Netherlands • Day 3, 4, 5
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Man, this is an enjoyable country.
Yesterday I got to play with Regina & Nita. Regina owns the store Pien's Atelier that I will be coming back to visit in February 2006 (there is a cool link on here site in the upper left corner that lets you view it in English). Our first stop was the Van Gogh museum which was amazing. The coolest thing for me was seeing how thick he layered on the paint. You can not experience that texture when looking at a print. I brought my scrapbook-on-the-road with me and wrote down my impressions as I walked around - totally worked great for recording my feelings as I was experiencing them in the moment. I wanted to buy Van Gogh's book of letters while I was there but they were all sold out of the English edition.
I am fascinated with Van Gogh. About his ability to capture the atmosphere of a place. About his ability to bring something to life with so many tiny strokes. So much movement in each of those marks. So much of the story told through the imperfections of his brush. I love the life that comes through in many of his paintings from the middle of his life.
Not only am I fascinated with his art, but with his words as well. Throughout the museum they had quotes on the walls detailing some of his statements...
After the museum and a nice cup of coffee for Nita and I - Regina had tea - we headed to an open air market with tons of things to see and photograph. Lots of fruit and vegetable stands, cheese stands, clothing, toys, fabric, ribbon and awesome people watching. It was such a nice day. And the weather held on perfectly.
And you know what? Today, I am 30. Pretty cool to be spending my birthday here in the Netherlands. Doing things I never imagined I would be doing in my life. Maybe dreamed about...but boy am I thankful and so very glad.
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129 comments
Hope you had a great birthday, Ali!!!
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Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday to you,
Happy Birthday dear Ali,
Happy Birthday to you!!!
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Happy Birthday Ali! What an awesome place to spend your birthday! Get yourself some 'lekker' pastries...
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happy happy birthday!
my mom came over from europe...it is wonderful to see other cultures. this year for my birthday we took our oldest to europe...she loved the netherlands and greece...especially an island called ikaria.
enjoy the differences!
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I can't believe you're so old! ;) Happy Birthday, Ali girl. What a fun place to spend your birthday, eh?
And hey... next time you go to the Netherlands... I'll be your TA -k- (wink, wink & a smile.) :)
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ALI!! Glad to hear you are having a wonderful time in the Netherlands! Wishing all your birthday dreams come true!
Trina Ü
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Wishing you a very Happy Birthday Ali!
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Happy Birthday to you Ali!
You spring chicken you!
Wishing you a wonderful birthday, full of fun and memories.
What a wonderful place Netherlands looks!
thanks for sharing your days with us!
Hugs
Dee
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Woo Hoo Happy Birthday Ali!! You are so blessed to be spending your 30th in the Netherlands, VERY COOL!
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happy day, sweet chick - wishing you nothing but the best!
kah-mei
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Hartelijk gefeliciteerd! from a dutch-indonesian-descent-first-generation-american... hey, we share the same bday month... didn't know that. very cool pics, Ali. It's just as I remembered it when I was there back in the 80's. Isn't it like walking into a history book of sorts? it's a wonderful experience that I will never forget...
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!! Sounds like you're having a FAB birthday and a FAB trip!!!! I LOVED your pictures at the market place....gorgeous!!!
Happy Birthday Hugs,
Michele
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Have a great Birthday, what a wonderful blessing to be in the Netherlands! Have fun!
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Hi Ali,
Hope you had a very nice birthday here in the Netherlands. I live in Amsterdam and know Regina and Nita from the store in Hilversum. It must have been fun, going to Amsterdam with two other scrapbook fanatics!
I will see you in februari in Hilversum!
Have fun!
Greetings from Linda
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Happy Birthday!
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Happy Belated. Love the photos. So glad you're having a good time!
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Happy Birthday and thank you for sharing your beautiful photos! Such lovely color and texture....I visited the Netherlands for tulip time when I was in grade school, too young to really appreciate it. I wish now that I could go back!
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Happy Birthday!! Sounds like you had a wonderful day. Thanks for sharing such awesome pics.
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Welcome to the club of thirty-somethingers! Hope you had a cool birthday in the Netherlands. It's always funny to notice how people from the US simply love our little country, while we all can't wait to cross the ocean and go to the US! The Netherlands just seem so...flat. Small. Tiny. Too many bikes, too. I'm looking forward to your return in february, since I'll be taking one of your workshops @ Regina, too. And no, not ALL dutch girls are called Linda :D
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Happy happy happy birthday ... now life REALLY begins!!! :-D LOL! Hope you had & have a continuing amazing time!!
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