The summer of: May-Britt Mobach
Spring has begun, summer is being unlocked. Where is May going on vacation this year and why did she choose this place?
‘At the moment I am writing this, I am sitting on the terrace of our house in Puglia, the heel of the boot and thus my favorite place on earth. Well, next to our beach house in Wijk aan Zee, but here the certainty of sun is a bit greater. No matter how much I love hotels, having or renting my own house is my preference. Setting your own rhythm, not adhering to the hotel rules and thus being able to take a night swim whenever you feel like it is delightful. It is now May and we are spending the May holiday here. The summer will look very different because my beloved is making a program for RTL4 around the Olympic Games, so we suddenly find ourselves in Paris for three weeks, a great gift.’
Zoom in on that perfect evening. Where are you sitting, what’s on your plate, and who’s at your table?
‘I think that perfect evening took place yesterday. We dined with Remco and Louisette and their sons at Miramare da Michele. Remco and Loui also have a house here, so we see each other at least once, preferably twice, every holiday. Because you see each other ‘in a foreign land’ and spend time with the whole families, your bond deepens so quickly. We order the antipasti, drink a glass, read: bottle of Edda wine and definitely finish with a sgroppino and a game of shooting at the permanent fair opposite the restaurant.’
Are you the type that plans-books-and-fixes everything or do you let it come to you a bit? What is already fixed and what is still open?
‘For a long time, just ask Daniëlle, I was quite chaotic and of the ‘we'll see’ kind. Until I realized that planning ahead saves you a lot of time and gives you peace, so now we are already booking our ski hotel for next year as we leave the place and I booked the Thalys tickets for Paris at least a month ago. Within that defined exterior, I am extremely flexible.’
Is there still a bit of movement or is vacation for you really ‘rest in place’?
‘If you know me a little, you know that I really love sports. It’s not even an obligation anymore, I really enjoy it. So when the girls are still sleeping, my love and I are already out. We walk at a brisk pace and occasionally sprint. That’s a walk of about 4500 steps. Not extremely long, but nice and also up and down hills. After that, I do some exercises to stay flexible. I worked very hard to be able to do the splits and I don’t want to lose that. But it also applies here: at some point, it becomes an addiction.’
Have you thought about your summer wardrobe? What’s going in the suitcase and how do you put your outfits together?
‘Yes, of course! The wonderful thing about having my own house is that I have a lot of clothes hanging here and thus really have a Puglia wardrobe. This summer we are going to Paris and that does call for a different wardrobe. I will definitely be walking a lot more there, so I think more about shorts with nice tops, whereas here I choose colorful, long dresses.’
Is there already a playlist made for summer 2024 and what will definitely be on it?
‘Not yet. The strange thing is that it always arises with us. Two years ago we took a road trip to Sicily and listened a lot to Harry Styles. Last year it was Dua Lipa and the entire soundtrack of Barbie. Something will surely come up this year that will mark our memory later this year, but I don’t know yet what that will be. By the way, I really love Big Calm by Morcheeba when I’m lying by the pool.’
Is there already a stack of books ready? If so, which ones are they?
‘I really love books that are useful to me. Biographies are nice. I am currently reading ‘Through the Pain’ by Arthur Menko, a lightly yet expertly written self-help book by a psychologist (coincidentally my neighbor) who explains that you also need to treat mental pain and aches. He helps you with that. I also just read the biography of Jaap van Zweden. Intensely interesting, that talent and that hard work and where it leads to.’
Then a few either-or questions.
Bikini or swimsuit?
‘Both and several of each.’
Cocktail or mocktail?
‘Definitely a cocktail.’
Museum or beach club?
‘Normally really beach clubs, but this summer I want to visit a museum every day.’
Location recidivist (returning to the same place) or adventurer?
‘Difficult question. Because our oldest daughter has a syndrome with autism as a ‘bycatch’, it was better not to go too far and not to travel too adventurously. I also really love returning somewhere and finding everything the same. But all those trips to the same place will form one big block in your memory anyway, so I like to mix it up. Our Flo now lives in a very nice house for young people like her and that gives us a bit more freedom. Although I never want to be away too long, because otherwise I miss her too much.’
Book or E-reader?
‘Book, I also write with a fountain pen.’
Make a photo book or save everything on your iPhone and never do anything with it?
‘Once I thought I could only go on vacation again once the book from the previous vacation was made. That has unfortunately failed. But I have categorized the vacations in folders, so someday, someday…’
