When we started our nomadic lives, the plan was to return to Amsterdam every summer; to spend time sitting on terraces and bobbing about in boats on the water.
It didn’t work out like that. This year, it was October when we got back and we stayed all winter. Jim shuddered and said yet again that he wanted to be somewhere warm at this time of the year, but winter has it’s own charms. Charcoal-grey days when spots of colour shine like beacons and lift the mood. Rainy and misty days when edges are softened, and reflections offer up blurred, indistinct images, wavering in puddles, and rippling in water. For a moment there were snow-covered bridges, branches and bicycle seats. And then for the first time in six years the canals froze over – just enough – maybe not really enough, but people skated for an afternoon, until a police van drove up and down issuing a warning, telling people to get off the ice.
Winter has still more compensations – Christmas and lights, and cuddling up on blanket-strewn sofas. At one of our Airbnb’s we discovered the joys of Netflix and binge watching. And if all else fails, there’s always apple pie!
Wondering Woman 
Great photo’s.
Verstuurd vanaf mijn iPad
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Thank you!
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Like all your beautiful photos especially the one with rainbow, by the way it is amazing to see the people skiing on the frozen canal ! 🙂
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Thanks Megala. Yes, it’s the first time in 6 years the canals have been frozen enough for people to skate on – it was a fleeting moment, but so good to see. There was a real party atmosphere!
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The frozen canal attracts me a lot. That must be wonderful to do ice skating on it. Enjoy your almost end winter, Tracey..
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Nurul, it’s so cold here at the moment – a return of the so called ‘Beast from the East’ – I cannot wait for spring and the sun to arrive!
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Seeing those people skate on the canal makes me so nervous. I know it must be, but the ice doesn’t look thick for some reason.
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You’re right Jen. It takes 4 days of below freezing temperatures for the ice to be thick enough – properly thick enough. There were pools of water on the ice, and in places I could see the ice moving as people skated at speed. I thought they were mad, but they were that desperate to skate on natural ice.
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Gorgeous gorgeous photos! I love them all, but especially the opening shot of people skating on the canal.
Alison
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Thank you! I was so lucky to see the canals frozen. It was my wish at the beginning of winter and it came out…..
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How fabulously cold it looks, Tracey! If I could skate, I would risk it on the frozen river too. And then waffles with coffee or so…xx
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Well, I kind of did half of your suggestion – took myself off for a pancake with apple and bacon after exerting myself by watching for a couple of hours!
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Oh my gosh the canal is frozen. Such beautiful photos, Tracy. I am one of the people who appreciate winter even if it’s dark and moody 🙂 I see romance in autumn and winter. The first time I visited Europe (Germany, France and London) was in winter, I was there to visit my hubby who was then doing his post-grad, and the winter scenes during the weeks I was there left such a beautiful impression of winter 🙂 Thanks for this post, Tracy. Such a nice feeling to be able to remember our past just by reading a post like yours.
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What a lovely complement – thank you. Like you, I think there is a lot of beauty in every season – which is just as well, as we’ve just realised we need to be back in Amsterdam next winter as well!
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Beautiful photos! I don’t handle the cold weather very well, but winter does have its charms especially around Christmas time. Pie and Netflix are good plans any time of year 🙂
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Yep! I always used to wonder what the attraction of binge watching was – but now I know!
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I have deeply enjoyed Amsterdam many times in Spring, Summer, and Fall, but you have inspired me to put her on my Winter travel list too! Thanks and Peace.
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That’s great! I’m sure you’d enjoy it. It really is one of those places that’s beautiful all year round.
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