Back home!

I miss home! Especially the fresh air, my friends and their babies, my family, sitting at the kitchen table, walking into down, cycling to the beach.. so Ill never leave it so long again going home

Home sweet home

Drinks on the balcony

Drinks in town

More lunch

On our way to UK

Hoek van Holland

 Punting in Cambridge

Kings College

King College

Dessert at Jamies

Our stay at Lensfield

Hand in Hand

Walk around town

Movie Night

 Cheese!

 High tea in Amsterdam

Lunch on the Spaarne

Reading Donald on the balcony

Cycling trip to the beach

 Pancakes in the Dunes

Working @ Amsterdam Sinfonietta

Hola Cor,

I feel so jealous reading your stories; it's one exciting trip after the other! Have you finished planning your trip to Goa? Already thought about which clothes to bring with you?

As you know I work at Amsterdam Sinfonietta, a professional string orchestra. Last week they gave a performance at the Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ and I had to work during the concert. The Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ is a very modern concert hall and is overlooking the water on one side and the city of Amsterdam on the other. I think it's a very beautiful building. Luckily for me, the offices of Amsterdam Sinfonietta are also situated in the building and so I get to work there!

The concert last week was very nice. Unfortunately, I didn't get to see them play before the intermission, since I was too busy preparing the reception for our sponsors and business relations. But after the intermission, my work was done and I was able to relax a little, while listening to Mahler and Mozart.

Hope you will join me at one of the concerts in the near future! Maybe after you're fed up with Indian music...?

Big kiss from Amsterdam,

x Ka

The Muziekgebouw aan 't IJ

The main stairs

Reception hall verlooking the water

The view from the office!

Lazy Sunday Afternoon

Hi Cor,

Yesterday our Amsterdam soccer club Ajax won the national soccer competition and thus, yet another reason for the people of Amsterdam to celebrate. But while everybody partied in the streets, we quietly went to the cinema theatre and finally saw "Black Swan"! A must-see for a ballet fanatic as me and now we finally found time to watch it. I loved the dancing parts, but was also really scared watching the movie. Even had nightmares last night!

After the movie we had to catch our breaths a bit and went to have some drinks at Grand Café De Jaren. Also, I wasn't ready to have dinner after watching so much blood. So we had a late night dinner at French restaurant Flo. I had the honey glazed duck breast with a port sauce (nothing too bloody), which was very tasty. And for dessert... Crepes Suzette, yummie! As you can see for yourself, I was very happy with my choice: 

I have to get ready for tonight's ballet class now. I hope that I am not that inspired by "Black Swan"!

Big kisses from Amsterdam,

x Ka

Summery colors

Dearest Cor,

Yesterday we had a pre-wedding dinner with friends. It's always nice to meet the parents and close friends of the bride and groom. I definitely look forward to the wedding, which will take place next Saturday. M and I will stay at a nice hotel, since the wedding will be on the countryside. Could use your help picking out a wedding-outfit.

After sleeping only 6 hours, I was a bit tired this morning. But not as bad as M: he had to get up way early for the bachelor's party of next week's groom!
For lunch I had a friend coming over. I bought pastries and bread at the French bakery, yummy. Next, had some afternoon tea with another friend at this place called "Valerius". Their jasmin tea is devine.

Here is a picture of my Together Bag and its content. As you can see, I have a bit of color-blocking going on in my bag. As you know, I LOVE girly accessories. My new addiction: everything from the Swedish brand Ordning & Reda. On this picture: yellow card holder, pink pencil case and red key holder.

And you asked me about my Summer shoes; these heels are not at all as summery as yours, but very cute, right?!

Enjoy your Summer, but be careful not to burn!

Big kiss from Amsterdam,
x Ka

Ps I wondered if you already had bought Candice Bushnell's new book! Bought a copy a few weeks ago, but am saving it for our holiday to Italy next month, which is sooooo hard! x

Victory in Europe Day

Lieve Cor,

Looks like you have a great time with your Dad!

It's one celebration after the other, here in the Netherlands. Yesterday, 5th of May, it was Victory in Europe Day. You should think that this day would mean another day-off, but no, unfortunately, I had to work. Did make some pictures of the celebrations, though.

Love that they put on little national flags on top of the city trams!

Have fun in Dubai this weekend!

Big kisses from Amsterdam,

x Ka

Day of Orange

Hi Cor,

Well, I survived another Queen's Day yesterday! The whole town was one big orange party. In the morning I made my way to the south of Amsterdam and watched some music and dance performances by kids. That was really cute. You know that on Q-day a lot of people try to sell their junk to others: clothes, furniture, toys etc. And not without luck: my friend H bought a tape recorder and some LPs for a few euros and went home as happy as a clam!

