While I'm all aquiver with anticipation for Rhinebeck, I'm still unexpectedly gobsmacked by an all-too-short visit to the Netherlands. It was my first time and it was freakin' amazing (if about 40 degrees colder than New York.)
One of many, many canals.
One of many, many cups of coffee.
One of many, many bicycles.
I don't even own a bike anymore, but I know plenty of New Yorkers who bike on a regular basis. And lemme tell you, New York ain't got nothin' on the Netherlands when it comes to biking. I was too busy looking around to really capture it, but this photographer will give you some idea of the scope of bike culture in Amsterdam.
And — surprise! — there was yarn.
First stop was de Afstap in Amsterdam, a pleasant enough place but with mostly Rowan on the shelves, so no big surprises, unfortunately. But the proprietress was very nice, and I did pick up some sock yarn for gloves.
And for Martian socks.
At a cute little sewing store I found this awesome zipper-pull:
Then in the town where we were staying there was an even better yarn store, with a great selection of Dutch, German, and Italian yarn.
It was great to browse around and see what they had, but I wasn't moved to buy anything except a big, gorgeous, button (the big one on the right — the others were gifted by H's lovely mum, also a knitter.)
It also reminded me how much I love to travel; it's something that's been woefully lacking in my life for far too long. I want it back, dammit. One of the many changes that this year will bring, I think.
Morning dew on a spiderweb-bedecked bicycle.
And now...on to Rhinebeck!
