Again on the way

Veeeery short, becasue it's already very late and I need to wake up in 4,5 h :(

At 6:22 I'm starting my travel to Bonn for an Evaluation Semianar of all 6 European Modules 2006. So, I'll meet again my team and organizers from Cardiff :) Nice!

And on 2nd November I'm going to Berlin to visit Jonathan - one of participants from thie Module in Cardiff :) Lovely :) And what is even better I'll stay there until 5th November. And even better - there will be 2 more participants from Cardiff in the same time - Zane (with her boyfriend) and probably Sylwia :) Cool! I'm happy about it :)

Finally I created an online album from Kusadasi. It's nice :p There are 8 sub-albums, like: team, Izmir etc. You may find it HERE.

And for 'better apettite' for visits there...

Without any changes! Original!

Adakule Hotel is really cool place!

And our cool team (from left): Behrooz, me and Serhan. It was great time!

So, I hope your apettites are bigger now, you're warmly invited to see all of them and to share your comments about them here :)

See you after 5th November!

Relation from Turkey

It was long time, but after coming back home from Turkey I was first very lazy (typical post-project syndrom for me) and since few days I'm very busy.

Turkey - it was very interesting and good time. And I'm sure I would like to go there more times in the future - to discover more things, new places, feel this country more. And I could write a lot, a lot about it, but I don't feel like writing about my impressions of Turkey now. Maybe later. Now - relation from those 2 weeks.

I came to Izmir at the evening, when I was picked up by friend of Serhan (main organizer) - Ferhat. He is working on the airport, so he was resposnbile for all people coming by plane to Izmir. After some minutes it appears that my suitcase didn't arrived! First time in my life! And what is quite funny - I was thinking in the plane that I never lost my luggage ;) But Ferhat was helping me in conversation with the officers, so I get it back after five hours - it seems it was in Istanbul. We met Serhan on the parking and went for a dinner in the city. After nice dinner we went to the pub for a beer and later we bought some sweets - to end nicely the evening. And went to the flat of Serhan, watched some photos, discuss and finally went to sleep at 3 AM!

Next day we're working on the program of the TC until the evening. At 8 PM we went to meet Ferhat and together went for a concert of El Pluma Band "William Cardoso Project", in the frame of 16. Jazz Festival in Izmir. It was sooooo cool! Great music! I enjoyed a lot! And all of them were great. Especially drumer/singer - looks so young (like 17 or 18) and was hyperactive and very funny :) They influenced even all those officials between audience ;) After this great concert we went for a looong night walk in the city centre and near the bay.

Next day we were working until 3 PM, then we went to the University of Serhan to excuse his absence in next days. Then we picked up Behrooz (third trainer) from the train station and went shopping - need to buy all those stuff needed for a TC. And went to Kusadasi. Finally, after 8 PM we were in the hotel. We checked the training room, had a dinner, talk some time and went to sleep.

Next day we're working on the program until the dinner. With a nice lunch break, when we met first two participants. With one of them - Kasia - I had my first (and last ;)) visit in the sea. It was very nice. We've met with almost all participants for a dinner and after it we started the welcome evening. It was nice :)

Next days were very intensive - group wasn't so experienced, but very energetic, motivated, willing to learn as much as possible and asking many questions. Because we were prepared for more experienced people, we changed quite much, especially during the first part of the training - related with Human Rights. We had very nice and interesting sessions, participants want to share a lot, discuss a lot. What also strongly influenced our decissions about timing ;)

I liked work with Behrooz and Serhan. It was good team work. I learned a lot from Behrooz. And I would be happy to work with them again in the future!

