Summer in the City with Katja Schuurman
When one of the nicest and prettiest women in our country writes a book, we start reading. ‘Katja was here’ you want to read yourself, but for you, we will already reveal Katja's travel secrets and (just because we are curious) the latest charge on her credit card.
Katja, why this book?
‘Because I have been to so many fantastic places, a whole bunch that you probably wouldn't think of quickly yourself but are more than worth visiting. I wanted to share that. Albania, Nicaragua, Latvia; unjustly they appear on few vacation wish lists. My friends often call me for tips and addresses, and you will find those in this book. I have also experienced many special, bizarre, touching, funny things while traveling, for my work and privately, those stories I share, along with a lot of photos from my private archive.’
And what are you reading now?
‘On the Road – The Original Scroll by Jack Kerouac.’
Why do you keep traveling forever?
‘Because the world is endlessly beautiful, there are people to meet and places to discover. And because I always remain curious about different and elsewhere and because it never gets used to.’
The vacation money has been deposited, what should we book if it were up to you?
‘Nicaragua! A country with the same overwhelming nature as, for example, Costa Rica, but with fewer tourists and very cheap. Or closer to home: Croatia! Beautiful and disarming people.’
Which country are you going back to and what are you going to eat there immediately?
‘Japan, during spring when the cherry blossoms color the country pink. And I eat everything there!’
What word is the best invention ever, but you don't use in your book?
‘I don't believe there are words that I wouldn't use. I even use non-existent words in my book because I like them and they cover the meaning better than any existing word.’
Latest charge on your credit card?
‘Mugs, plates, and a blanket at Anthropologie; that makes me so happy. These delightful products are also real inspiration for Return to Sender. Check our web shop www.returntosender.nl and you’ll understand what I mean.’
Which book made you cry?
‘Congo by David van Reybrouck. I'm currently reading it.’
And which movie made you cry from laughter?
‘Not really a movie, but last week I watched Humanity, the latest show by Ricky Gervais and I laughed so hard I almost peed my pants. By the way, I recently cried very hard and couldn't stop while watching The Broken Circle Breakdown. I watched the film for inspiration for the play Blind Date that I will be performing with my ex-husband Thijs Römer starting mid-August at the DeLaMar in Amsterdam.’
Katja was here Inspiration for a travel-loving life
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Is there a place in the world that is special to you?
‘Costa Rica. I went there alone when I was twenty-one and fell in love with traveling.’
What is your strangest hidden talent?
‘Flower arranging.’
Your worst habit?
‘My excessiveness.’
Your best habit?
‘Being in the moment and enjoying very much.’
Imagine... it's 25+ degrees, you're free, what are you going to do today?
‘I put on my bikini, cross the street, and take a dip in the IJsselmeer. Then I lie on a blanket in the garden and mess around a bit in and around the house all day. In the evening, of course, I light the barbecue to grill a delicious fish and a lot of vegetables.‘
The best travel tip you ever received?
‘Ilha de Marajó, an island in the north of Brazil near the Amazon. The nature, the incredibly relaxed people, the police riding on bison; I never wanted to leave. I got the tip from Leco.’
The most memorable thing you have eaten?
‘Scorpion in Thailand, but not because it was tasty.’
Next destination:
‘Bilbao! There nearby, in San Sebastian, you seem to have a lot of fantastic restaurants. Freek has wanted to go there for a long time and I’m happy to join.’
Image of Katja's book
