Snow

Back in Berlin it started to snow. Or, not really started to snow, overnight the whole city was covered with a white blanket. The girls had mixed feelings: Laughter because of snowballs and snow man, tears about the cold little hands. Day two we finally bought a sled. Little did we know those two days would be the only snowy days this winter

2nd day of Christmas

Christmas brunch at Ben’s, with caviar crackers and cava. The girls loved being here, back on Ben’s houseboat. Watching boats go by and even feeding some passing swans. Then this guy floated by, one of Amsterdams icons. A phenomenon. We could call him a one-man orchestra. He brightens up the canals of Amsterdam, popping up somewhere playing his music. And now he’s floating by, just like that. Made me realize how well I know this city and how much it feels ours

If you would like a good chance to see this guy have a look at the small white bridge at the Staalstraat. I’ve seen him perform there many a time 

Rijksmuseum

Back in Amsterdam, again, for the holidays this time. Since our house was sold, and the tenant of our other apartment has left, we stayed at our old place in ‘De Pijp’.

It had been two years since I have been here. It felt right at home again, but it also was weird to realize we lived there only four years ago. Just the two of us. Now, four years later, it’s the five of us.

We used to call this place our little farm in the middle of Amsterdam. Our 55 m2 gabled apartment, without curtains because (almost) nobody can see you here

I’ve missed this place and boy did I miss this magnificent view over the Rijksmuseum. Amsterdam at its best

Ökowerk Berlin

Today we went to Teufelssee (translates as Devil’s Lake) I have no idea why it’s called this, but the lake and the surrounding forest are very nice and quiet

The big surprise of this visit was the ecological and educational center placed next to the lake: Ökowerk Berlin. I didn't know it was here, but it truly is a great place to visit. My aunt and uncle run a comparable center in the Netherlands, but this one is at least four times as big and well maintained

We didn’t get to see the whole center because it was pretty cold, but we had a look at the vegetable garden and bee hives. We saw enough to definitely return in other seasons. If not for educational purposes then for their hot elderberry lemonade and seabuckthorn cheesecake