PORTUGUESE FANS DESCEND ON BRASILIA FOR THEIR FINAL CRUNCH GROUP MATCH AGAINST GHANA.

UP WHERE THE SPIDERS LIVE: GHANA KEEPER FATAWU DAUDA IS SAVED BY THE BAR AGAINST PORTUGAL.

IT’S ANYONE’S BALL AS GHANA PRESS AGAINST PORTUGAL. LITTLE HARRISON AFFUL (RIGHT), WHO HAD THE JOB OF MARKING RONALDO, WAS ONE OF THE STARS FOR GHANA.

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AUDA MAKES AN INCREDIBLE POINT-BLANK SAVE TO KEEP OUT A BULLET HEADER FROM RONALDO BUT HIS SECONDHALF MISTAKE WOULD GIFT THE WINNER TO THE PORTUGUESE SUPERSTAR IN A GAME THAT ULTIMATELY ENDED IN DISAPPOINTMENT FOR BOTH SIDES.

YOU PUT YOUR RIGHT FOOT IN: GHANA DEFENDERS DESPERATELY TRY TO BLOCK A SHOT FROM RONALDO.

GHANA MIDFIELDER KWADWO ASAMOAH SHOWS TEXTBOOK CONTROL TO BRING A HIGH BALL DOWN.

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THE WORLD CUP WITH RIO’S ICONIC COPACABANA BEACH IN THE BACKGROUND. NOTE THE OVERLY OPTIMISTIC SIXTH STAR ON THIS REPLICA OF THE TROPHY.

perspectives

illustration ÂŠ pieter bakker

perspectives

Density by The Observer

The heart has no ears, so it hears no opinion, The heart has no eyes, so it sees no colour, The heart has no nose, so it smells no aura, The heart has no fingers, so it counts no height nor age, The heart has no tongue, so it has no taste. In essence, The heart has no sense, It is dense, And operates in absolute innocence.

It cannot be relied upon, To make any kind of sound decision. “You might want to use your brain a little more than your heart.”

In conclusion,

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For complete and world class tours of Prague Packages include: • Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children) • Literary Prague • Prague Architecture through the ages • Religion and the city • The old city at night *These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists.

Day segments and rates: PR: 08:00-12:30hrs / AG: 13:30-16:30hrs / UE: 17:30-21:30hrs All sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult. Group size upper limit = 8. Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25%. Family package rates are negotiable.

Contact:

Jaroslav Cernosek +420 602 228 797 Mail: jcernosek@centrum.cz

JC Tours

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amsterdam city life

: K C A B G N I R B THE SOCIAL DEAL By Denson Pierre

Last week I made my way in the company of another of the city’s foremost experts on beer and brewing within the cultural sphere, on a mission. My intention was to use this occasion to visit one of the new and already overhyped concept addresses just over the water in North Amsterdam. I had an idea to make this place a selection as a City Gem in this publication, given the rather impressive cover story to do with the extra-ordinary cooperation they had managed to extricate from the City of Amsterdam for long-lease of the formerly derelict and waste land, and significant European Union culture funds. These projects soak-up hundreds of thousands of euros and once I arrived there I could even see evidence of how some of this could have been spent, I was nonetheless perplexed. It was evening, so on approaching the bar for

refreshment, I realised that not only were the prices on consumables rather similar to that of almost any other normally priced [meaning expensive] establishment in Amsterdam, but they also already are part of the ‘little cool Amsterdam club’ which sees them even passing out properly sub-standard, ‘locally brewed’ beer to the unsuspecting punters keen to see what the hype is about, at ridiculous, premium prices. They even have a little thing going on wine with those branded ‘organic’ being peddled off at €25 a bottle. What or when did it happen that these ‘squat scene ambiance’ places can manage to represent so cleverly to the city and EU funds only to then drop objectionable quality to price ratio insincerity onto Amsterdam and Amsterdammers? If these young entrepreneurs wanted to become hospitality industry millionaires at speed they could have opted for the traditional high-risk path. Why take on all the management of developmental funds only to then set-up a place, due to its pricing and quality structure, that seems only best suited to the ‘alternative’ student and professional crowd, who through no fault of their own, just happen to have this great amount of disposable income to splash out on huge bills for socialising within what is a project space we are all already paying for? Bring back the feeling in Amsterdam that these soft, creative project spaces and their hospitality exploitation arms can reflect the heavily subsidised nature of their standing. We want to come see you but if the choice is just between regular restaurant pricing and you, we may not return. What, after all is meant to be the social deal?

