Amsterdam

Artis

Posted on August 27, 2012August 27, 2012 by ghotiindustries

Natura Artis Magistra – the Artis Royal Zoo, located in Amsterdam. That was where we decided to spend the last Sunday in August. In the intermittent rain.

I had wanted to go to Artis almost since we first arrived in Amsterdam. Having lived nearby and at one point taking the cats to the Vet opposite, it had been tormenting me ever since.

When we woke up on Sunday and there was yet more rain forecast, I looked at Himself and declared that I’d be willing to dress for the weather just to get there finally! Thank goodness that he is as open to adventure as I am! Off we went with umbrella and raincoat stowed safely in the backpack.

It didn’t take long for the first of several downpours. This one happened as we were nearby the Reptile House, and in we went.

We were reminded that we will need to look up the laws on snake ownership in the Nederlands for our next pet adoption.

Another happened as we were encountering the Lemurs in Lemur Land. You can actually get close and interact with them! Although, at one point all anyone wanted was to be under the umbrella, out of the rain! We all crammed in there together.

Zebras are not wet weather animals. They told me.

With another downpour we were at the Aquarium which is housed within the same park. How cool is that?!? This wee froggy stole my heart! He was about the size of the nail on my little finger.

I guess it makes complete sense that if you have a big cat enclosure, then you’d have a resident taxidermist as well. I wouldn’t want to say good bye either.

I swear these sea urchins wanted to try out to be soot sprites from Studio Ghibli.

The Koi pond will always hold a special attraction for me.

I saw my first ever racoon! And Oh My Goodness! Can you stand the cuteness?!?

My first ever sloth! I like sloths. Always have. Don’t know why.

There seemed to be baby animals all over the zoo. Baby gorillas, baby sharks, a baby giraffe, this baby elephant …

But of course, the best was saved ‘til last. As we were being kicked out of the premises as they had closed a half hour before …

the baby lion.

You can bet you britches that we’ll be going back to see all of the park we missed (and we were there for five hours), very shortly!

Hope you had a good weekend one and all!

Molen van Sloten

Posted on August 13, 2012August 13, 2012 by ghotiindustries

It’s amazing what you learn when you pay attention to the advertising screens on trams! I recently read about Molen van Sloten on just such a screen, and resolved that at the next chance we got, that’s where we’d go! I’d had no idea that there was a working windmill so close to Amsterdam!

As directed, we took the tram and got off at the last stop, and just followed the signs from there. And a remarkably picturesque walk it was too!

Can you believe these are the back of peoples back yards? I’m so jealous!

This was the best sign so far, and had me giggling.

It directed us to walk through Sloten, a thousand year old village which only got annexed to Amsterdam in 1921. It’s so tiny and quaint!

I love the atmosphere of this village. If it was further away I‘d want a Summer house here. But it’s so close that I can visit whenever I want!

Out of a tree shaded walkway we then saw the sight that had drawn us here.

The massive rotating sails of the mill. This particular mill is a water mill that, by use of an Archimedes Screw, keeps the polder of Sloten above water level, if not sea level.

This is the only public mill in Amsterdam and being able to go up inside it as it was turning was such an amazing experience! We both had huge grins on our faces!

Being us, on the way home we stopped off in Leidseplein and sampled a few more of the delicious cocktails off the menu at the Bar Americain.

Pretty good way to end the day if you ask me! I hope your weekends were both productive and educational too!

Amsterdam Pride 2012

Posted on August 6, 2012August 6, 2012 by ghotiindustries

Along with several thousand other people, we made our way to the Prinsengracht to watch the Amsterdam 2012 Pride Parade on Saturday.

The Parade was as wonderful as any I’ve been to or participated in. Though it was interesting to watch the crowd, as I’ve never seen a crowd so difficult to rile up! Only one float got a real reaction out of them in the 4 hour parade, and that was the group doing the actions to YMCA.

My large camera brings all the boys to my yard … ?

These guys were wonderful and everyone did stop and respond when the bugle played and they saluted the crowds.

The queens.

The queen Queen. Good ol’ Bea!

Some of the expressions I captured were just priceless!

The Dancers are always full of energy! (I’m not sure anything could have stopped this guy!)

There is s unique logistical problem with holding the Parade on the canals. For the first time ever, I’ve seen the floats actually float. But they also have to get under bridges. So what you get, is a lot of floats being air filled, like jumping castles, that get hauled down and deflated at the last minute.

Though this solution was elegantly executed also …

The other popular theme this year was ticker tape cannons. So I’ll leave you today with this shot.

Have a Rainbow filled day, and life, My Fabulous Fishies! *air kisses*

The Rijksmuseum

Posted on July 25, 2012July 23, 2012 by ghotiindustries

This was what I wanted to do for my birthday. On the three month anniversary of us arriving in Amsterdam we finally went to the Rijksmuseum.

I have stood amongst, and seen paintings by Vermeer.

Knowing from one of the art blogs I read that the “Woman in Blue Reading a Letter” has recently been restored made it even more meaningful.

The power in the pieces moves me, and I like watching how other patrons react to them.

Rembrandt’s The Night Watch dominates the room it imposes over with such completeness that people are awed into silence.

Being able to stand in the presence of such amazing works really changes you, and grows your appreciation for both the effort and skill that goes into it’s creation, and the detail with which the era has been captured by the artist(s).

Of course there are other masterpieces like this Winter Landscape with Skaters which also show details and insight into daily life,

and which also show the Dutch sense of humour to perfection! (Do click on that link above, there is a LOT to see in this painting!)

I can’t wait to go back after the massive renovations are completed! You will be seeing more of the Rijksmuseum! *grins*

coughhacksnotwheeze

Posted on July 16, 2012July 16, 2012 by ghotiindustries

It’s been a quiet week.

Knitting was achieved for a swap I have coming up.

And neighbour obviously passed an exam.

This is what you do when you pass your exams in the Nederlands. You hang your backpack/satchel out the front with your flag to tell the world that you’ve passed.

Look, another one …

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