Belated update:
Second weekend in NL, went to Amsterdam. Early afternoon was spent in my old neighborhood, wandering the Saturday market at the Noorderkerk, and relaxing at a cafe. The rest of the weekend was spent with a close friend of the family who moved to Amsterdam not too long ago. Assisted in chocolate-birthday-cake baking, had fantastic pizza for dinner. Dessert was shared with her friends, in celebration of her birthday: Chocolate cake and bubbly. It was great! Ended up  sharing my "bed" with two snuggly kitties which made it a fantastic night sleeping on the couch. Brunch the following morning at a nearby cafe was nice, then I did a tiny bit of touristy-shopping on my way to the train station. Then a quiet ride "home" and a soak in a hot bubble bath.

What a great weekend!

Koffie Verkeerd at a cafe at the edge of the Noordermarkt. Had a blast watching people coming and going from the market, relaxing while writing letters to friends in the US. 

Hemingway knows the importance of earnestly watching pigeons from the window. 

Chairman Miauw knows he's the dictator of the couch.