April faces

My soul mate and I had a visitor here for a few days and I got to show him a bit of Amsterdam. Of course when I did I couldn't resist snapping some pictures of the variety of faces and activities we saw being done.

Here are a few.

Enjoy!

Playing chess in front of Hard Rock Cafe early morning while smoking.

These kids went through all the Iamsterdam letters while there dad helped them pass through one by one, without touching the ground! ;)

Brothers.

Vapiano.

Eating fries on a sunny day. Dutch way.

Manon Planting - The Rockstar

I have this awesome inspiring friend. 

Manon Planting.

When she picks up a guitar, closes her eyes and opens her mouth, the world stops.

Everything is pure when you hear her voice. 

You have to see her sing and play LIVE to feel the intensity. 

You know the feeling you have when something happens to you, or you feel or see something and think that you love the world, that in those few minutes you think the world is a perfect place? Thats what happens when you SEE Manon Planting play guitar and sing.

Because you are not as blessed as I am to be around to see and hear her sing and play guitar, here are her two YouTube videos, and some snaps I took of her when she was here at the house recording.

Sneaky sun in March

Yesterday for my soul mates birthday the sun decided to shine!

Amsterdam is beautiful all year around, but when the sun is out the smiles and hobbies come out most.

Here is a little taste. Enjoy!

Ice-skating the canals

Its the weekend so my soul mate and I decided to go check out for the first time in 15 years the legendary ‘Keizersrace’.

While on the way over there we went through the canals walking on the ice and i snapped some photos.

Enjoy!

-18ºC and SNOW

After months of asking for it, it is finally here...SNOW! Amsterdam is covered in the purest color, white. I am in love more than what  I was before.

On my way to University snow was falling at full force and while I was on the tram I saw it all. Children outside with their snowballs waiting for the tram to pass to take a shot at it, smaller children throwing their first snowball of the year to their parents legs because they cant stretch their arms much higher. It is beautiful. Bikes are powdered in white and the ground looks like one big white carpet, the kind of carpet you don't want to walk through due to its untouched beauty. 

The cold doesn't stop Amsterdam from living, people ride their bikes everywhere, they still walk outside and for the kids this is their moment of joy to be outside playing and rolling on the ground making snow angels.

Bright and early when I wake up I am drawn into my view from the living room window. It brings such peacefulness; like I am the only in the world. The only one living in this purity. But throughout the day, the purity and peace never stops. The snow has such a powerful effect. It makes things look so fragile, beautiful and peaceful all at the same time.  I love it.

Keep the snow coming Amsterdam!

Meeting Sinterklaas

I finally met Sinterklaas today it was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G
So much joy, colors and music. I find it quite special that Sinterklaas has the children sit on his lap and he has them sing I believe "The Sinterklaas song" its some song, that seems they must know and the children sing it proudly and receive joyfully clapping. Then Zwart Pete´s give the kids a handful of some round peppermint cookie candy. It is all a very active situation where he has a microphone and is talking to the crowd of kids and the one by one individually. I know my Dutch numbers now, so I understood him asking the kids to raise there hand if they were 3...then 4... or 5.
After Sinterklaas took a 30 min break and a whole band of Zwart Petes came in playing. It was awesome! They were dancing while playing and just so in to it. I felt so in the Christmas spirit of warmth of people.
I must say Sinterklaas is a very intimidating man! Even when he passed by me I had this certain respect and awe. It must be the huge ruby ring on his finger and just all the glamorous objects he has.
I now personally think Sinterklaas is way cooler than Santa (Sorry Santa) he feels so human and real. It wasn't about what the kids wanted for Christmas but more about them pulling off singing the song and making conversation.
I am blessed to live in a different country and to observe these different traditions. I love it!

Sinterklaas!

Christmas is just around the corner! Here in Holland things are celebrated a bit different. Here is a short explanation along with some clicks I took this sunny cold afternoon!

St. Nicholas: The Story of Santa Clause

By: Anise Hollingshead

In the Netherlands, legend has it that Sinterklaas (Dutch name for St. Nicholas) arrives in the Netherlands by way of steamboat from Spain 2 weeks before his traditional birthday, December 6th, along with his helper, Zwarte Piet (Black Pete), who will help disperse the gifts and candy to all the good children. Sinterklaas, along with the zwarte piets, will go abroad at night and stride about the countryside wearing his red mantle, his mitre, and his golden crosier and sporting a long, white beard. Referring to his book that lists all the good and bad children, Sinterklaas will deliver presents to all the good children, but watch out if you've been bad! The bad children may be taken back to Spain with him.