Vicky's visit

I received a wonderful visit from my sister Vicky a few weeks ago. Here is a video of the AZ feest that took place while she was here. We're in the crowd standing on top of the five story parking garage, chanting "kampioen, kampioen!" It really was wild, ha!

AZ is a football team in Alkmaar, and they won the national championship this year. As you know, football is huge in Europe, it's all sports fans talk about. I also put some photos up on Picasa of Vicky's visit that I received from her and our BVS Director in Europe, who was also here for the first two days. An acquaintance of mine, Aggie, actually lives in the windmill, and there are probably 10 such mills within walking distance from my place.

Thursday before last was "Hemelvaartsdag," Ascension Day, and a holiday in the Netherlands. Each year on this day they have a running event in Alkmaar called the Vestloop that starts at Grote Sint Laurenskerk (the big church) and winds through the "binnenstad" (center of town). I participated last year and again this year in the 5K race. Improved my time by 7 seconds, so at least I'm not getting any slower, ha!

Received a postcard from a friend I met in Rochester, NY three years ago that was visiting St. Andrews, Scotland and on his way to Istanbul. Hope to hear what he thought about Turkey, as many of the foods I buy come from there and the nuts and dried fruits are the best I've ever tasted. Iran, too; the quality of Iranian dates is superior to any dates I've eaten.

Easter wandeltocht

We also have Monday off for Paasdagen (1st and 2nd days of Easter). I had some time on my hands, so on the Web I found the Geert Dilling Wandeltocht 2009. This morning I biked over to this annual Alkmaar event and registered for the 10 kilometer. A "wandeltocht" is a walking tour or hike through nature areas, forests and dunes along the seaway, and we have many all around us. It was sunny and warm, and I even found a few people to walk with to practice my Dutch, ha!

Sunday I went for a run through Kennemer Park along the canals, everything is bursting out and smells wonderful. I had to stop a few times just to sniff some of the bright yellow and white blooming bushes. Baby ducklings are everywhere, following their mamas through the reeds, it's all quite cute. Thought I'd see a film on Saturday evening, Grand Torino with Clint Eastwood didn't look interesting at first, but turned out to be terrific. Clint taking the "active nonviolence" idea to the extreme it could be argued.

Between the movie and the wandeltocht I did a research project on a new song I've decided to tackle. Malle Babbe is well known song in Holland and about a lady in the 16th century, as painted by famous Dutch portrait painter Frans Hals in 1630. It took hours over two days to comprehend what this was all about, as their is little known about Malle Babbe and Lennaert Nijgh (interesting person) wrote two versions for two different artists.

Café De Dokter

Yesterday John and I went to Amsterdam for the evening, as our Musicians without Borders friends invited us to their 10 Years Celebration. The event was a concert featuring six individual performances and the music of Sarajevo, Balkans, Mexicaanse, and Holland's Mitrovica Rockschool. On the map I thought the venue looked familiar, then realized I had visited this area over a year ago with Marion, the acquaintance I've mentioned from Austria.

This section of the city "you will want to see," as it hosts some of the most historic names in Holland, the Dam, the Royal Palace, AEX (stock exchange), Gothic Nieuwe Kerk, but most importantly the Begijnhof, one of the oldest and most beautiful inner courts in the city and an enclave with a very interesting religious history. And strolling through Amsterdam on a Saturday night is always a magnificent and exciting experience!

Well, we arrived at the Begijnhof a little early, so John and I thought we would find a nearby café and have a drink (John, always beer, and I, my "now renown" tonic). A half block away, in one of the city's many steegs (alleys), we drop in on Café De Dokter and instantly find this crowded, narrow but fascinating room, incredibly stuffed with two centuries of curiosities, ha! Turns out, this is the smallest café in Amsterdam, founded in 1798 by a surgeon of a nearby hospital (Binnengasthuis).

As always, John and I had a bellyful of laughs, got into a fun conversation with a couple from England, but couldn't stay long because we had to meet our friend Arjan, who had the tickets, in front of Engelse Kerk. Of course, the concert was terrific, with a finale of Joplin's "Bobbie McGee" sung by Mitrovica's very impressive and pretty lead singer. But, I guess, what topped the evening was that John, Arjan and I went back over to the Café De Dokter to finish-off what we started earlier, ha! This time we also order a "kaas bordje" (cheese plate) of Beemster's oldest.

I mention all this to give you some ideas for your visit; but also because you and I certainly must make a visit to "De Dokter."

Borrel: a cocktail party

A few weeks ago we had our annual "borrel," like a cocktail party. IFOR does this as a New Year get-together for friends and associates, to see the office and meet new staffers. We host the event with lots of different drinks and Dutch snack foods, and provide a little entertainment for the quests, which are usually all from Holland.

I may have mentioned that I have been learning a new song, just for fun, like I did while in Rochester. An acquaintances at the library suggested it, it's a classic Dutch song called "Ode aan Maastricht," and he's learning one in English by Scottish singer/songwriter Amy Macdonald.

Well, my musician friend Srdan in the office next to mine found out about this and talked me into singing the song, with him playing the guitar at the borrel. We practiced on and off for about a month, although I was hesitant about doing this in front of a house full of native Dutch speakers. Additionally, I had invited a couple of neighbors (women friends) this year, who just happen to be in local singing groups―probably not the best way for me to get to know them better, ha!

Anyway, the time came and I ended up singing at the party. Luckily all went well, and everyone had a few good laughs at the same time. It was really a riot! Srdan plays professionally and helped me though all of it, otherwise I might have been deported by now. And my two neighbor friends even asked me to join their singing group... Oh ya', I thought, that should really be interesting. Seems like everyone in Alkmaar is in a performing singing or musical group; it's just the thing.

So, Monday night I showed up for my first practice with the "Spoorbijster," 18 women and two guys. At least all the songs are in English, old rock and Motown hits. The last number of the night was "Happy Together" by The Turtles, ha!

Sinterklaas visited us

The Saturday before last, Sinterklaas visited us! He was here last year, as well, but I was in Germany and missed the whole thing. So this was all new for me, and I would have to say another "incredible" Dutch tradition to experience...


The tradition of St. Nicholas (our Santa Claus) came to North America via Netherlands Protestant Settlers in New Amsterdam, now New York. It all started back in the 4th Century when a Bishop in Turkey named St. Nicholas became widely known for his good deed with poor children in Europe. His feast day became known as the Celebration of "Sinterklaas" and was held on December 6. St. Nicholas is also known as the patron saint of Amsterdam.

I'll let you read more about Sinterklaas on your own, if you want. All I want to add is that Sinterklaas is assisted by many mischievous helpers with black faces and colourful outfits. These helpers are called Zwarte Pieten (Black Petes) in Dutch, and there is nothing like them. According to tradition, Sinterklaas is dressed like a Catholic bishop and rides a big, white horse. After his boat motored into town via the canals and docked at our Waagplein (town square), he rode through the streets on his horse, accompanied by a processsion of jolly Zwarte Pieten and musicians.

This was an all-day event, here are more photos.

Well, it's snowing again today -- unbelievable!