I've met again two of participants - lovely Polish girl Asia and great Dutch girl Maartje. It was so great to spend some time together again. And of course I've met very nice new people as well :)

We're very lucky with place - 5 star hotel with all included for youth training course! Amazing! Hotel is great, place is amazing! It's so wonderful that it was very difficult to go away. If our application form for a new training course in next year will be accepted - we are planning to do it in the same place. There was only positive feedback about it :) With all included we have also such a nice things like Turkish bath (recommend it!) and sauna. Was nice ;)

This training was very successful - we have only positive evaluations :) It's really amazing. They came out with 3 project ideas as a follow-up: 2 training courses and one exchange. 2 of them are under construction, planned to apply for 1st November. I'm crossing my fingers with them - to manage to apply in this deadline and to be acceptec. And one will be for 1st February, what is not so good, because new Programme Youth in Action will start in 2007 and it'll be first deadline, what means probably huge mess. But let's see. What is funny - seems that we did a good impression on participants, becase for both of training courses paricipants ask us to be trainers ;) It would be really interesting to do it with them, also because we could see how they developed in this time. But first they need to apply and to be accepted. Then we'll see.

After the training course we spent whole Friday on packing, visiting Kusadasi for arrangement with the travel office, way to Izmir, visiting shops and finally having dinner with Maartje and Elif. And at the end we went to the airport with Maartje and then driving with Elif to her place and finally home.
Saturday was a day of work - starting final report and writing almost whole application for this new training course. It looks good and I really hope we'll be accepted. Now Serhan need to translate it, finish the practical part, check all those parts III and go to the NA with it. Then we only may wait :/ At the evening we went for a dinner with Serhan and Ferhat. And then Serhan went home (he was flying to Bonn at the early morning), Ferhat to work on the airport and I was in his flat with his dad - chatting with friends :)
Sunday was a lazy day - sleeping long, slow breakfast. After breakfast we had a nice walk around the city and near the bay, we drunk Turkish coffee (then Ferhat was saying about my future from the rest of the coffee) and tea, then again walk, laying down on the grass near the sea and talking, eating a chocolate cake. Then Ferhat went to sleep a little bit before working again by night and I was waiting for Elif. Then we both went to the other side of the city and bay - by boat :) We had also nice cookies and tea on the boat. On the other side we're shopping a little bit ;) Also had a walk around and coming back also by boat. And after that walking a bit around the city centre. Then she went home, Ferhat went to work and I was again with his dad.
At the last day I woke up at 4 AM :/ Together with Ferhats' dad we went for a taxi stop, where he put me to a taxi, which took me for a airport bus station. I went for a domestic terminal by bus, where I was waiting about 2 hours for my plane to Istanbul. But everything went smoothly and without delays, I was on time in Warsaw. Then about 4,5 h (!) by train and I was home.

Waiting again for a possiblity to go to Turkey... Really!

Waiting for the train and plains ;)

Ok, I know that last days were a bit crazy - only few relations from Cardiff and nothing more. But it were strange days - I was on the crossroads between Cardiff and Izmir. Besides that I felt very lazy and tired, couldn't concentrate properly on preparations for the TC in Izmir. I felt that time spent in Cardiff with such a great people was kind of 'magic' and it was difficult (still is!) to just stop to remind nice moments, people, places. And there are many people from my 'sub-group' using MSN/Yahoo, so I spent a lot of time on conversations with them - it was amazing: all the time we started conversation when someone was online, sometimes me, sometimes others, and spending a lot of time talking. There must be kind of special link between us :) Wonder why?
And what is also so nice - we already started to try to fix next meetings with few people. And some of those possibilities really looks quite easy to realise :) And not so far away in time... Would be soooo lovely! (Btw - lovely is a strong influence of visit in Cardiff ;))))

Yesterday I received from Biba a link to cool movie. I like this idea very much and I think it's worth to promote - even if almost nobody is reading this blog ;) So... HERE is a great movie!

