Galactic Gypsy–

POW!  The sky opens up in Amsterdam allowing us to fly away. . .the lights twinkle in the main Schipol Airport terminal reminding us that the darker it gets, the easier it is to see the stars. . .constellations are depicted in the ceiling of our ‘gezellig’ hotel in the heart of Haarlem keeping us in our place as the small and puny humans who think we are doing “important” things here, there, and everywhere. . .and the moon, super or otherwise, watches over us on each and every journey–keeping the oceans balanced and in some sort of cosmic-based rhythm, providing a target for our love (to the moon and back, Alice), and smiling its wan smile full of secrets that we will never know.

I send you lustily wandering vibes from the airports and skies of Europe and America. . .feel them. . .they will help you dream deeply tonight and every night.

To see more fabulous images from around planet Earth simply click on a location of your choice in the category menu on the ‘About’ page of this blog. . .dive on in. . .you deserve a magical virtual trip this holiday season.

It’s lovely out there.

Europeans welcome us, post-election–

JAAAA!!  The Europeans welcomed us with open arms just days after the U.S. election. . .phew, thought they might send us away. . .no, come to us, we sympathize with you having endured so much of our own kookiness throughout history. . .welcome to the pack…exceptionalism is on hold for the moment…evolving…maybe never to return.  A new normal is on the horizon. . .or maybe it is the same normal that has always existed…maybe we couldn’t see it because of the veils blocking our eyes. . .maybe it was all an illusion…is an illusion…the same as it ever was.

The Europeans listen attentively to us here at our gathering point in Haarlem, The Netherlands…learning from us…us learning from them.  Italians, French, Dutch, Germans, Spaniards, Belgians, Swiss, Fins, English, Irish, Hungarians, and Russians. . .so many who have experienced so much worse than we have. . .so many with lessons to teach us.  We wisely listen. . .they wisely listen. . .we connect and move upward and onward together. . .mmmm, aaaahh!  If only it could always be like this.  Europe ROCKS!

Let us all listen, connect, and evolve together. . .I send you wildly hopeful vibes from a cozy meeting room in Haarlem. . .feel them. . .they are good and magical and mysterious and human.

To see more stupendous images from around planet Earth simply click on a location of your choice in the category menu on the ‘About’ page of this blog. . .do it. . .you can go just about anywhere that you like right here, right NOW.

It’s lovely out there.

Sippin’ in Amsterdam–

BOOM!  I ain’t got no time for sittin’ around twiddlin’ my thumbs. . .gots to get out and about and find some stuff to satisfy my thirst here in Amsterdam, The Netherlands…jaaaa!!

Above you see a bottle of one of the German red wines that is actually good…Schneider’s Weiler Schlipf Spatburgunder–say that three times fast, kids–which is described to me as the German version of Pinot Noir. . .I am not a huge Pinot Noir dude, but this stuff is full and tasty, not too tinny, and goes well with some meat dish that I inhaled.

Then, of course, when in The Netherlands you must sip on local brews from whatever town you are visiting. . .one glass is from Haarlem and one glass is from Amsterdam. . .can you guess which is which?  Go ahead and try. . .you have a 50 percent chance of getting it right–mmm, aaahh!  No matter what you guess just know that both glasses are delicious, and I have no trouble at all finishing them both…cheers!  Be sure to sip a glass or three before visiting the Anne Frank House here, and you will have a wonderful time.

I send you thirst-quenching vibes from the taverns and restaurants of Amsterdam. . .feel them. . .they will help you smile no matter who wins the American presidential election next week.

To see more jaw-dropping images from around planet Earth simply click on a location of your choice in the category menu on the ‘About’ page of this blog. . .dive on in. . .you can go just about anywhere that you like right here, right NOW.

It’s lovely out there.

I AMsterdam…jaaa!

BOOM!  Amsterdam is a town that you can walk around in for days and days without seeing any two buildings, streets, boats, bicycles, canals, or people that/who are alike.  This place is various, quirky, baroque, delicious, and nutty all at the same time. . .and above you see some of the billions of sights that you can photograph, gaze at, contemplate, or simply walk right by without noticing strewn here, there, and everywhere. . .Amsterdam is old, ‘istoric, and totally worthy of your attention.

Whenever I am here I always remember reading about John Adams living and working here for two full years to obtain funding from Dutch merchants for the American Revolutionary War.  The Dutch were and are prickly, difficult, and somewhat bamboozling to outsiders, and they were these things in spades with Mr. Adams…he writes about confusion and annoyance when trying to figure out which guy was in charge of what thing at a specific time–this kept changing as he would one moment think he had secured a specific bit of funding only to learn that the authority for that decision had shifted to another person who Adams then had to track down, secure an appointment with, and begin negotiations with all over again.  Fortunately, John Adams was determined to secure said financing no matter what obstacles or games the Dutch wanted him to jump over or play. . .Adams jumped and played and so much more, and America came into being in large part because of his efforts. . .thank you, Mr. Adams and thank you, Nederlanders!!

Travel is so fun because one can think about these things while sipping tasty brews, eating delicious food, and soaking up the atmosphere in great towns like Amsterdam…jaaa!!

