To commemorate our first bank holiday in London, Domingos, George and I embarked on a trip to Holland. £60, 35 minute roundtrip on Transavia to Rotterdam. Not much to Rotterdam really, but checked out one of Rem Koolhaus’ first projects, Kunsthal, as well as an art museum containing a sizeable collection of Dutch art, including Peter Bruegel’s “Tower of Babel.” Notable there and in Amsterdam as well, was the interest in children’s emotional development (puppet shows, parks and interactive art all over the city), inhibition towards sex and nudity (store windows, advertising, children’s science museum), absence of double door in elevators (you go in, no doors close, the wall passes directly in front of you as you ascend or descend), and the “idea” of Dutch food.

Amsterdam was beautiful—forward tilting, A-frame houses, curving canals and bridges, people on bicycles, carrying flowers. We saw the Van Gogh museum, Renzo Piano’s science museum, and even met up with George’s old flatmate, Cristiano. They had their 2 Dutch friends with them, Carmen and Leia, who were fabulous. White beer, accordio playing, and riding on the backs of their bikes.