Amsterdam -- The Music!

There were two things we wanted to do in Amsterdam.

I wanted to see the Anne Frank house.Rick wanted to attend a concert at the Concertgebouw.

Considered one of the finest concert halls in the world, the Concertgebouw was completed in 1888 and in renowned for its acoustics.

On the day we were in Amsterdam, there were three concerts scheduled. We chose to attend one at 11:30 a.m. This alone amazed us -- that a concert hall could fill up three times a day, as early as before noon.

What we discovered, after we left our tram and approached the building, is that there are many concerts held there -- each and every single day. In fact, nearly 900 concerts are presented here each year. Perhaps more.

We didn't have tickets, but the website said tickets were available, so we headed first to the box office. As we were getting in line, a couple, perhaps in their 60s or maybe their 70s, asked if we were looking for tickets. 

We expected them to be scalpers, but they were season ticket holders whose friends couldn't attend. This very charming couple sold us the extra tickets for face value and then asked us to join them for a before-show coffee in the hall's bar. (We never would have found this without them.)

It was simply delightful to chat with them about their country and the differences in our two countries. When we went to sit together in the auditorium, we felt like friends.

The concert was broadcast on Radio 4 and we enjoyed a program that included music by Stravinsky, Debussy, Rimski-Korsakov and Dukas, with soloist Ronald Brautigam.The conductor, Mark Elder,  seemed quite young to us (from our fifth row seats!). 

After, we wandered about, taking photos of the hall and rich in the euphoria of hearing wonderful music, beautifully played and in a concert hall that did it justice. 

And we had one of those serendipitous encounters that make any experience richer.

 

Travel Tips

1) Online reservations -- it all depends. We learned that if one is on a tight time frame and really wants to do something (like the Anne Frank House), they are mandatory. If you are willing to take a chance, you, too, may have the kind of encounter we enjoyed.

2) If you're not familiar with a venue, ask if there is a spot to enjoy refreshments before the show. The bar in the Concertgebouw was not obvious and had it not been for our Fairy God-Dutch friends, we never would have found this delightful spot.

The Netherands!

I fell in love with Amsterdam. Period. No ifs, ands or buts about it.

Finally catching up with the second leg of our European vacation -- not to be confused with Chevy Chase's film! This is a series of five or six posts about the Netherlands -- I hope you'll be as captivated as I was! (NOTE: Some of the photos aren't quite fitting the blogger template -- they're a little wide. So click on them to see full screen.)

We started out with a bit of a panic -- we weren't sure if we'd be sitting in the rumble seat of the train or in a soft seat. 

Well, after a short ride with the luggage, we ended up in a comfy, cozy seat and the three-hour trip from Paris was a breeze. 

 

We arrived and met our hosts -- blogger Tara Bradford and her husband David -- at the train station. (I had forgotten the landmark where Tara had said to meet, so there was a bit of a panic, but all was well. We headed off to Tara's lovely home and then made a trip to the grocery store with David.

I'd never seen so much cheese! And the store was gorgeous!

 I loved the cabinets for the cold and frozen food -- full length glass doors!

After a lovely dinner and a long chat, we settled in for the night and hit Amsterdam the next day!

I can't do it justice. The canals are amazing and everywhere.

And Rick was in seventh heaven with all the bikes. 

Everyone in Holland rides a bike, I think. Bikes have wide, smooth lanes and you'll see them with babies on board, baskets of shopping goods and more.

There is nothing shy about the Dutch. There are portapotties (for men, at least) on the streets! (It dawned on me later that these MAY have been set up in advance for Queen's Day, but I'm not certain. Anyone know for sure?)

Then there was the flower market! Oh, what beauty! 

Gorgeous flowers were everywhere. 

Rick spent some time finding nasturtium seeds (which, I am pleased to say, have finally bloomed!)

I would have loved to take home bulbs, but I was pretty sure that wouldn't fly!

After a concert and museum-going (a future post) we walked throughout the town and sat by one of the canals. 

Well, I sat. Rick took a nap!

