Paris to Amsterdam and back again

We arrived in Paris to drop off our bags before leaving the next day for Amsterdam from our place at the inhumane hour of 615am. We did the only proper thing: we dropped off our bags and made our way over to Mokochaya, which opened last fall, for brunch/lunch. We have been dedicated Mokonuts customers since they opened, and Mokochaya is an excellent addition to their expanding empire. These eggs were incredible. Marinated in soy, just a bit of mayo with tiny bacon bits.

But at the end of the day, Moko’s cookies are the best, hands down.

Dinner was at Ooblatz, a spot I have been hankering to go to. The pizzas have such a thin crust that it’s impressive how the toppings stay on. An excellent pizza!

We love being in Paris this time of the year, but this year we had an added bonus. Our daughter, Jessica, wrapped up her art residency in Amsterdam, where every artist showcases the work they created during their stay. The piece above is titled “The Commute.” Using taxi tops programmed with animation, with the sound of YoYo Ma saying, “don’t do what I did” as the end of the ride in early 2000 when he left his cello in a taxi.

This other piece is called Sweet Nothings, and this can be displayed outdoors. It has been a gift to watch Jessica evolve as an artist over the years.

That afternoon, we crashed, but before the evening activities, the perfect call for Amsterdam, I went out to get a few pre-rolls. When in Rome, and necessary diligence. We saw this weed suit on the way.

The pre-rolls are not inexpensive, and the weed is not good, as in reminiscent of the dirt from our college days. Just reminds me how good the products are getting in NYS.

The dinner plan was to pick up a variety of pizzas from Nnea, bring them back to the bed and breakfast we were staying at (which we had taken over), and eat in the kitchen that opened out to a garden. It wasn’t Ooblatz, but this was the call.

I created a new summer drink—Campari (or Aperol) with half an orange, served over ice, paired with cucumber soda. I ordered a case of the soda to be delivered while we are gone.

The next day we slept in, had a bite and a beer at Cafe de Pels, a spot that has been around for 50 years. Pub food is the way to go in Amsterdam, much like it was in London in the 1980s. The food scene is not yet at its full potential, and maybe it never will, but there is always an aged Gouda on a baguette and a horseradish mustard to hit the spot.

Of course, the next stop was the Van Gogh Museum. I get a little deja vu every time I am at the Stedelijik next door, where I went for the first time in college. For the first time, the Van Gogh Museum and the Stedelijk partnered to present an Anselm Kiefer exhibition, highlighting Van Gogh’s influence on his work.

I am a fan of his work. Large, intense, brooding landscapes mixed with the earth. They are about rebirth and death, and war.

And of course, a Van Gogh.

Pamela Rosenkranz also had an exhibit.

That night, we went out to celebrate at a lovely restaurant, where we ate downstairs overlooking the water. I love this shot.

We had oysters from the eastern region of the Netherlands. They were described as “round” and, most definitely, the best thing we had.

And so ends our sprint through Amsterdam, and now back to Paris.