It’s Sunday evening
and I am sat in the living room yet again. It’s night and the time is
beautifully illuminated on the clock of the Oude
Kerk. Outside the streets are full of people despite the fact that it is
Sunday and evening. The Red Light District never sleeps. The sound of the
streets at night travels through the closed windows, and the occasional shout
from someone who has probably had a few drinks too much breaks through the
murmur of people walking by. I am almost tempted to put on my jacket and go out
for a stroll... but think I’ll opt for reflecting on the past couple of days.
I am struck at how
much more hopeful the lens through which I see the city is having been away.
It’s almost like when you live somewhere and are in the reality of that place
day in and day out, it’s so easy to start to see through the lens of what is
around you. I find having been away I can see so much more hope and so much
more changing and being done in lives and in the city. It’s so encouraging!
Sitting here my heart
is full again, but this time of thankfulness for the beautiful friends I have
here. Time doesn’t allow for me to meet every person I love and value, but I
was able to see a few. Friendship is such a unique thing. I love how some
friendships we are given for a season and others for a lifetime. And some end
up being for a few seasons connected and disconnected. The past few days I’ve
been able to enjoy coffee and catching up with just a few of the many amazing
people I know, and at the same time visit some of the lovely coffee places I
miss in this city. Here’s a wee summary for those who know the city:
On Friday I went for
lunch at the Bakkerswinkel. It is
still amazing, although I ended up not having the scones (for those who have
been exposed to this delight, I might just have to go back there before I leave
and buy some of their amazing passion fruit jam). Yesterday I went for coffee
and cake at Latei, a quaint little
cafe where you can buy everything in it (chairs, lamps, tables etc.), and later
I headed to Greenwoods tea house but
it was too crowded so ended up at a pavement café along one of the canals,
where I had fresh mint tea (shocking to betray good old Earl Grey, I know, but
it was quite refreshing and sometimes it’s good to have something different so
I will appreciate good old Earl even more. In fact I am savouring a cup of Earl
as I write this). Today I had a lovely Thai dinner at The Bird and Jasmine tea (noticing my loyalty to Earl is wavering,
but in my defence there was no Earl at this place and the alternative was Pickwick Engelse Melange). It’s so good
to get to enjoy these places, but most of all the people I get to go to them
with! Thankful for friends.
I also matou saudade (literally means “killing
the missing”, and it’s the Brazilian expression of dealing with having missed
something and revisiting/ reliving it... it’s a unique expression that says it
so well) for the cinema. When I lived here I had a movie card that gave me free
unlimited access to the cinema for a small monthly price and so I grew very
familiar with the Pathe cinemas. And
so this afternoon I went with a dear friend and it was a very good experience.
It was also really
lovely to go to church at God’s Embassy
and feel so loved and welcomed by friends and acquaintances there.
All in all a few days
of really taking in the city and enjoying so much friendship! I wish I had more
time. It is strange to feel so at home in a place that is no longer home, and
yet I guess wherever you live for an extended period of time ends up becoming
part of you, and Amsterdam has proven to be one of those places in my life.