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beelikejTwo picspams and some a lot of babbling to show and tell you about the past two days I spent in Amsterdam with brotherdearest Hans and The Hague with my sister in law Gayleen and nephew Ruben (other brother Jaap had to work). Beware of photos of the family (including yours truly and the adorable nephew). But first a couple of touristy pics from the Big City:)
An Afternoon in Amsterdam
Before I went to see my brother's girlfriend Benthe on stage in Angels in America (a performance by Studententoneel Amsterdam*) I did some quick shopping. Here are some photos of sights I passed along the way;)
View from the train as I near Amsterdam Central Station: cool graffiti and the actual windmill in the background.
Finally I'm able to see the front of the station without all the scaffolding that had been there in the past few years(!)
A "Seeperij" is a place where they make soaps. Front is now above an ATM. The "Vergulde Hant" (gilded hand) is still a brandname for shaving cream.
Front of old booksellers in three languages on Damrak. Now a clothing store.
The Palace on Damsquare, also free of scaffolding. Looking good!
Side entrance of the "Kalvertoren", a shopping mall.
Saw the moon, while waiting for the tram to my brother's appartment. Also saw two stars: I nearly bumped into Dutch actor-couple Daan Schuurmans & Bracha van Doesburgh. No pictures, but it did happen :)
Next morning Hans walked me to the train, after breakfast and a long bath. (Brotherdearest is the only one in my family who still has one and he just found another apartment in Amsterdam, so I guess I'm going to have to travel to my favorite hotel in London again for another luxury soak *sighs*.)
The original plan was for our sister in law to meet us in Amsterdam, but she couldn't leave The Hague because of the snow, so in stead I'm traveling on for a visit with my darling nephew! (Hans had an appointment for said new apartment, so he couldn't come along)
An Afternoon in The Hague - Friday January 18
After visiting brotherdearest in Amsterdam on Thursday, today I traveled on to the family in The Hague to catch up with my sister in law and my nephew;)We went sleighing!
View from train to The Hague: so much snow!
Walking through the neighbourhood to the nearby forest.
While retriever Rowdy is set free, Ruben keeps the leash in his sled:)
OOooh, mum Gayleen pulls the sled uphill.
Mum Gayleen and Aunt Judith acting silly for the photo;)
Wearing mum's gloves to keep warm.
Ready to go home...
When we were nearly back at the apartment, Ruben fell asleep in the sled. Aaahw.
Magnificent days:)
*Play was great too! I was curious to find out what changes they had made to get it from the original 5 hours to 1.5 hours, but it was wonderfully done.
It was such an impressive version and I totally forgot I was watching a friend on stage. If you're familiar with the play: she played Harper and Hannah. In this version there were five girls playing Harper which was perfect to show that character's state of mind. Halfway throught the play everyone (except Prior) changed parts which gave it sort of the same feel as the original (where each actor plays several parts). In the second half B. played Hannah. I loved how she did the phoneconversation with Joe, when he calls her from the park in the middle of the night. The standing ovation was well deserved.
Afterwards we had drinks with several other friends and some actors; we had briliant in depth discussions about the play. I was even more impressed after hearing all the preparations that went into putting the play on stage. I must also admit to being quite charmed by the actor who had played Louis (and the travelguide in the second act). Because I really dislike that character I hadn't even noticed how handsome the guy was, that's how distracted I was by the performance. *g* It was an excellent evening.
An Afternoon in Amsterdam
Before I went to see my brother's girlfriend Benthe on stage in Angels in America (a performance by Studententoneel Amsterdam*) I did some quick shopping. Here are some photos of sights I passed along the way;)
View from the train as I near Amsterdam Central Station: cool graffiti and the actual windmill in the background.
Finally I'm able to see the front of the station without all the scaffolding that had been there in the past few years(!)
A "Seeperij" is a place where they make soaps. Front is now above an ATM. The "Vergulde Hant" (gilded hand) is still a brandname for shaving cream.
Front of old booksellers in three languages on Damrak. Now a clothing store.
The Palace on Damsquare, also free of scaffolding. Looking good!
Side entrance of the "Kalvertoren", a shopping mall.
Saw the moon, while waiting for the tram to my brother's appartment. Also saw two stars: I nearly bumped into Dutch actor-couple Daan Schuurmans & Bracha van Doesburgh. No pictures, but it did happen :)
Next morning Hans walked me to the train, after breakfast and a long bath. (Brotherdearest is the only one in my family who still has one and he just found another apartment in Amsterdam, so I guess I'm going to have to travel to my favorite hotel in London again for another luxury soak *sighs*.)
The original plan was for our sister in law to meet us in Amsterdam, but she couldn't leave The Hague because of the snow, so in stead I'm traveling on for a visit with my darling nephew! (Hans had an appointment for said new apartment, so he couldn't come along)
An Afternoon in The Hague - Friday January 18
After visiting brotherdearest in Amsterdam on Thursday, today I traveled on to the family in The Hague to catch up with my sister in law and my nephew;)We went sleighing!
View from train to The Hague: so much snow!
Walking through the neighbourhood to the nearby forest.
While retriever Rowdy is set free, Ruben keeps the leash in his sled:)
OOooh, mum Gayleen pulls the sled uphill.
Mum Gayleen and Aunt Judith acting silly for the photo;)
Wearing mum's gloves to keep warm.
Ready to go home...
When we were nearly back at the apartment, Ruben fell asleep in the sled. Aaahw.
Magnificent days:)
*Play was great too! I was curious to find out what changes they had made to get it from the original 5 hours to 1.5 hours, but it was wonderfully done.
It was such an impressive version and I totally forgot I was watching a friend on stage. If you're familiar with the play: she played Harper and Hannah. In this version there were five girls playing Harper which was perfect to show that character's state of mind. Halfway throught the play everyone (except Prior) changed parts which gave it sort of the same feel as the original (where each actor plays several parts). In the second half B. played Hannah. I loved how she did the phoneconversation with Joe, when he calls her from the park in the middle of the night. The standing ovation was well deserved.
Afterwards we had drinks with several other friends and some actors; we had briliant in depth discussions about the play. I was even more impressed after hearing all the preparations that went into putting the play on stage. I must also admit to being quite charmed by the actor who had played Louis (and the travelguide in the second act). Because I really dislike that character I hadn't even noticed how handsome the guy was, that's how distracted I was by the performance. *g* It was an excellent evening.