Christmas market in Dordrecht and Dordrecht itself

It has been silent here recently.
Well, I had my sister over and the weather wasn't that awesome. Yes, a lot of storms and wind and a lot of rain. Or we simply had to work.

Yesterday we have been to Dordrecht to go there to the christmas market. I was once in Dordrecht, but only for a soccer match of Feyenoord Rotterdam. Yes, right. And there I haven't seen a lot but the station and the way to the stadion.

Dordrecht is a city in the South of the Netherlands 10 minutes from Rotterdam and 20 minutes from Breda.

It's quite famous and one of the few christmas markets in the Netherlands. But to be honest, for me it was nothing special and it was way too crowded! If you know christmas markets from home, then you don't need to visit one here. It's quite the same, maybe a bit worse.
A lot of market stands with food you can also get somewhere else and those cheap christmas decoration / gift stuff...

Christmas decoration at The Hague Centraal.

Too many people.

A kiss under the mistletoe.

Just follow the red carpet. The route which leads you to the different spots of the christmas markets in Dordrecht. Feel special. 

Bildunterschrift hinzufügen

LEKKER!

Dordrecht itself:

Photo credits go to Carina , who went upstairs the tower while I waited downstairs. Kind of forgot the sunset time.

If you have the possibility, you should go up the tower. You have a great view there, especially at sunset time!

Dordrecht being amazing during sunset!

Oude Haven.

Long exposure does magic with pictures :).

The dutch style...

Ooooh. Hello there.

Mooi!

Isn't that amazing?

Oude Haven. Looks so cool.

Something for the eyes

I uploaded some pictures of my long exposure shoots of Leiden on Facebook but as the quality there sucks I decided to share them here also with you as for me, it really looks pretty beautiful.

Who says that you need a tripod for taking long exposure pictures? Being creative enough to use a bridge or railing as a tripod. Click on the pictures to enlarge them and see the full beauty :).
Pictures are made with Canon 600D and the Tamron 18 - 200 mm lens .

Leiden reloaded

Yesterday we have been to Leiden. No reason to go there just to discover and see the city a bit more. Leiden is only 15 minutes away by train from The Hague so it doesn't really cost the world nor is it far away and Leiden is a great city to discover and to go there for more then one time.

Cathedral.

All the way through Leiden you can find some sayings written on walls.

De Burcht! Yep, Leiden has a "castle"

Looks weird, but it isnt.

Those balls were showing some political affairs in the world.

View from the castle.

Het stadhuis!

Again!

View of Leiden from the Burcht.

Beautiful Leiden

Christmas feeling :)

One day they hate you...

One day your kids hate you and on the same day they love you.
This week I once said to the little girl she had to wake up 2 minutes earlier than usual because we are always, A L W A Y S, too late in the morning so I thought, 2 minutes wouldn't harm so I said get up and get dressed and then she began to start her drama show with crying and smashing the door and screaming like hell. And that only because I asked her to get up 2 minutes earlier. Yes. I asked a lot. I always do.

Well, because of that show she wasn't dressed in the normal time and breakfast was also later. And so we were late for school. Finally, after 3 months of being here, we have been too late in school. I actually wondered why this never happened earlier as we are always late.

Actually, at this day we were too late everywhere we went. Jazzballett, hockey, everywhere. Sucked a bit but well, that was the "Too Late"-Day.

That evening the parents came home late so I ate with the kids and then the girl and me chilled on the sofa and she was cuddling a bit on or / and with me and then she suddenly said "Kathi, je bent het liefst Au-Pair" (= Kathi, you are the loveliest Au-Pair). Yes. One day they hate you and on the same day they love you.

I feel like I'm doing my job quite well. Well, I know that but that gave me the special "Yessss!".

Amsterdam, the capital city

Amsterdam!

A M S T E R D A M !!! 

On sunday we have been to Amsterdam. Yes, I have been there several times before but now, after a good while avoiding this city, it was time to go there again. Just for that sightseeing stuff even though I might have seen the most or important things but still, even if you think you have seen all of Amsterdam, you are wrong, this city has so much to discover and there is always something new to see or to discover.

And I can't recommend any specific time to go there as it's always beautiful. In spring when all the flowers grow or in autumn with all the leaves and autumn colours or even in the winter when all those beaaautifuuul christmas lights are up and there is the "kerstmarkt" on the street from the Centraal Station to the Dam Square, very easy to fall in love with that city then.

During the christmas time, you can find some small "food trucks" where they sell dutch christmas food ala Oliebollen and that stuff. And if you are there, make sure you try "Oliebollen" or one of that delicious things as they are soooooooooooooo tasty !!!

If you go in the summer or spring or autumn, check out the NEMO. There is a roof terrace and from there you have such an awesome of the city. It's free to go there. Also, go to one of the parks for example the "Vondelpark", lovely! And check out the "Leidseplein" for a beer or a party.

Trams, Trams and still more trams! Take care of them while you are in Amsterdam (or any other city like The Hague). They are dangerours ;)

Still so beautiful!

Some long exposure.

Sinterklaas intocht in Amsterdam!
We didn't know it was today or whenever so we were pretty surprised but it was so funny!
Such a great tradition of the dutch people, lovely!

Zwarte Piet is black.

Amsterdam Centraal.

Some sightseeing, of course.

Reasons to L O V E Amsterdam.

PURE LOVE!

Oliebollen! You can compare it to donuts without any topping or so. So so soooo delicious!

Kalverstraat!
Go shopping!