Yo, lemme tell ya about my day in Zwolle. Man, it was a wild ride! So, I woke up, right? Sun was shining, birds chirping, and I thought, “Today’s gonna be chill.” Spoiler alert: it was NOT chill.
First off, I had to get my makeup on. You know, the whole Maiko vibe—white face, red lips, the works. I’m sittin’ there in my tiny room on the Korte Kamperstraat, and I’m like, “Why is this eyeliner so stubborn?” I swear, it was like wrestling an octopus.
Finally, I’m out the door, strutting down the streets. Zwolle is so pretty, man! The canals, the old buildings, and that big ol’ Sassenpoort gate. I mean, who doesn’t love a good medieval vibe? But then, BAM! I step in a puddle. Ugh! My geta (those wooden sandals) are soaked. Just great.
I’m walking towards the Grote Markt, right? And I see this cute little café. I’m like, “Ooh, coffee time!” But guess what? The barista spills my drink all over the counter. I’m like, “Dude, really?!” I mean, I get it, we all have bad days, but c’mon!
So, I grab my coffee (finally) and head to the market. The smell of fresh stroopwafels hits me. OMG, I’m in heaven! I buy one, and it’s like a warm hug in my mouth. But then, I see this kid drop his ice cream. I’m like, “Noooo!” It was tragic.
Then, I bump into my friend Yuki. She’s also a Maiko, and she’s all dressed up too. We start chatting about our gigs later. I’m like, “You ready to wow the crowd?” She’s like, “Totally! But first, let’s hit up the Zwarte Water.” I’m down for that!
We stroll along the canal, and I’m just vibing. The sun is setting, and everything looks golden. But then, outta nowhere, this seagull swoops down and tries to steal my stroopwafel! I’m flailing my arms like a madwoman. “Get away, you feathered thief!” Yuki is cracking up.
After that chaos, we head to the theater on the Blijmarkt. It’s packed! I’m feeling all the nerves. But when we hit the stage, it’s like magic. The crowd is loving it! I’m twirling, dancing, and just feeling alive.
But then, mid-performance, my obi (the sash) starts slipping. I’m like, “Oh no, not now!” I’m trying to keep it together while also holding my outfit. It’s a struggle, but I manage to pull it off. Literally.
After the show, we’re all hyped. I’m on cloud nine! But then, I see my reflection in a shop window. My makeup is a mess! I look like a raccoon on a bad day. I’m laughing so hard, I can’t even.
So, we hit up a bar on the Diezerstraat. I’m ready to celebrate! But guess what? They’re outta my favorite drink. Like, seriously? I’m about to throw a fit. But Yuki calms me down. “Let’s just get something else.” Fine, I guess.
The night ends with us wandering the streets, laughing and just enjoying Zwolle. I’m exhausted but happy. I mean, what a day! From puddles to performances, it was a rollercoaster.
So yeah, Zwolle, you crazy city, you’ve got my heart. Can’t wait for the next adventure!