Lesley + Adam

The city has quieted down after 5 whole days of non stop parties and I enjoy many walks through the city. Taking my time, looking up and looking down never knowing who or what will inspire. Tuesday only a few stragglers remain in the streets singing and cheering, the die-hards if you may. I walked to one of our coffee shops that we like to visit and order a white foam drink with a shot of espresso. I anticipate it’s arrival in a beautiful bright red ceramic mug, it arrives in a to-go cup. I enjoy feeling the small bubbles on my tongue and laugh inwardly about miscommunication. At times I feel like an infant again, pointing, making noises, and smiling hoping to communicate my desires. Thankfully, they are usually met, by someone who understands my noises, the English language. My afternoon is spent writing and responding to emails and making an appointment to meet a local photographer. I’m excited to meet someone new who also wants to meet me!

A quick stop at the grocers I bring home produce and ingredients for an evening indoors. Our guest from the weekend has inspired me to cook. I roast tomatoes with balsamic vinegar and basil to put the final touches on a homemade tomato sauce. Shaved Parmesan is sprinkled on top and we slurp spaghetti noodles in between our lips. Savoring and enjoying a meal prepared by my own hands. Later that evening we welcome a friend into our home, prepared with candles and cheese platters. She brings red wines from Italy. I feel sophisticated. We pour the red liquid, full bodied, into large glasses and pair sips with different types of cheese and meats from the market. The evening passes away easily while discussing work, passions, and travel. Wine glasses empty and the cheese platters cleaned with the clock nearing midnight we say goodnight with plans for another evening together. Three kisses on the cheek. I feel European.

My mornings have been spent leisurely staying in bed longer then normal. I bury myself under the covers, warm from the night before. I daydream, I think. Eventually I tell myself I should do some work, and decide to bring my laptop into bed with me. I work and answer emails. I make plans, I come up with ideas, I make notes. All from the comfort of my bed. I feel blessed to live this life! The day calling me to join it, I step into a steaming shower, and feel myself relax under the hot water. Showers are my favourite part of getting ready in the morning. I stand under the water and don’t come out till the air is misty.

With my oats and roobis tea for breakfast I continue to answer emails. Emails of welcome, questions of our story, invitations to meet, and words of ‘I miss you’. I feel loved. I hear the church bells sing in the distance, such a magical sound. I decide to head towards them and enter into my favourite cafe. They smile and greet me, in English! How wonderful, I’m a regular! Notebook and pen in hand I write. In a short time this has become my outlet, my day does not feel complete unless I touch pen to paper.

Back home I pack my suitcase for our weekend getaway. My closet feels ill equipped for where we’re headed, but I can’t expect more from it considering I haven’t added anything in 2 months. Tank tops, cardigan, and boots; praying I won’t look out of place. I send a quick email to Adam, to confirm our meeting place, thrilled that we get to go on this adventure together. Suitcases in hand I brave the wind and rain and head to the station. My stomach in knots of excitement, I eagerly wait for a new stamp in my passport while experiencing a new culture and a new country. Ducking my head against the wind, I believe Prague will capture my heart. What a life I live!

The weekend was full of fun events and many moments of laughter where my stomach muscles hurt from laughing so hard. There were moments of calm peace when we just sat and enjoyed the silence, the comfortable feeling of being around old friends, with no obligation to fill in the space between words. The days were spent wandering around our city showing it off and looking for things that inspired us. A canal and a bridge, how typical. But we stopped and enjoyed and snapped a photo. We enjoyed traditional Dutch cuisine, Bitterballens, croquets, and fries with mayo. Fried and unhealthy, but we enjoyed tasting something new, trying to decipher the different flavours and ingredients used. After taking more photos of the city, the metal bell goes off as we enter my favourite coffee shop. We enjoy an afternoon of people watching, being creative with our macbooks open, and coffee and chocolates as our energy. Silence to collaboration. Questions to problems solved. Ideas laid out and we create a plan. We sit for hours feeling productive and passionate.






Evening transforms from a calm peace, to a loud musical evening. We’re here to celebrate Carnival! We leave our personal space at home, as our face is most likely going to end up in the smelly armpit of another party goer. It does, and it smells of sweat and beer. But it doesn’t matter, we are giddy off the atmosphere and the excitement of everyone even if we can’t understand what they are saying. ‘Dressed to the nines’ (aka crazy over the top costumes) we join the crowd of people, laughing and feeling ridiculous, but completely in place. It’s tight and cramped, beer is spilled, and the floor is sticky and wet. But we find a place that fits the three of us and we sway and bounce, sometimes to the music but mostly along with the crowd of people around us. Our costumes attract people who find us foreigners entertaining, and we make friends. No longer the three of us. We laugh, and dance, and drink, and talk until the chill of the wind causes my teeth to chatter. The party never stops, even after we go home to air out the smell of smoke, beer, and sweat from our clothes, they continue to party. At 9 in the morning they are still out with beers in their hands, costumes slightly messed up, but out signing and dancing!





Our weekend ended with a different kind of celebration, the birthday of our guest. A pancake breakfast is prepared, with all the toppings for him to choose from. Butter and honey. Plain creme cheese and raspberry jam. Strawberry syrup with a sugar swirl. We indulge until we can’t eat anymore, our stomachs happy with the self induced sugar high. After a lazy afternoon, the time comes where we must say good-bye and we sadly watch from the platform as our friend boards his train. While the city continues to party, we curl up on the couch and talk. With the sound of the marching bands in the distance, the beating drums lull us to sleep after a weekend of new experiences. I dream of tickle trunks over flowing with costumes and ideas for next year. We love Carnival!