Low season

Zandvoort, December 1st, BDI = 6. I think the reason why Dutch people not be that fond of their beach is because most of the times they see the beach it looks and feels like it did today. grey, wet, dark and cold. It's hard to imagine that this is the same beach where I feel so comfortable during nice weather, because today it is desolate and unwelcoming. We are here this sunday, just to walk the dogs. According to the weather channel there are very few places in Europe where it would actually be a nice beach day today. Next week I will be in Turkey and even there the temperature is not much higher than it is here in the Netherlands. Places like Barcelona and Nice also have around 12 degrees this weekend, so no reason to feel left out. The Southern Hemisphere on the other hand is having plenty of summer. I talked to my friend Matt in Australia who was talking about sunburn and planning a Christmas boat trip with sun, heat and champagne. Talking to him has now another handicap than just the time difference, we talk to each other from different seasons, it all just seems so unreal. A few days ago I saw that the dutch airlines published their summer schedules. It is now possible to book your spring trip to Ibiza and places like that. The first sign that summer is coming back!

Snow

Amsterdam, November 22nd. The first snow has fallen in the Netherlands and although it's hardly anything it marks another point of no return towards winter. It seems awfully early in the season to be snowing in Amsterdam, that has had fairly mild winters the last couple of years. Is this winter going to be different? Cold, ice, snow wind and darkness? Not something to be looking forward to. The only good ting of this are the clouds and skies, because they are beautiful and dramatic. Last year around this time I would be abroad every single weekend, just to get away and enjoy the relatively mild temperatures and good weather in the South of Europe. This year is different because and I have spent weekend after weekend in Amsterdam, even feeling bored now and then, a feeling I have not had in ages.

Windy & Cold

November 15th, Zandvoort, BDI=6. It's sunday and it feels like winter. It is cold and windy but the weather forecast calls for a dry day, so with Madon and his friend Pablo we make it to the beach this Sunday. Under different conditions I would not have been here this weekend. The South of Europe is still having fantastic weather. My friend Martin in Barcelona must be having a gorgeous weekend with temperatures in the 20s and not cloud in the sky. He called me yesterday telling me how they had lunch on the beach and were walking in the full and warm sun. My friend Matt in Sydney must be in full summer by now. Last year I would see such a good weekend coming and plan a trip to the South of Europe. This year I have to slow down the traveling for financial reasons and I really miss my trips. How am I going to survive fall and winter without the possibility to escape to a sunny beach? But today was not that bad on the Dutch beach of Zandvoort, a bit windy but beautiful sunlight.

Falling leaves

Oosterbeek, November 10th. Ugh.. I am no fan of any area far away from the sea and I think that the forest is depressing. Let alone in winter and even a day like this in this season when there is a whole tourist industry based on the colors of the leaves, I do not feel 'happy' or ' excited' about the forest. It helps to get here with someone that sees the area -where I grew up- for the first time.

Hot Chocolate

Zandvoort, November 8th, Beach Day Index = 7. I Guess it is exceptional for this time of year to be on the beach with such good conditions. But having to order hot chocolate is just not fitting my picture of 'beach life'. Weather conditions in the Netherlands have been exceptionally good over the past few weeks. Every weekend is sunny and temperatures stay mild. It had been two weeks or so since I was on the beach for the last time. We walked through the town of Zandvoort and came across the town musuem. Zandvoort is not a beautiful town especially not right on the beach. In the museum I learned -I could have known- that Zandvoort's beautiful seas side community was demolished during the war to create the 'Atlantic Wall'. Looking at the pictures it seems like one day Zandvoort was indeed a place with style, nice hotels and a sea side resort look.

Autumn in Amsterdam

Amsterdam, November 2008. It's quite sad actually to start a web log, call it ' Beach & Travel' and then post messages and photo's from the place where you live involving no beach nor any travel. This time last year I was traveling about every other weekend or so, taking advantage of low air fares this time of year and the good weather in the South of Europe. So what happened? Definitely my relationship with Madon, who is now living with me and without a job so the money intended for travel goes into the household. Sure, I am getting back a lot for this, but I do miss my trips and travel to the sun. Amsterdam does look good in autumn, especially mornings and the weather has been great, with sunny weekends and average temperatures.