I am sure I recently picked up on some comments to do the lack of friendliness experienced in the Netherlands and Amsterdam by non-Dutch folk. This is a cyclic topic in here but more precisely, I would like to spend the next few months driving at a problem festering at the heart of the issue. Reports on the lack of the gentle or understanding approach by residents of this country of course relates to what persons countenance in retail, medical, or hospitality environments. Dealing with the authorities also leaves anyone uninterested in a bad attitude battle equally exasperated.

star beer guide

Star Beer

star beer guide

The Sentinel Star beer guide By Denson Pierre

LA CRESS

(A.B.V. 6.5%)

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Ingenious, superbly rounded off and smoothâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

La Cress almost negates the need for a green salad as one of its main taste impressions is that of water cress. Ingenious, superbly rounded off and smooth. So nice in fact, that I see no reason for not having a couple during any session of typical, high-quality taste touring; or with a meal.

La Cress is brewed by Brouwerij Anders, Halen, Belgium.

You can bank on the Belgian masters of taste blending to make beer to best complement food. A part of the education being offered is to do with high-quality beer being so fine and good as to be recommended to have as part of your service offer, especially if food is part of your hospitality game.

recommended

Zilt 15/08/14

ENDED RECOMM

We find the best, most fun, most typical, exciting, or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you; an easy way to feel like a local.

Connoisseurs Delight

CafĂŠ Westerdok Some of the very finest and rarest of beers available anywhere in the world. The warmest Amsterdam welcome. CafĂŠ Westerdok Westerdoksdijk 715A Amsterdam www.cafewesterdok.nl

recommended

To be seen and tasted

Fun, Drinking & Music

Cafe de Toog 1890’s grandeur fashioned into Amsterdam-West, grand, brown cafe-restaurant-cool. Classy drinks and meals. Nicolaas Beetsstraat 142 hs Amsterdam www.cafedetoog.com

Parck Great fun, beautiful people and simply the best bar food in town! Overtoom 428 Amsterdam www.cafeparck.nl

Mulligans Irish Music Bar Amsterdam’s best address for live Irish music: Five (5) nights a week! Check our agenda for upcoming sessions. Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdam www.mulligans.nl

To Be Seen and Tasted

Connoisseurs Delight

To Be Seen and Tasted

Cafe restaurant Edel Cafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch, dinner or to simply enjoy a drink. Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam. Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdam www.edelamsterdam.nl

Incanto A restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen. Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with great feeling for nuance. Amstel 2 Amsterdam www.restaurant-incanto.nl

Café Kostverloren Café Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon, an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room. The large terras is great for sunny days. 2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdam www.cafekostverloren.nl

Fun, Drinking & Music

To be seen and tasted

Cafe-Restaurant Du Cap A spacious and tasty helping to the Mediterranean vibe within Amsterdam’s new ‘West End’ entertainment district. Kwakersplein 2 Amsterdam www.du-cap.nl

Molly Malone’s An Irish pub as it should be and a home away from home! Cosy, friendly, and with its very own character! Oudezijds Kolk 9 1012 AL Amsterdam www.facebook.com/pages/ Molly-Malones-Amsterdam/ 293030997411277

