I realized ... while walking the streets of Amsterdam how similar the world can be ;  I wandered into the coolest little vintage shop and as looking at the most colorful tutus (yes.. .I want a tutu)... the song that started playing was  "I rode my bicycle past your window last night...".. I was instantly transported into a very similar vintage store in SF with the same song and my funky cool friend Paula...

Then...  I went to the Van Gogh museum and saw Starry Night... it was soooo special for me... obviously because it is a beautiful and impressive work of art... but even more so because when I was in college I had to do a replica of it AND crazy enough it was stolen off the wall in the art center where it was hanging...  funny how seeing it live totally took me back and felt as if my life had completed some strange circle.

And of course it was quite a wonderful day of photo taking from the canals to the red light district.

Today seemed to be a normal day ... Tessa & Kevin worked.. .as did I  (got a TON done)... went for a run (got lost... again...), then shopping with my Tessi (who by the way has a HUGE sweet tooth.. cookies here.. .cookies there.. stroopwafels everywhere)... and of course played train with my boy Jan...

While wandering the streets... and taking tons of pics.. a pair of the most cutest boots fell into my lap... and of course I couldn't leave them alone.. .so home they came with me (yes I am a girl who appreciates shoes once and awhile)...  but I ALSO got the coolest Bike Lock ever...  it hooks to your back wheel and all you need to do is turn a key.. no messing with locks/chains/hooks.. nothing... can't wait to use it on the island!!

Fun day.. fun day..

Tomorrow off to Amsterdam to wander the streets ...  (really hoping not to get lost THIS time).

Ciao ciao
A

Hey everyone!! ... just wanted to drop a note for you to check out this season's The Knot Michigan.  They are featuring one of my favorite weddings from last year... Sara & Dan Ruddy... the cutest couple with the nicest teeth (they are both dentists). Sara paid sooo much attention to detail it was amazing... and incredibly cute. 

Yeah!  how fun... I love that they chose THIS wedding...

Here's the link to the story...

http://weddings.theknot.com/Real-Weddings/45266/view.aspx?type=1&id=45266

As I look at my face in the mirror.. .I think ...hmmmmm... man do I look tan.. no wait wind burned...

Well, that's what I get for biking all over Den Haag today... from the playground, petting zoo, Dutch surf shop (thought I was home for a sec), harbor, and fisherman's area with Jan and Kevin this morning... to the sand dunes, beaches, and a small little cafe in the woods for beer & pancakes (yes surprisingly they go well together) with Jan (sleeping by now) Tessa, Emily, Gerry, and Steve.

Tomorrow.. .shoping with Tessa... yippee...

By the way .. my new favorite discovery (other than Pancakes & beer)... Curry Ketchup... SOOO much better than Heinz.. I am going to beg to have it sent to me when I return home!

Man am I loving this biking (it's getting me in shape for the island... good thing)

Love,
A

Even Tessa... a born and bread girl from Holland (I mean The Netherlands)...  says The Hague...  either way I AM HERE...

Yippeee... and so begins... the new adventure of my trip to places I've never been.  I've been to Europe several times but never north of Paris... all I have to say is Den Haag is COOL...  much more than I ever expected. 

Tessa was slightly embarrassed that my first view of Holland was going to be the oil refineries...  she kept saying I promise its prettier... no need to fret my dear I have no doubt that the country that produced you HAS to be beautiful... but the smoke towers were definitely a bit industrial..  but kind of cool for a backdrop to the 100's of Kite Surfing lessons on the North Sea (hard to believe that less than 48 hours ago I was on the Mediterranean in the southern Italy)...  variety is the spice of life!

After the afternoon of watching Kite surfers we (Kevin, Tessa, little Jan, and myself).. met up with Emily & Gerry (with whom I'll be couch crashing in Luxembourg in a week or so).  So the 5 of us hopped on our bikes (main form of transportation.. again sooo cool) and toured around the city... got some ice cream then booked it as fast as we could to the coast in order to catch a beautiful sunrise... I LOVE biking with friends down the street (whether its in SB, Mackinac, or HOlland)... it always makes me feel like a grown up kid!!

What an amazing day  (BTW.. .I would have a ton more pics.. like of the amazing sunset but darn it all my battery died and I am STILL looking for another adapter)