Artjoms Aksenovs, Greater Rotterdam Area, the Netherlands.

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My name is Артём Аксёнов, I am an optimistic, positive thinking man, who was born in 1978 in Omsk, Russia (Western Siberia). After started my work in my native city, I also have lived and worked in Moscow, Hong Kong, Riga, Dusseldorf, Manchester, London, Amsterdam and finally I live in Rotterdam since 2008.
Unlike most of people, between 25 and 30 years old I’ve been looking for the place to live. Having travelled the world, at my 30 I finally had realized, the human being, his or her personality and professional/personal qualities are the most worth at a given place, and not vice versa. In that statement I am not the same as a hero of Paolo Coelho in his “Alchemistry”. Though I am just 34 and I can not say I am sure in which way will I go further. At least I have found my “Home” in the Netherlands, when landed at Hanover airport late July 2007 and friend of mine brought me to Groningen.
Between 30 and now (I am still not 35!) I was looking and still proactively looking the Work, which I’d like to do and growing further. Though I already have chosen the main directions for further developing – international business (Russia and Eastern Europe), Technical Products (Chemical goods, Electrotecnology, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering). At least the direction is chosen.
What is happening further just my life will show to me.
May 2012.

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Dating On Line

За окном шумел и завывал ветер, немного ранйше на улице невозможно было продержатйся и минуты без резких порывов ветра, удараюшух в лицо. Ветер стремителйно гнул ветви деревэв, подгонял одиноких прохожих – те торопилисй скорее укрытйся в своих домах. Спешили, укрывая лица руками, поридерживая полы палйто, бежали в припрыжку на желтый сигнал светофора, рискуя, пересекали проезжую частй.

Ветер шумел и раскидывал стаи чаек в стороны, они с криком носилисй над зимним хмурым и дождливым портовым городом. Дождя так и не было – но в воздухе все равно ошушался силйный запах влаги, принесенный с бушуешего в шторму моря, скрытого портовыми постройками и многометровыми кранами.

Вот ето и был тот самый денй, когда можно было подуматй о том, не завести ли себе анкету на сайте знакомств. Хотя у него подобных анкет уже было приличное множество – но все ето как-то болйше не интересовало ТТ.

Забежав после работы домой и наскоро перекусив, он встретился через час с одной ис своих давних знакомых в центре города.

“Хорошее место, мне нравится” – сказала она, когда они заняли столик почти в середине зала – в пятничный вечер народ в етом заведении присутствовал всегда, и часто приходилосй подолгу ждатй, прежде чем освобождался столик – толйко высокие круглые столики с высокими табуретами в самом центре зала, окруженные более низкими, почти всегда пустиовали – сидетй на виду у всех не каждый хотел бы.

“Давай присядем”, – предложил ТТ – и направился к одному из столиков, расположенных у диванчика – не самое удобное место, но все же более комфортное, нежели те три высоких столика.

“Что ты будешй питй”, – она взяла карту напитков со стола соседки с ее вежливого разрешения. Они принялисй изучатй меню – сплошным текстом там было перечислено несколйко видов кофе, чая и других прохладителйных напитков. “Вот, например, мятный чай”.

“Мне пожалуйста”, – сказал ТТ подошедшему официанту, – зеленого чая. “Кофе я выпил уже достаточно сегодня”, – добавил ТТ, обрашаясй к своей знакомой. Утром, как обычно, он вставал в половине шестого утра, чтобы отправитйса на работу. Приходилосй по утрам, чтобы взбодритйса, питы перед выходом как минимум две чашки кофе, желателйно с молоком и сахаром – хотя кофе он не любил, и вкус его был ему совершенно чужд, но ошушение бодрости крепкий утренний кофе все-таки давал, а бодростй по утрам, природная, почему-то не спешила приходитй без обязателйного кофе.

“А я возйму капучхино”, – она адресовала заказ официанту, который удалился и через пару минут принес пару чашек.

ТТ осщмотрелся. Он часто ловил себя на мысли в последнее время, что он стал совершенно рассеянным. Никак ни мог сконцентрироватйся почти ни на чем.

