Diary week by week
ENJOY READING AND DISCOVERING JANINE PRINS TRAVEL IMPRESSIONS
Week 1
'In the countryside near Rotterdam suddenly a text appears on the cyclepath "Ik zoek in de lucht naar houvast" roughly translated as ‘I seek in the air for grip' a poem in a series "Wegdekdialogen" (‘Roadsurface dialogues') by Linda Pijnacker'. Discover the visuals and written impressions from Janine's first travel week... Read
Week 2
We arrive in the Belgian area of Borinage, traditionally known for its coalmines and exploitative poverty. Even today the area does not provide much income through work as there is none nearby. The site of Grand-Hornu offers glimmers of hope or at least some wider horizon, having been transformed into a Museum of Modern Art...Discover the complete diary of this week in image and word here.
week 3
We go from France to Germany across the river Rhine where a ‘passerelle' has been built for cyclists and footpassengers over this former natural border, between Strassbourg and Kehl. On the German side a statue has been put up in 1994 made by Jozef Fromm from Munich. We invite you to read the complete diary from this week. Read
Week 4
This week we travel through Switzerland. Maybe because I was born in Bern and had a grandmother who lived near Geneva, I carry some strong images 'about' Switzerland within. Not only cuckoo clocks and cowbells, both in my room as a little child but also very posh people walking the streets of Geneva. When visiting Zürich during our trip now, I'm happy to see things have changed. Or have they? Click here to view full visual and textual diary of week 4.
Week 5
Italy - Why am I so enchanted by the European flag hanging on this balcony rather than proudly moving in front of tall shiny buildings? Probably because it reminds me of different notions about 'order' and 'tidyness'. Apparently I hope that such differences will remain. Cracks show character, uniqueness, reality. Not every crack needs glossing over. Discover all visual and textual impressions of the 5th week.
Week 6
This could almost be any time, anywhere. Except that we are still in Italy. I will remember our time here mainly for the apparent preoccupation with food. Between 12:30 and 15:00 the country seems empty, closed down. Noon onwards many women hurry along with plastic bags, probably on their way home to cook.
Click here to read and view full diary from week 6
Week 7
Going across the Adriatic Sea towards Croatia I wonder what to find at the other end. The following type of images linger in my mind - what put them there?
How true to reality are they? Janine's travel continues. Read the full diary here
Week 8
This week we spent quite some time in Mostar. The fysical destruction of war is still visible everywhere and it gets under your skin. The atmospere is still rather tense. Within a day, even as an outsider, you get into the habit of placing each person on this or that side of the bridge. Janine spend the christmas period in Mostar and surroundings. To read her latest impressions, click here
Week 9
We are still in the capital of Montenegro on the lookout for the art scene. This is rather difficult because due to the orthodox New Year most people are elsewhere and everything is closed. But we know that cafe Karver under the bridge attracts all kinds of intellectuals and artists. During the day nothing happened, but at night we meet all these young art students out on the street in the cold. The cafe is too expensive for them. Read full diary impressions: click here
Week 10
We remain another week in Albania in order to experience this rather unfamiliar country a little more. Can we get closer to some cultural specifics other than its relative recent communist history? Read the whole diary from janine this week, click here
Week 11
After the relative disorder of Albania we reach northern Greece. The very first town we stop is Ioannina in Epirus. I am struck with something that I now realise I missed in Albania: art in public places. Seeing this first sculpture after two weeks without much visual art I feel like quenching a thirst. Read the complete diary notes. Click here
Week 12
Last week we lingered in tranquil parts of Epirus, since then we moved further towards the Turkish border through northern Greece stopping in places with more of a city buzz. The sense of cultural, artistic and religious continuity can be felt here there and almost everywhere, sometimes tangibly so in ordinary life as here in Thessaloniki. If you want to read the full diary notes, click here.
Week 13
Just before we leave Greece for Turkey, in the city of Alexandroupoli, my eye is caught by a poster signalling an ‘Ethnological museum'. It shows the traditional diversity of greater Thrace. An area that nowadays stretches into Bulgaria, Greece and Turkey where a mixture of people used to live peacefully together...If you want to read more about Janine's impressions, click here
Week 14
Before going to Istanbul we wanted to get a little flavour of other places with presumably other paces. The first surprise was the amount of veils being worn by women. Somehow it had been put in my mind that Western Turkey was so ´modern´ that one would hardly come across any women wearing any head or body cover whatsoever. Three times wrong. Share Janine' s complete impressions of this week, click here
Week 15
Istanbul is one of those cities where every neighbourhood contains everything you need and therefore you hardly set foot anywhere else. We stayed near Beyoglu where the Istiklal street runs through, said to be the DNA of the city, showing what is happening all over and at the moment that happens to be consumerism. Reda Janine's complete impressions of Istanbul, click here.
