Finally, trees are in bloom and you can walk around without a jacket on many days. Here is a pic of the main street near my house that I have always found particularly cozy.
Today was overcast, but the weather was still pleasant.
In Holland Easter is celebrated over two days. Translated to first and second Easter (eerste paasdag and tweede paasdag).
My wife had a get-together for a university organization at my house, so I decided to take a walk. I ended up in Utrecht’s center and it was quiet as a mouse.
Rarely, have I seen the city in such a beautiful light. Apparently, I consider quiet historical cities particularly fondly.
New Years fireworks in Utrecht. The kids wanted to go back in because it was so loud and we didn’t get a really good shot of them this year because it was rainy and difficult. Maybe we’ll get better footage next year.
Onze eerste Nederlandse sneeuw.
An Amazing New Years Celebration
It’s January 1st and last night was my first Dutch New Year’s celebration. It began with my promptly contracting an illness and being out-of-commission for most of the day. We walked around our beautiful neighborhood (something that we simply do not do enough) while I handed Serena sparkler after sparkler. There were some fireworks but nothing incredible.
I decided to retire around 10:30pm. I awoke to a cacophony around 11:45pm. I looked outside and it was the most incredibly display of fireworks that I’ve seen in my life. Fireworks are apparently legal in the city, which is something that I’ve never really seen. Everyone everywhere was firing off hundreds of euros worth of fireworks. They were surrounding us, on every street. Explosions of light and sound erupted everywhere around our house. This lasted for approximately an hour, intensity waxing and waning.
I had made the joke earlier that I bet that America did fireworks bigger. But, wow.. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Imagine being in a city, everyone on the streets, everyone shooting fireworks into the air. Artillery, fountains, children with sparklers.
I tried to capture some footage, but the conditions were not ideal for the equipment that I have.
It’s been a while since I posted. I thought I’d drop a video.
After about 5-10 minutes after starting out to the park I decided to record the trip.
Another American Expat
Just met another American coming back from the Cyberw@sh (wi-fi laundromat with coffee and a tanning bed). He’s a cartoonist that’s been living here for 4 years. He seemed very happy to see other Americans. In an act that would be very atypical for the Dutch he invited us to his home to drop by at any time. He seemed very interested in helping us learn and I may just take him up on his offer. I tend to appreciate cartoonists and his experiences could be valuable.