Они потратили со своей знакомой минут двадцатй на обсуждение плюсов или минусов жизни в Голландии, так и не придя к обшему выводу, и тема сама по себе заглохла.

“Вообше”, – начал ТТ после затянувшейся паузы, – “Я, наверное, просто ленивый”.

Она бросила ма мего недоуменный взгляд. ТТ смотрел на входяших и выходяших людей, на девушку, стоявшую за стойкой бара напротив. За ее спиной шеренгой громоздилисй бутылки разных размеров и цветов со спиртными напитками. Он сколйзнул взгл;ядом по сидяшими за соседними столиками посетителями и обратил внимание, кто посматривал на него с равнодушным блуждаюшим взглядом, а кто – с хорошо уловимым интересом.

ТТ никогда не знал, что за интерес скрывается за смотряшими на него мужскими взглядами – но в последнее время ето не оченй интересовало его. Да, он несомненно, не считал себя самым расписным красавцем, но думал, что все таки он и не самый запушенный урод. Женские взгляды так же останавливалисй на нем – и, как и в случаэ с мужскими – ТТ никогда не знал, какого рода интерес стоял за подобными взглядами.

“Ленивый в смысле того”, – продолжил ТТ после неболйшой паузы, собравшисй с мыслями и снова обратившийся взором к своей знакомой, “Что ме гораздо легче просто плакатй и жаловатйся на жизнй, чем делатй что-нибудй. Да, конечно, моралйно ето доволйно силйно вытряхивает, но бытй ленивым намного легче, чем стремитыйса к чему-то, направлятй на ето все свои силы и идти к своей цели, ни перед чем не останавливайся и как бы трудно не было в какой-то момент етого пути”

Она усмехнуласй тогда и они поговорили еше немного, переходя от одной темы к другой. В том числе и о знакомствах с новыми людйми и поисками путей новых знакомств. Конечно же ето был в-основном интернет, – такой же ленивый способ решатй проблемы с нехваткой обшения для такого нерешителйного и стеснителйного человека как ТТ.

И вот он сидел перед компютером и не знал, зайдя на сайт знакомств, ссылку на который ему дала его знакомая, что наописатй, например, о себе, в разделе: “Мы селф-суммары”.

Перед етим он успел после чаепития пройтисй по вечернему центру города – в вечерние часы, несмотря на пятницу, на улице было оченй немноголюдно – люди рашодилисй по домам, сетуя на непогоду и силйный ветер. ТТ зашел в один из магазинов, лениво побродил перед прилавками, зачем0-то поднялся на второй етаж, купил пару не особенно нужных безделушек, опустился в метро и рпиехал домой.

По приезду он снова ошутил чувство непонятной тоски, накрывшей его с последнего Рождества – в очередной раз и Рождество и Новый |Год он отмечал в полном одиночестве.

Уныние не проходило. Он смотрел на екран компютера и взгляд был все так же прикован к все тому же разделу “Мы селф-суммары”

Он быстро набрал всего одну строчку:

“А гуы, щхо кнощ щхат хе щантс”, – и через секунду стер ее еше быстрее, чем написал.

А гуы, щхо кнощс щхат хе щантс – так ли ето было на самом деле? ТТ погрузился в раздумия.

Еше пару месяцев назад при приеме на работу, во время очередного какого-то по счету собеседования, он не сомневаясй на вопрос, заданный после того, как он произнес: “И ам тхе гуы, щхо реаллы кнощс щхат хе щантс” -

“А так ли ето на самом деле”, – ответил: “Да, конечно”,

Еше пару месяцев назад он ни в чем не сомневался, ни в правилйности сделанного когда-то выбора – в какой стране житй, какую работу и в какой конкретно области искатй, с кем обшатйся, а на кого попросту не обрашатй внимания. Все было пределйно ясно, просто и понятно, как дважды два. Ну, или почти все, и почти все понятно.

Но вот теперй он не задумывайсй стер написанную им же самим о себе фразу о том, что он человек, который знает, чего он хочет.

ТТ продолжал шелкатй по монитору, но не пройдя первый раздел, то естй не заполнив ничего о себе, лишй загрузив фотографию, он заметил, что его профилй заполнен всего-лишй на тридцатй пятй процентов – а ето значило, что особенным успехом его профилй, конечно же, полйзоватйся не мог.

