The move / night on to town

We drove to Amsterdam this morning. A one way Amsterdam for me. I used to work in this building at the top floor in the middle above the highway. Quite the view.

My kit with all essentials required.

The view from my new apartment.

The aboriginal clap sticks I brought with me. Traditionally used to make heart beat rhythms. I have also seen one stick being used to tick on a didgeridoo whilst playing it.

I walked to town over the Overtoom. There is a place there that offers driving lessons, espresso and old odd shit.

The fountain in front of the American hotel. I had to wait for 1000 kids to bugger off before I could take this photo so you all better enjoy it! ;-P

Leidseplein.

Random side street.

The Munt tower.

Jud was in Mulligans. He was hiding under his hat at first so I didn't even recognise him! It was nice meeting him for real because most of our contact has been through facebook.

iPhone galore: Daan.

iPhone galore: Kees.

Kees and another person I had the pleasure of meeting for the first time; Marjolein.

Nantko and Danny. Nantko likes having his hair touched. Especially by men. Especially by men wearing lots of black leather and denim. So next time you see him, put on your gear and give him a little pat ;-)

It was a great night with familiar faces and familiar music. Oh, and familiar drinks too ;-)

My new apartment (from the outside)

We went to the supermarket in the morning to get us a few things.

Nicole and Ilse infront of my parents' house.

Nic and Ilse again.

My mom and dad.

I went to the airport with nicole, she is going on a vacation to Slovenia. We ran in to my cousin Jelle and drove to Sloterdijk with him. It was fun seeing him again.

Departure boards at the airport.

Amsterdam Sloterdijk train station.

My new apartment is the one in the middle.

This is the square in front of my new apartment.

A canal at the end of my street.

More Amsterdam.

Mickey and Mic who kindly let us sleep in their son's bedroom. So I guess really we should thank Yaan :-)

The lizards close to Leidseplein.

The giant chess at Max Euweplein.

I Amsterdam.

We walked through old parts of the city. "In de niwe loeyery". They used to treat leather and other skins here.

Typical crooked Amsterdam house.

Canal.

All throughout town there are these pained elephants. They are cool.

Afternoon refreshment.

Max.

And then I couldn't help myself and I bought a "patatje pinda". Man it was gooooooooood!

There is "kermis" at Dam square.

The ferris wheel there always seems extreme in size.

We trained back to my parents early evening.

We passed spiders on our way to their house.

It was all just a dream...

In the morning Nicole and I drove the train to Amsterdam. This is a free news paper that exists in several countries but not in Australia. I love this news paper.

Second class compartments had not changed a bit. Neither had the people.

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When we walked out of Amsterdam Central Station it felt like we had never left. It was weird. It had been two years but it felt like we came back from a two week vacation. It was unreal.

The gypsies still play beautiful tunes.

Tram 25 that used to take us to our house before we moved.

Central Station.

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We met Suzanne at the station and we walked in to town. It was great seeing the Amsterdam canals again.

Suzanne at Zen's lunchroom. It was fantastic to meet her again.

Nicole and the Zen lady.

Gerrit joined us as well. The gang of four was complete again.

Temperatures were a little bit different than in Adelaide but the Guinness kept me warm.

Eh! Selecta!

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In the evening we met lots of friends at Mulligans. It was fantastic to see everybody again. Unfortunately you can't talk a lot on these kinds of occasions so I will have to catch up with people separately as well over time :-)