The Ritz

For Ascension Day, known as Hemelvaartsdag, Kirk and I took a quick trip to Biarritz, France for an early birthday gift from Kirk.  This national holiday was observed on Thursday, May 13th.  The holiday represents when Jesus ascended to heaven following 40 days after his resurrection.

Most airlines make you connect in order to reach Biarritz, but now you can find non-stop flights via Transavia.  They are cheap and to the point, however their seating space is very small and they do make you pay for water - 2,50 Euro.

2.5 hours later and you end up in this fabulous beach city.  Biarritz is located off the Bay of Biscay, on the Atlantic coast, in south-western France.  Biarritz's population is about 27,000.  People from all of the world make their way to this seaside town to enjoy the sun, food, wine, shopping, people and surfing.  Biarritz hosts many major surfing competitions and surfs schools and you can definitely see why - the sand is soft and manicured, the surf is gnarly and surreal, and the view is something you can stare at forever.  Very romantic to say the least - a must for couples!

I loved how the sea seemed to change color - from aquamarine to bright blue to green throughout the day!

This sleepy town provided us with the Mercury Plaza Hotel.  Our hotel was conveniently located across the street from the Municipal Casino, beach and tourist center.

Things to do in Biarritz:
Walk around on the coast
Play on the beach
Drink wine outside
Shop among the many boutiques
Explore the museums
Bus/Train rides to neighboring cities
Explore the harbours
Eat/Drink at Bar Jean

The first night after walking around for hours and exploring the city, we found ourselves in a tiny french restaurant. There we ordered probably the best meal I have ever had - we each had a 3 course meal - everything from smoked salmon on baked bread with sauce, scallops, steak, and chocolate tart - absolutely to die for.  We both woke up with a food hangover - it is possible!

The next day we took at bus down to San Sebastian, Spain.    Our trip was about 1.5 hours (but you could easily get there in 45 minutes).  We walked throughout the city, to the beach and made our way to Fort San Sebastian.   From this fort you can see the whole city and harbour.  The views were captivating.  One side the city, the other side a small forrest hillside dipping down into the Atlantic.  Definitely reminded me of Washington - all the greens, tall trees and the deep blue sea.  Cafe con leche never tasted better!!!  I love SPAIN and everything it has to offer - I hope to go back!!!

Things to do in San Sebastian:
East AMAZING food
Shopping
Visit the fort and various churches
Beach
Walk along the board walk
People watching

Getting to San Sebastian was pretty easy - but leaving not so much.  What we were told and what actually happened for our route home - totally different.  Basically we ended up stranded momentarily at a Train Station - halfway back to Biarritz - with no one to help us or explain how to get on a connecting train back. Oh there is a train, but it didn't leave until 11am, the next day.  No buses were available, so we ended up with a 60 euro cab ride back - oh well, that's life!

Saturday, we took a small trip to Buyonne, France, about a 25 minute bus ride.  Buyonne has similar feel to Biarritz, but more locals, shopping and museums.  It has a larger population than Biarritz - about 46,000.

Buyonne is know for it's bull-fighting, chocolate (sculptor pictured below is actually chocolate), and for being the birthplace of mayonnaise!

After walking around, eating my first European gelato, enjoying a nice lunch and sitting out in the sun, we headed back to Biarritz.

That evening we found ourselves at Bar Jean - again.  This is a wonderful tapas restaurant - where you can enjoy tasty paella and sangria.  Bar Jean is very lively and filled with Basque charm! A nice way to end our short weekend getaway!!!

Other things we have been up to:
I joined a soccer meet-up - we play every Sunday at 2pm.  Yes, I am the only girl, but it's a nice group of guys from all over.  We play at the Museumplein, huge park connected to the Rijks and Van Gogh Museums.  About a 5 minute bike ride away from home!

To celebrate the recent Giro d'Italia (long distance bike race that started off in Amsterdam this year) Kirk's work had their own version of the race.  Everyone was assigned to a team, dressed up and did laps around the block.  Afterwards all of 180 enjoyed potluck style food, a hired dj and a bar full of Italian liquors - mainly Sambuca!  Good times!!!  Picture below - Kirk's bike piled on with 5 folks tipping over with the help of some competitors - no one was injured during this stunt!

Happy Birthday Beatrix

Koninginnedag otherwise known as Queen’s Day is the Netherlands national holiday.  Queen’s Day celebrates the birthday of the Queen of the Netherlands, Queen Beatrix (the actual birthday is her mother's).  This day also represents the national day of unity and togetherness – something the Dutch are trying to work on – even producing commercials asking the Dutch to be “kinder” to each other.  This tradition dates back to 1885.

