It is with incredible affection that I bid adieu to this amazing city. I'm so grateful for this three-year journey, and the just as amazing friends we've made along the way.
Until next time. xxx
Saturday, July 30, 2016
Thursday, July 28, 2016
Over and Out
We're getting pretty good at this. Major cross-country and/or inter-continental moves.
That said, I'm happy to be (almost) on the other side. What a week.
We wrap things up in Amsterdam tomorrow. In the meantime, we've had to move this show to a hotel since our beds have been packed and loaded.
In fact, we're enjoying an amazing Amsterdam view tonight after being upgraded to top floor suite due to a major flood in our original room that soaked all of our bags (and everything inside).
Grr.
Yay!
Grr.
Yay!
I'm not sure how I'm feeling, I'm so exhausted. Miss A's got the right idea.
Saturday, July 23, 2016
Dutch Bucket List (Kröller Muller)
Kröller Muller, check!
We are on an "I ❤️ Holland" campaign in our last few days!
Kröller Muller is a modern art museum in the middle of the only national forest in Holland (this is polder land, baby, not forest!). The park is huge. We camped here twice before, but we were too busy relaxing to make it to this little gem tucked in the woods.
So the kids and I packed a day bag and headed out on Thursday. In true Dutch fashion, FREE bikes (adult bikes and kid bikes) are available at the entrance to the park, then you bike a few kilometers to the museum. At any point, you can buzz around the park for a picnic or exploring. And the museum? Second largest collection of Van Gogh paintings in the world, outside the Van Gogh Musuem in Amsterdam.
We are on an "I ❤️ Holland" campaign in our last few days!
Kröller Muller is a modern art museum in the middle of the only national forest in Holland (this is polder land, baby, not forest!). The park is huge. We camped here twice before, but we were too busy relaxing to make it to this little gem tucked in the woods.
So the kids and I packed a day bag and headed out on Thursday. In true Dutch fashion, FREE bikes (adult bikes and kid bikes) are available at the entrance to the park, then you bike a few kilometers to the museum. At any point, you can buzz around the park for a picnic or exploring. And the museum? Second largest collection of Van Gogh paintings in the world, outside the Van Gogh Musuem in Amsterdam.
Hello,Van Gogh color!
Wednesday, July 20, 2016
Summer Reading?
This is not my idea of a good beach read.
It's obligatory for American ex pats in The Netherlands to turn in their U.S. license if they want a Dutch license and the ability to drive while here. Alas, upon our return to the Sates we must start all over again, with a written exam and learner's permit, 5 hours of class time, and a DRIVING TEST.
Fun times. In Manhattan, to boot.
You can bet your bottom dollar I'll be pursuing this as soon as we land, but not because I'll be doing much driving in NYC. Nope, it's because you need a state I.D. to vote, and I've got a 45-day deadline to register to vote in the upcoming presidential election.
And I WILL vote in the upcoming election.
Arrgh. Grumble, grumble.
It's obligatory for American ex pats in The Netherlands to turn in their U.S. license if they want a Dutch license and the ability to drive while here. Alas, upon our return to the Sates we must start all over again, with a written exam and learner's permit, 5 hours of class time, and a DRIVING TEST.
Fun times. In Manhattan, to boot.
You can bet your bottom dollar I'll be pursuing this as soon as we land, but not because I'll be doing much driving in NYC. Nope, it's because you need a state I.D. to vote, and I've got a 45-day deadline to register to vote in the upcoming presidential election.
And I WILL vote in the upcoming election.
Arrgh. Grumble, grumble.
Dutch Bucket List (Rijks, Part 1)
Private Family Tour of Rijks. Check.
Amazing what you can learn, even after the umpteenth visit!!!
Sunday, July 17, 2016
Football Stud
This camp is so well done, and a tremendous souvenir experience from our time in Holland. It's hard work--five days from 9:00-5:00--but worth every sweaty moment.
Most of the days the camp facilitates mini tournaments for the individual players to compete, if they qualify. Last year, RS cheered on a good friend who made it to the finals, and he dreamed about doing it himself someday. Well, this year he did it! Twice! Two medals for my little guy.
RS is competitive, but more importantly he's all about the team. It really doesn't matter to him if he actually made the goal, as long as it was his team that made the goal. And he's just a happy player. Always smiling, never too serious. He's out there having fun, and so what if he still blows his mom kisses from the pitch while mid-play?!!? For these reasons, not the medals, he is truly my football stud.
Tournament time!
This year he did the camp with his two best friends (guy friends, since there's one very special gal pal in his class), rounding out his departure quite beautifully. A fine way to say goodbye.
