Okay, here are a few photos for those of you who are hassling. We had to leave it a few days until (a) we'd done some some stuff and (b) I'd taken the time to learn how to drive this blog thing but I'm driving it beautifully now - and on the right hand side of the road!
We are having a beautiful time back in Amsterdam. Spring is busting out all over and the sky is actually blue - John and I may have lived here back in 1991-1992 but it was autumn/winter then and blue skies and tulips are both things that we have never seen here before.
As you can see from the pics, both are suddenly in abundance now and we had forgotten how much we love this gorgeous little city. We are staying in a -let's call it cosy - houseboat on the Kaisergracht (the third canal from the centre of the Amsterdam horseshoe), waking every morning to the clang of church bells, the whirr of bicycles and smells from the bakery beside us.
Nothing in Amsterdam has changed a bit on the surface, which is great for people doing lots of traipsing down memory lane. Our old house on 3e Helmerstraat is still owned by the same grumpy artist in the garret and Cafe Helmers is still on the corner. I went swimming yesterday in the beautiful old swimming pool behind the Reichsmuseum where I set my first published short story and we have loved showing the boys "best hot chocolate", "best hot chips with mayo" - all pretty much where we left them. That said, it is such an excitingly modern city. As Lawrence said, every glimpse you get inside these 350+ year old canal houses looks like a page out of a state-of-the-art interiors magazine. John and I are getting a little annoyed with working offices that contain nothing more than a Mac on a white wood desk, a red apple, a bunch of tulips/daffodils and a quirky piece of modern art on the wall.
We've done lots of wandering along the canals, the Van Gogh Museum, the Amsterdam Historical Museum and Anne Frank's House. Francis has already managed two performances in the Leidseplein, a famous place for buskers, once playing a nice bit of Percy Grainger on the trumpet (courtesy of a very nice Colombian trumpeter with whom he struck up a conversation) and secondly doing football tricks (called on because of the dimples in that case, not for any particular proficiency at football tricks!)
Today we took the train to Haarlem, hired bicycles and headed south towards Lieden through the tulip fields which, after a very cold spring, are suddenly bursting into bloom. They were quite spectacular and the riding was great - you never even have to change gear in a country that has been made with the aid of a spirit level. Did the whole cliche catastrophe at one point - up a windmill, looking out at tulips, following a man in clogs, listening to a steam organ playing "Walk Like an Egyptian".
At the crack of dawn tomorrow, we'll (hopefully) be seeing the other end of the industry at the massive international flower auction at Aarlsmeer, about 20km from Amsterdam. Every day, crateloads of fresh flowers - tulips, daffodils, hiacynths etc - are auctioned off and flown all over the world from what is apparently the largest commercial building in Europe. You can see it on googlemaps. It's the size of a small town.
But hark, I hear the Westerkerk bells strike eleven so I'm not going to get to the flower auction if I don't leave this alone now.
Nice talking with you all. Lovely to hear from those of you who have responded.
Love etc, Alison, John, Lawrence and Francis.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
So simple! Found out how to post a comment at long last. Thanks for such a newsy account of your travals to date - whets the appetite even more. We were in Amsterdam in 1983 but have visited my school friend in The Hague since then.
ReplyDeleteWas just about to ring Stan in despair of ever being able to find out how to comment. In the meantime I've learned how to set up my own blog. I thought the word in orange (how appropriaye for The Netherlands),"comment", only related to comments received!
The photos are great -I'll have to learn how to do them too. Have you taken your own laptop with you?
When you say it's warm - how warm? I notice the boys are in hoodies still. Love the idea of the houseboat - there's a never ending range of travel experiences I'd love to have. It has been hot here but today is more like autumn. Still hard to know just what clothes to pack!
We're just back from Melbourne - visiting Jenny and sharing Greek Easter celebrations with them. The roast lamb on the spit was delicious. We also wanted to go down to see Dimitri (who has cancer - diagnosed when he was 19; he's now 22) who is having an operation next week as a spot has developed on his liver. Thank goodness the liver can regrow - Jenny says it only takes 2-3 weeks to recover the half a liver he'll lose. It was also her birthday - and Beth's - on 7 April. We are celebrating with Beth tonight. Our other travel companion - Barbara - has her birthday lunch this Friday! - at a Japanese restaurant at Lennox Head.
Beth is reading some French novels. We borrowed some language and grammar books but alas Joe lost the grammar book on the plane returning from Melbourne. I'll add the replacement cost to our travel budget! - in the "HIS" column!
When do you pick up the car? We finally went with the Citroen Airdream. Only thing left to do is book accommodation in Barcelona. After leaving Le Bayle we will spend 2 nights in Cadaques (Dali's village) which is near Figueres (Dali's Museum) - Joe loves Dali. Have you been there? Now, what about the rent for Le Bayle? You were going to give us bank details to pay it before you left. Would it be simpler to pay you cash in France when we are together?
Hope all continues to go well - best wishes from us all,
Merle
Hallo,
ReplyDeleteWat leuk dat jullie het fijn hebben in Amsterdam. Ik hoop dat de fietsen je niet omrijden. Heerlijk kroketjes en patat met mayonaise gegeten? Ook nog Van Gogh's museum kunnen zien - prachtig! De grachten en de woonboot lijken ook erg leuk. Jullie zullen nu wel in Parijs zijn dus moet ik nu en francais parler. Je suis un rock star. Je desire un chocolat chaud.
Amusez a Paris. Prendrez beaucoup des photos.
Peet Jood Arkady Anika
Oh to be in Paree with spring in the air the the left bank under your feetand a hint of volcanic ash in the Paresian air. Quite a historical moment says G/dad
ReplyDeleteHullo from Beth (Merle's sister)
ReplyDeleteGood to hear of your travels with kids. I hope my family are inspired to take their kids on more travels too in future.
I'm looking forward to our time in the Lot valley. Just hope the Iceland volcano stops spreading its ash around Europe. Would hate to have to cancel at this stage of expectations !
A bientot
beth