Mijn vier kliene huisjes

Located on the Rokin by the Munttoren. Love that cluster of houses.

Magical they are.

Some quality time with a bench

On August 18th, I sat on a bench on the edge of Roetersstraat in Amsterdam....
This one here...

For about an hour or so I looked and I looked...

Before snapping up as many interesting views as I could find, without getting up off the bench. A fun exercise, which I plan to definitely do again.

A coffee and jazz filled sunday afternoon

During this past lazy Sunday afternoon (love those)...

I went and heard the lovely Roos Jonker – who will be my neighbor soon! – sing some of her lovely songs at the Coffee Company on Waterlooplein.

While listening, I decided that I really love Dutch café culture, and coffee.

Both positives, I imagine.

Dear (Amster)dam,

Dear City of Magic,

You're looking mighty sexy these days.

I'm not sure if it was our time apart that has make your beauty even more intense...

Or if it's just that time of year again.

Your leaves are starting to drop.

And so autumn is near.

I'll be tuning up my bike this weekend...

So I can enjoy you even more in the weeks to come.

And, because having (almost) no brake pads left on a racing bike is (so very) un-safe.

Keep your transition to autumn going strong.

Forever yours,

John

Back in the land of little

So I'm back in Amsterdam after 22 days in the US of A.

What a strange place it is. But I am American and it will always be where I'm from.

But visiting family and friends was great.

And it was super fun to show my Dutch man, my country.

We arrived back in AMS on Sunday morning at 7am.

I stayed up all day (after missing Saturday night on the plane ride back to Europe.)

And my friend Brett was in town for business (as he comes to the city about 4 times a year for meetings, from the States).

So we roamed around the city for a few hours on Sunday, enjoying the terraces and the soaking up the sunlight seeping through the clouds, while sitting in Vondelpark... Before I stumbled home and (finally) went to bed.

Sunday was a beautiful day in Amsterdam.

I couldn't be more happy to be back.

I could never imagine living anywhere else,

than this tiny little village on the North Sea.

While cycling this morning (in the rain), I was 'sprayed' with water from a puddle a car drove through.

The water splashed/sprayed upwards, and into the cycling path (and onto me).

Making me completely soaked.

Ah.... It's good to be back.

Nashville

Boston