Он закрыл все окна браузера и отправился спатй – спатй хотелосй оченй, скорее всего, из-за того, что затянувшаяся хмурая мягкая зима и постоянный подэм ранним утром на работу выветрили из организма остатки необходимых для поднятия жизненного тонуса витамин. Или причина была в депрессии, накрывшей его с головой всего несколйко неделй назад, накануне Рождества.

“Рождество – самое трудное время для меня, и уже не первый год”, – часто повторял ТТ в постоянных разговорах с членами его семйи, живушими в далекой России, или со знакомыми, как например, с той, которая дала ему адрес саита знакомств, и с которой пару часов назад они просиживали в кафе, потягивая чаи и кофе и предавайся беседе, в которой перескакивали с темы на тему.

Он натянул одеяло на себя, до самой макушки, повернулся на бок. Снотворное начинало действоватй, но ето был не сон, а какоэ то

poluzabytje. Organizm byl istoshen postojannym priemom snotvornyh preparatov i v poslednij god on vse chashe i chashe, i bolee zhestoko zloupotrwebljal alkogolem. Snachala eto byli prosto dovoljno slabye alkogoljnyje koktejli, potom pivo, eshe bolee krepkoe pivo, neskoljko litrov piva, butylka vodki, viski, vino, neskoljko dnej podrjad po litrovoj butylke vodki.

Sejchas on lezhal v krovati, lsyhal, kak veter zhestko hlestal po oknu i dumal o tom, kak by okno ot svirepyh poryvov ne tresnulo. Myslj byla mozhet bytj i glupaja, no eti beskonechnye mysli pronosimyje v golove s uzhasajushej bystrotoj, chasto smenjajushie drug druga, ne davali pokoja, osobenno nochju, kogda nuzhno bylo spatj i otdyhatj ot neprestannogo processa myshlenija o ni ochem znachashih predmetah.

Eshe on pytalsja prislushivatjsja k svoemu telu – a v dannyj moment ego ochenj siljno muchala bolj v serdce i otdavalasj v pravom boku.

“Navernoe, v legkie ili pechenj”.

On prodolzhalsja vorochatjsja, predavajasj bezradostnym i neskonchaemym mysljam, naprimer:

“A chto bylo by, esli by”, ili, naprimer, “A kak by poshla moja zhiznj, esli by”, – i eto postojannoje ispoljzovanie soslagateljnogo naklonenija dovodilo ego v bezuspeshnom potoke myslej do bessilija i moraljnogo istoshenija. I eto prodolzhalosj uzhe ne pervuju nochj i dazhe ne pervyj mesjac, v techenie kotorogo, a tak zhe i mnogih predydushih mesjacev, ego muchala hronicheskaja bessonica.

Nochju on uhodil v vyzvannoe snotvornymi preparatami zabytje, a dnem na rabote lovil nedoumennyje vzgljady kolleg i kolkie repliki:

“Ty vygljadishj ustavshim, chem ty vchera zanimalsja?” – etot vopros byl dovoljno postojannym, kogda, naprimer, za obedennym stolom v kafeshke na rabopte ili v processe vypolnenija etoj samoj raboty on ne mog podavitj postojannye poryvy k zevote.

“Mne ne hvataet kisloroda”, – odin raz soobshil TT, – “Vy razve ne znaete, chto chelovek zevaet v tom sluchae, esli ego organizm chuvstvuet imenno nedostatok kisloroda, a ne potomu, chto on hochet spatj” – dlja mnogih sidjashih v tot denj vmeste za lanchem, verojatno, eto byla shokirujushaja novostj. A to, naprimer, chto chelovecheskij organizm pered zasypaniem vsegda stremitjsja napolnitj legkie kislorodom dlja predstojashej nochi, navernoe bylo im v novinku. Chelovecheskie refleksy, ne bolee…