Besides celebrating Beatrix's birthday, Queen’s Day is also known for its vrijmarkt (freemarket).  All over the Netherlands, everyone is allowed to sell whatever they want in the streets and do not need to pay any taxes on their sales.  People will sell items from their actual businesses to what they have in their closets (very similar to a flea market).  A lot of times people will even go out and buy water, beer and pastries and sell them to the numerous tourists that inhibit this city – making a profit!  All forms of transit shut down (no cars, trams, or buses until later in the evening).  I often wondered what would happen if someone had a medical emergency - how would they get to them - the streets were covered in people, markets and eventually trash.  Over 700,000 tourists from all over come into the city – making an already busy village a bit chaotic.

The day starts off pretty early after a crazy Queen’s Eve (Koninginnenacht) – lots of partying, drinking, and dancing.  DJ’s set up on all corners – we luckily had one right outside our front door.  You definitely know when Queen’s Day begins, once you see the first boat packed with a lot of folks dressed in orange head to toe - dancing and singing!!!

On this day it is very typical to dress in Orange, this is known as Oranjegekte (orange craze).  The color orange refers to the Dutch royal family, the House of Orange.  Everything is orange, from clothes, hair, pets, food and drinks.

A glimpse into our Queen’s Day:

Ate lumpia, shorma, more lumpia, pizza, and some tasty crepe-pastry with powdered sugar
Watched multiple party boats floating along the canals (must get on a boat next year!!!)

Walked  EVERYWHERE- from one side of Amsterdam to the other

Listened to multiple side concerts and DJs throughout the city

Bought some art

Met friends at the Johnny-Jordaan Plein and also Lofel and Burke

Overall a wonderful day and evening with new and old friends!!!

More unique observations:

The Dutch take Identity Theft very seriously.  In fact they are so serious about it, Kirk and I have to put in a Pin Code to get into our gym followed up with our hand being scanned.  Yes, you heard it right folks, I am pretty confident that no one will be able claim that they are me on their way to get the eliptical.

The Dutch garbage crew also decided it would be a good idea to go on strike the day after Queen's Day.  They are still on strike.  The trash is still piling up, so much trash I would actually be embarrassed if we had visitors from out of town.  I heard thru the grapevine that the city and the garbage crew are reconciling.

The following week we celebrated another national holiday called Bevrijdingsdag - Liberation Day.  This day is celebrated every year on May 5th, but is only considered a Bank Holiday (day off) every 5 years.  Liberation Day marks the end of the occupation by Nazi Germany.  The night before, the Dutch have a remembrance gathering for those who fought and died in World War II - Remembrance of the Dead.  The city gathers at the Dam Square and have two minutes of silence starting at 8pm.

We decided for this holiday to take a little road trip with our friends Ali and Charlotte over to Lisse, Netherlands and explore the "Garden of Europe".  Amsterdam is known for it's tulips and for housing the world's largest flower garden - Keukenhof which means kitchen garden.  Established in 1949, around 7 million flower bulbs are planted annually in this garden.  The colors were breathtaking and so vibrant and electric.  The garden is so lovely and is a definite must see if you make a trip out here.  Best months to see the garden in full bloom are March-May.

Good news - found a Doggy DayCare that will look after Indy if we can't find friends to help us out!  This is awesome since we are really starting to plan out multiple weekend trips.  Nice owner and a wonderful facility.  She's doing great - I am starting to look after a Pug named Sushi so that Indy gets a bit more exercise during the day!  She also made a friend with a Frenchie named Betty!  All around blending in!  The following weeks really have given us a better feel for the Dutch culture.  Hopefully thru our pictures/posts, we can give you the same!

Prinsengracht

Before I dive into our new place, you must first understand how hard it is to move in this city, especially when you do not have a car.  As much as I appreciate bikes only lifestyle, having no car makes moving all the more difficult.  The night before getting kicked out of our temporary housing, I put together a moving plan email:

Mission - Apartment Project Move Our Stuff (For real real not for play play):

1- I will ride bike over to new apt, meet Robert, get keys, etc.

2- I will leave my bike at the new apt, and will walk back to current apt.

3- Once you get home, we will move boxes, luggage into taxi (I will ride with taxi and you will follow with bike)

4- Ali mentioned she will be home around 8 or 8:30, we will ride over (both of us) and get her keys, info, etc.