I should go to sleep soon - I must get up at 6 AM :( I hate this hour. I must go to Warsaw first. Then I have my plane to Istanbul at 1:35 PM. I'll be in Istanbul after 5 PM and have a next plane - to Izmir at 7 PM. In Izmir I'll be finally at 8 PM. I'll meet my 'welcoming committee' on the airport. And from the airport for the shopping. And finally to Serhan's home, when I'll spend those 2 days before the TC. On Wednesday we'll pick up from the airport 3rd trainer and first participant and go together to this lovely hotel :) I hope our TC will be successful one. And also cool :) And I'll find a bit of time to use such nice possibilities like cool weather, sea, private beach, Turkish baths, massages, sauna etc. :) Would be great!
I'll go home on 23rd, early morning. I'll be in Warsaw between 12 and 1 PM. Then I should meet with Sylwia - Polish participant from EM 4 in Cardiff :) I'm planning to spend with her about 6 hours and go home. So, probably I'll be home very late - like midnight.

Then almost one week free ;) And Germany - I'll be on the way ;)

But I miss my friends already! And all those chatts :( Hugggs!

Great people!

And finally time to describe people from EM 4 a bit ;) Although I was a part of the team I've managed to quite nicely integrate with the group and to find my 'favourites'. Maybe also becasue of the fact that being a documentalist don't demand so much work during the training as being a trainer. Work is mostly during the sessions, and the 'real' work is now - after the Module. And thanks to that I had a wonderful week with great ppl :D Here is my 'subgroup' ;)


That's Sylwia - our participant from Poland. Lovely, nice and crazy girl :) Many nice ideas, huggy-girl :) I hope to meet her in Warsaw when I'll be going back from Izmir.

Guy from Belgium - Mathias. Very nice and warm person. I have an impression that he's a bit shy. But still - nice :)


Italian girl - Alessandra. The wormest and most gentle from all girls of the course in my opinion. Very sincere person and participant with one of the most interesting comments during the EM.


Great finish guy - Arttu. Gentelman and a 'real guy' in the same moment - seems to be still possible ;) Good dancer, nice actor, interesting person. Cool guy.

And that's Maartje - great girl form the Netherlands. Great sense of humour, very nice, huggy girl :) When I'll be visiting Rene next time - I want to meet her also. Especially that she is living close to him.

Marek - Czech guy. Meetings with him was quite complicated since the beginning to the end, but that's another story ;) In general - smart guy, very interesting comments during the Module. But also a crazy guy ;) Great animator - actor, nice dancer.

Jonathan from Germany. Great guy! Even he's very young (22 y.o.!) - he is very smart, with deep reflections and interesting comments. And also crazy guy, with a sharp tongue ;) Great dancer, good actor. Very huggy-pillow guy :)

That's the second part of the farewell party - already in Arttus' room, place more comfortable for 6 people, than a big party room. Photo made by Alessandra. In the blue T-shirt it's Pedro - great joker. A bit later Alessandra and Pedro went to sleep to their rooms and at the end we're only in 4 people. And we're talking, talking until we finally felt asleep together ;) And we're sleeping like that until 7 something ;) Then each 30 minutes we were a 'goodbye committee' for departing participants and in the meantime we had a nice breakfast. But unfortunatelly at 11 they also went to the airport :( End!

To see much more also funny pictures ;) you must go to my online website - HERE There are 3 different subfolders: city, group and work and non-formal time with great people. I always recommend to start with the last photo on the last end and continue until the beginning ;) I don't really know why this system uploading photos in such way. But probably I'm kind of blondi ;) None of those folders is ready, they are still developing, but there are already some nice pics. Especially in the 3rd one. As far as I know you don't need to see any password to see them. In the case - contact me ;)

Novotel Centre Cardiff

I already knew earlier that I like Novotels. I had an opportunity to be a guest of the Novotel Centre in Warsaw and about half year later in Strasbourg. Nice stays, good level :)

And now was time for Novotel Centre Cardiff. On this website I recommend to see photos in the gallery. This hotel is... hm... amazing! Wonderful mixture of old warehouse and modern architecture, beautiful interior colors, interesting arrangements and furniture, beautiful paintings, great interior trim, a lot of glass and thanks to that - a lot of light. Just great! And besides that - good location: 10 minutes to the city centre and 15 minutes to the Bay - walking. Their employees that 12 different nationalities - if we'll splitt British and Welsh like they did ;) I've met 4 or 5 Polish. All very nice. Like everybody there. So 'crazy' helpful, nice, full of respect and interested employees I've never met in any company! Congratulations for management for selection and training of employees!