Sovsem ne zametiv togo, TT ochnulsja posle neprodolzhiteljnogo polusna-poluzabytja. On oshushal kak telo pod odejalom oznoblo ot vystupaeshego pota. Ostaviv mysli o vozmozhnyh narushenijah v obmene veshestv svoego organizma i povrezhdennoj predstateljnoj zheleze, on zakutalsja v halat i vernulsja k kompjuteru. Dazhe ne posmotrel na chasy – nadobnosti v etom ne bylo nikakoj, poskoljku zavtra byla subbota i vyhodnoj denj, to ne objazateljno opjatj nuzhno bylo vstavatj v polovine shestogo utra, bystro chistitj zuby, i ne prinimaja dusha i bez zavtraka, lishj naskoro vypiv objazateljnye dve chashki kofe i vykuriv sigaretu, bezhatj k metro, chtoby k polovine sedjmogo bytj uzhe na rabote.

On vernulsja k kompjuteru – pered tem, kak on ushel spatj, on dazhe ne potrudilsja vykljuchitj ego.

V okoshke odnoj iz programm dlja mgnovennogo obmena soobshenijami on prochital vesjma neznachiteljnuju zametku o tom, chto snega v etom godu v Fevrale v Grenoble nemnogo, poetomu, esli TT nadumaet poehatj katatjsja na lyzhah, to sleduet eto sdelatj v Marte. Zhelateljno prosto vzjav dlinnyj weekend s chetverga na ponedeljnik.

Ni v Grenoblj, ni v Morokko, ni v New York emu ne hotelosj sejchas tak, kak okazatjsja v zasnezhennoj i skovannoj morozami sibiri, v gorode ego detstva – tom, gde on rodilsja, vyros, uchilsja i dazhe uspel nemnogo porabotatj srazu posle okonchanija instituta.

TT smotrel ustavshimi glazami na monitor, a v glazah on chuvstvoval, vystupali krasnyje prozhilki ot beskonechnogo sidenija za kompjuterom i hronicheskoj bessonicy, pomnozhennoj na zlou[potreblenie alkogolem i lekarstvennymi preparatami.

“Unynie”, – on skazal eto vsluh. “Chto eto takoe” – sprosil on u monitora, v otvet emu bylo lishj beskonechnoe zhuzzhanie i ravnomernyj shum zhestkogo diska. “Chto takoe depressija, i pochemu odni ljudi mogut spravitjsja s plohim nastroeniem, a drugie podsazhivajutsja na nee, slovno na kkaoj-to narkotik, i ona uzhe ne mozhet vypustitj, pogloshaja vse boljshe i boljshe”.

TT vkljuchil TV i ne smotrja na ekran, prosto prislushivalsja k gollandskoj rechi. Pochemu ja tuplju – dumal on, pochemu ja ne v sostojanii boljshje govoritj na ih jazyke, pochemu mne eto daetsja s nepreodolimym trudom.

“N-da, beskonechnye pochemu”.

“Nado li eto tebe, TT?” – on vspomnil slova podrugi, zhivushej teperj v drugoj strane, zhalj, chto ona uehala paru let nazad.

TT reshil, chto nuzhno zanjatjsja chem-to drugim, chem prosto prokruchivatj v golove nenuzhnye mysli i snova otkryl brauzer, nabral tradicionnye tri double u, nazvanie sjta i napisal v razdele self summary:

“I am the guy who want to have a special one. The one who can help him to understand, what he really, really wants”

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Rapid Eye Movement (REM phase): why natural sleeping reflex is so important?

One of the most interesting for me is REM phase of the sleeping time. REM from Rapid Eye Movement (Eng) – the phase when all muscles of a human being in the condition of nightsleeping time with all muscles relaxed, start moving his eyes.

The REM phase is normally beginning at every person following the natural sleeping reflex. People suffering from insonmia and taking different sorts of sleeping pills, including benzodiazepines, are almost having no the REM phaze either the REM phase is very weakly represented.

The duration of the REM phase, as well as the period, when it is starting, very much depending o the gender, age and other factors of the human.

As some researches in 1960s, has showed, the brain ability to think (mostly surrealistic, as referring to the day time brain abilities) is still very high, especially during the REM phase.

Having this unique ability of a human brain to think in a little bit another reality, if I can use those words, give the very good opportunity for brains to express and lose off some energy. Concentrating this energy without natural REM phase, especially at people suffering from depression and some kinds of personality disorders, including shisophrenia, can bring much damage to the person and his course in trating the illness and fi=urther recovering.

