Turn on the Lights

Posted on by ghotiindustries

As promised we went to Turn on the Lights in Dam Square last Thursday evening.

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We got there early in order to get good placement, and were right in the middle of the square near the I Amsterdam letters.

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The theme was the water cycle, and began with an opera singer being hoisted around by a crane above our heads!

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Moving on to dancers in bubbles moving in and around the crowd.

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Then came the dragons and bad guys! These were the most fun for me, and I’m trying to figure out how to get some for the house …

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I think these guys were meant to be “evaporation” and clouds, as they released helium balloons up into the air, and then rained aerosol snow down on the crowd. Either way, very pretty!

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The building was lit, and the lights twinkled and sparkled as everyone went inside to commence/continue their Giftmas shopping.

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It was one of the most amazing performance art pieces I have seen and been a part of! There were THOUSANDS of people filling that square, and the spectacle was truly first rate!

We left the square after having a bite to eat, and walked home via Leidseplein.

I was sad the other day when I realised that the season has truly turned when the tables aren’t out under the trees in Leidseplein for the tourists to sit under any more while they drink their beers. Until I saw what’s there now!

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Ice skating! I can’t wait to try! I don’t remember the last time I skated! This truly is a wonderful city in which to live!

Snowing!!!

Posted on by ghotiindustries

I will come back for a real post later. Right now, I just want to you all to be aware that it’s snowing. I have walked in falling snow. I have caught falling snowflakes on my tongue. It is cold enough that it isn’t melting, and the ground is all sugar coated.

*squees*

The last time I saw snow was on our honeymoon. And that wasn’t snow like this! This is European snow! 😀

There will be photos when I compose myself enough to take them for you! Right now, I’m going off to play in the falling snow!

Edited to add this video;

November Days

Posted on by ghotiindustries

On average, the sun rises at 8:15am, and is set by 5pm. Highs are of 7C, and this week is forecast as overcast.

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I can’t tell you how much I’m hoping for snow this Winter!

A Shopping Weekend

Posted on by ghotiindustries

In the age old, grand tradition of Giftmas, we spent the weekend shopping. After searching fruitlessly for gifts we stopped off in the Bazaar for a bite to eat.

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Before heading to Duikelmans for some baking supplies. It’s a pain when what I have brought with me doesn’t fit in my makeshift oven! *pouts*

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But I have no trouble finding everything I need,

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and a few things I can convince myself I need, in here!

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The lights are hung in all the streets, and Amsterdam is becoming fairy town. This bodes well for the opening of the Festival on Lights on Thursday night which I hope to go to!

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Conveniently for the lights, darkness is complete by 5pm here, and we’re not yet at solstice!

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The pastry shops and confectioners are wringing out everything they can get from the last few weeks of Sinterklaas.

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And the local equivalent of Bunnings is about to take a chunk out of my wallet!

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How are your end of year preparations coming along?

Silly Season

Posted on by ghotiindustries

Giftmas feels a little off kilter in the the Nederlands. The sign outside the shop in the Bloemenmarkt is counting down the days to the 25th of December. (36 sleeps as at this writing!)

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And there seems to be chocolate EVERYWHERE!

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But there is also this little guy.

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The children here only have to count to the 5th of December. And though I had in fact meant to be at the arrival parade, it completely slipped my mind until we walked into Dam Square to be surrounded by this …

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I can tell you now, that when you’re not used to it, seeing so many people, of all ages, in black face … it’s a little uncomfortable, and also a bit confronting.

This guy just looks lecherous!

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Something to remember when the story goes that he drags off bad little boys and girls in his burlap sack back to Spain!

But we did some more of our Giftmas shopping, and should be putting it in the post soon to make sure it reaches the other side of the world by Dec 25th. We just have to remember that everyone here does gifts on the 5th, and the 25th is for religion.

Not a bad way to keep them separate really.

In other news, something else will be being posted on Monday …

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Have you all been behaving yourselves in the lead up to the end of year countdown?