I had great, huge room, with a double, comfortable bed. And big bathroom with separated bath and shower. And of course standard - tv-sat, possibility to connect with internet, mini-bar, fridge, safe. And also something new for me - maybe because of the country ;) - electric cordless kettle, 2 cups, choice of tea and instant coffee. And each day fresh cookies ;) My room was partly similar to this one, but different colors and more space in mine.

Aha, for our disposal we had also leisure club - fittness centre, sauna, jacuzzi and swimming pool :D

I waaaant to go back there! Just now, right now! It would be great!

Seriously - I hope that I'll have a next opportunity to visit this place again in the future! At least once :)

PS. And this is second clear example that good quality of services cause a good commercial ;)

City of Cardiff

I thought I'll start with impressions about the city. In June (during the prep meeting) I didn't had time to see anything. And now - thanks to being earlier and staying longer than the rest of the people - I had 1,5 day before and 1 day after the European Module to do sightseeing :) I arrived to Cardiff on 23rd September, about 7 PM. When I get to my hotel and check in I only managed to unpack my luggage, make more-less order in my room and then I was doing nothing - only relaxing after this long travel. I was watching TV, reading a book.

Next day - after sleeping long :) - I went for a walk. First I was trying to find a Cardiff Bay, but I chosen bad way, thanks to what I was loosing time for non-effective way to get there ;) Afterwards I noticed that I was quite close, but it wasn't a pedestrian area, but more office-industrial part of the Bay. Then - resigned - I decided to visit the city centre. There is a really wonderful old city centre, in the style, which is such untypical for the 'continent'. Lovely churches. Beautiful castel, but unfortunately entrance fee is almost 7 pounds, so I postponed it to the next visit ;)

Near the castle is huuuge Bute Park, full of different trees, flowers etc. There is also circle of rocks, nice garden of monks, little castle (probably for lover or old wife ;))), river, channels... Wonderful place. And sooo huge! Part of this park is surrounded by so called wall of animals, with realistic sculptures of animals.

In general - whole Cardiff is full of different kinds of sculptures - because of different historical occasions, geography, nature and also those without any occasion (at least in theory). I've spent in this park few hours (and still didn't visit all places). Then I found Cathays Park.

Then I was walking around the city centre without any aim. I made some food shopping, sent 2 postcards ;) Then I was in the hotel for a lunch. Afterwards I decided again to find the Cardiff Bay. Now succesfully! The Bay and surroundings are just wonderful! Beautiful views, many different places to visit, places to sit and feel the atmosphere. Super! I like this part of the city very much :) You may find few great pictures of the Bay HERE There is also beautiful wetlands reserve - in the middle of the city! I've spent there many hours during those days - observing those great views, birds around, delighting in peace, thinking, remembering... Great place!

In general - whole Cardiff is worth to recommend! I didn't expect that it's so nice, interesting, beautiful and warm place :) I wish to come back there, 'leisurely', at least for the weekend. I even know WHERE I would like to spend it :p With a little 'but' - I think I can't afford for those 250 - 750 Euros per night :/ Well, there is nothing else to do - just find a very reach husband or boyfriend ;) :p

That's the end of pics from the Internet ;) I didn't managed to upload ours to the online album :( Until now only 3 pics!!!

Great pub which we had an opportunity to visit once (at least I did it once ;))

Monument - WWII

Impressive building of the Millenium Centre, also theatre.

It would be great if I would manage to upload more photos before I'll go to Izmir. Let's see!

It's the end for this moment! More great places on the way ;)

Times is passing so fast

I'm home since 1,5 day. But I didn't found any time to update my English blog. Those days are crazy busy for me and I should rather preparing myself for the TC in Izmir, than writing this post, but Rene asked me about updating so many times, that finally I'm doing it :p So.... let's start!