We also enjoyed the local brew -- Heineken...

...and a tasty lunch! I had pannenkock spec (which was a Dutch pancake with bacon.)

 

And more flowers. 

 

Truly, though the skies were gray, Amsterdam was anything but colorless. 

 

And I loved it all!

Next -- The Concertgebouw -- and the good thing about not buying tickets early!

Travel Tips!

1) Don't lose the paper that says where you will meet your hosts at the train station until you've committed it to memory. It just isn't nice.

2) The Dutch -- or at least most of them -- speak English and are very friendly and helpful. 

3) Try to find your way to a local grocery store if you have the opportunity. The food differences are fascinating (and even inexpensive chocolate bars beat Snickers hands down!)

4) Amsterdam has a wonderful tram system and is easy to manipulate. But it's also a lovely city for walking. Wear comfy shoes -- and watch out for bikes!

Contrary to Popular Opinion...

Contrary to popular opinion, I really have been doing some creative things this summer!

First off, I needed to get some card inventory built up. These are a few of the new ones.

And, I had a several naked birdhouses that needed a little blinging. Enter, the Fairy Forest!

The one above and below are both small ones.

This one is much bigger. 

 

I wasn't too gung ho about the pink, but with a little paper and a lot of moss, it seemed to work out.

Then, I had quite a few birds nests (thanks to a dear friend who died last year cleaning out her house shortly before. She gave me a whole box of nests, ribbons, birds, beads and more.

This is a wee journal, about 3x3. 

I also did a number of check-book sized journals and 8x8 versions.

 

Then, I signed on to participate in Karla's Faerie Swap. 

 

We had to create eight 5 1/2 x 8" cards to share with all the other swappers. 

 

Karla graciously shared some art to kick it off and I found many of these images delightful!

We had to do the backs, too, in some way. I was without enough paper to really do a good and coordinated job covering, so some silver paint, some ferns and a little watercolor worked well and seemed to fit the theme of the cards.

Finally, Joanne Huffman and I are doing an art challenge, where we'll concentrate on drawing. As you can see from the first challenge, "floral," I have quite a ways to go. (These are sweet peas.)

I've been in such a funk and distressed mood lately, finally having some time to really just paint and play with paper and glue is tremendously healing. Which, I think, is telling me something...

Something Nice

My day-job is promoting (in that case, promoting public television and radio).

But I'm not so terrific at promoting myself. This has tripped me up before and more than one good friend has pointed out that my negative self-talk is my worst enemy.

 

So, I've been slow in sharing something that made me very excited and happy earlier this summer -- The Marmelade Gypsy was featured in the Fall 2012 issue of "Romantic Country" magazine in their "Blog Spot" section.

 

Editor Mary Forsell contacted me back last winter in conjunction with the spring issue, but space filled up and she emailed me to say that the mention would be in the fall issue. Like any patient person (who wasn't really sure it would make it there, either! Bad self-talk, Jeanie!), I didn't even check the stands in the spring.

 

Then I had a comment on the Gypsy about seeing it! (It may not even still be on the stands. I'm guessing the winter issue will be out soon, if not already). 

 

A number of bloggers I enjoy have been featured in this beautiful publication -- most recently, Vagabonde (Spring 2012). 

If the concept of romantic country is your style (I really like it!),  then this is a publication worth picking up (or subscribing to!).. In the issue in which I was featured I learned about artists/designers who were new to me...

Got tips on making a fall centerpiece...

...and a fun inspiration board.

 I enjoyed finding out what they considered some of the top flea markets in the U.S.

And really loved an article on making the most of mismatched china (because being the china junkie that I am, I couldn't resist!)

 

I have to say that working with Mary was one of the real joys I've experienced. Remember the negative self-talk? Mary has really encouraged me to pursue my writing, query publications and see what happens. She has been a bit of a mentor, in the sense that she spent a good deal of time and was tremendously encouraging to me at a time when things are less than that in some aspects of life. So, thanks, Mary, if you're reading this! You rock!