Finally recovered from a fabulous four days away in the Netherlands. Lorraine and I left our house on the Saturday morning (before the crack of dawn, courtesy of my wonderful other half who drove us to the airport) in readiness for our flight to Amsterdam.
Once we arrived we took the train from the airport to Nijkirk where we were picked up by a lovely man, husband of one of the Art Specially ladies, in his car and taken to the Art Specially show. It was every bit as exciting as the year before but this time we were staying very close to the venue. No big long trek like last time when we didn't know what we were doing.
It was all abuzz as always and we got our free gift, made our way to the cloakroom and deposited our rucksacks. Then it was over to the show. I met up with Miranda (van den Bosch) who was running a very successful mini workshop and also with Eva whom I had met last year but see via a Facebook Group we are both on. It was nice to be able to give Eva a birthday card as her birthday had been only two days earlier.
Me with Eva
A super day, a couple of make and takes (above), we stayed almost to the bitter end and then made our way to the hotel across the car park. And a very nice hotel it was too. Dinner was nice and I loved the curly fries.
Posh Fish and Chips
Next day after a delicious breakfast (pity the bacon had run out, it looked good and Lorraine got the last piece) we made our way once more to the show. This time we wanted to do the workshop with Miranda (van den Bosch) but despite thinking we would be amongst the first there we could not get a seat. We went back early to get on the second sitting and enjoyed our tuition with Miranda who instructed first in Dutch and then to us in English.
Me with Miranda - must get her to Art from the Heart again
especially with this little book
Some pretty tags with envelopes by Crealies
We missed out on another workshop which we had wanted to do so spent our time wandering and did this Make and Take before it was time to go onwards to Amersefoort as we wanted to see this lovely city. (Sorry there aren't more photos from the show, I was just too fascinated and busy to remember to use my camera).
Once in Amersfoort we didn't see much of the city and its walls, instead we got kind of side-tracked with a choir concert. Not the kind of choirs we thought they were going to be but real good fun and rousing singing with lots of Dutch folk songs.
We did, however, see these pretty houses with their gardens and the little bridge which we crossed over to get to the first square with music
and on to the square
This was the first set of musicians we saw, having just missed out on the Amersfoort Choir who sounded sooo good. Not being of the shy and retiring type whilst out here with my bestie (who is shy'ish - at times) I went and asked these two Amersfoort Choir ladies what was going on
Apparently there had been 32 choirs from all over the Netherlands there on the Saturday and I think there were 30 on Sunday but could not be sure on that figure. The Amersfoort Choir had opened the weekend and they were to close it in another square. These two ladies told us quite a bit about the weekend and I asked why everyone was wearing a diamond shape in bright pink. Apparently it was to represent a 'kite' and the story (a song) goes that a young man sent messages/letters to his mother, when she passed, via a kite. The 'diamonds' were actually kite shaped and had lovely tails and a tag which said, I presume, "Dear Mother". Very sad but lovely. I had to buy one - the proceeds go to funding the event next year.
The atmosphere was terrific, every square we went in was full of people all enjoying a drink (no rowdiness) and a good old sing song ... and the occasional impromptu dance as you can see above. You might recognise the lady at the back as one of the two who escorted us to listen to their choir in the next square.
This is the Amersfoort Choir ending the event - they have 70 members and they meet every Tuesday in the oldest pub in the city for rehearsals ... and don't drink.
Had to include this guy with his hat and pink guitar
A beer, a good few songs later and we realised we had not seen Amersfoort again but, despite that, made our way to the Railway station, via the city centre where Lorraine had to buy something in a Flying tiger shop, and on to the Chinese where we had a lovely meal last year. Oops! It had all changed and there was now a large Wok Section, although you could still have meals from the menu. What a delight! A huge buffet later and we waddled out and into the station for our train to Amsterdam.
Starters
Middles
and a tiny section of Ends.
Not a car park - a Cycle Park (just a section)
By the time we got into Amsterdam it was dusk and after listening to an impromptu song and beautiful pianist playing in the station
we made our way to Leidersplein and our bus to the Ibis Hotel near the airport which was to be our home for the next two nights. This was taken from the bridge we passed over.
It was quite dark by the time we arrived and so it was straight to bed and up next morning for breakfast and to see Willy who did the checking in in the breakfast restaurant. Oops, no Willy - she was on holiday but I was assured she would be in the following day. I had made her a card as I remembered she was due to be reaching 25 years of service here in April.
