Lil Red Bag in Amsterdam

[Suus in Mokum]

Beautiful day with snow and sun. Lil Red Bag goes for a walk in Amsterdam. This is the Westerkerk with Westertoren. Slippery pavements, careful!

Very long queue... What are all these people waiting for so early on a sunny morning?

Aha... Anne Frank's House. Anne could hear the bells of the Westerkerk while she was hiding in the tiny room behind the bookcase.

Anne Frank, a friendly tourist from Lisboa, Portugal and... Lil Red Bag.

From the tourists to a peaceful and quiet spot: the Begijnenhofje. A place with beautiful houses and a big lawn (covered with snow now). No dogs or cats nor men allowed. This used to be a hofje (court yard?) for kind of nuns = begijnen = nuns that do not live in a convent. Only (grumpy) old women (who don't like tourists) are allowed to live here. The waitinglist is longer than 25 years.

Next to the Begijnhof is the Amsterdam Museum. Johan Cruyff (the football player) celebrated his 65th birthday last year and now there is an exhibition called "Johan & I". Cruyff poses with Lil Red Bag especially for... Val, the MailArtist in Sigean.

Dean Marks from France made a special request "Lil Red Bag show us the Red Light Area". So that's where she went. The Wallen (= Red Light Area) is the oldest part of Amsterdam. This is the Oude Kerk (Old Church). The architecture is beautiful here.

Around the corner of the Oude Kerk red curtains... It's early sunday morning, no business yet. It took some courage for Lil Red Bag to pose here. Fortunately no one to chase her away!

Lil Red Bag and red lights in the Red Light District.

What a convenient coincidence! The big I AMSTERDAM letters are now on the cosy Nieuwmarkt. Lot's of nice restaurants here... kind of Little China Town. This is still the Red Light District, yes. People/families live here. Lil Red Bag and the letters go well together.

Lil Red Bag wants to have her picture taken with these friendly Italians but there is a bit of a language problem. "What is bursa?".

Ahaaaa! Picture with letters and bursa! Hang on... just a moment, we will climb on top of the letters...

Lil Red Bag with I AMSTERDAM letters and cool Italian who shouts "I am the king of the world!"

Right! Time for culture and some knowledge. Lil Red Bag passes the 'Hash, Marihuana and Hemp Museum' and does some window-culturing.

In the Warmoesstraat (also Red Light District) a friendly postman with German accent poses with Lil Red Bag. What would all the MailArts be without the heroes of the post! Hurray Hurray Hurray.

Also in the Warmoesstraat, in front of the Condomerie, Lil Red Bag bumps into these jolly young guys from England.  Picture? Of course!

That was enough Red Light District for today! The walk goes on and Lil Red Bag goes further along the canals that celebrate their jubilee of 400 years this year. Lil Red Bag is getting closer and closer to that very special spot in Amsterdam she absolutely has to see with her own eyes uh handles uh... Hey, that really is some good advice in the window.

Lil Red Bag in front of het Koninklijk Paleis (Royal Palace) and (right corner) the Nieuwe Kerk (New Church). On april 30st 2013 Queen Beatrix will retire and her son will become King Willem IV. On that day Lil Red Bag can say "Hey! I was there".

Bicycles! In the guide it says their are more bicyles than inhabitants in Amsterdam. Well, not many moving bicylces today. But Lil Red Bag insists on having her picture taken with this immobile lot.

Lil Red Bag is getting tired now. "Are we nearly there?" These canals really are endless...

Yeeeeeeeees! Made it, at last! The Museum of Bags and Purses (Tassenmuseum Hendrikje) on the Herengracht. Lil Red Bag wants to see the manager and will apply for a pride of place-place here. Does the manager realize he/she does not have the famous, fabulous Lil Red Bag in his/her collection?! Unheard of!

What a shame... no manager in today. Well, time for a coffee. Lil Red Bag will return to Vizma Bruns in Australia now as the goody box is full. Hopefully more adventures of Lil Red Bag soon!

Suus in Mokum xxx

[Katerina Nikoltsou (MomKat)]

Lil' Red (clone )is on my fridge with a Bar-bear :-)

Plan to take on my travels to Manhattan and Chicago in May...but 

Aus-trE-liaM weekend, with temps in the 38+C...too far - too hot :-(

Ya all can come here with Spring 20-22oC ...and blossoming trees!

[vizma bruns]

It was boiling when she got here! At least she got to wear her pretty t-shirt!!

We can do the same deal as I did with Marie...fill your suitcase with gifts for me and I'll clothe you on arrival!! No worries! Come on down, I have lots of empty barns kennels sheds rooms for my guests!!

[Dean aka Artist in Seine]

Sure, now that MArie is gone it warms up.    DownUnder weekend?  Do you think you could extend the invite for 3 months?  Val & I are on the next plane!    OR your next summertime.

[vizma bruns]

Did someone say Aus-trA-liaM weekend??? Sure, come on down, it's going to be 38C this weekend!! And a heat wave all next week...

[Katerina Nikoltsou (MomKat)]

Is Lil' Red on its way to Oz by now? What a wonderful visit in Amsterdam. 

Yes, there should be a Mail Art weekend in Amsterdam...in sunny weather? late summer perhaps?

My mail art would be there, too!

[Valentine Mark Herman]

I second the motion for an Amsterdam Mail Art Weekend.

My Mail Art will be there.

And so will I.

[Dean aka Artist in Seine]

Wonderful Photos.  What a treat.  Better than some of the guide books I read.  An I Amsterdam Mail Art weekend needs to be organized.

[Valentine Mark Herman]

A FANTASTIC set of photos! And am azing tour of Amsterdam. Uitstekend! Val en Johann

[Jim SantAmour]

Where can I (pocket)book my Lil Red Bag Amsterdam Tour?!?

[Alicia Starr]

Fabulous blog Suus! Lil Red looks good even with the wear and tear. What a trip!