When I talk about loving the Dutch design aesthetic, what I mean is a spectrum that includes the crazy modern stuff like the kind Droog creates. I actually have a set of these bikes straps to use in your house. I have no idea what I’ll use them for, mind you, but I just love the idea of taking something so practical and making it a design element on the wall. Plus, hello novelty!
Entries Tagged as 'Holland'
Obsessed with Dutch Design
October 11th, 2010 · No Comments · Blog posts by Lia, Good design, Novelty, Obsessed with the Dutch
Reviewing the Citizen M: Yes, the Hotel with the Toilet in the Middle of the Room
August 11th, 2010 · No Comments · Blog posts by Lia, Good design, Novelty, Obsessed with the Dutch
If you read my previous post (How Zen Is Citizen M?), you probably want to know the answer to the following question:
OK, how was it staying in a hotel room with a toilet in the middle of the room?
But hold on a second–there’s more to the story of the Citizen M.
When I checked in to the Amsterdam branch of the hotel, it wasn’t a good first start. I had made a reservation for the previous week, but had to cancel it. Unfortunately, they canceled BOTH reservations, and had no record of me in their system when I showed up for second reservation. Things were shaping up to be a fail.
The Really Expensive, Really Crazy Travel Plans That Actually Bring You Happiness
August 8th, 2010 · No Comments · Blog posts by Lia, Dutch language school
The night before my first day at Regina Coeli (a.k.a. Dutch Princess School), I lay awake, and not just because it was the World Cup final, and rowdy Dutchies were still filling the streets.
What the hell am I doing? Who studies Dutch…for fun?
And did I also mention it cost thousands of dollars?
I had plotted out the route to the school the night before, winding my way through a series of wrong turns and construction zones until I found a reasonable path and knew that it would take me roughly thirty minutes to get there.
But the bigger question remained: Why wasn’t I on a beach somewhere, rather than heading to a classroom at 8 in the morning?
The night before, lying in bed, I thought: Maybe I’ve hit my novelty wall. Maybe going to a town you’ve never been to, to speak a language in the most intensive immersion environment possible, is actually beyond the pale. Maybe it was actually a bad idea.
Tags:Holland·languages·Regina Coeli Language Institute·school
World Cup Photo Roundup from Holland: The Good, Bad, and Just Confusing
August 6th, 2010 · No Comments · Blog posts by Lia, Novelty, Obsessed with the Dutch
As already mentioned in a previous quick post, being in one of the two countries that made it to the World Cup final as the last few games were in progress was–well–really really fun. And, as someone who loves novelty, perfect timing.
Biking Through the Green Heart of Holland
August 3rd, 2010 · No Comments · Blog posts by Lia, Dutch bikes, Obsessed with the Dutch
When I decided to attend Dutch Princess School–an intensive language immersion at the famed Regina Coeli Institute–I chose to stay in an apartment in the town next door. Would I be able to actually bike between towns every day?
The Other Amsterdam
August 2nd, 2010 · 1 Comment · Blog posts by Lia, Dutch bikes, Obsessed with the Dutch, Transportation bliss
When I used to travel for a living, updating travel guidebooks, I would often think to myself: Why isn’t this making me happier? After all, for lots of people who don’t know better, being a travel writer is a dream job…in theory.
I realized that when you’re being paid to do something, it’s work. Period. It might not be anything as difficult as working in a coal mine, but it still is work. When I was in the Netherlands, rocketing from place to place, I would sit on the train, noticing the neat bicycle lanes that ran out across the flat fields into infinity. Where were people biking to on those paths?
Tags:Amsterdam·Holland·Netherlands
A Dapper Gentleman, Cycle-Ready
August 1st, 2010 · No Comments · Blog posts by Lia, Dutch bikes, Euro-style cycle chic, Novelty, Obsessed with the Dutch
I’ve already posted about how much I love the Dutch relationship to bicycling. I love Copenhagen Cycle Chic, and am trying to help bring Seattle Cycle Chic into being. But Dutch biking is simply beautiful.
Dutch World Cup Fun
July 10th, 2010 · No Comments · Blog posts by Lia
It has been a blast to be in the Netherlands for the World Cup. The entire country is enjoying a riot of orange–the traditional color of the royal family and of their winning “footballer” team. I’ll post more pics when I get back, but here are a couple of favorites: Evidently, according to this tile, [...]
Five Reasons to Include a Beach Day on Your Next Euro Trip (Like You Need Them)
June 29th, 2010 · No Comments · Blog posts by Lia, Novelty, Recommended sights, The point of travel
Lately, I’ve been helping a lot of friends with their itinerary planning for trips to Europe this summer. It’s fun, and I enjoy doing it. There’s one recommendation, though, that never really seems to take off: Include time at the beach. Admittedly, it’s a hard sell for those of us who don’t have a year [...]
Tags:Basque Region·beaches·Biarritz·cultural exchange·France·Holland·Paris·Spain
Free Bikes and Van Goghs
May 29th, 2010 · No Comments · Blog posts by Lia, Dutch bikes, Dutch language school, Obsessed with the Dutch, Recommended sights
Hooray for the weekend! I have big plans. They include a three-day getaway to the Oregon Coast (whose virtues we’ve already discussed) and not wasting two hours at Sex and the City (which Betty and I expressed doubt and concern about, just based on the trailer). I’ll be trip planning for my upcoming adventure at [...]
