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Month: December 2015

Amsterdam Light Festival

Amsterdam Light Festival

On Christmas Eve I went to Amsterdam with my sister for the Amsterdam Light Festival, a festival of light, art and water. My sister had already seen it from a canal cruise, but she wanted to go back to take a closer look and see some of the art work that cannot be seen from the water.

Sculpture at Amsterdam Light Festival Decorated houseboat in Amsterdam

We went by scooter, but we did part of the walking route.Β It was really pretty!

Collections of light sculptures Tree with birdhouse - the birds fly along the tree and colour the branch behind them - really magical effect

Colourful sculptures…

Another light sculpture Infinite light tunnel

The botanical garden was open and there were some sculptures there. This tree wasn’t part of the festival but I loved the way it was lit πŸ™‚

Very pretty tree in the botanical garden

This was my sister’s favourite sculpture: the two men from the traffic light πŸ˜€

Huge traffic light men My sister with the stop man... ... and the Go man :D

Rings of friendship…

Friendship rings Friendship rings from the front

Scooter parking at Rembrandtplein, we stopped for a food break here.

Scooter parking at Rembrandtplein

There were many more beautiful sculptures that I didn’t take photos of, and some are best seen from one of the canal cruises. This festival has been going for some years now and it keeps getting better. It’s well organized, with all the canal cruises offering special boat trips, a well marked walking route, many information points and there are guided walks as well (with a “light guide” who is dressed in a very special costume full of lights!).

Bike ride at sunset

Bike ride at sunset

I am in the Netherlands right now, and a couple of days ago I went for a bike ride before dinner, around sunset. From my parent’s place, it only takes about 5 minutes to cycle to the entrance of National Park Zuid-Kennemerland. In the park, no cars are allowed so it’s a great place for walking or cycling. It was a beautiful evening…

De Oosterplas, a nearby lake Cycling towards the coast at sunset

While the sun was setting, a nearly full moon was rising behind me. I walked up to a high dune with a viewpoint on top, for some great views of the orange sunset.

Looking back at the rising moon Sunset
Two women coming down from the viewpoint Panorama from the viewpoint, the lake is called Vogelmeer or Bird Lake

Cycling back I passed the Vogelmeer (Bird Lake) which didn’t get its name for nothing πŸ˜‰ There were two swans near the shore, while the water was reflecting the pink colour of the sky. Very pretty πŸ™‚

Two swans & the moon The lake was turning pink at sunset

Swans & moon reflection Pretty!

After that I had to rush back home, but I took another photo of the sunset that was turning red.

Sunset colours in the dunes