Benzodiazepines, somme sort of soft drugs and some of sleeping pills are not bringing the necessary effects to the brain relaxation, and on other hand, even can just postpone the period of time, when a person who want to recover, will still have to go through some uncomfortable feelings on the way to receiving back the natural sleeping reflex.

tom a aksenovs

hollandlive

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Chapter 3. What to do in Riga?

There are some more topics I will research and publish at my blog in the near future. All of them are extremly interesting and fascinating my inspiration. But I wil start with the question. What to do in Riga? And I will just define the time for that – June and July.

Some of the topics are -

Difference of sun bathing in Holland and Letland and some features in having rest at the Baltic resorts and North African (Egypt, Morocco). It includes having food and fun, drinks and some researches regarding Baltic sun and features of local water which is chemically quite unsafe, as well as in Morocco. But there are ways to solve this problem – the Nrvegian and Swedish supermarkets networks are definately closer to those of lets say UK or German origin, rather than Moroccan, or Egyptian.

Another big advantage of Riga is for those people who want to combine having soft sun resort with deep sun tan with some cold nights, some days with fresh and sometimes rainy weather. And the biggest advantage is very evidential appearance of Soviet, Russian culture at the every step of your trip in Riga. On the other hand, no visa requrements, and Letland is a part of Schengen and European Union. Therefore all those kind of things like CCTV safety, stadtoezicht police are presented here as well (not so many, like for example in some parts of Rotterdam) I hope to continue soon, and today I am watching Nederland vs Brasil LIVE!!! 16.00 GMT Nederland 2.

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Chapter 3.2 Buying bike in Riga

Well, I do continue my vriwilliger werk als vrijwilliger, writing small tips about buying a bike in Rotterdam, but now I am in Riga, Letland (Latvija), so I have some small tips about bikes and other transportation methods in Riga, Latvia!:-) This is just a small announcement.

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Chapter 2. Transportation in Riga (Buss 22, Trolleybuss 11, fiets).

If you decide travelling by bus on Ligo holidays – that is a very wice idea! Because all public transport is free on Ligo (23-24 June, 2010)
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2.1 Public Transportation in Riga
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2.1.1 Buses, Trolleybuses and Trams.

Riga posesses a very good public transportation system, Rigas Satiksme. That is just the only company that runs all public transportation systems in Riga. It includes the network of trams (at the moment some of new 20 low-floor Czech trams have arrived and now being under experimental part), buses and trolleybuses.

In 1990-s, when Riga still has been a part of Soviet Imperium, the underground metro system has been planned and was due to convert in its building stage, but because of some problems the project was postponed and almost has been forgotten for years.

Anyway, the transport is running almost 20 hours per day, in most cases accurately following the schedules; those are available at every public transport stand and also on internet at www.rigassatiksme.lv

In 2009 new system of electronic payments for travelling within city limits was created, with the brand name e-talon. E-tickets are available at kiosks and other retail shops. You can purchase e-tickets for 5, 10, 20 trips (any trip is normally one trip by one given route [mean] of transport, without time and distance limits). Some weekly and monthly tickets are also available. If you don’t have time neither wish to plan your trips in advance, you can purchase tickets at the driver (for cash only).

Most of the buses and trolleybuses are of a Czech origin (Skoda factories), they are very modern, safe and clean. They do include such facilities as LCD screens with the route scheme and time-tables. There are almost no commercials inside. Most of the drivers are local women (excluding bus drivers). All stops are being proclamed both verbally via internal speakerphones and shown on the screens.

There are also some weak points as drivers don’t speak English in most cases, and all the public transportation systems are getting extremly over-crowded on working days, especially in Pick Hours. There is also a very big problem with traffic jams, so on working days all the transports are getting delayed. There are no big problems with transportation working in winter or other severe weather conditions, that could influence on unsafety, but it just can multiple traffic jams.