Week 16
This week we really have to move on and leave Turkey for Bulgaria. For the first time during these travels it makes me feel sad. I´d rather carry on eastward to discover more of this vast country. Somehow I do not want to return to the EU. Why is that? It may have to do with the control of chaos in Turkey. Continue to discover Istanbul in this weeks full diary, click here.
Week 17
The city of Plovdiv in is known for its artistic climate. Several famous Bulgarian painters of the ‘old guard' created an inspiring atmosphere which nowadays still attracts younger generations. We meet Mihaela Danailova who reluctantly shows us some work from some time ago which she happens to have with her. To discover more about Bulgarain art scene and other impression of this weeks diary notes, click here
Week 18
The first week spent in Romania takes place mainly in Bucharest. Looking at buildings and street life this might be a city just like any other. Except when I remember the images of the ´89 revolution. Then I start looking closer at the age of people passing. Janine's impressions on Bucharest, its contemporary art scene and its' people can be read in total if you click here
Week 19
This week we travel up north out of Bucharest, through country towns and villages. I am preoccupied by two things, both concerning young people. First it seems that young adults from the countryside tend to leave the country if they can - mainly for Italy, Spain, Portugal or if at all possible the United States.
Second...Share the full diary from this week, click here
Week 20
The image I had ´about´ rural Romania before I went there consisted of two rather folkloric elements: its traditional music and colourful costumes. But how does everyday reality really look like in this country where 55% of the population lives in rural areas? To read this weeks entry in total, click here
Week 21
From Romania we travel east to Moldava, where we can use the most recent words for ´thank you´ a little longer. Although language, history and culture are pretty close between these neighbouring countries, there is an immediate difference once you cross the border. If you want to discover more about Janine's Moldovan impressions, click here
Week 22
Before leaving Moldova's capital Chisinau I say farewell to this statue in the courtyard where we have been visiting several times. It was made by a Jewish artist who left with the family to live in Germany. There used to be three statues however, but the other two have been stolen, probably for melting and re-usage of material. If you want to read more about Janine's Moladavian journey and impressions, click here
Week 23
The first week in Ukraine we head straight for Odessa and stay there much longer than anticipated. Even so we do not encounter any interesting art related stories. Is it us or is it Odessa? If you are curious to find out, we invite you to read how Janine experienced her stay in Odessa. More
Week 24
We left the Black Sea and went to Western Ukraine hoping to find some cultural roots that might inspire contemporary art. This time we did find what we were looking for albeit in a rather excessive way - at least to our eyes. If you want to read Janine's full diary entry, click here
Week 25
Still in Ukraine and still somewhat puzzled by the ethno interest of young people, including contemporary artists. The recent past - for some elderly still the present - is directly traceable. Look at these two goblins for instance. To follow Janine for the rest of her week's encounters and impressions, click here
Week 26
We enter Slovakia at a little border village and head further north east to the small town of Medzilaborçe in order to visit the Warhol museum. The New York based artist had Ruthenian roots, which his mother kept very much alive. We also visit the village and region where both Warhol -originally Warchola- parents came from. Read more
Week 27
From Slovakia we slip into Poland where the first stop is Auschwitz-Birkenau. Not exactly a ´hidden´ place on Europe's cultural map, rather an icon of massive amputation with scars all over the continent. And they itch. Read full diary from this week
Week 28 and 29
From all countries we visited during this trip it seems to me that in Poland many more people have succeeded in acquiring individual material needs such as new housing and cars. I'm told by a local interculturalist that this might have to do with Polish machismo, the custom to show off status. If you want to read complete obseravtions made this week, click here
Week 30
Once returned to The Netherlands after seven months roaming around parts on the European continent where I had not been before people ask me if the trip changed me. Well, yes and no. My personality and professions made certain experiences and observations happen. A special Diary this last one, beacuse Janine looks back on her travel experiences and shares her thought with us. Read
Read last entries. Click here