5- I will leave my bike at Ali's and will ride dutch back to our current apt.

6- Thursday morning, I will cab over to Ali's place with Indy, her carriage, my luggage, laptop and your bag.

How does that sound home slice?

Now the plan didn't actual play out that way, but you get the point.  

On April 7th, I got back from Birmingham, England and Kirk continued on to London, Valencia, Spain and finally Los Angeles.  I can't wait to see the spot - coming out this summer!  

I finally arrived to Prinsengracht 480 ready to unpack and stay for my first night.  The funny and stressful thing about this particular move was the movers decided to leave all our belongings (13 boxes) sitting on the sidewalk.  Funny....do they really think that I can carry 13 boxes half of my size up 50 stairs (no elevator)?  Luckily I was able find some immediate help.  

Prinsengracht is one of the 4 main canals in Amsterdam.  Our location is in the center of the center.  Very touristy, lots to do and walking distance to everything.  It's very lively on Thursday-Sunday since we live on top of two coffeeshops, and two bars called Mini Bar and Liquid.  We live right off on Leidsestraat (main shopping street - a variety of boutiques, bars, cafes).  Around the corner is the Leidseplein.  We are walking distance from many magnificent museums - Anne Frank, Film Museum, Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh and the Heineken Museum.

As for Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull's volcano ash, our skies are really clear.  Kirk's flight to Los Angeles was delayed a couple hours (one of the last flights out of Amsterdam - before the major airspace shut down).  However, I have met plenty of people who were stranded here.

More fun and interesting observations: TV shows are in super high-def (almost like the show is right there in your apartment); They will leave all your belongings on the street with out even one phone call; sell red bull in bins at the local drug store; will not give you any kind of drugs (at the dentist for a cavity - forget novacaine); where diaper type outfits - feel like we are back in Venice, CA.  The young men love to rent boats, make it into a bachelor pad and crank up Euro techno; fist pumping, singing and cheering after an Ajax game!!!

More to adore:

Bottle of wine with Kirk on the Leidseplein and people watching

Mint tea with new dutch friends!

Dutch bars with the Amsterdames

Dress-up parties

Boat rides on the canal

Running in Vondelpark

Soccer pick-up games with expats (finally found a group to play with)

Place we shop at frequently

Marqt (Whole Foods)

Blokker (a small Target)

Hema (like Target)

Da (Drug Store)

Etos (Drug Store)

Indiana Update: Indy is hanging there.  She still shakes when I ask her to come outside with me.  I now know that I can't walk her late on Thursday-Sunday, since there are far more tourists/locals out and about.  Her favorite thing to do now is run with me in Vondelpark - you definitely see a change in her once she sees the park entrance.  Another obstacle ahead - when to walk Indy during Queen's Eve and Day.  The streets will be packed with over 700,000 tourists so might have to figure out some odd hours to walk her around!!!  Indy also had a doggy date with Molly and her owner Michelle (who is from Seattle).  Hopefully with time and patience, Indy will adjust to her surroundings!

Over the last few weeks I managed to get out, meet some new gals and have some fun.  My friend Ali took me out to an annual dress-up party called Night Games - Nachtspelen.  This years (7th edition) special theme was Giro d'Italia.  A night of drinks, games, competitions, music, dancing, costumes and then being evacuated from my apartment at 4am definitely made this a night to remember!  

After days of recovering I met up with a new friend Denessa by the train station for Randy Roy's Redlight Tour.  This is a 90 minute tour, walking you thru the red light district, and learning the history of one of Amsterdam's popular hang outs.  I had a blast!!! Thanks Denessa!

That's it for now.  Hope all is well and thanks for checking on us!

I amsterdam

Hallo,

It's official, we are Amsterdam!   As of last week Kirk and I received our SSN's, known as BSN (Burgerservice Number).  We are now permitted to work in Holland.  We also will be getting our identification cards soon.  The process was pretty easy, back in the states you have to have your birth certificate and marriage license signed by an Apostille (from the state you were born/married in).  Next you have to provide the Dutch with proof of lease rental and occupation.  This all took place at the World Trade Center in their Expat Center.  My friend warned me that these things take time and they sure do, but at least we are getting a little closer to settling in!    
                                                                                                                                        

Also this week we signed our contract for our beautiful 2 bedroom apartment!  This unfortunately was not an easy process.  At one point Kirk and I got a taste of what it was like to be homeless but luckily some friends put us up for a few nights while our apartment was getting furnished/paperwork processed.  Thanks Alison!  What I am definitely experiencing here so far is no sense of urgency.  Multiple times we stated things like "do they know we need to be moved in by April 1st, do they know we have a dog, do they know we need furniture?"  Our agent loved to say "yeah, that shouldn't be a problem" then a week would go by and we would find out in fact it was a problem.  Luckily we found a great place, the owner is very kind and really setting it up nicely.  Currently, we do not have all of our furniture.  Kenneth, the owner, is ordering all new furniture, some appliances and putting in a deck off of our bedroom!

