Just so you know, sometimes the news gets a little odd in the Netherlands around June/July/August. This is referred to as Cucumber time. When news reporters would talk about cucumbers as there is nothing else to talk about with no government in session, and most companies nearly shut for the holiday season!
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Van Gogh paint your body...
If you have nothing to do this Sunday....
Artists group the Itinerant Museum of Art is looking for people who will strip naked and allow a painting by Vincent van Gogh to be painted on their body. The group wants this homage to the Dutch painter to take place in Amsterdam, Zundert where he was born 122 years ago on Sunday Aug 5th.
The group is currently working on a body-painting homage to the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo.
How to enjoy the sunshine
Some people prefer the lazy old park route, some go the BBQ on the water edge of the Amstel river down on the Weesperzijde, but one opportunity I see most people don't think of is grabbing their bikes and cycling off on the green routes.
Now our days are numbered with the summer sunshine, just hop on and head off. Check out a route that is planned for you to see parts of the city from a different persective.
Now our days are numbered with the summer sunshine, just hop on and head off. Check out a route that is planned for you to see parts of the city from a different persective.
Sunday, July 29, 2012
Enjoying the last of the summer...
For the last month of August you have to try to make the most of it...
Options:
Het Parade at Martin Luther Park. Something to enjoy the weather with, enter into the realm of Dutch theatre. Unfortunately most is in Dutch, so you will just hang around the sangria tent, but its worth the experience!
Festivals: There are too many festivals to talk about here, but the Netherlands have the most festivals to choose from, so just type in your weekend and I am sure the options will pop up!
AmsterdamseBos.. The forest.. Trust me, just take your bike, and go cycle to it.. enjoy the sunshine, the large parks, forests, mini farm, canoes, paddleboats, kids pool, even a Theatre in the evenings... there is a lot to do in this very large forest. Be sure to make the most of it for the sunshine!
Gay Pride: Saturday 4th August. Take your camera, and get out and about in the city and see the gay community come alive on the rivers and the streets!
Grachten Festival: 10-19th August. This is a unique experience to enjoy music whilst on the grachts. The most famous is on the 18th outside the Hotel Pultzer on the Prinsengracht. A classical orchestra perform live on the edge of the canal.
Uitmarkt Aug 24-26 A host of theatre, music, films and culture hosted in several venues throughout the city.
Pluk de nacht open air festival: Aug 22- 30..
Cultural movies form around the world are played in open air locations around the city. Check out and see if your own language is there, as otherwise it can be difficult, watching an Arabic movie with Dutch subtitles! But a very wonderful experience if its not raining!
Options:
Het Parade at Martin Luther Park. Something to enjoy the weather with, enter into the realm of Dutch theatre. Unfortunately most is in Dutch, so you will just hang around the sangria tent, but its worth the experience!
Festivals: There are too many festivals to talk about here, but the Netherlands have the most festivals to choose from, so just type in your weekend and I am sure the options will pop up!
AmsterdamseBos.. The forest.. Trust me, just take your bike, and go cycle to it.. enjoy the sunshine, the large parks, forests, mini farm, canoes, paddleboats, kids pool, even a Theatre in the evenings... there is a lot to do in this very large forest. Be sure to make the most of it for the sunshine!
Gay Pride: Saturday 4th August. Take your camera, and get out and about in the city and see the gay community come alive on the rivers and the streets!
Grachten Festival: 10-19th August. This is a unique experience to enjoy music whilst on the grachts. The most famous is on the 18th outside the Hotel Pultzer on the Prinsengracht. A classical orchestra perform live on the edge of the canal.
Uitmarkt Aug 24-26 A host of theatre, music, films and culture hosted in several venues throughout the city.
Pluk de nacht open air festival: Aug 22- 30..
Cultural movies form around the world are played in open air locations around the city. Check out and see if your own language is there, as otherwise it can be difficult, watching an Arabic movie with Dutch subtitles! But a very wonderful experience if its not raining!
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Exclusive DJ pub crawl Amsterdam
Having the privilege of knowing one hell of a fabulous DJ and guy in general, I was honoured to be invited to the first edition of their pub crawl in December 2011. Today we commence the madness with the second edition.. Starting at an Albert heijn
A little bit of madness but a lot of fun....
A little bit of madness but a lot of fun....
If you are up for a different kinda night, join them on facebook:
Animal Language Kafe Rave and keep uptodate with the future nights out!!
Weather and Festivals
We are currently in the 5 day summer period where the rain has taken a mini holiday, so anyone and everyone out there, get out into the sunshine, enjoy the days and max out your outdoor experience this weekend, whilst you can, as the weather is unpredictable at the best of times!