I send you vibes of perseverance and good intentions from the streets and canals of Amsterdam. . .feel them. . .they will help you smile with satisfaction today and every day.

To see more stupendous images from around our teeny tiny planet simply click on a location of your choice in the category menu on the ‘About’ page of this blog. . .dive on in. . .you can go just about anywhere that you like right here, right NOW.

It’s lovely out there.

Bread alone–

BAM!  We are often told that people cannot live on bread alone. . .but I tell you what, this bread basket right here could tempt me to try to live on bread alone for a week or so.  Crunchy crust, soft interior, bready fragrance, and creamy butter all add up to make me go WOW, baby, WOWEEWOWOW!

This bread basket and so much more goodness can be had at Restaurant Hartering located at 10 Peperstraat in the Centrum section of Amsterdam here in the rainy and blustery Netherlands.  Pop on in here some time. . .you will love it–I gar-ron-taaaayy!!

I send you fundamental vibes from Restaurant Hartering. . .feel them. . .they will keep you feelin’ rock solid throughout your day.

To see more magical images from around our teeny tiny planet simply click on a location of your choice in the category menu on the ‘About’ page of this blog. . .do it. . .you know you want to.

It’s lovely out there.

Eat it…Amsterdam–

BOOM!  The streets and buildings and canals in Amsterdam here in the Netherlands are glorious…yes!. . .and the food on the plates in some of the restaurants here is even more glorious–mmmm!!

Above you see more highlights from the meal I had at Restaurant Hartering located at 10 Peperstraat in the Centrum section of town. . .delectable beef slices, celeriac prepared three ways, ham and eggs with greens, and leeks with a delicious Dutch goat cheese. . .GOBBLE!!

If you ever find yourself hanging out in Amsterdam lookin’ for an extremely satisfying meal, then I strongly recommend that you check out Hartering. . .it is totally worth the effort to seek out and dine at this place. . .your taste buds will dance with delight, your mind will float away into a higher plane of awareness, and your belly will hum with contentment.  Paul Hartering is eager to serve you. . .jaaaa!!

To see more magnificent images from around planet Earth simply click on a location of your choice in the category menu on the ‘About’ page of this blog. . .dive on in. . .you can go just about anywhere that you like right here, right NOW!

It’s lovely out there.

Top-notch dining in Amsterdam–

WOW!  Restaurant Hartering here in Amsterdam, The Netherlands is ROCKIN’ IT–jaaa!

If you watch Andrew Zimmern, then you may recall a recent episode with him hanging out in Amsterdam eating all kinds of good stuff. . .Restaurant Hartering is where Zimmern watched Paul Hartering make head cheese inside an actual pig’s head, and the stuff looked absolutely delectable.  Paul offered Zimmern some thin slices of the head cheese, and he was in heaven eating these. . .knowing that I was coming here soon, I jotted down Mr. Hartering’s name and BOOM here I am gobbling some of the good stuff they offer here. . .mmmm, aaaaahh!

After finding this wonderful restaurant located at number 10 Peperstraat in the Centrum section of town, I settle in for the seven-course set menu of the day with wine pairings. . .damn, am I excited.  First, the waiter brings me a wonderful basket of bread with delicious butter–he says, “don’t fill up, you have a long way to go,” and I say, “no worries, I can eat everything that you will bring to me with nooooo problem at all.”–jaaaa!

The prequel to my meal begins with crispy kale infused with anchovies–totally tasty…another prequel is a small plate with leeks and a leek puree–niiiice…first coarse is a tartare of bonito tuna–really good…next is a ham and egg thing with lovely veggies that you can see above–delectable…next is a celeriac thing–delicious and refreshing…next is a beef cheek thing with mashed potatoes that you can also see above–amazingly flavorful and good…next is a thin grilled beef thing cooked on a piping hot piece of iron with herbs and lemon slices–wonderful–I love it, keep the meat coming…then we do some tasty French cheeses–really good, but I wanted to have Dutch cheeses–whaaa!!…and finally I end with a creme brulee thing and a glass of sparkling wine. . .and after this a coffee and a whiskey to bring the meal to a close…most wonderful!!  All of this is washed down with wonderful pairings of wines that feel perfect for each dish…the whites that I am served are all French, I have a red from Germany–the Pinot Noir of Germany–quite nice, and also a Gigondas with the grilled meat–perfect!…and the sparkling wine is from I-don’t-know-where…by the time this arrives I am in ecstasy and really don’t care where it is from cuz it is all sooooo good!

So, if you ever find yourself in Amsterdam looking for a fabulous meal, then you cannot go wrong with Restaurant Hartering. . .everything is locally sourced and made in-house, except for the really good bread, which they have delivered daily from a bakery just a few blocks away. . .this Paul Hartering dude knows how to cook–everything has tons of flavor…the space is crisp and cozy…the staff are amazing…and the food ROCKS!

I send you extremely satisfying vibes from Paul Hartering’s restaurant here in Amsterdam. . .feel them. . .they will have you smiling all day long.

To see more amazing images from around planet Earth simply click on a location of your choice in the category menu on the ‘About’ page of this blog. . .do it. . .so much to see and soooo little time.

It’s lovely out there.