Blog Archives

Vaarwel Amsterdam

14/12/2014

I really do miss Amsterdam. Whatever is said about the city, I found it to be a lovely, welcoming place and the one that felt the most similar to home. The people had a lot to do with that. Everyone I met was friendly and helpful, always willing to say hello on the street. Out of all the places I visited on this trip, Amsterdam and London were the two cities that I could see myself actually living in for a long period of time.

I miss the squeak of bicycles as they passed me by on the street. I miss the taste of the biscuits from the Christmas market and the strange lavender sauce on my dinner. I miss the rush of air against my cheeks as I rode through the streets. I miss the sadness of Anne's house, strangely enough, and the brightness of the Van Gough Museum. I miss the excitement of certain areas of the city. I miss the kindness of strangers on the street. I will miss you Amsterdam, my whole life I think.

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Van Gogh

9/12/2014

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The Doctor: Between you and me, in a hundred words, where do you think Van Gogh rates in the history of art?

Curator: Well... um... big question, but, to me Van Gogh is the finest painter of them all. Certainly the most popular, great painter of all time. The most beloved, his command of colour most magnificent. He transformed the pain of his tormented life into ecstatic beauty. Pain is easy to portray, but to use your passion and pain to portray the ecstasy and joy and magnificence of our world, no one had ever done it before. Perhaps no one ever will again. To my mind, that strange, wild man who roamed the fields of Provence was not only the world's greatest artist, but also one of the greatest men who ever lived.

- Matt Smith and Bill Nighy in "Vincent and the Doctor", Doctor Who (watch the clip below).

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Miauw

6/12/2014

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The fact that cats can just wander around cafes like it is no big deal in Europe is all kinds of awesome.

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Goedemorgen Amsterdam!

5/12/2014

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I miss the guilt free breakfasts I had in Europe. It was easy to eat that cinnamon scroll or croissant when I knew that I would be spending the day walking it off.

Out hotel in Amsterdam was located on the main road down from the train station and was the perfect place from which to go exploring. It had little signs everywhere, saying things like "A word from your towel: I've really enjoyed drying you, even if you were a little bit dirty. So if you want another date with me, hang me up. But if you're over me and want a fresher towel then drop me on the floor. I'll just move on." It's the little things that make a hotel seem really awesome.