Another gloomy morning greeted us in Amsterdam. It’s been a mixed bag of weather this trip I must be honest. It started with those extreme cold weather temperatures which brought snow to the UK and parts of France for our first few days. The warmer weather then melted the snow and brought more comfortable days in Belgium and Amsterdam. The problem now is the rain. My hands aren’t freezing anymore but they’re cramping from carrying an open umbrella everywhere.
Ash managed to get a very last minute hair appointment down the road in De Pijp which meant that I would have a few hours open in the morning until lunch. Taking that as the perfect opportunity to get out for a run I laced up and made my way to closest point of the Amstel, Torontobrug, and set off in a southerly direction towards Amstelpark on a run. It was overcast, with a slight drizzle, and therefore ideal for quieter streets. This also meant I could run in the bike lane and not worry to much about passing bikes or scooters using the lane to avoid congested roads.
I set off on a fartlek run (a type of interval training with mixed up slow and faster running throughout) 6km down the Amstel before turning back on myself to complete the 12. You don’t need to venture too far down to see some epic freestanding houses owned by some of the wealthiest residents. Forget the image of apartment homes alongside the canals or in crammed suburbs built on top of each other and picture Constantia homes instead. That’s what they are buying and building on the other side of the Amstelpark.
Large properties with double garages, big gardens with outdoor gyms or guest flats and then massive modern double and triple story houses. I don’t know the property market at all but Jonty reckons €5 million (R90m) might get you a whiff of that life.
After a lovely run I strolled over to De Wasserette for a latte and then home to shower. When Ash was done we met at Albert Cuyp Markt to browse the stores and get some lunch. We saw a cute lady frying up spring rolls at “Vietnamese Loempia’s Van Bui” who reminded us a bit of Natti at the back of her restaurant with her head firmly over sizzling hot oil. We ordered 2 chicken and 2 veg spring rolls and stood around her stand eating them with a side of sweet chilli while they were still hot.
We picked up a few things on route and made a stop via Albert Heijn before retreating back home. With plans made for tomorrow and New Years we needed this night off to ferment on the couch. We organised the house and our things a bit, made calls to family and prepared a snack style dinner with lovely New Zealand lamb chops. It was then a couch dictated evening with some series and late night tea & biscuits.
KEEP RIGHT PASS LEFT 