Anyway the public transport seems to be a little bit too expensive, with 1 euro cost per trip (if you purchse the ticket at the driver), which is quite a lot of money for the most of average households in Latvia, if being calculated together with the average incomes. Also sometimes passengers need to have at least 1 over-step (interchange) if travelling from, for example, Airport (West Riga) to some suburbs in East Riga. That at least will double the travel costs.

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2.1.2 Public Taxi’s and Taxi’s

As an alternative, there is a good network of “Public Taxi’s” (as I would translate the local name of that sub-system into English). It is very well-known kind of transport in Eastern Europe and Russia. The cost for a trip is approximately 40-45 santimes, or about 60 eurocent. Public taxi’s are quite safe and have their schedule as well, available at their stop stands only.

There are several mostly private companies working as taxi operators in Riga. The prices are quite the same from one to another company, and normally charges are 1.50LVL for ‘iekapshana’, 0.50-0.60 LVL per kilometer (both day and night), 0.60 LVL per waiting 1 hour. Unfortunately most of the drivers don’t speak good English and trying manipulate with taxi-meters, so sometimes it is wise to have a little bit more money than necessary. If you did like the trip, it is normal to give average 10 per cent tips on top of the ride price. And a small tip that I use myself always travelling by taxi in any country (if applicable) – I look at the route on google maps, either I use GPS in my telephone to look in advance for the shortest ways from point A to point B, as some drivers in any country try to have an advance and take the longest ways to get your ride.

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2.1.3 Trains

For longer trips there is a ntework of local rail roads available. Unfortunately trains are running quite slow and have big intervals. Nethervelles they are still very convinient if you want to get your bike with you and go lets say to a beach. I have tried a short train trip to Vecaki, a cosy village on the coast with some beaches. It takes just a little bit more than 20 minutes to get to Vecaki from the city center. Return ticket cost around 1.40 euros, but don’t forget to buy a special ticket for your bike! Traing are running accurately following the time tables, and still give a lot of positive emotions, if there are no crowds in the carriages. Some of them are now under European Union modernisation projects and inspite of ugly outerior design which is slightly being smothed by a color design, they are quite modern and comfortable inside. New modernated vagoons have stands for the bikes, but, unfortunately, there is still no access for people with disabilities. There is still a big lack of toilets, even if trains are covering distances of more than 100 kilometers.

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2.2 Private Transportation in Riga
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2.2.1 Your Car and Your motorbike!

The road system in Riga as well as in Latvia was mostly created in 20 century by Soviets. There some more reconstructional works were done during second period of Independance in Latvia in 1991 – 2004 and later, after country has joined European Union in 2004. Some big funds were invested by European Union into reconstruction of main roads, as well as into building up some new projects, for example, the South Bridge.

The traffic in Riga is right-side, the system of signs is very similar to any other European country with some exceptions and additions. Most of drivers are behaviong politely and follow the traffic rules and norms. Some country special attempts were done to decrease quantity of people driving drunk, but the percentage of people having serious injures is still quite high and far above of the average European Level.

Neverthelles once you’ve got a car, it is very convinient to travel both within city limits and travelling across the country. The speed limit is normal and 120 kilometers per hour, with some restrictions within cities and urban zones. The price of benzine is a little bit high but still affordable, around 1 euro per liter. Bike culture is also well-developed in Riga and some other big cities in Latvia. There are some bike clubs in Riga. Bike is much more convinient to travel within city limits on working days, when there are severe traffic jams nearly paralazing the traffic in the central parts.

There are plenty of parking places available in the city. Prices vary, from 20 LVL per a parking place outside per month, to 1 LVL per hour in some prestigious underground parking in the center. The Old Town of Riga normally is closed for private cars. Some additional payments are due to be done, for example, once travelling to a cosy resort of Juurmala (Lat: Sea Side)

Unfortunately some roads within some parts of Riga are of a very bad condition and might be dangerous both for the cars, bikes and the traffic safety. The city is trying to improve the system, but it might take a long time to finalize the works, especially during crisi times.

2.2.2 Your Bicycle!

Bike is a very popular kind of private transportation. Most of people use it more as a fun meaning instead of transort mean. There are quite obvious reasons, why – the very big lack of fietspas, neuvazhenie ostaljnyh uchastnikov dvizhenija k velosipedistam and some others.

