Hello My Friends!

This past weekend Dave and I took a day trip to Germany.  While there we visited the Koln (Cologne) Cathedral.  Tremendously tall and of course the inside was beautiful with beautiful sculptures everywhere you turned.  Construction began in the 1200s and it wasn’t completed until the 1800s!  It is also one of the largest cathedrals in the world and the largest gothic church in Northern Europe.  It was very inspiring.  The day was finished with a very rainy drive back to Amsterdam.

On Sunday, we decided to join one of the women I met at the American Women’s Club and her husband for brunch.  It was “Brunch Weekend” in Amsterdam since it is not a meal that they normally have.  We went to a seafood restaurant out on the water and had a delightful time.  The meal was incredible as was the wine and the company.  On our way back home we enjoyed walking along the waterfront to the Central Station to catch the tram.  It rained the whole time we were eating but when we left it was sunny and beautiful which made for a great walk.  We also enjoyed their company last night at their home for dinner.  Maria is from Guadalajara and wanted to fix us traditional Albondigas Soup.  All I can say is YUM and we had another delightful evening with Maria and her husband, Joseph.

Since the Halloween and Thanksgiving holidays are not really celebrated here in Amsterdam – other than the Americans living here – they have begun putting up holiday lights on our street.  It looks like it will be beautiful when they complete it.  The reason they begin so early putting decorations up is that they celebrate Saint Nicholas or Sinterklaas coming into town on November 14th.  Below is a small description of the holiday.

Saint Nicholas arrives to Amsterdam by ship and upon landing, rides on a white horse through the city center in a festive parade.  Large crowds of children greet him and his entourage – as he is usually surrounded by no less than 500 Black Peter servants, 10 marching bands and hundreds of festive marchers.  The parade culminates with the mayor of Amsterdam welcoming Saint Nicholas.  According to the tradition, during the weeks after, Saint Nicholas stays in town and is more important than any civic authority.  Saint Nicolas arrival begins also a festive shopping time in the Netherlands, which lasts until 5th of December, the eve of Saint Nicholas Day, as on this the day Sinterklaas leaves treats for the children and adults give the seasons gifts.  In the modern consumer society, this period extends in Amsterdam until Christmas day, or even longer – up to first days of January in the New Year.  It sounds as if December is a very joyous month here in Amsterdam.

Well today is cleaning day so I am off to do a little dusting and sweeping, and maybe read a little of the book I am reading right now.  The day is pretty cloudy but no rain.  I will also take a little walk to get some stamps to send a few postcards and notes.

Hugs!