Zandvoort, January 26th, BDI = 7. After organizing a huge party yesterday, I took the afternoon off today and went to the beach. The weather continues to be sunny and without wind it feels almost like spring. No wind also makes the waves disappear which makes the North Sea look like a different sea.
Amsterdam, January 2009. I am counting down my days to the 30th, when we will travel back to Ibiza for a few days. I am so looking forward to being back there even though it's not likely going to be sunny or warm this time of year. I can't wait for the island feel that especially this time of year is serene and peaceful. Amsterdam in the mean time stays sunny and cold.
Amsterdam, January 2009. I am not expert, but seeing these birds in V-formation flying North, I thought it could be a sign of spring arriving. It seems awfully early for that and with freezing temperatures, I would certainly stay south a few months longer -if I was bird-.
Amsterdam, January 2009. Some days ago I read in the paper that the 2009 winter is one of the coldest of the century. The paper didn't mention that the century only just started. But, yes, it has been cold. It freezes at night and day time temperatures stay in the single digits. But with a fair amount of sun shine, it really isn't that bad this year.
Zandvoort, January 2009, BDI = 7+. It's an exceptionally beautiful day for January. All dutch people must on their ice-skates. It hes been freezing for days now so any lake or canal will be suitable for skating. It's also sunny and there is no wind. The beach is beautiful, quiet and really not that cold, but for the first time I feel what it is like if the beach sand freezes too. It's like walking on concrete. If the Beach Day Index would be a mathematical calculation of circumstances than the wind would play a big part. With wind, today would have been brutal, but without it's actually very nice. Of course another 30 degrees would have been nice.
Amsterdam, Januari 2009. It's cold outside! Very cold. The Nehterlands has not seen a winter like this in ages. Canals are frozen, but the ice is not yet thick enough to use the canals as roads. I remember a year this was possible and it gave a whole new perpective on the city.
Amsterdam, January 8th. It's the new year, happy new year. After a rough start (hangover, flu etc.) I am settling in the new year counting down the days to beach season (yeah!). Winter has been very 'double' this year. On one hand it has been brutally cold, colder than the years before. Actually so cold that the Dutch are preparing for marathon skating on lakes and rivers, according to what I heard that has not been possible for the last twelve years. On the other hand it is sunny, sunny and sunny. December was the sunniest month on record, which does not require that much sunny days considering the lousy record of Dutch weather. Days have been virtually cloudless. Is that a good thing? Yes and No. Don't get me wrong, sunny days give energy make me happy and make the city look so much better, but what is a sunny day if you can't be outside because it is so freakin' cold. It just makes me restless. You don't want to stay inside and can't relax to the point of watching DVD's all day staying in bed, but being outside isn't good either, let alone going to the beach. I thought I would never say it, but sometimes days full of rain and storm aren't that bad either.