Phone

I got a new phone in April last year. Despite the fact that i think that the idea of an integrated camera in the phone is fantastic, it took me until yesterday to figure out how to get the photo's out the camera. I downloaded them into my computer. I am surprised by the quality and I love to jump from one event to another since I only took photo's now and then. So here is a little tour along a few beaches where I was in the last one and a half year.

Zandvoort, April 30th. I remeber this day very well. It was Queensday in the Netherlands and typically everyone comes to Amsterdam to get drunk and be entertained by bad music eating horrible street food. My frineds Julia and Marcel suggested to go to the beach that day and it was one of the most perfect days on Zandvoort beach. Obviously there was no one there.
Sitges July 11th. This was my birthday. My friend Matt whom I had not seen for over year joined us in Sitges where my friends Martin and Samuel live. I used to go to Sitges about every month or so, but I have not been for quite some time. I guess it's the relationship. I miss Sitges which I think is fantastic, summer or winter.
Zandvoort, end of September. This was the last beach day in Zandvoort of season 07. I went with my friends Julia and Marcel to the beach and we got horribly drunk.

Ibiza, beginning of October. At the end of last years summer, I made a fantastic trip. I flew with my friends Julia and Marcel to Barcelona, stayed a few days, left for Ibiza, stayed there for a week and then met my friends again in the Algarve where we had a fantastic week on the beach.
Ibiza was remarkably busy. I had expected it to be nice and quiet but because of the closing parties it was still very happening and I had a fantastic week there.


East Algarve, October. the most beautiful beach in the world and empty during the first week of October that I was there with my friends Julia and Marcel.
San Remo, November. I once visited San Remo a long time ago and I was struck by the gone glamor. I returned this year and I loved the atmosphere. I stayed at one of the Grand Palace hotels, which was a bargain and had so much atmosphere.

Palma, December. One of the best trips of the year. My friends Matt and I went to Palma, which I always thought would be a horrible Island. We stayed at the Portixol hotel at their roof top suite and I loved the Island, the city of Palam and this hotel ofcourse. We had fantastic weather and love cycling from the hotel to Palma, stopping at every cafe for a glass of Rosado. One of the beast features of the room was the rooftop bathtub. Especially during sunrise. Fantastic!
Valancia, February 08. I got a very cheap ticket to Valencia and some great weather when I went for the first time to this city. Staying at the fantastic Neptun hotel where you can drink Moet & Chandon for breakfast. I was struck by the emptyness of Valancia, where all activity surrounding the sailing event America's Cup had gone. Rente a bicycle here and cycled South to a nature reserve that is bordered by a very nice stretch of beach. Got home with a tan.

Amsterdam, Spring. Winter wasnt so bad in Amsterdam and I remember how spring had some of the most beautiful skies (clouds) I had ever seen in Amsterdam.

Zandvoort Spring 08. I couldnt wait for the opening of beach season here in Amsterdam. Matt my long time friend had moved into my apt in Amsterdam and as soon as we could we were off to the beach to be the first to sit in 12 degrees windy weather outside drinking bubbles on the beach. It was such a fantastic feeling that winter was over and summer was about to start.

Ibiza and Formentera, Spring. There was a lot of Ibiza this year and this was my first trip there in May. My friends Martin and Samuel visited me and so did my coworker and friend Bjorn. We had some very good times and love the island of Ibiza that i ' discovered ' this year for the first time.
Zandvoort, summer 09. There was a lot of Amsterdma beach this year. I think I visited this beach between 50 and 100 times. It was a fantastic spring, ok summer and great end of summer and whenever I could I was at the beach. I must have had a tan from winter throughout summer. Can't believe the season is over.
I stopped taking photo's with my phone because the memory was full. But by downloading the pictures it is empty again and I will start taking photo's when I dont have my camera with me.