Weekend

Every time it snows, I think 'it's the last time....ok NOW it's the last time...ok no really this is really the last time' which is basically how this weekend went. Each morning we woke up to a snow-covered Amsterdam. Only this time, my Aussie friend, bridesmaid and fellow Italy-enthusiast was in town to enjoy it with me! She's no stranger to this city since she once called it home for a couple of years too, but this weekend we enjoyed being reunited after 18 months apart! We spelunkled around town like the good ol' times, watched Australian movies, got Thai takeout and caught up on gossip. After this week, she won't be too far away since she moves to London in a few days. 

And I swear these are the last snowy Amsterdam pics because I'm going away at the end of the week too: oh sweet California is just around the corner :).

Snow Day!

Last weekend, Amsterdam was covered with a blanket of snow. Thinking it could be the last snow for the Winter (and I'm pretty sure the canals won't be freezing over like they did last year...awww), Christian and I jumped at the opportunity to walk around the city and escape into a cozy cafe for some lattes. It actually doesn't snow that much in Amsterdam...it usually sticks for a few days then the rain comes and washes it away. Amsterdam is beautiful in the Summer (when it doesn't rain) and in the Fall when it's decorated in colorful leaves, but when snow flurries arrive it's absolutely gorgeous!

I wrapped myself in my new cozy scarf from Jeanelle and we hit the streets. Sights of a snow-covered city with bitter cold wind sweeping snowflakes through the air reminded us of the first few months of Winter we spent together in Finland. Which was perfect timing because It just so happened to be 6 years since we met in Finland.

Thanks for the snowy Finland-esque anniversary, Amsterdam :).

Walking on Water in Amsterdam

…well FROZEN water! All over Europe, the Arctic front swept in and temps DROPPED to super icy lows…this meant that not only did a fresh layer of snow cover Amsterdam but the canals became a wintry plateau for us to walk on! I have been looking forward to walking on the canals ever since I stumbled upon a postcard a few years ago of people skating on Amsterdam’s canals. Judging from the clothing of the ice skaters on the postcard it was clearly the 80’s, so it’s been quite a while for Amsterdammers to see the canals freeze over. Whelp…THIS WAS MY YEAR!

I was like a giddy little child hopping around the canals, through bridges and sliding in my boots. It was absolutely UNREAL to experience this and was hands-down one of my favorite Amsterdam moments. Our first walk was an incognito trip after work, just as the sun went down and the lights surrounding the bridges starting to light up—beautiful. Last weekend, Christian, some friends and I spent 5 glorious hours walking up and down the canals, picking up 1 EUR cups of steamy gluhwein on the way. People were selling pea soup, sausages, hot chocolate and even set up subwoofers in some places for passers-by to get their dance on and warm up a bit—so cool. We managed to catch a glimpse of the speed-skating race on Keizersgracht, but so did 5000 other people (its rare to see 5000 people in Amsterdam! And this city is not catered for THAT many people)…our afternoon of wintry wandering was most certainly the highlight of the weekend! Take a peek!


SIDE NOTE: Oh oh oh oh!!! My best friend Smitty is en route to Amsterdam right this second!! We’re off to Prague for the weekend followed by 8 glorious days frolicking around Amsterdam (her third visit in a year and a half!)…these cold Amsterdam temps are no contest for what Czech is giving us though…-10 is on the horizon! Eeeek! We’ll find a way to deal with it ;) muahahaha! Enjoy your weekend!! Stay bundled up…and well if you’re in a warm place, you better be lounging on the beach ;)

 

{Christian obviously ELATED that his boat is frozen ABOVE the water and not below it :)}

{Speed skating race}

Brrrrrrr!!!

A flurry of wintry powder covered Amsterdam on Friday and left behind a cozy winter wonderland. Mmmmm snow! But it was even better waking up the next morning to blue skies and a freshly blanketed (and cold!) European city to explore. Christian and I grabbed a Starbucks and headed West! All of Amsterdam is beautiful but especially the Jordaan district always seems to cast a spell...and its the perfect place to lounge next to a quiet canal on a summer day (fingers-crossed for no rain this summer...pretty please?). Christian had to run off early and attend to some business-ish while I continued wandering around the canals. I am a Cali chick afterall--snow is mysterious to me! :) Me and a couple of friends battled the cold and visited Vondelpark, the Central Park of Amsterdam. The entire park looked like a Norman Rockwell painting: people skating, walking and sledding around on the frozen lake, greeting each other with laughter and smiles and all-around good cheer in the air. We couldn't help but take a walk on the lake ourselves. It's not every day ya get to walk under a bridge...I'm just crossing my fingers so I can walk ON the canals one of these days!

(*as I write this, my computer says its currently -8 right now...ah geeez)