Today is the Party in the Park in AmsterdamseBos where thousands of locals are heading to enjoy the first sunshine of the month of July!
Stop reading this! Get outside!!
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Letters
Just to let anyone know living here. If you get a letter withy letters CVZ written on it, dont ignore it! Many many people usually do but this is the health insurance people (called a college). You need to be insured if you are registered and living here, but if you are only here for a set period of time (1 year/ 2 years) and have global health insurance from your own country you need to contact them and let them know you are insured elsewhere!
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Crazy Cats...
Whilst browsing the Albert Cyup Market this afternoon I noticed a regular feature in some of the shops...
Cats.
The Cats are back in fashion in the city of Amsterdam!
The Cats are back in fashion in the city of Amsterdam!
Let's Go..
One of the best advice to any tourist is to hire a bike and see the city another way. But for those expats who live here, we are too used to jumping on our bikes and going from A-B-C-B-A... but do we really venture out and about?
Have you noticed the cycle paths with green signs showing cycle routes the city laid out for you? IF you have nothing to do, and a few spare hours, why not just follow the signs. Most are on the Amstel, as some bring you to Ouderkerk aan de Amstel, others... well who knows.. Just jump on your bike and GO.
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Creativity all around
The Dutch weather is known for being unpredictable, with rainy summers, and heat wave springs, everyday is a challenge when cycling to work. Unless you give up and take the metro/tram, you will be covered in a poncho or cycling one handed whilst holding the umbrella. Unfortunately, you will learn that the canals wind can pick up, and blow your umbrella backwards leaving you with another broken umbrella. Some shove them in the bins, some just leave them stranded in bushes.
On my walks i noticed someone got creative with the ones they had either broken, or found and created their own umbrella-fence!
Look UP!
Whilst out walking around the city, do you go places you never have been? Or get lost in a city tog et to know it a little better? Along the many canals of the city are a scattering of houseboats, big ones, small ones, white, colours, wooden, bricked.. and this one.. With a classic car on the roof!
Or equally, just on the streets. The Amsterdammers love their balconies and will dress it up for them to be able to enjoy it as much as possible in summer sunshine (if we are graced with a summer this year?!)
I walk past this house weekly, and only last week did I notice that there was a pig looking down at me!
Monday, July 2, 2012
License please....
Weird little fact:
You need a license for some hobbies! One surprising one is golf! You will need to be good enough, aware of the game and be tested to achieve a license before you can play on a old course!
Another: horse riding!
I think it's easier to get hobbies like baking or reading here!
You need a license for some hobbies! One surprising one is golf! You will need to be good enough, aware of the game and be tested to achieve a license before you can play on a old course!
Another: horse riding!
I think it's easier to get hobbies like baking or reading here!
Sunday, July 1, 2012
Fine Wine....
Having drinks with a friend last night, she told me of an experience her friend had been through last week at a popular 'upmarket' bar in Amsterdam.
She had gone with a friend and ordered 2 glasses of Chardonnay from the menu, priced at €4. After several orders, they got their bill only to notice they were charged €6.50 for each glass. They pointed out to the waitress they had actually ordered the €4 to which she replied that it was a mistake on the menu and it was actually €6.50.
Not happy they asked for the manager, who came and pointed out it was a mistake on the menu, but they would still have to pay the full €6.50 for each glass. After a conversation the manager then gave in and said 'this time' they could pay the €4. They paid the bill and as they were leaving the waitress went straight to them and told them to their face that they pissed her off.
Never before have I heard, nor encountered this. And having previously been to this bar a few times, I have no plans to ever frequent the bar again. The fact the manager hadn't changed the menu if even with a pen over the price, which by Dutch law is required to show all prices.
Be careful out there, and just double check the price when ordering from the upper market type bars in the city, especially along the Prinsengracht area!
She had gone with a friend and ordered 2 glasses of Chardonnay from the menu, priced at €4. After several orders, they got their bill only to notice they were charged €6.50 for each glass. They pointed out to the waitress they had actually ordered the €4 to which she replied that it was a mistake on the menu and it was actually €6.50.
Not happy they asked for the manager, who came and pointed out it was a mistake on the menu, but they would still have to pay the full €6.50 for each glass. After a conversation the manager then gave in and said 'this time' they could pay the €4. They paid the bill and as they were leaving the waitress went straight to them and told them to their face that they pissed her off.
Never before have I heard, nor encountered this. And having previously been to this bar a few times, I have no plans to ever frequent the bar again. The fact the manager hadn't changed the menu if even with a pen over the price, which by Dutch law is required to show all prices.
Be careful out there, and just double check the price when ordering from the upper market type bars in the city, especially along the Prinsengracht area!
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