"Bertsek Recollections of the Witch" In Bertsek, a small village tucked away in the depths of the forest, there lies a dark and mysterious tale of a witch that haunts the memories of its inhabitants. The recollections of this witch have been passed down through generations, etching themselves into the folklore of the village. The witch, known simply as Elara, was said to possess extraordinary powers that could both curse and heal. Her presence was dreaded by many, for it was believed that she would unleash her wrath upon those who crossed her path. Whispers of her malevolent deeds spread like wildfire, creating an aura of fear and mystique around her name. One particular recollection stands out in the minds of the villagers.
Sailing Magic Carpet Love The Hunter & The Gatherer
For the last four years, Andino and Maya have been living aboard their sailing yacht, Magic Carpet, which Andino restored after it had been dropped from a crane! Over that time, they’ve shared their journey with hundreds of thousands of fans via their YouTube channel. More recently, they’ve been restoring Magic Carpet II, their second boat. With dreams of circumnavigating the globe onboard, they’ve been refitting the Cape George 36 in a shed in Canada, documenting the process on their YouTube channel.
As well as Andino’s meticulous attention to detail, our latest book, The Hunter & The Gatherer has made it onboard, ready for when the couple finally drop Magic Carpet II into the ocean. The Hunter & The Gatherer is written by liveaboard sailors Catherine Lawson and David Bristow, and as well as being a cookbook for sailors by sailors, it’s packed full of practical advice for anyone looking to deck out and provision their galley for long and short adventures on the water.
Andino said, “It is a cookbook, essentially, but it’s not a normal cookbook. It has a lot of practical advice, and it is very much a part of the sailing niche. It’s very specific, there is a lot of advice for sailors. And as the title suggests, it’s also about what you can catch for yourself.”
“It’s very practical and illustrated with beautiful photos that they took on their cruise. It gets us dreaming and very excited about splashing our boat in the near future and diving into our own adventures.”
Magic carpet sailing youtube
Last summer, my husband Aladino and I spent several months exploring the Netherlands on board our 28ft sailboat. We had just emerged from one of the biggest adventures we’ve ever undertaken on our boat: an inland journey all the way through Europe, from the Mediterranean to the North Sea via canals and rivers. We had emerged in the Netherlands, with plans to carry on to the Baltic Sea. However, we never made it that far.
The Netherlands is a small, flat, and wet country. It’s one of Europe’s most population dense nations. “Nature” in the expansive Canadian sense of the term doesn’t exist there. For sailors who like to explore remote and uninhabited bays, it didn’t seem like a place we really needed to see. Yet, we ended up spending the whole summer there, and loving every moment.
The Netherlands has a nautical history stretching back to its very inception. Many parts of the country only exist because of the Dutch ability to tame the sea — most of the Netherlands is actually below sea water, protected by dykes and a complex pumping system. From the Hanse leagues of the middle ages to the giant port at Rotterdam in present day, the Dutch owe their wealth to shipping. But their affinity to the sea stretches beyond the commercial and the practical. The Dutch just love to sail.
On a summer day, you can barely see the horizon as its covered by sails. Boats in the harbour often outnumber houses in the nearby towns. It’s the only place in the world where I’ve ever experienced a sailboat traffic jam. But instead of feeling crowded and hectic, it just feels fun. Grocery stores have tie ups in front, so you can hop off and grab some provisions before raising the sails again. Harbours have playgrounds, BBQs, soccer fields, swimming pools, and restaurants.
Every tiny town boasts at least one marina, but usually more. Even the boats themselves are beautiful — after sailing for a while amidst brand new plastic super yachts in the Mediterranean, the Dutch approach to sailing is refreshingly down to earth. There’s an eye for traditional designs, with elegant details like stained glass windows and tan bark sails.
Once I asked a Dutch sailor why the Dutch like to sail so much. He replied, “Well, the Netherlands is a very crowded country. But when you go out on the water, you can finally get some space.” As I cast my eye over the horizon crowded with boats, I had to laugh. I guess everything is relative.
One thing the Dutch are especially well known for is canals. These canals meander through cow fields, or pass through major cities, or connect small towns in the countryside. It’s a unique experience to sail downwind along a canal, surrounded on both sides by fields. The silent sails combined with the pastoral scenery is an odd combination — not something that I’ve experienced anywhere else. It’s even stranger to be biking along a road, seemingly well inland, and then just see a boat float by with full sails up in the middle of a cow field. The Dutch will sail anywhere.
