AMSTERDAM/ PART THREE.

The last post to round up the week. On our final day we had quite a lot of time to kill as our flight was late on. We explored the Jordaan area, wandering up and down the canals and quiet streets, had plenty of coffee breaks and rode the free ferry as far as we could.
Very grateful for quality friendship time, adventure in a new place and beautiful weather.

Now that I'm back in Leeds and life is (slightly) more chilled I'm hoping to keep the posts coming and maybe have a little revamp. Watch this space.

THE STUNNING CENTRAL STATION.

THE JORDANN IS PRETTY GORGEOUS, I LOVED GETTING LOST AROUND HERE.

MY NEW HOUSE? YES PLEASE.

SO. MANY. BICYCLES.

THE IVY.

THE PERFECT APPLE PIE AND TILES AT THE ENTRY TO OUR APARTMENT.

THE INDUSTRIAL SHIP YARD AT THE END OF OUR LITTLE FERRY JOURNEY. THAT BOAT WAS BASICALLY A PIRATE SHIP.

Until next time Europe! Technically I live in Europe but you know what I mean.

xx

AMSTERDAM/ PART TWO.

Day two in sunny Amsterdam! We explored a few markets, ventured to the lovely Vondlepark and cycled around (on the condition that we didn't leave the park... I was not keen on braving the traffic) and paid a quick visit to the Van Gogh Museum. We rounded up the night with delicious burgers from 'Geflipt' on the balcony. So. Good.
I'll share the final photos on Friday! 
x

LESS THAN A MINUTE FROM OUR LITTLE APARTMENT WAS THE ALBERT CUYPMARKT, A STREET FILLED WITH EVERY KIND OF MARKET STALL. BEHIND THE STALLS WERE A COUPLE OF SHOPS INCLUDING THIS BEAUTIFUL FURNITURE ONE...  

...I HAPPILY COULD HAVE BOUGHT MOST OF THE SHOP BUT MY CABIN BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE AND THE SHIPPING FEES STOPPED ME. 

VINTAGE CLOTHES.

A FLOWER STAND FULL OF SUNFLOWERS.

I AMSTERDAM.

VONDELPARK WAS SURROUNDED BY THE PRETTIEST TOWN HOUSES.

AUTUMN ARRIVED.

CYCLING! (THANKS MACBIKE) IT TOOK WAY TOO MANY ATTEMPTS TO GET A DECENT SHOT WHILE MOVING: MY ONE-HANDED STEERING AND BALANCE WERE NOT UP TO SCRATCH. 

UNLIKE JENI'S, WHAT A PRO!

THE ROSE GARDENS WERE JUST ABOUT HOLDING ON. 

RAINBOW STREET.

THE RIJKSMUSEUM.

 BEAUTIFUL ARCHWAYS.

AMSTERDAM/ PART ONE.

Finally I am sharing my photos from Amsterdam! Almost a year ago whilst I was visiting Jeni, we had a chat about exploring a new city in Europe for a long weekend. It's so easy to not take the time for short trips like this but it's also almost as easy to do it as well and I'm so glad we did. It was a perfect end to the summer. Despite a delayed flight and too many mosquito bites (they always get me!) we had a wonderful time. I took a lot of photos and have found it so hard to cut them down...so I'm sharing three posts with you.

These are from the first 24hours where we explored the city by foot and by boat, tried some local food and basically just took it all in.  

 THE VIEW FROM OUR APARTMENT THE NIGHT WE ARRIVED.

 FIRST ON THE AGENDA, BOAT RIDE WHERE I REALISED THAT HARDLY ANY OF THE BUILDINGS ARE STRAIGHT! 

SIDE NOTE: A fact we learnt was that historically, owners were taxed dependant on the width of their houses which is why so many are so skinny! Crazy, I love a good fact.

 THE VIEW FROM THE CANAL CRUISE.

 SUCH PRETTY ARCHITECTURE.

EXPLORING SIDE STREETS.

 ONE OF MANY CHEESE SHOPS WHERE WE PUSHED OUR LUCK WITH THE FREE SAMPLES..

 TINY CHILLIES, TOMATOES AND PUMPKINS.

THIS WAS THE EXTENT OF THE TULIPS IN THE FLOWER MARKET UNFORTUNATELY.

BITTENBALLEN (VERY TASTY) AND BEER (HAVEN'T MADE MY MIND UP YET). CONFESSION - THIS WAS RIGHT NEXT TO ANNE FRANK'S HOUSE AND WE DID NOT GO IN... MAYBE NEXT TIME.

WE STUMBLED UPON A BIG CHURCH IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CITY. IT WAS GORGEOUS AND SUCH A CONTRAST TO BE IN A HUGE, OPEN AND QUIET SPACE AFTER THE WINDING STREETS AND BUSY TOURISTS.

Day one done. Check back later this week for more if you fancy it!

x