In fall and winter Amsterdam can often seem like a drab city with its dark grey skies, row upon row of dull brick buildings, and canals that mirror the bleakness of the clouds.
But in the summer, even with no backyards or front lawns to landscape, the Dutch manage to create colorful bits of beauty out of the tiniest of spaces.
Like this gorgeous rambling rose bush planted in a teensy square of dirt less than one foot square.
Or these hollyhocks, ferns and vines planted in a sliver of space only a few inches wide.
I love those perky pink geraniums set on the windowsill and those lush vines clambering everywhere.
And this is one of my favorites, my upstairs view of our downstairs neighbors balcony. Such a gorgeous spot to sit and have morning coffee while looking out over the canals.
Today my brother got the last of his plants delivered and this weekend we get to all pitch in and make the rooftop terrace a stunning oasis. I promise to share pictures with you next week. 🙂
This weekend we braved wind and rain to go adventuring outside Amsterdam. We filled the car with sweaters, coats and snacks and drove out to Broek in Waterland.
It is a marvelous place – quite possibly the best adventure I’ve ever had in the Netherlands.
It consists of 6-7 hours worth of canals meandering through 17th century villages and nature preserves. Every meter is filled with more visual delights than you can possibly take in.
Since we chose a day with perfectly ghastly weather, we had the place to ourselves – a perk we loved.
There were six of us so we divided up into two whisper quiet electric boats and received simple instructions, detailed maps and a pile of waterproof blankets.
Then we were off!!
Since a rather wicked storm was approaching, we opted for the 2 hour tour which was supposed to get us back before the rains started. It didn’t quite work out that way, but to be honest, we didn’t mind a bit.
I was utterly delighted by this treehouse. Wouldn’t you have loved clambering up there as a kid? Spying on all the folks puttering down the canals?
I like how the canal boats have their own little “garage” they’re kept in on the water.
And one day I would love to stay in a darling cottage just like this.
I can’t wait to show you more pictures of our watery explorations, but now I need to get back to the workmen in the house and attempt our motley communications of mingled Turkish, Dutch and English.
He’s been working hard cleaning it all up, power-washing and sealing the wood, hauling out old plants and nurturing new ones. It’s going to be a gorgeous oasis right in the heart of the city and we’re already smitten.
Every chance we get us girls (bro’s fiance, Mum-in-law, sis-in-law) are here soaking up sunshine, reading good books, and gabbing away happily as we watch boats chug by on the canals below.
Today we were up there and saw this chap across the way, hanging FOUR STORIES up in the air with nary a rope nor bit of scaffolding in sight as he painted the molding. Yipes! It made my stomach queasy just watching him.
Once he made it back inside without tumbling to the courtyard below, we settled back into our chairs with cups of lemony tea and disappeared into our books.
It was a perfectly lazy sunny afternoon.
Where is your favorite spot to escape to on an unexpectedly free afternoon?
It was a wickedly cold morning in Amsterdam this winter as my family gathered in my brother Ryan’s toasty warm flat for breakfast.
Christmas music played jauntily as Ry and his fiancée Melissa bustled about in the kitchen brewing coffee, sauteing veggies, and beating eggs. The rest of us visited and stood in front of their enormous windows watching passersby in the streets below, endlessly entertained by the ever-changing stream of humanity.
Soon we were called to the table and happily gathered round for a hearty repast, eager to fortify ourselves for an afternoon of exploring.
Both Ryan and Melissa are great cooks, and they outdid themselves with a savory frittata filled with cherry tomatoes, spinach, caramelized onions, and pancetta.
I got thoroughly spoiled with Melissa’s fabulous coffee: strong and creamy with a good two inches of decadently dense foam. Swoon.
Warm, full, and adequately caffeinated, we bundled into layer after layer of woolen coziness and headed outside Amsterdam to explore a park full of beautiful windmills and charming old shops and homes.
Happy New Year, dear ones!! I hope your year is off to a wonderful start. 🙂
I am tucked up on the couch at my brother’s apartment in Amsterdam sipping coffee and looking out at birds soaring over the gabled rooftops. It’s my last day in Amsterdam and soon I’ll have to finish packing. I already hugged my brother good-bye, Mums and I yoohooing to him from the window as he peddled his bicycle to work like a native Dutchman. It’s been a beautiful trip and I’m so very, very grateful.
New Year’s Eve was extra special for my family this year because my brother Ryan chose it as the night to propose to his wonderful girlfriend, Melissa.
He hired a gorgeous, old, wooden canal boat (see below) and proposed to her on the canal where you can see seven bridges all lit up beautifully. Even the swans obliged by swimming past at the appropriate moment, making it even more romantic.
After the proposal (she said YES!) my family and some close friends joined them on board and continued on a wonderful nighttime cruise, stopping at various fantastic restaurants along the way where our captain went ashore and brought out piping hot dishes. It was fabulously fun!
The happy couple was positively BEAMING!! 🙂
After dinner, two desserts, champagne and coffee, we headed over to a friends’ house for a fabulous New Year’s Party with splendid expats from all over the world. A few minutes before midnight we clambered up several flights of precariously steep stairs to the rooftop terrace to cheer wildly at the fantastic fireworks display going on all around us.
Melissa had warned us it would be like a war zone and she wasn’t kidding! It was INCREDIBLE! Fireworks went off all over the city, above us, beside us, in every direction, popping like mad. We couldn’t stop laughing in sheer amazement at the beauty and cacophony. I took a video for you that gives an idea of what it was like:
It was a wonderful night spent with dear people I love to bits.
