Towbar needed back in Utrecht!

This Saturday, the 10th of July, Tjerk Ridder and Peter Bijl will return to Utrecht. At. 14.00 hrs the mayor of the city of Utrecht, Mr. Wolfsen, will welcome the party on Domplein.
We would hereby like to invite you to come and celebrate the great success of the hitchhiking journey with us!

The details are as follows:
Date: Saturday 10. July
Time: 14.00 hrs
Place: Domplein, Utrecht

Prior to the reception on Domplein, Tjerk and Peter will be welcomed by Frank du Mosch in the radio show Cappuccino which is broadcasted on Saturday, 10th July on Radio 2. Around 9.20 Tjerk Ridder will give a report of the journey and sing the title track Unterwegs.

See you on Saturday!

Istanbul!

Can we borrow your tow bar?

Dachs in Istanbul

On Tuesday the 29th of June at 18.00 we reached the Sultanahmed square in Istanbul with our caravan. On the left the blue mosque, and on the right the famous Aya Sofia. Surrounding us: a crowd of people, amongst which Simon Wintermans and a camera team from TNT (Turkish national television) and Editie NL (broadcasted in the Netherlands on Wednesday 30 June on RLT 4 at 18.15). Mission accomplished.

Belgrade

We have arrived in the Serbian capital. Everything here is bigger, faster and more dynamic than in the rest of the country, as is the case with most capital cities. At every new location we go through the same repetition, so nothing different in Belgrade. It is great to be able to set up camp here for a few days. The first night at the Sava Center parking lot was fine but a bit rough: no shower, bathroom, running water or shade. So when we get the offer by phone to move to the ‘best spot of the city’, we are very quick to take it. » Lees meer…

Feliz Novi Sad

Since yesterday the self-adjusted song “Feliz Novi Sad” is stuck in my head. The contrast between a Spanish Christmas and the Serbian summer could not be bigger though. We have arrived at a fantastic location, at a beach on the Danube. Despite the high temperatures the water level is dangerously high. In the direct surroundings of our caravan there is a swimming pool, a variety of small kiosks, terraces, sport pitches and picknich patches. In the evening half of the Novi Sad population gathers here to watch the World Cup on large TV screens. Even later at night the beach turns into some sort of lovers lane. Coloured lights, outside eating places and a wandering gipsy orchestra. To me it feels like something between the Parade (a Dutch traveling cultural festival) and a beach side resort. » Lees meer…

Moving Shanghai

In the last week of May I had a fantastic week in Shanghai. I was there to perform at the Dutch Culture Center at the World Expo. I used the weeks preceeding the performance to bring together my experiences of ‘Stage 1′ into a theatrical report of my journey. » Lees meer…

First stage of “Tow Bar Needed” a great success

This winter, Utrecht musician Tjerk Ridder traveled through Europe, hitchhiking with a caravan, but without a car. Destinations: The European Capitals of Culture 2010: Essen/Ruhr (Germany) and Pécs (Hungary). But the actual project goal was the journey itself. And this journey was – to put it mildly – overwhelming. And so was the media attention. Ridder made it to the national TV news in five different European countries and even became close to being a national TV star in Hungary. » Lees meer…

Contemplations on the way home

On the way home, while miles are passing by between Prague and Utrecht, I have a lot of time to contemplate on all experiences and encounters of part I of the project. Starting with the departure from Utrecht Dom Square in Mayor Wolfsen’s car. My first wintery week in The Netherlands ending with the warm welcome in Limburg. The grand opening of Ruhr 2010 at Essen Zollverein. » Lees meer…

Stories and impressions

A few nights ago in the middle of the night I re-read all my blogs and realized what I have experienced since my departure from Utrecht on January 3rd. So many stories and encounters, over and over, every day. So many things have happened during my ‘Tow Bar Wanted’ tour so far that it is impossible to describe them all in my blog. » Lees meer…

Fresh produce from the local market

This afternoon I saw a Tweet about food from Remco Timmermans, with a link to a presentation by Jamie Oliver, earlier this week. I watched Jamie talk about healthy and fresh food as a cure for the top diseases in Western society, just after visiting the local indoor produce market here in Pécs, where I had purchased fresh peppers, carrots and cucumbers for lunch. » Lees meer…

A daily routine

The caravan has been at Pécs Dom Square for almost a week now, and slowly a daily routine has evolved. In Germany and Austria we had a lot of media attention, but the Hungarian press beats them all. No day goes by without journalists knocking on the caravan door. It is a challenge to provide new and original answers to the same questions and to find a special connection with each individual reporter.

» Lees meer…

Old and new images

Yesterday we were invited to Pécs City Hall. City Hall was built in the early 20th century, directly at the main square, Széchenyi tér. It has a dignified classic character. High ceilings, charm, style, but also some of the waggishness of the pre-communist era. » Lees meer…

Visitors from Utrecht in Pécs

Yesterday evening Peter Bijl and Jo de Viet, Utrecht city marketing manager, arrived in Pécs. What started as a nice dinner at Simon and Kata Wintermans ended up in a nightly snowball fight on our way back to the caravan. Today we have a guest-blog by Jo de Viet:

Just over 29 years ago I spent a year studying in Hungary, three months of which I spent in Pécs. Communism caused greyness, the air was black of brown coal, but the people were nice as ever. » Lees meer…

Impressed with the Szent Mór school

Today I was invited to the annual song presentation of the Pécs Szent Mór school. First noticeable detail is that this catholic school offers both elementary and higher education. Another detail is that the school – apart from offering regular subjects – pays a lot of attention to expression and music. The song presentation is both intended to train the students singing skills, and to also teach the children to listen and get used to performing in front of audiences. » Lees meer…

On the road, that’s where the stories are!

Yesterday we made big progress with our journey. As often, the big started off small. The first ride took us 100 meters further. With the kind help of three men and an elderly lady we pushed the caravan up a small hill to a spot in between two petrol stations, so we were well visible. » Lees meer…

Caravan hitchhike on NOS Headlines TV and Tom’s kiosk

Tonight we can watch my journey to Essen on NOS Headlines. I don’t know exactly at what time, but I guess you’ll be able to find out. Because of the snow falling on the solar panels on the roof I do not have sufficient power. After a long search, finding many closed doors, I finally find a warm and dry base: Tom’s kiosk in Essen Stoppenberg. » Lees meer…

At Maastricht Market Square

This afternoon Daisy and Emiel (NOS Headlines TV) and myself visited Maastricht City Hall. Coincidentally they were preparing the grand reception hall for a ‘Maastricht European Cultural Capital 2018′  evening. So we are there at the right time! Deputy Jean Jacobs, responsible for culture and economy, very friendly receives us. With the collector’s item tow bar cap in his hands he briefly explains his vision on the 2013 cultural capital elections. Maastricht emphasises cooperation (between cities, companies and civilians) and has a very strong basis of culture and participation. » Lees meer…

Official start of the ‘Tow Bar Wanted’ project!

A mobile invasion at Dom Square. The VIP Bus is canning ‘fresh aspirations’, Dutch dishes and hot wine are being served from another caravan, while ‘my’ caravan is being prepared for departure. Firepots at the square ensure warmth in the dim winter sunlight at this 3rd day of the new decade. An enthusiastic crowd waves us goodbye as Utrecht Mayor Aleid Wolfsen and I leave Dom Square at 15:40. » Lees meer…