April 2012
20 posts
A Pop of Orange.
Lindex Top & Scarf, Levi’s Jeans, Primark Belt, Michael Kors Watch, Bijenkorf Aviators, Minnetonka Mocs.
It’s Queen’s Day here in the Netherlands and that means a public holiday and lots of orange (since the royal family is from the House of Orange). Here’s what I’m wearing for the festivities today.
The Five/Tallinn.
Indulge in the local staples. The Estonian Garlic Bread at Rae was ridiculously good. Smoked Cheese Soup was another delicious discovery.
Don’t bother with a guidebook… this is the perfect place find your own way.
Stop in one of the bars that also has their own brews. We tried Brewery õlleklubi and Hell Hunt.
Take in the scenery at one of the outdoor cafes on Town Hall Square.
If you need...
Tallinn.
Given my life goal of seeing one hundred countries, there was no way we could pass up the chance to add another country to our list by simply taking a day trip. So, after one day back in Helsinki we hopped on another ferry and in 2 short hours docked in Estonia!
As you make your way from the ferry, you’ll see this capital city is practically split right down the middle… modern to your left;...
The Five/Saint Petersburg.
Get a guide. I can’t say enough how worthwhile this was. If you’re willing, spring for the driver too.
Cruise from Helsinki and avoid the hassle of getting a visa. Required for nearly every nationality UNLESS you take the ferry from Helsinki, stay less than 72 hours, and provide a confirmation of your hotel booking. Voila.
Do not miss the Cathedral on Spilled Blood. It’s one of the most...
All But One.
We had [most of] Kev’s family in town over the past week – his sister from Friday to Monday and his parents from Saturday to Friday. Fingers crossed that they enjoyed Amsterdam as much as we enjoyed having them here and showing them around! A few pictures from the great memories made.
A favorite photo op
Zaanse Schans Village
Floriade 2012
Snaps From My B Day.
Lindex Top (as coveted here), H&M Blazer, J.Crew Necklace
Hot Chocolate Treats
Flowers from the Hubs
Margaritas and Mexican food thanks to Kev’s Parents!
Saint Petersburg.
Санкт-Петербург (like my Russian?) Wow. Where to begin? Saint Petersburg was by far our most sight-seeing heavy part of the trip, facilitated by our guide and driver. As you know, this isn’t the route we usually go; we much prefer discovering things on our own. But, with so much to see, in a country we may never be back to, where English is lacking, it was definitely the right move.
...
Black Tomato Calling.
Since we only had about 36 hours in Russia, we knew we needed to make the most of our time. Enter Black Tomato. ’Creating Tailor Made Trips Around the World’ is their credo and that’s just what they do.
A few things I liked about their approach:
They start off by getting to know what you like, how you like to travel, and how you want to spend your money.
They will do as...
The Five/Helsinki.
See why Helsinki was named 2012 World Design City at places like Marimekko, Iittala, Bockin Talo and the Design District.
Sapas (Finnish light bites) are a delicious way to sample the seasonally focused flavors Finns adore.
Gin Long Drinks. Just like it sounds, but the novelty is that it comes from a tap. Think spiked Fresca.
Hit Old Market Hall and/or Hakaniemi Market for ridiculously fresh...
Helsinki.
Happy Friday Folks! I am finally getting to the first in a slew of posts about our trip – hope you enjoy all the photos (still sorting!) Spring feels more like winter in this region of the world which translates into far less tourists but not every attraction being open yet… a trade-off I was willing to make given my easy frustration with crowds. As you’ll see, we really lucked out with sunny...
The Ride is Over.
After five winters, my trusty J.Crew riding boots have been laid to rest in Oslo [insert moment of silence please]. Off the top of my head I can count at least eight countries these guys have been to - they are the perfect boot for just about everything but all good things must come to an end (especially when those things are making mysterious noises and falling to pieces). So I conclude with a...
Divyne.
Vyne was on our to-do list before we even moved to the Netherlands. My cousins recommended it from their trip last year (found via their ever-handy Louis Vuitton guide). It got even better once we picked our apartment and found out it was just over a block away. Despite all this, it took us a while to actually make it there- we finally made a point to go when Dan & Caitlin were visiting and...
Bloemenmarkt.
There’s a number of things the Dutch do well (bicycles, cheese) and flowers are certainly at the top of the list. We’re on the cusp of tulip season right now but you can find an array of flowers all year round at the Bloemenmarkt - and tulip bulbs in every color you can imagine. Also note, the stalls open to the street, but actually float on the canals (another thing the Dutch do well).
A Room With a View.
We have an adorable little Juliet balcony off our bedroom that overlooks our street. With it’s built-in table and chairs it’s a perfect place to enjoy a weekend breakfast or glass of wine in the evening. It’s been one of Ozzie’s favorite places to sit and watch the world go by (or more likely keep tabs on what’s happening below) and as the weather warms up, we’ll be joining him more often.
Good Day Sunshine.
My parents picked the perfect weekend to come to Amsterdam – the weather was a gorgeous 60+ degrees and sun, sun and more sun. We thought Sunday was going to be a bit grey and that turned out to be the best of the three. We took full advantage and ate outside where ever we could, enjoyed long conversations over drinks at various café’s and walked almost everywhere.
Happy Birthday Dad!