Fun, Drinking & Music

Connoisseurs Delight

Fun, drinking and music

Bax A cosy and friendly local café with a focus on special or interesting beers and good quality food. Open 7 days a week with a professional kitchen offering a lunch and dinner service. Ten Katestraat 119 Amsterdam www.cafebax.nl

Café Rose Red You will not see and sample a better selection of the very best of European beer elsewhere. Cordoeaniersstraat 16 Brugge www.caferosered.com

Gollem Gollem’s Proeflokaal, Gollem and Gollem II represent the best addresses serving the fullest range of top Belgian, Dutch and international beers in Amsterdam. Overtoom 160-161 Amsterdam www.cafegollem.nl

To be seen and tasted

Café Oporto Café Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam ‘brown cafe’. Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike, they offer televised sports, wifi and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits. Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdam www.cafeoporto.net

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Where is this in Amsterdam?

Answer to: sentineldesk@gmail.com

film

Room 2c ﬁlm Badlands (1973)

By dpmotions

“I should not be seen with anyone who collects garbage” In another superbly cinematographed movie, youthful Martin Sheen and Sissy Spacek play the roles of doomed lovers in a tale of murder, criminality and madness. Is love a delusion? This film sets out to test the concept. Fine acting and poignant music helps make this film as absorbing as they come. 89

Electra Glide in Blue (1973) “A man has got to listen to his inner voice...” A movie with a highly theatrical opening sequence. Robert Blake (Baretta) plays the role of an overly principled motorcycle policeman whose career goes full, spectacular circle in too short a time. A compelling story told against the awesome Conrad Hall cinematography featuring the arid Arizona landscapes. Fine hippy music present.

By dpmotions

trends

Childhood trauma as fashion ‘Apparently freckles are the new beauty-spot(s)’

By Dirkje Bakker-Pierre

How flighty is this fast-forward age, how easily are things changing, turning insideout? Hypes and crazes are moving in and out of fashion like meteors streaking across the night sky. Are carrot pants horrible or hip? Are colourfully printed and shiny leggings common or cool? How many times have you thought “Did I really wear that?!” or “Holy shit, am I really wearing this again?!” The speed of lightning is nothing compared to that of fashion, and it is not something you can scientifically calculate or predict, except perhaps that it just recycles itself at an ever faster rate, over and over again. Like many ginger, or edging towards ginger persons, I have quite a few freckles, well, lot’s of them really, and they are literally all over the place. Always had them never thought much of them, never been bothered by them, and I am always slightly entertained when the sun comes out and I see them popping-up like eager teenagers flocking to a summer festival. They duplicate like stars throughout the universe, and they are impossible to count – just like real stars. Let’s just say you never have to be bored when you have them. When I was growing up though, somehow people seemed to

think it was unfortunate to have all these little dots decorating your skin. I regularly received unrequested advice to do things like stay inside when the sun shone (really), and to rub my skin with lemon juice or some special product… Let’s just say the general opinion was that you should feel sorry for someone with this ‘handicap’. It was an easy subject to tease kids about at school; like having thick-lensed glasses, being fat or different in any other way. Ideal material for creating childhood trauma and unlimited material for therapy sessions yet to come. Imagine my surprise while browsing through the TopShop website when all of a sudden I find a ‘do-ityourself’ freckle pencil! Apparently freckles are the new beauty-spot(s). I mean, if I ever I wished to know the definitions of the words fickle and fickleness then… Are we just blowing with the winds of fashion every time a trend manifests itself from thin air as if truth had cometh down from the heavens and enlightened us like medieval farmers? Like Heidi Klum said for all those years on Project Runway: “One day you’re in, the next day you’re out” There is no reason, it’s nothing personal, fashion has just moved on.

perspectives

Walker, ranger, lover ‘Only the occasional scooter as ever - spoils the soundscape’

‘The sense of possibility and safety is the same’

By E.R. Muntrem

Walking the city; walking from here to there, walking by myself. It is mid-summer and the day ends late, sunlight spinning from view just an hour before midnight. Everyone is everywhere enjoying Saturday together.