The Netherlands is a fantastic place to learn to sail. The water is protected, facilities are plentiful, and the boat market is affordable. It’s not a place for adventure sailing — you won’t find rugged coves and deserted islands. But you will find an excellent holiday, where you can relax and sail just for the joy of it.
Maya lives in Europe on a 28ft sailboat with her husband Aladino. Their goal is to sail around the world as slowly as possible. They publish weekly videos of their adventures on their YouTube channel, “Sailing Magic Carpet.”
Sailing Magic Carpet
We are Maya and Aladino of Sailing Magic Carpet. We make weekly YouTube videos about sailing and refitting boats. We focus on careful storytelling, good music, and fine craftsmanship. We hope our videos give you a sense of serenity, joy, and inspiration.
By becoming a Patron, you help to support these videos so we can increase production quality and find more stories to tell. Patron contributions also go a long way in helping us cover some costs of boat refit and maintenance.
In return, we offer behind the scenes content, such as:
1. Real time journal entries during "boat season."
2. Personalized advice from Aladino about boats –– within reason please, we're happy to answer questions but not to become full time consultants!
3. More ready access to messaging, meet and greets, etc.
4. Handwritten letters, personalized gifts at certain levels.
Things to know:
• You can CHOOSE how many episodes you sponsor every month. We usually post four videos a month (one a week), but if you only want to sponsor one video per month, that is absolutely possible and very appreciated. You set a maximum limit for how much you donate per month. These options are all included during the Patreon sign up process.
• Membership can be cancelled or edited at any time. Signing up to Patreon is a completely voluntary decision, and can be changed at any point.
• We do not run the Patreon website! We aren't able to fix bugs or change Patreon's design. We are merely users of the website, just like you.
• Donations made here should be seen as a personal gift or a tip to Maya and Aladino –– they do not purchase anything in particular. The behind the scenes content we provide is just a way we say "thanks."
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One particular recollection stands out in the minds of the villagers. It was said that Elara, in her maliciousness, would kidnap young children and use them as ingredients in her potions. This chilling tale had mothers locking their doors tightly at night, clutching their little ones with trembling hands.
The image of Elara, a figure cloaked in darkness, sneaking through the shadows, haunted the dreams of the village's youth. However, not all recollections of Elara were woven with fear and terror. Some villagers recalled instances where she had intervened to heal the sick and wounded, using her powers for good. It was said that those who approached her with an open heart and pure intentions would be met with compassion instead of fury. These encounters with a benevolent Elara were treasured, serving as a glimmer of hope amidst the village's apprehension. Over time, the recollections of Elara's actions began to intertwine, blurring the line between good and evil. The villagers realized that perhaps there was more to this witch than meets the eye. She was a complex being, capable of both darkness and light, embodying the dual nature of human existence. As the years went by, Elara's presence gradually faded away. The tales of her witchcraft became mere legends, woven into the fabric of Bertsek's identity. Yet, the recollections of her continue to serve as a cautionary tale, a reminder that good and evil reside within every individual, and that true power lies in the choices we make. In Bertsek, the recollections of the witch called Elara remain alive, their whispered echoes lingering in the hearts and minds of its people. She stands as a symbol of the blurred lines between fear and compassion, darkness and light, reminding us of the complexities of human nature and the power of our own choices..
Reviews for "The Witch's Curse: Bersetk's Unsettling Legacy"
- John - 1 star - I found "Bersetk recollections of the witch" to be incredibly boring and hard to follow. The writing style was confusing and the story seemed to jump around with no clear direction. I couldn't connect with any of the characters and didn't feel invested in their journey. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and wouldn't recommend it.
- Sarah - 2 stars - I had high hopes for "Bersetk recollections of the witch" but ended up feeling let down. The plot was slow and repetitive, and the characters lacked depth. I couldn't get into the story and struggled to finish it. Additionally, the writing felt disjointed and needed better editing. Overall, I was underwhelmed by this book and it didn't live up to my expectations.
- David - 2.5 stars - While "Bersetk recollections of the witch" had an interesting premise, I was disappointed with the execution. The pacing was off, with some parts dragging on and others feeling rushed. The characters also felt underdeveloped and I found it hard to connect with them. Additionally, the writing style was inconsistent, which made it difficult to fully immerse myself in the story. Overall, I think this book had potential but fell short in several areas.