Rolling Kitchen Festival

After going to the Rolling Kitchen Festival last year and having such a good experience I was ready to go this year! Once again the festival didn’t disappoint.

So many people, colors and smells.

This time my soul mate and I had our Ohana Manon Planting with us to try out all the wonderful foods.

For the first time, thanks to Manons “You have to try this” recommendation we had Poffertjes! Mini pancakes with butter and a bunch of powdered sugar! Mmmmm J

Here are some snaps of the first day of the festival. 

Queens day!

I finally got to experience Queens’s day in Holland.

It’s something else. It’s orange. ;)

My soul mate and I woke up at around 5:30am to get to the flea markets early, at that time already we could see from our bedroom window people setting up their booths.

Walking around the flea markets early morning is awesome, you see so many items, gifts people received that they never liked, old ex-boyfriends gifts, handmade crafts, clothes that they have either grown out of or just don’t want anymore, and sometimes people’s old memories.  

Parents had their children selling away their old toys that they out grew. Some children would sell homemade sweets or little bags of popcorn. The kids with a bit of talent would play their musical instruments or would dance.

All these colors, smells, and noises are what make Queens’s day flea markets magical. There is so much to see and so much going on. I wished I had a watch that would stop time so many times so that there would be enough hours in the day to see it all.

When walking through the streets of Amsterdam you would see the parties. There were windows with their stereo systems blaring out music while people on the street were dancing to the rhythm and drinking their beers.  Sometimes people even set up stages downstairs with Djs.

The canals were full of boats with orange people inside. I have never seen so much traffic on water. Hehehehe.

It took us a long while to walk to the Red Light District to go to a friend’s barbeque. I was so surprised how this person had a little back yard with trees IN the Red Light District. Who would have known?

I also got to experience the spending time with friends on Queens day part. The part of Queens’s day were you sit and relax with your friends and have a good time: drinking and eating.  It was nice to do that after going through crowds of people all morning.

Unfortunately flea markets and outdoor home parties close down all at eight. So time flew!

The trash lying around everywhere is insane, but after eight you already see the city cleaning up, it’s amazing how fast they clean it all up.

 I really wish I can have a watch that stops time for next year! I feel that I saw so little.

Queens’s day for me will always be one of my favorite Dutch holidays for sure; I can’t wait for it again next year! 

Best ice cream in Amsterdam

I am a big follower on Expats on Facebook and any other international Amsterdam/Holland related pages. Today there was a post on the best ice cream in Amsterdam and consequently enough my name is there at the reference of who recommended it I guess. So funny. :)
Check it out! And get an awesome ice cream from there, Monte Pelmo is the best!

http://www.expats-in-amsterdam.com/blog/22-best-places-for-ice-cream-in-amsterdam.html

Oude Kerk: Marry in haste, mourn at leisure

I was at the Oude Kerk, the oldest building in Amsterdam, and its actually a Church. Interestingly enough its located in the famous Red Light District. Due to its location and to people after death being buried there the Church says: "Marry in haste, mourn at leisure". hehehehe.

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!