The apartment looks right over the Prinsengracht Canal.  The view is beautiful.  I love seeing all the boats going by, the people looking out their windows, sitting outside on their steps drinking wine, and the locals/tourists stepping into the coffeeshops through out the night. Oh yeah, did I mention that our apartment is actually on top of a bar and two coffeeshops?  Should be an interesting crowd!  Either way we love it!

More fun and interesting observations we have had so far in this lovely city: No sense of personal space, waiters not waiting on you even though you have been sitting there for 45 minutes with an empty beer, wrapping your food with the same napkin you are supposed to place in your lap and wipe your hands with, customer is never right (a simple no means NO), local neighborhood cats patrolling the cafe for mice, and fingers in the food they are spooning onto your dish.

Common Dutch Phrases that we try to use:
Hello - Hallo
Thank You - Dank U/ Dank U wel
Please - Alstublieft
Welcome - Welkom
Goodbye - Doei
Small Beer - Beer ja

And I have to share that when looking up common Dutch phrases (for spelling, etc) I thought the last phrase was a bit alarming: My hovercraft is full of eels - Mijn hovercraft zit vol palingen.  http://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/dutch.php 

More to adore:

Espressobar Tazzina - Tasty Croissants and Espresso
Bo Cinq - Drinks and mini sliders
Walks throughout the Jordaan
Reruns of "Who's The Boss"
Having an English breakfast in England
Bacon, Brie and Cranberry sandwiches
Choc-o-lait - belgian chocolate on a stick for your coffee
Sitting around a table with English, Irish, Australian, Kiwi and American citizens.  Can't beat the conversations!

Stuff that I miss and will have a hard time finding here: Customer service, prompt responses to inqueries, black beans, mexican beer, walks on the boardwalk, and a beautiful view of the Pacific.

Indiana Update: Some were curious about the process of how we got Indiana to Amsterdam.  Overall, it was pretty easy! Amsterdam does not quarantine dogs unless your dog does not have a rabies shot within the last year.  You do have a get a "doggie passport" which is basically a health check and having a registered Veterinary sign off on the Dutch documents.  KLM airline requires you to use a Pet Relocator.  We ended up with Pacific Pet.  When they told me over the phone that while I am going thru Customs, Indiana would hanging out in the "Doggie Hotel", I thought "wow, what a treat, Indiana can run around, play, lounge a bit".  Nice right?  Not so much.  Doggie Hotel was a young girl sitting at her computer on facebook, a three-legged dog roaming around and our check-in point smoking a cigarette while going over the release documents.  Either way she made it to Amsterdam safely!!!

Since we were temporarily homeless, I tagged along with Kirk for his commercial shoot to Birmingham, Midlands, which actually ended up being Loughborough (about 40 minutes outside Birmingham).  We arrived on Easter Sunday and stayed at Quorn Country Hotel - about 20 rooms.  Kirk's company and production company filled up  the hotel with most of its guests.  Every night the whole group would sit in the lounge hammering away at their laptops before sitting down for a nice meal - ploughman's, lamb, risotto, and my favorite, pigs cheek.

This week I was fortunate enough to get a taste of what Kirk experiences on his shoots.  I would like to call myself assistant stylist, but I was more of "volunteer/Kirk's wife/need an extra hand".  Basically I helped the stylist by following around the talent, making sure they were comfortable (since it was freezing out), and that they didn't steal anything - I liked to say I did a good job and I am updating my resume!  I really enjoyed watching the day unfold - especially the director - I have been watching his videos for a really long time, so it was truly wonderful to see him work!

Now I am back in Amsterdam, our stuff arrives today from the states and hopefully I will have a bed to sleep on!  Kirk is in London now and then off to Valencia, Spain this weekend (still working on the same shoot).

Hope all is well and that everyone had a nice Easter!  Hope to have some apartment pics up soon!!!