Sunny Setting.

Last week's view from my lovely home.
And as the sun sets (and smiles) over Amsterdam, so it sets over this blog.

Being busy with the business, a new website (which might include a 'professional' blog) and actually making/marketing jewellery, are the reasons for this "blog-slumber".
I'm hoping, the next phase will be a wonderful experience.

Thank you, to all who have, faithfully, followed this blog.
I'll give details of my website, as soon as it's ready and 'keep you posted' !

Double 'Pounder'

The sound of a piledriver causing its familiar, rhythmic sound of...Thud, Thud....Thud, Thud...  has suddenly gone up a beat. Two of them are now taking turns in 'pounding' huge piles into the ground.
Good to see that, despite the crisis, this work is still under construction! (tram depot area, mentioned before)

Mallorca Wild Life!

On our way to the airport, we stopped by Marja and Michel to admire their beautiful home and stayed for dinner which we enjoyed outside, on their patio, in the sun. While picking some fresh mint from their vegetable patch we found a small snake, who was enjoying his own dinner....a Gekko. CREEPY!

Mallorcaaaaaah

In desperate need of some 'aaaaaahhhh-exhale-in-the-sun-time' we were able to rent Casita 'Sal de Mar' in Port de Soller, Mallorca. It belongs to a group of friends and it's absolutely lovely. Newly renovated and open to holiday people since last month. For their website, click on: SAL DE MAR
The view from one of our 3 balconies:

It's a great place to go for long (mountain)-walks and end up having a yummy lunch in spectacular surroundings.

Restaurant Nautilus and Cala Deia

Fresh fish, brought in by the fishing boats and 'transported' to restaurants on wooden carts (right under our noses!) A baby shark (in the harbour), discarded by the fishermen.

Royal Wup

I hadn't seen any green parakeets for a long time, but the bright orange 'wuppie' (which I had glued to my balcony, for the coming inauguration of crown prince Willem Alexander) attracted the attention of two of them.
"Off with his head" seems to be their motto (not mine!).

Saving Dapper Ducky

Having just written about 'ship wrecks' in the Amsterdam canals, I had another experience with one of them today. These, almost completely, but not quite, submerged boats are real death traps for young birds. Sometimes they'll manage to 'tumble' into one and go for a safe swim but then find it hard to get out of again, because of the raised edges along the side.
From my apartment I spotted a mother duck with her little ones, in trouble.  One of them was about to drown.

I ran towards them and met a young, brave Czech girl, who had also realised that the ducklings were in trouble. Time for action: The owner of a restaurant lent us his ladder and a helping hand. The Czech girl called her friend, who came running, passersby stopped and gave 'advice' (amazing how these little fluff balls, soften the heart of the people.)
All of this resulted in 'Czech girl' climbing/dropping down the 'very wonky' ladder and pushing 'the death trap' down just that little bit more, so that the ducklings and their mum could escape.....except for the one, which she managed to, gently, pick up and hand over to me.

My neighbour offered to call the animal ambulance, while I held little 'Ducky', wrapped in a cloth,  close to my heart, under my jumper. When they came to collect 'him', Ducky looked plucky and could hold his head up again.

saying goodbye

Bon Voyage!

Garbage collector of canals

The Amsterdam canals are beautiful but to keep them that way, they need a lot of maintenance. For instance: the garbage needs to be removed. We're not just talking about paper or plastic waste...no, this is about using two, large barges, one with a krane with claw mounted on top, and picking up all the sad 'little' shipwrecks, partly or completely sunk, which can be found all along the canals.
This means that, sometimes, they have to scrape the bottom to look for a boat that has 'disappeared'. Usually the grip comes back up, holding a few, rusty, bicycles.
Here's this morning's evidence.

