Saying Good-Bye Before Hello

[First of all, I'm on my laptop before our Internet is connected here in Amsterdam (A'dam) because I'm connected to someone's wireless here in the neighborhood. YAY!]

Now go back to Saturday when we drove the exactly 4 hours from Hannover to our A'dam apartment.

Landlords Uschi and Wolfgang, on the floor below our apartment, had invited us to breakfast so that we wouldn't have to fuss about anything before leaving. What total sweethearts! It was the quintessential European breakfast to die for in a relaxed setting, from 8-9:30a. OMG! It was the perfect send-off.

Then we did our last-minute take-downs from the 4th floor, 65 steps up and down...for the last time. This is the courtyard and the entrance to the apartment units. See the narrow alley between the 2 buildings on the right? That takes you to the front of the building on the street and was what Donica had to navigate the VW mini-van through, very carefully!

Okay. All set to go. Two last pics by Uschi. And at exactly 10:15a, we were set to rock-n-roll.

We would have all been in tears if it wasn't for the fact that we all know we'll see each other again...and again, both here and there. Uschi and Wolfgang have already promised to drive to see us in A'dam. And we have promised to see them back in Hannover. Donica will be back-n-forth for work, but I'll probably join her once or twice a year. (Remember, there's also Christina to see!)

So Good-Bye, dear Uschi and Wolfgang! We'll see you again soon!

BTW, Donica rented a van that had a GPS navigation systrem. I couldn't believe it. We crossed the border from Germany into the Netherlands about halfway there. Once we got into A'dam, it was a charm. Since we were already familiar with our neighborhood, we could verify everything. So cool.

Monday is still Easter weekend here in Europe. For the rest of you, welcome to a new week. Next post will be of A'dam up close and personal. :)

Moose Canal

First of all, a happy Easter weekend to all! In whatever way you celebrate this holiday, I trust you'll be full of resurrection joy!

This morning Donica and I will be driving a rental mini-van from Hannover to Amsterdam (AMS) with all our accumulated stuff from the last 2 years! The short story is that Donica was asked to move her European apartment to give more of a company presence in AMS, in conjunction with some global changes to her position.

Fine by us!

Where we will be living is on Elandsgracht street in the southern Jordaan area of AMS (within walking distance from the Anne Frank house and from where James and Matt live!).

This is a store front window on our street.
De Eland = Moose
Gracht = Canal
Elandsgracht = Moose Canal
(this street used to be a canal that was later filled in)

If you stand out in the median (where cars and bikes park), our apartment is on the first floor (in Europe the floor above ground floor!) above the white awning with the 3 windows. The 2 windows on the left are the office and dining area; the window on the right is the kitchen.

The following inside pics are from the website that was listing the apartment when we found it last trip:

Standing inside from the living room, looking out those same 3 windows. The blue secretary is where my laptop will be stationed! And yes, there are hardwood floors throughout!

The 3 windows are now on the right and you see how the kitchen is right out in the open! The fridge is on the left of the microwave, at least 3x bigger than our Hannover one!

Now the 3 windows are behind you as you look across the living room to the bedroom in the back (with 2 windows facing a courtyard for a nice cross-draft in the summer, I'm sure). The bed is to the left of that doorway and the bathroom to the right.

The bedroom, with huge floor-to-ceiling built-in closets and storage shelves on the left.

A HUGE bathroom, not only with the bathtub on the left but a standing shower out of the picture on the right. This was one of the features that sold us on this apartment. :)

So now you can picture where we are! I did the same thing with our Hannover apartment 2 years ago, believe it or not. Just call it my sense for posterity!

Be forewarned that even though we jump-started our Internet connection last trip, it may still take some finagling to get it connected. Monday is part of the Easter holiday in Europe, so we can't even pick up our moden at the P.O. till Tuesday. Let's hope it will be like magic when Donica connects all the wires. I do remember that it was at least 3 weeks before we got connected in Germany 2 years ago. Cross your fingers with me that it will happen much sooner than that!

Journeying mercies now to all who are traveling this weekend! Death and resurrection. A tear and a smile!