Canals in Amsterdam, more than, colder than Venice.

 

When Maria met Miyake

Maria agrees, she must have her own Miyake.
The first acquisition, the virgin purchase, is anything but frivolous. Issey Miyake is a state of mind; architecturally defined, hyper feminine, an investment that could be construed as sensible, even in this climate. The item will last a lifetime.
A.must.in one's wardrobe. 
And no, Issey's not for everyone, but a sliver of delicately pleated black fabric sits somewhere on my frame daily and lately I've seen a lot of Maria so no surprise she's become deliciously infected by the fashionable bug.
The only cure is a rendezvous. Andiamo!  Off to our mecca to meet M. Miyake we go!
The act of trying on Issey Miyake, each truly unique, whimsical, architecturally elegant, the exercise alone is therapy incarnate.
Eventually Maria found her own style; a deep, silky slate blue grey number that shimmers softly, so long it could cover a table set for 12 yet so origami inspired it sits on the skin as thin as  can be, to be worn in a myriad of so many ways they provide a guide alongside. With skinny jeans and boots, with pearls for black tie. Pleats, please, for days and days and ways in weather that covers every season. 

Dutch treats

 
Our common courtyard is anything but, magical and overgrown, inspiring Ms. Havisham, full of 'great expectations' and mischief. Living In the precious address of Prinsenracht I'm keen to meet and make nice with my new neighbors and elegant environs. It's lovely.
I often thought if Paris and Edinburgh gave birth, the offspring would resemble Amsterdam. A pretty, whimsical, artistic Parisian lovechild with dramatically handsome facades lit so similar to Edinburgh.  Yet, the mis en scene is distinctly urban in a deeply specific way.  
First order of business was to visit the lovebirds across the canal, dear friends that find the time to educate and play host as their vivacious world floats by, full of bikes and ferries gliding down below.
Amsterdam is anything if absorbing with land designed to accommodate more canals than Venice. Once the commercial capital of the world with its uniquely concentric canal system evolving into a cultural center, a permissive place, tolerating more than most. 
Even as we now bare witness to a movement, a reaction perhaps, inching towards the radical right, if only in reaction to its permissive past.  Amsterdam, the principle home of radical movement with its perpetual identity.
Each country absorbing globalization, every country interacting with the next, quite like Amsterdam with its concentric canal system creating a complete community, merging, changing...

And now for something completely different: Amsterdam

It's as if Italy insists on kissing me arrivederci, weather's been spectacular this week.
We'll miss this view from the flat, but time to get back to civilization. Godot gets in a last run
From the Italian Alps to one of the flattest places on the planet, arrrrrrrrrivederci Italy
Amsterdam, here we come...; )