On the way to pick up

and back again, a few wrecks richer

It's very well organised and documented. Pictures are taken as proof of the state the wreck was in, before they're removed and lists of those boats + location are placed on the internet, weeks in advance.
Here's an AT5 article about it: WRECK-REMOVAL

Nordic Art at Groninger Museum

Stairs to 'under water' level

Over Easter, we treated ourselves to 'special offer-1st class train tickets' to visit the Nordic Art exhibition at the Groninger Museum. The trip itself was pretty special, since it was still snowing, and we travelled through the nature reserve 'Oostvaarder Plassen' which, in my opinion, closely resembled a barren tundra (never knew we had so many deer).  For Wikiped.info click on:OOSTV. PLASSEN.
I'd never been to the museum before, and can highly recommend it. It's a modern and intriguing building, partly below water level, with a high-tech information centre.
The Nordic art was quite impressive and even though there was a mix of old and modern art, they still seemed to have a distinctive style. Many pictures were as much about the frame as the painting and artists used a mix of different techniques. The picture (left) is made with oil paint and gold on, embossed, metal. (Right) oil on wood and enamel on copper frame.

Regrettably, the silver collection (my interest) had been 'put away' for fear of theft! We had to 'make do' with more modern art and the extensive china collection which was beautifully displayed in the round Starck Pavilion with small, 'net curtain-display areas'.

Couldn't resist one more picture of the, beautifully renovated, old railway station, a short walk from the museum.

Happy Easter

A lovely slooow day, with Easter Brunch and time to contemplate.

present for Easter

Boring topic, but still?

Outside or in-, the first thing we talk about these days is....the weather. It may have become a boring topic, but I still find it remarkable that, this morning, on the 27th of march, the canal in front of my house was partly frozen over. Keeping in mind that this is the centre of Amsterdam. Thankfully, we have clear blue skies and therefore...Sunshine! I'm astounded to find that, all over Amsterdam, Dutchies are finding sheltered spots and are enjoying their lunch outside. I wonder...do I actually belong to the same race???

Only 2 weeks ago!

Maastricht

One of the reasons we like visting The International European Art Fair is that we combine it with a stroll through the city of Maastricht.
This time we went to see the amazing book store inside the (at least 700 years old) Dominican Church.

Also a beautiful place to have a light lunch

However, we particularly like the area called Wyck, on the East side of the river Maas, which is where we've stayed the last two times. It's absolutely charming with many, specialised shops and restaurants of high standard which offer quality (bespoke) products. Jo Cortenraedt (below) agrees.

During Tefaf, many shop windows are, artistically, decorated.
This is the local Butcher.

Weekend Tefaf 2013

It was Tefaf-time and, once again, we spent a wonderful weekend in pretty Maastricht. At The European Fine Arts Fair, small improvements had been made (like small, portable 'kitchenettes' dotted around the place with good quality food, for a quick bite...no more crazy queues). The atmosphere was friendly and 'the world's population' was well represented (especially South America).

Fresh roses on huge, circular panels, sunk into the walls, and 'fairy tale bouquets' everywhere, spread their beautiful scent.

We particularly liked 'man with guitar' by Pablo Picasso (above) and the ring by Buccellati, which I tried on two years ago (april 2011 blog), was still there (I think it has my name on it)!!!
Not many people I know visit this Fair but if anyone feels like a nice day out...there's still time (until the 24th).
Here's the link: TEFAF

More neighbourhood-progress

It was the First (and only) day, when the weather was warm enough to sit outside on my balcony, last week. Picture me all homely and peaceful, cleaning, organic, brussels sprouts on a piece of newspaper. Suddenly I heard a low rumble and a lot of clanging noises when, out of nowhere, two huge cranes, slowly, loomed over the rooftops opposite me. What in the....?

Turns out, work has started on renovating the old tram depot, behind the next row of houses, and turning it into a centre for Media, Culture, Fashion and Trade. Tv studios, Cinemas, Restaurants, small businesses, Art, Shops, Training centres...you name it!
It's a large and amazing project, which will take 2 years to build... If they stick to the plan, it will be Good for the neighbourhood!
For those who are interested, please click on: TRAM DEPOT RENOVATION
Here's an impression of what some of it will look like.

I'm really excited about the end product. I realise that after two years of earth tremors, pounding of huge posts into the ground and everything else that comes with building work, I might sing a different tune. But for now....Hey Ho, Here we go...UPWARDS AND ONWARDS.

Little Red Tag

Amsterdam has been held at ransom by bicycles for way too long. They've become a 'health hazard' and the council has decided to give the City, drastic, Angioplasty treatment.  'Special Forces' have been sent out to 'tag and drag' illegally parked bicycles or their rusty 'leftovers'. You get two weeks to save your precious means of transport, so Be Warned!

this one got away