Going Dutch

For Passover holiday this year we decided to return to Adam's ancestral home place: Amsterdam. Adam's mother was born here and for a reason that continues to escape us, her family decided to leave to move to Canada???? Well, had it not been for that move there would have been no Adam, so I can't complain too much, but we are seriously considering a return trip for this Rosenbloom-Bonds clan for an extended period of time as we found we, well, loved it. All of it: pickled herring sandwiches, the green green parks spotted throughout the town, water at every turn, trains and buses running on time with special space allocated for strollers, and of course, the relaxed atmosphere of Europe in general.

The streets all have several lanes: two for bikes, to for cars, two for pedestrians, and two more for the trains. Needless to say one can't wander aimlessly too much, and it took us a while to get used to having to look before we crossed so many times, but we made it.





We rented a flat directly across from Oosterpark, here is the signing pointing the way to our house.

Here is the front yard, gorgeous....



The view out of our windows was of the onion domes atop the spires of a local Museum with the trees blooming pink and purple buds. Here is a pic of Naz and I enjoying a sunset from the kitchen window.


People keep asking us, so what did you do in Amsterdam? And sheepishly we admit that we walked, and little more. Here is one of the many streets we enjoyed, just wandering but far from lost!



I mean we ate great food, mostly at the flat where we cooked and packed picnics, we saw some art, we checked out coffeeshops, Adam saw Boby Dylan. We visited old friend we love and miss. Here are Meike and Olva, our Dutch friends we met in Tibet and shared a car with for 10 days on our way to Nepal.


We spent as much time with these two as we could. They fed us brilliant homecooked meals, as well as some impressive Indonesian. They also were kind enough to give up thier own bed one night so we could stay with them after we'd missed our flight back to Israel, oops! I am including this because many aspects of thier life are inspiration for us in settling down one day: thier hallway lined with books is just one!


Naz worked hard pushing out his first two teeth, learned to sleep in the stroller, rode the trains, and melted hearts. Here are some images for you to consider, with some brief notes to clue you in to thier contents:



Here Adam introduces Naz to our first coffeeshop. Really, we really just had coffee!

This is Adam's family friend, Dafna, who met us for a lovely breakfast one day. Really, she looks like a Rosenbloom, doesn't she?

Here we are walking in the sunshine with our good friend Natalie Kapp who came to spend the weekend with us, taking a break from Geneva where she lives these days. Was delicious to see her, thanks so much for coming, Dr. Kapp!

Adam and Naz enjoyed so much time together, here they are getting ready to take a shower washing of the day's grit and grime (ahahahhaha, right).

We tried lots of new foods, including some spinich that Naz is sampling here at a cafe at Oosterpark.

Starry Night, anyone?
Dad and son enjoying a train ride to check out the tulips in the countryside.


Tulips, windmills, and Mom. What a great combo!


One of our many afternoons spent enjoying a beer and some herring at a cafe in the warm spring sunshine.

We will leave you with this gorgeous smile from our little wonder. We had such a perfect trip, and we really do hope to be able to live in Amsterdam someday soon. Shall we reserve a room for you now?

Lots of love,

Adam, Sera, and Naz