Nov-2014
Connecting travelers at the National Geographic Traveler Cafe
Remember I wrote you about an event National Geographic Traveler organized? Yeah? 🙂 Good! Last week on November 6th I traveled my way up to Amsterdam by train together with my +1 (mi hermana) and learned about a little ferry that takes us to the NDSM-werf behind the Central Station. This amazingly great location at the NDSM-werf was chosen to host the National Geographic Traveler Cafe, named Pllek. Yes, with two L’s.
Great event, great location
Once we arrive at Plekk a young man greets us, checks the guest list for our names and gives us each a colorful beenie from the brand Sinner. We enter the place and I realize it’s a great location because you have a view on the ‘IJ’ and it seems as if you’re inside a shipping container. Pretty unique location!
There plenty of room to sit at the tables, but everywhere there’s already someone at the table. I decide to ask a couple if we can join them while they smile and welcome us. Now the couple appears to be the parents of one of the managers working at National Geographic and they are traveling to Nicaragua in a few months, so we’ve got some stories to tell each other!
Amusement with inspiration
A famous Dutch T.V. presentator, Daphne Bunskoek, starts sharing a story on stage about her work with Nat. Geo. and introduces the team. The first presentation we get is from a great photographer, Jasper Doest, who recently spent fifty lonely days on one of the Dutch islands named Rottumeroog. Followed by a rough competition kind of trip to Guatemala for Sacha de Boer and Raymond Rutting, two photographers, who tried to get the best shot and showed us their differences. The evening ends with a Traveler Quiz where one guest can win the Nikon-camera! With questions about places all over the world we have to choose A or B by putting on the beenie or leaving it off. One of the last questions was about wine in North America where I choose the wrong answer, like many of us, but fortunately one person did get it right and won.
After the fun presentations and the quiz we had couple of conversations with some of staff from National Geographic enjoying a glass of wine, but it was already getting pretty late and after such a fun evening such a pity I still have to take the 2 hours taking train back home. However, totally worth it!
Wish you’d be there?
Missed it? No worries! I’m quite sure National Geographic Traveler will organize another Traveler Cafe so you might want to keep an eye out for events on their website where you can register for the next event.
About Renate Rigters
Ever since I left my home country I felt at home at any other place I went to. I enjoy getting to know more cultures by talking to strangers and hearing their philosophy about life. Speaking with gestures when you can not find a shared language, finding places only the locals go to and learn about their customs and values. Hanging out with local people makes me happy. The experience of every new place is a step out of your comfort zone where I like to wander around until it feels like a second home.
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