But, the bicycle culture is quite well-developed in Riga. For example, there are some bike brands of Latvian origin, they have own big stores and also web-sites on internet. Some Western bike brands would probably not successful here and not just because of the price matter, but also because of the road conditions and osobbenosti of local population mentality.

The city is constantly improving it’s network of fietspas, but at the present time only two are available: [[}}

Unfortunately due to the urban planning bike is not convinient in travelling within the city limits, inspite of some definative preimushestv (driving through the traffic jams). The driving culture is also not acceptable at the moment to consider bikes as one of the most popular means of transportation.

2.2.4 Your Feet!

In some cases feet is the only and the most convenient way to sort out your transportation problems in Riga, if you for example walking in the Old Town of Riga, either enjoying walking through the fabulous parks. Also, bikes are not very convenient if you are scared to go aside of the traffic on the roads, as the most of sidewalks have no really good perehod s bordjura na sidewalk. So BMX either mountain bike rules again here!

2.2.3 Your Yacht!

I didn’t have much time to make researches on the river transportation, but it must be done also! The facts that I have seen in Riga are – Yacht clubs, yacht school in Purvciems and Yacht tank station at Krasta. But I guess that is the transport for the near future here, with very good traditions of local moreplavanie i prochie pribambasy [:-) etc.

Also – good transport link to and from biggest Riga, Ventspils and Liepaja ports.
Da ja tut jacht shkolu videl na ul dudaeva ili kak tam? Plus v vecakah paru jaht videl

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Chapter 3.1: Buying bike on internet

So lets start from the beginning again.

I will not write any more about buying bike on www.marktplaats.nl as I already have found an article on internet where are some tips on doing that. The article is available at

http://www.esn-rotterdam.nl/content/how-get-bike

Just some kind of overview of that article.

I live in Rotterdam and I have seen quite few tweedehand fiets stores and couldn’t find anything for 30 euros. If anybody knows please let me know also!

If you are not good player on ebay system, of course, you can try marktplaats but it might be so that you will get even more confused with marktplaats and if you have your bank pas by the hand it might be so, that you somehow will spend much more money, than you will win with markplaats (hide payments, agressive advertisement, calls from customer service from marktplaats, marktplaats onderzoeken…)

Just very fresh example from my own experience on buying a bike on marktplaats.

I found only one that was nearby – for 50 euros But it was said that the bike is good, but still needs ‘heavy” maintainance. My bod was 1 euro:-) And my bod was deleted in 10 minutes.

The question: I know that I will have to repair that bike. And I have to pay already 50 euros basically for nothing. 50 euros in advance, downpayment.

No marktplaats. I will use you for some other things:-) But definately not for buying a bike.

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Chapter 4. I have bought the bike!

Goeiemorgen, Nederland en Nederlanders, and also Vlander! I have just realised that I finally had bought the bike. I bought it for 40 euros (approximately). And there is Shimana {Japan) trademark on it. And that’s not a stolen bike. It doesn’t look very new, but it works very good. It has 7 gears, good tyres, and all those accessories like lights, and others. It’s is a street racer, and it is of a dark blue color. Typical heren fiets. Or just the man’s bike…

But I have bought it in July 2010, and today is still 22 June 2010. Therefore I have some time to finish my first topic about buying a bike in Rotterdam and continue with other topics, like transportation [ryanair], vacation time [latvia] and the most important – finding suitable accomodation in Holland. I will continue in chapters 3.0-3.1-3.2 etc. Have a good day all!

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Chapter 3: Buying a bike in Rotterdam, Delfshaven

The reason, why I am writing about Delfshaven, was my talk with a man who is working at a fiets stelling near metro Maashaven.

- My bike was stolen, – I started in Dutch but continued in English.

- I know there are plenty of people who are not coming to collect their bikes. And I really need a bike, but I can pay maximum 100 euros, – I was looking into the man’s eyes. – Maybe you know where are such a places where I can get a bike for 100 euros in Rotterdam? I know I can get a stolen one for 15 euros, but I don’t want.

- I am not from this part of Rotterdam, – the man said.

- I can travel even to the Rotterdam Noord, – nodded I.

