I’m not terribly excited about winter. When we first moved here, I often wished we could just stay here the whole winter and travel around Europe instead of flying home to Manila. Two winters later, I know I need those three weeks in the sun just to cut winter in half and make it more bearable.
But making things just bearable isn’t enough. So I’m challenging myself to find things to embrace, even enjoy, about winter. One of them comes on the flip side of winter’s long, dark nights. And that is an early sunset. This time of year, sunset comes at the time of day when I’m usually out and about: taking Tala out for a walk, commuting home from Dutch class, or running errands.
Amsterdam’s short days may be depressing, but this time of year, its sunsets are almost always beautiful. These pictures were taken during the golden hour, between 3:30 to 4:30 in the afternoon.
North of the equator, the golden hour is a full hour, not the few fleeting minutes it is back home. Here, there’s no mad rush to take beautiful photos. Nobody rushes in this city anyway—people in shops and cafes always tell me “rustig, rustig,” or ” slow down, slow down.” That’s this laid-back city for you.
So I take a few minutes to enjoy this soft golden light as I walk through Amsterdam’s streets…
crossing some of its 1,200 bridges…
before finally making my way home for another long winter night.
By the way, on the left side of this photo you can see the hooks on top of each apartment building. That’s how people move furniture into their houses here, by hoisting them up with ropes and through the window. Another Amsterdam quirk.
This last photo was at 4:30 p.m., too early for the street lights to come on. One of my neighbors greeted me “Good afternoon!” at this time and I felt so disoriented, I answered “Good evening!”
I know the days are only going to get shorter, so I’ll just enjoy these lovely early sunsets as they come. In the meantime, I hope you find something beautiful to embrace too, whatever you’re facing this weekend. Have a good one and see you next week!
OMG I didn’t know that there are hooks on top of buildings! You mean they don’t use small open elevators like they do here in Germany. Hindi nabibitawan?!? Haha!
So tell me how much are you loving the camera?
No elevators here, hun. Very very rare, and usually only in the big newly built apartments. Most apartments, especially in the center where they go as far back as the 1600s, are walkups. The stairwells are too narrow and steep for furniture to pass through.
Really loving the camera, although I have to get used to composing pictures without looking through a viewfinder. It feels weird!
These photos are so lovely. They remind me of the Dutch impressionist paintings we loved in the Rijksmuseum. Arg I keep forgetting his name! Who is your favorite again? And of course, Rembrandt and Vermeer have painted this lovely light. You’ll be home soon! Konting tiis nalang
The one who painted scenes of Amsterdam? Breitner. I should do a post on him!
Oh man, that’s one of the things I miss the most about Europe. That amazing golden light.