must know. She takes pictures of tourists who wave to her from the bridge and flirts with guys on other boats. They pose harmlessly when she points her camera at them. I make it into none of her shots. Dinner finished, a local family and their friends still sit at a table set up near the swing set of the playground on the Herenmarkt. During the day kids always play here overseen by hundreds of windows in scores of buildings, no more than a good crawl from four bridges and countless paths. For the elegant Dutch who can afford to live here, as for the stoners sitting at the benches in front of, the sense of possibility and safety is the same and needs no words

Public parties, private celebrations, and mini-gettogethers intermingle at cafes, in doorways and on houseboats. Wherever people can pull up a chair, a drink, and a friend, that is what they do. Tourists with maps and kids here just to drink or smoke join in with those who live and shop and work in the neighbourhood. Shouts and laughter are audible everywhere. Only the occasional scooter - as ever - spoils At times it is kind of wonderful to be alone in the city, the soundscape. to do no more than observe. Nothing to arrange, no one else’s concerns to consider, all the freedom to watch. Amsterdam is totally alive, the Jordaan a cauldron of joy. The canals are hopping with the usual absurdities. A boat of five people, four of them playing guitar, floats Traffic on the Brouwersgracht is heavy. by, their jam session followed by one of the hollowedout party boats upscale local kids rent (or own?) and fill A blonde woman of thirty-plus, an uninhibited out of towner - stands in a small boat captained by a local she with scores of friends and hundreds of drinks. A little

perspectives

‘Everyone is everywhere; the playground feel of the city is in full effect’

over-dressed, their standard issue human vanity blurs the vision, makes them indistinguishably young. Still, they are dancing and abuzz, running from themselves, perhaps, but doing so with the help of others. And, oops, a moment of poor captaining leaves two large canal vessels - a sightseeing flat and one of those “rent this as a big group” affairs - in need of repositioning. On the portside of one a group of Muslim women with heads covered must stare at the occupants of the other, Asian women in party dresses and make-up. After a minute, when things get straightened out, all cheer and wave goodbye. Hidden behind the congestion a dinghy outfitted with a small engine can now putter through the open water, the elderly Dutch couple it carries remaining stoic about the interruption to their twilight cruise.

As far away as the Norderkerk you can hear bells from the Westerkerk, towards which I walk. There, tomorrow, people will line up to visit Anne Frank’s house. The obligatory pilgrimage of tourists, and every day the longest queue in town. But I always see the steeple of the Wester as hanging with phallic curve over the canal and that virgin girl’s house, the best symbol of a death that was no accident, a kind of imprisonment from which the world continues to suffer. Now the last of this night’s sun and the lights that shine on the tower beam out against the night sky, the blue dome a beacon. Just one more of tonight’s swoon worthy views.

Flowers bloom in the alleys and drape down from bridges. The trees on the Prinsengracht fluffed up enough to hide the canal. You hear birds sing and ducks quack. Everyone is everywhere; the playground feel of the city is in full effect, yet nature still penetrates your reality.

A ten-year-old kid is one of the few other people I see alone on the streets. He is dribbling a football as if basketball were his game. Is he old enough to know how beauty can be the prompt for sadness, joy a stake in the heart? He’s out late on a Saturday night, safe in the city. Lucky boy.

Three girls on bikes, all in summer dresses, laughing, go flying by. Do you know the poem Politics, by Yeats? Check it out.

‘It is kind of wonderful to be alone in the city, to do no more than observe’

health & well-being

Bad = Good?

