Thursday, June 6, 2013

Amsterdam - the city, the people, the bicycles

Beautiful window displays and lots of cute souvenirs.
There are more than 6800 old buildings in Amsterdam.
Evveryone rides a bike, young, old, big, small, business, hippie, family, child. I had the most wonderful Dutch apple cake with almond paste and whipped cream. Yum. And I met with dear Maaike at a cute café for lunch.
Stunning architecture from the 16th, 17th and 18th century, 165 cute canals and more than 600 000 bicycles
can be found in Amsterdam.
The workshop - I'll tell you all about in my next post.
Last weekend I went to Amsterdam to join a Create n' Date event that dear Maaike at Crejjtion had organized, some of you might know about it already. I am still high on this experience which was absolutely the best I have had in a long long time.

I arrived early in the morning
and although the day was cloudy and grey, I couldn't resist strolling the streets from the Museum district towards the Central station. I fell in love with this town within minutes. ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

I love everything about this town. The buildings, the trams, the canals, the cafés, the shops, the squares, the puls, the people and the bicycles. I think the bicycles made the biggest impression on me. I just could not get enough of them and they were everywhere. I mean everywhere. Mostly traditional black granny bikes with some exceptions of color sprayed ones and some decorated with flowers. Family bikes with kids put in trailers or on handle bars.

Everyone rides a bike in Amsterdam. I find it so so so charming and healthy. Old ladies showing their panties (ooops!!) riding in knee long skirts. Young men with girlfriends snugging their loved ones waist sitting in lady position in the back. Business men with suits and ties and tied up legs on their pants to avoid getting caught in the chain. Young beautiful girls with long blond hair flying in the wind as they swish down the streets in confidence. I could easily go back to only look at the Dutch riding their bikes. That is pure entertainment and bliss right there.

The people are so kind, everyone I met spoke English really well, the shop employees were so helpful without being pushy, just cool and extremely nice. I met a sweet girl called Agneta at a Sassy Boy shop down town, and we happily chatted about this and that for a good 15 minutes like old friends. And I didn't even buy anything... But  she asked for my business card and maybe she will visit My Rose Valley here in cyber world. I hope you read this Agneta, it was nice to meet you!

I met with Maaike from CreJJtion for lunch and it was like meeting an old friend. We had so much to talk about and 2 hours passed to fast... She is such a lovely girl Maaike. I am sure I will meet her many times more in the future.

I had caffe lattes, fabulous pastries, ate a nice dinner with some friends in the Red Light District... I went shopping and I went to the big event, the Create n Date workshop. More about that in next post.

Kärlek
Annette


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27 comments :

  1. You were in Amsterdam? I wish I'd known, that's only a trainride away for me! :) If this event is again next year, I am so going.
    xo,
    wink

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  2. Amerstam looks great! I will have to put that on my list of cities to visit. I would enjoy seeing the bikes too! lok forward to the next part, Heather x

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  3. Que ciudad más bonita!!! Unas imágenes preciosas, mi medio de transporte es la bicicleta disfruto muchísimo desplazándome con ella aunque aquí predominan los coches.. En Holanda debe ser divino. Un cariñoso saludo desde España.

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  4. Ah your experience in Amsterdam mirrors my own. I love that city and because my mom is from recent Dutch descent, I am able to recognise my family's mannerisms and features in the Dutch peoples. Can't wait to read about the workshop in your next posting! Looks like you had a great trip and workshop.

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  5. Dear Annette,
    It was a pleasure to meet you! I'm glad to hear you enjoyed your weekend in Amsterdam.
    Best regards,
    Nathaly

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  6. Looks lovely!
    I wish i had been there...
    And yes, Amsterdam is awesome!!

    xx

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  7. Hello Anette, how nice to see Amsterdam through your eyes! Create 'n Date was a succes ( I sat a while beside you!)See you again in Amsterdam! Mariette ( www.tussentweehaakjes.blogspot.nl)

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  8. Hello Annette,
    I was at the meeting to, I spoke to you briefly. It was such a lovely day. I so hope Maaike organize a meeting again. And that you would be there to, maybe we can chat much longer. You really seem like a very sweet woman.
    Ilona

    You're on some of my photos, see my blog :)

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  9. What an awesome experience. I loved the photo of the old woman on the bike.

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  10. Aaaah lovely! It sounds like a huge success.
    Loving your photos of Amsterdam in spring - we stopped over in Dec om a dreary windy wet day - but still went on a canal trip to have a look around. I want to go there in summer, one day :-)

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  11. I am happy for you! Congrats for this post!

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  12. I am so glad you enjoyed your trip to my country. And I am glad it was not raining, that would have made for a different experience. I do not live in Amsterdam, but in The Hague, our government city, where our Parliament Buildings are and our King lives and works. But yes, I do have that black granny bike with pink and white dotted bags for my shopping on the back.
    Your pictures are great, they capture the mood of Amsterdam wonderfully and the Creat n Date looks like a lot of fun!

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  13. What an outing, what a town! My mother was born in the Netherlands and I am hoping very soon to visit. Your pictures have inspired me further!

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  14. So glad you enjoyed your trip to our country and to Amsterdam. Your pictures are wonderful and really capture the spirit of the town. I live in another town, The Hague, our governmental city (Houses of Parliament are there and the King lives and works there), but yes, I do ride that black granny bike, mine has white and pink polkadot bags on the back for my shopping and other things. The Create ‘n Date looks wonderful, bet you ladies had a lot of fun!

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  15. Amsterdam looks beautiful! Also, I've never seen so many bikes in one place...crazy! I'd really like to go there one day. It looks like you had a lovely time. :)

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  16. Wauw, sounds like you enjoyed it a lot! I was born in Amsterdam. Now I live in Zaandam but Amsterdam... still my hometown ♥

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  17. What a fabulous trip! You paint a colorful picture of the people of Amsterdam on their bikes!!!
    XO Kris

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  18. Hi,
    I live only ten minuten from Amsterdam and used to al the bikes around me. Your post makes me realise that it is special!

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  19. Is sounds like you had a fabulous time! :) x

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  20. Looks like you had a wonderful weekend xo

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  21. sounds so wonderful- can't wait to read more about it!

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  22. I so truely agree with the bicycles thingie. Loved the canals. When I'd been there, I was surprised to see a multi-storied bicycle stand with a huge pile of cycles :-) Get to such things very rarely in India. looks like you had loads of fun. Did you go on a boat trip through the canals ???

    Luv,
    Ranjitha

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  23. wow...so This is Amsterdam...Looks really Pretty...This is in my wish list...Hope to meet you all once in my life time.

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  24. Super! To read your adventure in The Netherlands! It's true, we love biking. So nice to see this trough your eyes.
    Beautiful photo's! I'm curious to read your story about Create 'n Date! Have a great weekend!

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  25. Oh no how sad... I didn't get to meet you!!

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  26. Wow Annette, sounds like you've had a wonderful time! Your photos are fabulous.....I'd really like to visit Amsterdam. I wish I had known about the event.....perhaps I can book in it next time.
    Looking forward to reading about your creating date!
    Have a great weekend.
    Carole :-)

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  27. I totally agree; Amsterdam is a lovely city. I am Dutch and I live in france now for twelve years but when I saw your pictures I Immediately decided to visit Amsterdam my next time in Holland. thanks for the beautiful pictures.

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Thank you so much for visiting my world. I love reading your comments and I do my utterly best to respond to questions and sweet messages. Thank you again for popping by.

Kärlek
Annette

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