In the afternoon I made my way through the crowd to the Jordaan. Normally, this will take me 30 minutes, but now - boy o boy - it took my three times as long. But it was worth it: on Q-day in this area the atmosphere is the nicest: people are singing, playing games, drinking beer. It was fun to watch. After having some beers myself, I went home and ended my Q-day in my own style: with a nice dinner at home and watching a girly movie. Sooo nice!

Here are some impressions:

Hopefully, we will celebrate next Q-day together, as we used to do!

Big kisses from Amsterdam,

x Ka

Ps was so in love with Will & Kate last Friday! That Dress!

Belated Happy Easter!

Hi Cor,

With Friday and Monday off, it felt like a mini-vacation. Of course, ate too much of the chocolate bunnies and Easter cake. Luckily, on Friday went out for a bike ride with my hubby for 5 hours! We drove out off the city to the north and visited Zaandam, Zaanstad and de Zaanse Schans, where they make the famous Dutch mustard and cheese. First time I ever went there. Mini-vacation, indeed!

Big kiss from Amsterdam,
x Ka

Spring!

Hi Cor,

Wanted to share these pics with you of springtime in Amsterdam. 

Went to the zoo last Monday and this little fellow told me to say hi! to you: 

Big kiss from Amsterdam,

x Ka

Vintage shopping @ Noordermarkt

Hi dear Cor,

How great that you are planning your trip to Goa! Will definitly ask a friend of mine, think she visited Goa a few months ago.

I just came back from music history class. Tonight we learned about Debussey and Ravel. My head is full with beautiful music.

The weather is still very lovely here in the Netherlands. That's why I decided to visit the flea market at Noordermarkt yesterday. Every Monday morning there is a big outdoor market in the courtyard of the  Noorderkerk (kerk = church).

 

Besides antiques, they sell a lot of second hand clothing. With a little luck you can find some real treasures here. Guess what, I found these gems (and only paid €10 for each of them!):

 

Ladies in Pink cannot have enough pink in the closet!

x Ka

Lovely l'Ozio

Hi dear Cor,

Just came back from a wine tasting at one of my favorite Italian restaurants in town: l'Ozio, which means something like "free time" in English.

I love this place because of its great food, nice wines and friendly staff. It's also an excellent location if you want to have dinner with a group of people, in the restaurant but also downstairs, where they have a seperate room. Once in every three months they have a new exhibition by different artists and they show Italian art house movies in the room downstairs. In short, l'Ozio is great for the eyes, ears and taste buds!

Oh, I almost forgot... the wine tasting was great too!

Speak to you soon!
Big kisses from Amsterdam,

x Ka

Restaurant l'Ozio
Ferdinand Bolstraat 26
www.ozioamsterdam.com

Wine store Van Krimpen (who organised the wine tasting)
Frans Halsstraat 67
http://vankrimpen.iframe.ch/

Beer + poetry = Café Brecht

Good morning Cor!

It's a slow Sunday morning here in Amsterdam. That means reading the papers while listening to Mozart and sipping tea. This Sunday is extra slow, because we went out last night. Yeah, you heard it right, the married couple hit the town yesterday! But don't worry, nothing too fancy, although quite nice: we went to a new bar called "Brecht", named after the German poet Bertolt Brecht.

It's a cozy place with armchairs and old-fashioned portrets hanging on the walls. You can sit at the bar or settle yourself on one of the fauteuils and bring your knitting with you.

They have a big selection of German and Belgian beers and on some nights they organise poetry readings. The atmosphere altogether is laid-back, which is a welcome alternative for the hip and trendy bars in town. It's quite popular with expats.

Okay, dear Cor, it's time to get off my lazy butt and enjoy the sunshine! We are going to meet our friend's new baby for the first time. Hope they will serve the traditional "beschuit met muisjes" (Dutch biscuit with aniseed in pink & white (for a baby girl) or blue + white (for a baby boy)!

Big kisses from Amsterdam,

x Ka

Café Brecht
Weteringschans 157
www.cafebrecht.nl

Weekend brunch @ Pekelharing

Hi Cor,

Hope you are enjoying the weekend as much as I do! Last night my sister came to stay with us in Amsterdam and we had dinner at our place. Hubby M made a typical French dinner with oysters, snails and duck à l'orange. I made merengues for the first time and nailed it!

After this very rich dinner, this morning we continued our food fest with a brunch at café/restaurant Pekelharing. This is a pretty new restaurant nearby the Albert Cuyp market. The interior is clean and industrial and the place is bigger than most restaurants in Amsterdam. I love the "Grand café-concept"!

Because the weather is lovely (for Dutch standards!), we ate outside, on the pavement, between all the bicycles. I had a Caesar's salad and my sister had the biggest artichoke I ever saw! 

Miss having brunch with you. Keep me posted on your adventures!

Big kisses from Amsterdam,

x Ka