Well this trip has snuck up on as as have both been very busy prior. We flew Singapore Airlines leaving NZ at 2.10pm on Thursday, the day before Good Friday. For once we were in good time and even had a chance for a quick FaceTime call from Craig. We had access to the lounge through our credit card(which gives us Priority Pass access) so could have the obligatory glass of bubbles also. Our passage through immigration etc had also been in record time. I’d say it was less than15 mins from the counter where we dropped the bags to finding the Mac shop in the duty free area. One can never have too many lipsticks (even if they are all the same shade).

Craig is joining us in Amsterdam for 4 days from Saturday and we all suddenly realised that accommodation might be an issue. We thought he would just stay on our couch but were a bit nervous that there would be no bedding and what if the Airbnb host lived downstairs? The info said 2 people only and no guests. Craig set about looking for a hotel or hostel. There was nothing available anywhere within about 5km of us and then it was over 500€ per night. I emailed our host with a plea, offering to pay extra. He had been very accommodating in his previous replies so we crossed our fingers and set off for Singapore.

The flight was ok. Very little leg room and I had a window seat so felt a bit trapped but we watched 3 movies, ate the food and got there on time. The service on Singapore Airlines was excellent as usual and the food also great. They also have a very extensive set of movies.

We had 3 hours in Singapore and also had access to the lounge there. Vodafone gives you your normal plan for $5 extra per day, which I think is excellent value so was able to quickly check my emails. Yay for Nicolo. Not only did he say yes, he also said he had a mattress for the floor in the lounge, sheets and towels. He thanked us for asking him and said could we pay an additional 100€. Fantastic I replied, much relieved.

The flight to Amsterdam was long. Just over 13 hours long but one more movie at each end of the flight and a reasonable sleep in between made it ok.

The journey through customs was easy and quick and we found the train and tickets also easily and then the bus. For us, given we don’t normally use public transport it was very easy.

We were too early to check in but followed our host’s suggestion and found the Conscious Hotel near a local park, where we could stash our bags for free, walk round the park and then drink ginger tea.

Very nice it was too.

We went back to our Airbnb for a 12 noon check in.

Nick is lovely. So very thoughtful and welcoming. He is Italian, has lived here 12 years and has perfect English. He lives in the apartment and was originally going away for the week but that fell through so was having a staycation ( yoga retreat then staying with girlfriend). It’s a lovely apartment on the 4th floor with a roof terrace and impossibly steep and narrow stairs up.

The apartment itself is quite roomy with a good sized bedroom and bathroom and kitchen/lounge. All very white and modern and clean. From the roof you can see the 2 cathedrals that mark the centre of Amsterdam- not 10 minutes walk away.

We walked down to the supermarket and got some salad and salmon for dinner (managed to set off the smoke alarm cooking the salmon) and some cheese, crackers, chips and wine for pre dinner snacks. The supermarket didn’t take foreign credit cards or bank cards but fortunately had some Euros in cash.

Then we set off for a walk down the centre of town. It was a lovely afternoon and we enjoyed wandering through the streets.

It was pretty quiet being Good Friday but loads of people out on bikes and in boats.

We found a bar overlooking a canal and had a beer then took a rather circuitous route home – it helps if you give Google Maps the right address. Luckily we had a feel for the right general direction even though Google was taking us on a 25 minute car journey to Harlem. We recognised the gym on the corner of our road just a block to the south in time to enjoy he last of the sun on the rooftop.

Managed to put through some washing,which I hung out at 4am when I woke. Happily went back to sleep waking at 10.30am and found most of the washing including Mike’s jeans were pretty much dry. They dry stuff on racks over the bath and that seems to work really well.

The rooms have sloping ceilings with windows and shutters. Everything is very well insulated for heat and noise and the shutters keep out the light.

On Saturday we had a slow start. Bought some bread from a different supermarket that is both closer and accepted my credit card (though shop is smaller) and had a snack until Craig arrived at 1.30pm. We walked back to the Conscious Hotel in Westerpark and had lunch with beers and enjoyed the sunshine with many locals.

More of the same later as we enjoy the lovely warm weather.