- There is a shop, fiets winkel or so, in Rotterdam Delfshaven at Spaa….straat, said he.

I was in Delfshaven on Saturday to have a closer look at the market in the area near Nieuw Binnenweg, and on Sunday.

And I made some interesting researches.

I have found that shop, at Spaa….straat, and I have seen 5-6 bikes (tweedehand fiets) for 100 euros – those were the cheapest ones.

A bit later I was walking down the Nieuw Binnenweg and popped up into another store – there I have seen what I was looking for – cool mountain bikes for 189 euros, very brand new.

A sales guy, around 20, advised me to decide straight away, which bike I like to buy, and then he’d give me a good price. I didn’t have much money with me but decided to play and offered 150 euros for a bike.

The sales guy didn’t want to make it so cheaper.

- I am going to my home country for vacations, and I can buy a bike of the same quality for 50 euros there,- I tried to continue to stand on my opinion.

- Haha if that’s Poland, then you can get only a Pakistani bike with no quality at all, for such money, – the sales guy was sure in his statement.

- And all those bikes that you have here?

- It’s a trademark, Shimana, from Turkey, – said he, – Shimana trademark is also on Gazelle, the number 1 brand in Holland?

I just said that if he thought that quality of bikes from Turkey is better than those from Pakistani because of Shimana trademark might be wrong. I didn’t say anything about Gazelle, because, lets say in Russia, or in France, or maybe in another country Gazelle first stands for the name of animal, but not a bike trademark…

So I’ve decided to postpone my searches for a legal bike in Rotterdam and go to find an illegal bike!;-) 15 euros – not much money, so never late to try and become a small criminal. Just bare in mind that I am not buying a stolen bike, but just borrowing it for some weeks use, before I can offer a really good bike, for their 189 euros. And if I am lucky with that – I always can return bike to the police {needs to be investigated].

Have a nice weekend!!!!:-) Artie.

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Room Rotterdam and bike Rotterdam, chapter 3

Goeiemorgen mensen!!! Finally a day off for me, I always have days off on Mondays, when other people are busy to get on track on Mondays after having spent cool weekends somewhere. And I prefer to work on Sundays instead, and have a very low start on Tuesdays:-)

Anyway I am back to write my chapter two about buying a bike in Rotterdam. But need to go a little bit into the future of my book and give an announcement. There are 2 rooms are available in Rotterdam. 1 room is in South Rotterdam, and it’s getting available in the end of July, and second one is free on 1st July 2010 and now looking for tenants! The second room is in a very beautiful part of Rotterdam – Delfshaven. If you or somebody of your friends are looking for accomodation – maybe I can help!

And now: Chapetr 3: Buying bike in Rotterdam

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Chapter 2. Wher you can’t buy bike in Rotterdam

I am still in the process of buying a bike… I have plenty of time and not much money, therefore I am not in hurry and prefer to do it slow and enjoy making some researches.

If you live in Southern Part of Rotterdam, then I will tell you where you can not buy a bike exactly, unless you have spare 200-300 euros to buy a new bike.

I have just visited a market near metro Rijnhaven-Maashaven. The market is always working on Saturdays, but probably also during the week. There are at least two shops (including reparation service), where you can’t find what are you looking for.

Just give you an example of my talk with a sell man in one of the shops:

“Ik ben op zoek naar een fiets, voor maar ongeveer 100 euro…” – said I looking sadly on the floor. I was ready to continue the talk, playing a sad guy who has his bike just stolen:-)

“Ne, we hebben geen fietsen, voor 100 euro. Alles begint van 200 euros” – was his answer.

Before having spoken with the man I had a quick look around the shop floor and actually have found a bike for 115 euros, and for 149 euros – here you go, first conclusion – first try to have a look yourself before starting a talk with a sales man. He said that he has bikes from 200 euros. (Esss, and bikes for 1000 euros;-) And second conclusion – but it is very common for any case in the life – if you can’t find the way number one, then the way number two, there are plenty ways to go around and play with any situation to get your dreams come true and get positive staff from [almost] anything.

I will continue later but today I really wanna watch a game Nederland vs Japan. My bod – 2:1 (Ned:-)

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