Amsterdam

So here I am sitting in front of our window looking occasionally up from my typing over our Singel canal to watch what's going on out there: bicycles, lots of them weaving their way around pedestrians, cars and other bicycles as well as trucks parked on the bridge. We are privileged to live in a bend of the canal, so that looking straight forward through the window affords us the unrestricted view of the canal flowing under three bridges toward the Y harbor which lies behind the three towers of the Noorderkerk (northern church) which offers our horizon along a tree lined canal view about a mile away. The sun illuminates the fresh green on the trees and casts shadows on the passing boats under them. The sounds of passing people talking multiple languages as well as the warning rings of oncoming bicycles often sporting wheelbarrow sized boxes in front of them with babies or infants strapped inside of these boxes who are swerving around unsuspecting pedestrians while avoiding oncoming cars. All this brings sufficient entertainment right in front of us, couch potatoes, who often prefer these scenes above television.
As the morning fades into the afternoon the terraces along the water fill with sun worshippers despite the low temperature of mid fifties as long as one can bask in the teasing sunlight which hides too often behind the clouds.
This is life in Amsterdam, constantly begging us to leave this sanctum and brave the streets in search of new sights, asking us to join the crowds and sit on terraces too, while nursing a beer or hot chocolate watching people go by be it at a different location. This old city is full of surprises around any corner you take. It offers those little unknown musea such as the "Katten museum" (cat museum) or het "tassen museum" (purses museum). It has more different types of cuisine than most cities in the US could ever dream of. It hides churches in attics and places a girl scantily clothed behind a glass paneled door right besides the bakery shop, displaying its sweets in competition with her. One can never tire from wandering this city with its century old houses as a background for its vibrant residents who with ease mingle with the everlasting throng of visitors. For us this is home too.