Breakfast over (I ate loads, Lorraine did not do it justice) we made our way out to the bus and into Amsterdam for Lorraine's first foray into the city. I love Holland, especially as everyone speaks English and therefore the language barrier is non existent, and they are such a lovely nation. I love the people and the country, could easily settle here.
The first place I took Lorraine to was The Dam with the Royal Palace
Not too busy as it was still early morning, a very impressive tower atop the Palace but Lorraine was disappointed with the Church next door which hosts Royal Weddings and Investitures as you had to pay to go inside - against her beliefs.
Then on to the Anne Frank Museum. We knew we could not get in here as apparently it is booked months in advance but I still thought it worth a look. This is the doorway to her actual house (I went in years ago and remember there were lots of steps, a no no for me these days) and a memorial to her which I do not remember, maybe it is newish.
Then it was on to the Flower Market (Bloenmarkt) where I had promised Lorraine she could find a piece of 'real' Dutch Apple Pie. Only to find the shop closed for renovations. Not to worry, an equally nice place was found down the road and she enjoyed her apple pie whilst I had a thirst quenching lager.
Look at that big smile!
and these bulbs
Check out the pink Amaryllis at the back
Then it was off to Rembrandtplein and the fabulous sculptures of the Nightwatch. I was glad Lorraine enjoyed them as much as I had when I first saw them. It was a lovely afternoon and there was a huge Magnolia tree in full bloom, so pretty - and a Flying Tiger Shop for Lorraine on the corner whilst I enjoyed the sunshine.
Here we had our evening meal in the Australian Outback which does half price meals on a Monday. Not your poshest place but the food is good.
By this time we were whacked and so we went back to our hotel. Please do not think we walked everywhere, I had a good source at home (Chas) who had worked out which trams to catch from place to place to make sure we had very little walking to do. It was good fun tram hopping anyway.
Next day, what a surprise. It was actually 25 years to THAT DAY that Willy had begun working in the hotel. It was wonderful in the breakfast restaurant - bunting all over and a lovely party atmosphere. Here is Willy with me, taken by the restaurant manager who was delighted that I had remembered
She really is a special lady and everyone in the restaurant obviously thinks very highly of her. They were having a party for her at 11 o'clock that day. What a lovely lady she is.
After a good full breakfast we set off again, leaving our rucksacks at the hotel and bussing it into the city.
We went back to the Floating Flower market but before we went down the road we saw the Michal Negrin shop. Now if you like colours you will find yourself instantly drawn to the window of this shop.
Lorraine just had to go in - did I say she was shy? Well, to cut a long story short I bought some ear rings. The jewellery has a lifetime guarantee and if you lose an ear ring you can always buy one more to make the set up again. Such a delightful young lady served me and told us lots about the jeweller. I had my eye on a ring too but that comes later.
Some bulbs later, another sit down in the Dutch Apple Pie cafe and a trip to the Rijksmuseum to find the word AMSTERDAM. A bit of tree hugging on the way in the garden at the back of the museum
a game of chess
Pediments
only to find that the word was full of youngsters crawling all over it - ah well, it was only red and white now anyway.
tulips on water by the Rijksmuseum
Whilst having a drink somewhere I rang Chas and told him about the ear rings I had bought. Asked him if he wanted to buy them for me for my belated birthday present. he said "yes" so I mentioned the ring and he agreed to that, so it was back to the shop.
This time we met the man's dog
This is the necklace I would like for Christmas
Don't you just love the packaging
One ring later, a ring and a pair of ear rings for Lorraine and we set out to go for a boat ride.
We got a bit side-tracked with the architecture, in particular this cinema
I loved this monument of Atlas atop a building
and this tower with its bells
different, but it works doesn't it
All too soon it was time to go to the station and make our way to the hotel, pick up our rucksacks and via the courtesy bus get to the airport for our 2200 hour flight. A lovely four days in Amsterdam, made possible with my good friend's map reading, my trusty steed and my supply of tram numbers for destinations, courtesy of home.
A pizza, a delay on the plane, a lovely young man for assisted travel in Amsterdam but a bit of a nightmare at Manchester with a long delay in unloading us from the plane. Ah well - my own bed was waiting. And my knight in shining armour.
