A Trip to Look Forward To...

The snow has fallen, melted, and been replaced by gusting winds and rain. The sun begins its descent at 2:00pm, and the thick dark clouds have made a permanent residence in the Dutch skies. Very little sunshine, a looming GMAT test, and numerous grad school applications have been creating a rather stressful and "blah" time in the Netherlands for me. However, there are some positive pockets here and there, which seem to pop into this monotony unexpectedly, and create much-needed changes of scenery.

Last weekend, for instance, we drove in the pouring rain into Utrecht to meet with Gabriel's colleagues at Zussen, a posh upscale bar downtown. While the weather outside was frightful, the interior of the bar was absolutely delightful! The cocktail menu was extensive, and each drink was served in a different glass with a variety of different garnishes. It took a while for me to decide on what to have, but I finally settled on a pina colada with huge sprigs of pineapple leaves popping out of the tall skinny glass. It was a lovely evening, and a nice break from our daily routine.

Cafe Zussen in Utrecht

This evening Gabriel walked into town to find someplace to eat. As we made our way into the heart of downtown Hilversum, we realized that the streets were swarming with people! We had completely forgotten that on Thursday nights, all of the shopping stores are open until 9:00pm. Since Sinterklaas is just around the corner, the town was out in full force buying gifts to stuff in their childrens' shoes. Bright twinkling lights were strung across the narrow streets, and while the wind whipped through the crowds, it brought smells of warm coffee and sweet gingerbread.

Literally every store window has Zwarte Petes displaying their merchandise

Perhaps what is most looked forward to is our upcoming trip to Malta. Malta is, by far, the most exotic location I have ever gotten the chance to visit. Located between northeast Africa and Sicily, it is a sunny little rock embedded in the Mediterranean. We've already planned out some things to see, such as the megalithic ruins (pre-dating the Egyptian pyramids) and the beautiful colourful boats in Marsaxlokk harbor. It's a 3 hour flight from Schipol, and Gabriel and I are counting down the days! We've been checking the weather avidly, and it seems like it's 20 degrees C and SUNNY! Yay!

my trusty Lonely Planet guide

7 days and counting...