Check this very short video out, and see what I mean about my son's team spirit. Love him.
Saturday, July 16, 2016
Dutch Bucket List (Bounz)
You can guess which bucket list had this in its top 10. Not a bad activity for a rainy summer day.
Thursday, July 14, 2016
My Kids are Watching
There are so many things I'd like to say about the upcoming election, and I hope I'm able to snag the time in the near future to go beyond this quick post and miscellaneous Facebook comments.
Today, however, this ad by the Clinton campaign stopped me in my tracks. Anyone who has been around me this year knows that a possible Trump presidency breaks my heart for a multitude of reasons, but perhaps my biggest sorrow is how it will shape my children's understanding of their country and the world, how it will shape their understanding of humankind. My husband and I model acceptance, curiosity and compassion. How do we explain Trump?
Honestly, I just don't get it. How someone so vile and uneducated is poised to lead our country.
But there is one thing I know for certain--my children are watching.
Today, however, this ad by the Clinton campaign stopped me in my tracks. Anyone who has been around me this year knows that a possible Trump presidency breaks my heart for a multitude of reasons, but perhaps my biggest sorrow is how it will shape my children's understanding of their country and the world, how it will shape their understanding of humankind. My husband and I model acceptance, curiosity and compassion. How do we explain Trump?
Honestly, I just don't get it. How someone so vile and uneducated is poised to lead our country.
But there is one thing I know for certain--my children are watching.
Dutch Bucket List (The Goldfinch)
The Goldfinch. Check.
The Girl with the Pearl Earring. Check.
The Anatomy Lesson. Check.
Got to see all three of these gems and many more Dutch Golden Age masterpieces at The Mauritshuis earlier this spring. It is easily now one of my favorite art museums in the world, housed in a seventeenth-century mansion in The Hague. I love, love, love small, intimate museums.
In case you've been living under a rock for the past couple of years, Donna Tart won the Pulitzer Prize last year for her novel centered around this very painting. I already had plans to see the painting, but after reading the book a visit to the real deal was a must. Regardless of one's opinion of the book (and they were polarized), it's hard not to be excited about the film adaptation.
Here it is, for real.
Tiny painting, huge inspiration.
It's just pretty darn cool to see this painting, "The Girl with the Pearl Earring," in such an intimate setting. I definitely did not have to stand sixteen rows deep in a throng of people à la the Mona Lisa at the Louvre.
I don't know what it is about those Dutch Masters, but this one, of course, also inspired a novel and a critically acclaimed movie:
Last but not least, Rembrandt's, "The Anatomy Lesson." I've waiting a long time to see this one. So much of my studies and my rooting around Amsterdam seem to uncover another tie-back to this painting, including lunch with my husband in the old weigh house at the top of which the "lesson" took place and Rembrandt watched and painted this:
It will come as no surprise, but here's a well-received modern novel inspired by the painting!
The Girl with the Pearl Earring. Check.
The Anatomy Lesson. Check.
Got to see all three of these gems and many more Dutch Golden Age masterpieces at The Mauritshuis earlier this spring. It is easily now one of my favorite art museums in the world, housed in a seventeenth-century mansion in The Hague. I love, love, love small, intimate museums.
In case you've been living under a rock for the past couple of years, Donna Tart won the Pulitzer Prize last year for her novel centered around this very painting. I already had plans to see the painting, but after reading the book a visit to the real deal was a must. Regardless of one's opinion of the book (and they were polarized), it's hard not to be excited about the film adaptation.
Here it is, for real.
Tiny painting, huge inspiration.
It's just pretty darn cool to see this painting, "The Girl with the Pearl Earring," in such an intimate setting. I definitely did not have to stand sixteen rows deep in a throng of people à la the Mona Lisa at the Louvre.
I don't know what it is about those Dutch Masters, but this one, of course, also inspired a novel and a critically acclaimed movie:
Last but not least, Rembrandt's, "The Anatomy Lesson." I've waiting a long time to see this one. So much of my studies and my rooting around Amsterdam seem to uncover another tie-back to this painting, including lunch with my husband in the old weigh house at the top of which the "lesson" took place and Rembrandt watched and painted this:
It will come as no surprise, but here's a well-received modern novel inspired by the painting!
On the Nature of Ex Pat Friendships
Um, yeah, cause it's so normal to spend 5 days with our American friends, who we met in Amsterdam, but now live in U.S., and who are passing through Amsterdam on their way to France for the summer!
Unbelievably great to see you, LL and gang!!
Unbelievably great to see you, LL and gang!!
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