By Evelina Kvartunaite

I have had time to wonder about if everything that we are told is bad for us actually is? Things like gluten, sugar, pork or coffee have been tagged as the evil components of your daily diet. However, it is not always that clear cut. For example, gluten, which is found in whole wheat, rye and barley, is actually vital for your good health. It is also a good source of fibre, vitamins and minerals. Just around one percent of the population happens to suffer gluten intolerance. A similar story surrounds fried food. It is true that frying increases food’s calorific content however, but that does not directly and necessarily make the food itself unhealthy. It is however, important to be mindful and use vegetable oil instead of butter or fats when

preparing food in this way. Once taken in moderation, it’s a good way to absorb fat soluble vitamins like: A, D, E or K. What about chocolate? It does indeed have a lot of fats and sugar, however, if you manage to switch milk chocolate for pure and dark samples, it surely contains antioxidants that have a blood-thinning effect, which benefits cardiovascular health. It obviously doesn’t mean the advice is to overdose on it either! Almost the same with coffee as it is said [but disputed], that if you drink 2 to 4 cups of a day, you have a chance of reducing the risk of dementia, diabetes and liver cancer. At the beginning of my research, which involved products like beef, pork, corn, peanut butter and nuts, it seems that all food is actually good for you. Be mindful of moderation each time you decide to pick up a nice snack or create a lovely meal however.

– ‘It is true that frying increases food’s calorific content’ –

health & well-being

– ‘Use vegetable oil instead of butter or fats when preparing food’ –

– ‘Switch milk chocolate for pure and dark samples’ –

technology

‘Download entire movie collections in the blink of an eye’

User Interface 96

Speed freaks

‘Home is where you Wi-Fi connect automatically’

‘Radio waves happiness stopped doing what it was supposed to do’

By Andrei Barburas

It can be argued that living in the 21st century is difficult. However, we all eventually battle different demons with different weapons. When experiencing problems of the developed world, patience is not one of the qualities we seem to possess or demonstrate. The Internet - the land of unlimited and unimaginable possibilities; a place where you can find anything from knowledge to culture, music, sex to drugs and challenges that then go viral. It is quicksand that sucks you down without you even realising it. Having had a life online for about 20 years, I now think I have managed to ‘experience’ it all; from using a dial-up connection that took ages to connect and entire nights taken to download an MP3 to gigabit connections that can download

entire movie collections in the blink of an eye. It never ceases to amaze me how smooth the transition between those ‘speeds’ were. One milestone that gave me pleasure was the moment when I had a cable connection to my house, replacing the dial-up subscription. Just the thought of having access to the internet whenever I wanted, without having to use a telephone and to hear those ‘hold on, we’re getting you online’ noises, gave me the shivers. And today, if one of your friends does not have a wireless connection at home, we look at them with disappointment, disbelief and in some cases utter surprise. After all, home is where you Wi-Fi connect automatically.

technology

Living in one of those high-ceilinged apartments and using a shared connection with my neighbours, means that the wireless connection was not ideal. Soon, frustration started to settle in and the need for a wireless repeater was born. The joy, happiness and relaxation from a successful and crazy speed of connection is indescribable. Also, having a 4G mobile connection meant insane speed wherever I was; no need to wait, no need to look away while my content is loading; no need for patience. This was until, a few weeks ago, when my Wi-Fi repeater decided to show me who’s the boss. My source of radio waves happiness stopped doing what it was supposed to do. That meant that until I got it fixed, I had to return to the low signal strength network that could barely let me do anything. Then it hit me… Living in the Netherlands means that we have all these luxuries that we take for granted. I realised that for me it is normal to have electricity and fresh water all the time, to have an internet connection that is fast

regardless to my usage of it. What is even worse is that we, or at least, I, evolved from being addicted to the internet, to being addicted to high-speed internet. One of my colleagues claims that he would rather have no internet at all rather than having a crappy or slow connection. Do we live in such a fast-paced world that we run out of patience when we want to check something online? Or are we valuing the time we spend in front of a screen some more?

‘Evolved from being addicted to the internet, to being addicted to high-speed internet’

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sport

THE SENTINEL FANTASY FOOTBALL LEAGUE 2014-2015

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