I have an embarrassment of riches in terms of Amsterdam canal photos waiting to be shared, including above and several below from a lovely canal cruise Sam & I decided to do between the matinee and evening concerts on the last day of the Mahler Festival back in May, and a few taken during Barbara’s visit just before Sam arrived…then a few more from just my usual wanders by foot or bike around this lovely city where the days are becoming painfully, noticeably, shorter as we’re now within three weeks of the next equinox 😦
Back in March, upon my return from the short visit to BKK and Beijing, I had to get outside A’dam city limits for some “country canals” appropriate photos. Since I’m now about to spent a good deal of time – in the upcoming second week of my current so far fabulous vacation – biking, walking and training around the Dutch countryside to explore some parks and museums that have long been on my list, I expect by this time next week to have accumulated some new and lovely shots to feed future posts in this series. So herewith the last shots from a bike ride on a lovely mid-March day in the countryside south of Amsterdam.
Now and then the morning bike commute to work is so lovely that I stop and take a photo or two, such as these shots from June and July. The right-side photo shows Westerkerk, which is referenced in Anne Frank’s diaries and which sits next to both the contemporary Anne Frank Huis museum, and the fabulously-named Homomonument. (Commemorating queer folks targeted and killed during WWII.)
Sunset on June 20, left; sunrise about seven hours later on June 21, right. Were we up in the arctic circle on these days, the sun would journey all the way around, continously above the horizon. Maybe next year I’ll get up there again and photograph that! The joy of summer solistice is followed by the pain of ever-shorter days as the sun migrates further south again from this annual high point. Ah, well, c’est la vie.
I probably share too many of these wonderful views of my local lake and park, but when the simple act of looking out one’s windows, or taking a stroll around the block, can give one such lovely views…it’d be wrong to not enjoy and share, eh? 🙂
With April comes a new tennis team competition season, and with the away games occasionally the chance to see village and country life (and canals) in places I’d be unlikely to visit otherwise, such as this lovely little North Holland town last Saturday…
(so much world, so little time....) 