Amsterdam

 I was greeted by our prime minister (the previous one, now) on a giant television outside the airport

 I didn't see much of the city, only from afar, but I did see the old shipyard. got to know it a lot, walking up and down

 some rehearsing, a little music, telling, meeting people

 and a flag..Greece was on my mind a lot, since we are being turned inside out by political powergames

 a greek question mark in one of our singing bowls

 colours on walls. the grey sky seems relentless, just as I suppose our sun is to people coming from grey skied countries

 language learning outside the mens rest room. looks like broken english..I know its the other way round. And, Martine, do women need telling?

 bench floor patterns during nightime

swans in couples
saw a raven
and fat self satisfied seagulls
ducks, and black ones that I learnt were called coots


I didn't spend much time in Amsterdam, but I saw people, met some I'm glad to have met, hung out with members of the pack, told and listened to stories
a good trip
maybe another time I will see the city, and, who knows, a blogging friend or two....

where I'm going next

Gilgamesh by Ben Haggarty, with Manya Maratou 7th September Soho Theatre, London 8pm 9th September Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough 7.45pm 11th September York Theatre Royal 7.45pm This ultimate quest story, of a bored tyrant ruling a city so beautiful that even the Gods choose to make it their home, makes for a beguiling exploration into the nature of power; the search for eternal life; the threat of apocalypse, and the deepest secrets of the gods. Gilgamesh, journeys through a vivid metaphorical landscape of pride, love, retribution and grief, where deities are irritated and appeased by turn, insults are freely traded and where our anti-hero turned hero, discovers what it really is to be a man. Over 3,500 years after this ancient Sumerian epic was first outlined on stone tablets, storyteller Ben Haggarty and Greek percussionist and Ney play Manya Maratou, bring Gilgamesh to the stage in an extraordinary and powerful performance of one of the oldest stories in the world - packed with passion and quick-witted humour. unsuitable for under 14s Soho Theatre, Dean Street, London: 0207 478 0100 Tickets £8 (£6) Stephen Joseph Theatre: 01723 370 541 www.sjt.uk.com Tickets £14 (£12) York Theatre Royal: 01904 623 568 www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk Tickets £12 (£10 & £7)