Up and running!

Back to school 

We're getting into the swing of things at our respective schools! Lessons and classes are fully underway, we've figured out what to order and not order at the school cafes, and music is happening (Noah has a performance of his Passacaglia on a concert in early October and Linnea has found a string quartet!) 

Noah's school: The Royal Conservatory
 of the Hague. About 45 mins away by train.  

Linnea's school: Conservatorium van Amsterdam.
On the docks near the Amsterdam Centraal Station.

Around town: museums

For €50 each we now have all access passes to virtually every museum in Holland for the entire year! (The guy at the ticket counter told us that we are now officially one step from being Dutch). These are our first (of many) cultural explorations...

Portugese Synagogue (built 1671)

Rijksmuseum

Noah looking satisfied after drinking his fill of Dutch history and culture. 

1950s Yves St. Lauren "Mondrian" dress

An original model battle ship from the 17th century!

Detail from a 17th cent. painting of
several Dutch gents enjoying
a friendly game of backgammon in a pub...

Detail from a 21st century photograph (taken by us last
weekend) of several Dutch gents enjoying a friendly game of
backgammon in a pub... (Note the same sketchy non-player
in both images)

Indonesian Rijsttafel

On the way to Katijl and Tiger, one of
Amsterdam's most popular Indonesian restaurants.

An hour wait?? No problem, off to the Cafe next
door for an aperitif of jenever (Dutch gin) and
its traditional accompaniment, a glass of lager. 

So scared. 

At last...Delicious and worth the wait.
10 simultaneous dishes!

At home. 

As promised, some photos of our apartment!

eating cheese. standard occurrence in our kitchen!

The view from our kitchen terrace 

Is that a sink in our bedroom? Yes it is! And it is also
 conveniently located in our closet.

Of course, no bedroom of Noah's would be
complete without a used exercise bike. No
small feat getting it up the three flights
of steep stairs! 

Sky 1

Sky 2

A nice bottle of white Burgundy, 3.99 at our
local wine shop! We're getting used to
 these prices.

Mahler at the Muziekgebouw!

On Saturday night we went to go see Mahler's "Das Lied van der Erde" at the Musiekgebow with the Asko-Schoernberg Ensemble.

On our way from Centraal Station

The incredible Muziekgebouw building.

The set up for the reduced orchestration and the semi staged production. 

And also...

Once again, proof that we can be in the
same picture

First dispatch

As promised, our blog is live! Here are some photos of our first two weeks in Amsterdam. 

On the road...

Fresh faced, bushy tailed and ready to go in Chicago! 

5 hours later on the plane.  Linnea actually got a decent amount of sleep...

Noah did not...

Home sweet home!

After a somewhat harrowing journey (including a 5 hour layover at London Heathrow), we made it to our apartment in the Oud Zuid ('Old South') neighborhood. (More interior photos are forthcoming!)

We're the third floor with an attic
space/practice room on the fourth floor.

\

The Hoffddorpplein, right around the corner from our apartment. It's a small square/traffic circle/park lined with shops (butchers, bakers, cheese shops) and cafes. Also the location of our tram and bus stop. 

Early explorations...

Our first full day: Linnea is proud to be in front of the Dam (Royal Palace) in the heart of the Centre. 

After an iced tea break...

we spent the afternoon exploring the canals
 and shops of the picturesque Grachtengordel.

Love at first sight (and second and third sight) of Dutch "Gazelle" bikes. 

On our first Saturday night we got all dressed up and biked to the opera. What did they say?
Oh right, the subtitles were completely in Dutch. 

After some adventures with google translate, we deciphered the instructions on the box to make
homemade Panenkoeken. They're basically crepes-- the perfect vessel for nutella. So good!

Train ride to Utrecht

Linnea's first European railway trip! We took the train to Utrecht (about 30 mins away) to see a mid week concert of the Gaudeamus Contemporary Music Festival. The concert was a walking tour --  three performances in three different venues. 

Waiting for the train.  (This is also Linnea's first faux leather jacket. More on "trying to look like a local" later). 

Excited for mussels and fries at a restaurant
on the canal in Utrecht. 

We had no idea during dinner that google maps
was completely wrong about the first location
of the concert (which we ended up
missing)...ignorance is bliss. 

The last concert of the night was a 40 minute microtonal piano piece. The ambiance of the church
was enhanced with beanbag chairs and purple lighting. We didn't stand a chance....asleep in under 10 minutes.

Getting settled! 

Glam shot of our bikes at the Vondelpark (5 min. from
home). They're perfect! And our locks are huge.

Noah contemplating his chalice of Belgian
beer on a night out exploring the popular
cafes of the Jordaan neighborhood. 

Third cafe of the night. 

The real scene of the Jordaan was unanimously
outside of the cafes. 

Happy hour on our terrace.

Enjoying the indian summer while it lasts! 

See -- it actually is possible for us
to be in the same frame!

Also:

Stroepwafels at the Albert Cuyp street market.
They will be mine. Oh yes, they will be mine.