Another year gone by

A busy week in the US; a late flight back to the Netherlands.  It was a challenge keeping ahead of things throughout the trip.  The low point was grabbing a bite of dinner in a nearly empty Denny’s at midnight, finishing work on an academic paper due the next day in Rotterdam, and knowing that I needed to be up at 6 a.m. to drive to meetings.

Fortunately, the paper got done (well), the meetings were a success, and I was settled comfortably into an upgrade seat on the plane by mid-afternoon of the 7th.  A Tyler Brule moment, sipping a glass of (free) wine and looking forward to….

Birthday !

I dropped into Amsterdam early on the 8th, not feeling (anywhere near) 56.  Travel keeps you young?  Expat life?  Among the Dutch?  It may be that sleeping through the movie “The Boat That Rocked” did me good.  I might have just been insensible from the jet lag.  But it was a sunny, warm, thoroughly splendid spring day in one of my favorite cities.

It was well spent, walking along the canals, enjoying the new buds leafing out on the trees, poking into shops, enjoying a beer alongside the square.   Dam Square was not too pleasant, full of subway construction with shrouds over the City Hall  while its being cleaned.  No sign of my favorite street mimes.

Finally, dinner at the restaurant d'Vijff Vlieghen near the city center.  It was a real treat: Dutch fusion food, all fresh organic ingredients, wonderfully presented, with lovely old atmosphere.  The accompanying wine flight was also wonderful, highly recommended if you are having a special evening out.

‘back in Maastricht this week, catching up and moving forward as always.