In New York City, the big Pride parade occurs on the Sunday of Pride Weekend, traditionally the last Sunday in June. In Amsterdam, however, the parade occurs on Saturday. Rather than march down the street, the floats sail down the Prinsengracht canal. In New York, traffic is a nightmare and trying to get from one side of town to the…
Pride is a fun time of year here in Amsterdam. The city really gets into the spirit, and there’s a great feeling of Pride and activism in the air. Stores get in the spirit as well, selling all sorts of Pride related things. My apartment is on Spuistraat, in the centrum. It’s a very central location, and that is very…
On Wednesday, we decided to check out one of my favorite neighborhoods in Amsterdam: The Pijp. There are charming, quaint streets, lots of adorable cafes, and the famous Albert Cuyp market, where vendors sell clothes, food, and all sorts of other items down a stretch of several blocks. It’s the kind of market where, even if you’re really really really…
Amsterdam weather is notoriously iffy. Clouds can appear and rain can come pouring down at a moment’s notice. I was obsessively checking the weather before Robb’s arrival, and it all looked favorable, except for Tuesday, his second day. Most of the agenda I planned centered on outdoor activities, because Robb doesn’t like generally like museums. In this pouring rain, though,…
After spending a week in Amsterdam by myself, I prepared the apartment for Robb’s visit. The Anne Frank Room (i.e. the hidden little upstairs bedroom) was clean, and the bed was freshly made. I put a small fan up there, because being on the top floor, it can get a bit warm. I set my alarm for 6:00 a.m. Tuesday…
Oosterpark, Amsterdam – Photos
It’s Tuesday in Amsterdam. In two more days, four of my college buddies fly across the Atlantic to join me for five days of eating, drinking, exploring, laughing, and reminiscing about the good old days, i.e., our days together at SUNY Binghamton, back when life seemed like one continuous party. Forty-one years have passed and we’re still good friends, and…
Ah, home sweet second home. I arrived in Amsterdam, to spend the last few days of this long winter trip. The weather forecast for the second Amsterdam leg of the trip did not look promising. As is typical in Amsterdam, it was rain, rain, and more rain. I would have liked sunny weather, but I didn’t really care. In my…
Udi, my Amsterdam buddy for over 20 years, was exceptionally busy, trying to wrap up all of his work assignments and projects before leaving for vacation – a 30-day excursion to Vietnam, Bali, and Malaysia. But he put aside enough time for us to see a hilarious play at the Stadshuistheater (Husbands and Wives, based on the Woody Allen movie…
Life in retirement just gets crazier and crazier. Last October, I participated in a veterinary project in India, called Mission Rabies. I worked with a team of veterinarians and technicians in Goa, to vaccinate thousands of dogs against rabies. Mission Rabies initially started as a project by the Worldwide Veterinary Service, and the two organizations remain closely affiliated. While on…
Amsterdam is a biking city. There are actually more bicycles than there are residents. These bicycles all have bells on them, and there are nearly as many varieties of bell as there are bikes. Solid pastels, floral patters, messages, animals, stars, logos… a little of everything. I took a few pictures of some that caught my eye.
Our short little trip to Oslo is coming to an end. Our flight back leaves at 6:00 p.m. Need to be at the airport at 4:00. Gotta catch the train at 3:30. This gives essentially half a day more of sightseeing before we say goodbye. So, one more stroll up Karl Johans gate as we make our way to The…
Our next to last day in Oslo started with a trip to City Hall. City Halls tend to be the dominant buildings in Scandinavian capitals, rather than churches. Perhaps that’s why Scandinavia always ranks so high on the list of countries with happy, satisfied people. Here, people pay high taxes, have high expectations, and usually get what they expect: a…
In my job, I have a fair amount of vacation time that must be used up before the end of the year. It’s a use-it-or-lose-it policy. Fortunately, the opportunity arose for a lil’ five day mini-vacation in the middle of August. I wanted to go somewhere with a relatively short travel time, and I don’t know why, but Scandinavia beckoned. …
Day 10 – Last day in Paris. Exploring Montmartre and the Museum Fragonard at the Veterinary School. (Continued from Day 9) For the last day, I figured we should take the obligatory trek to Montmartre. It’s a trendy neighborhood, and it has so much history. So many struggling artists, poets dreamers and drinkers came here for the cheap rent…