It has been an amazing Summer! 
I know, I have been missing almost the whole summer from the blogosphere, and I am sorry and thankful to all the lovely readers who have visited my little space, but it has been a glorious Summer (a kind of Summer that has deserved a step away from the computer).
Like a running water, it has just slipped through my fingers, yet left my hands clean and soft.
Like a sun ray, it has gently shone on my hair and made it smooth and lustrous as satin. 
Like sea sand under my bare feet, it left tiny little grains of sand in between my toes which won't let me forget the feeling of random happiness. 
I can taste the salty memories of the sea waves. 
My heart still resides there – at the emotional family visits, the endless conversations with old friends about life, love, anything and nothing, the joyful travels to old and new places, all the precious moments with the most adorable one-year young little man, those sweet sappy melons, tomatoes and fresh veggies that never fail to amaze and create a sense of abundance and gratitude, those odd coincidences that can be explained only through the faith that there is something much much bigger and better than ourselves...
I am new. 
I am my warm and compassionate self. 




Now, I sense Autumn is around here and I am ready to embrace the new season. There are a substantial number of projects boiling in my head and I pray for time, courage and luck to finalize at least half of them. 
As Summer winds down, I am also looking forward to harvesting fall fruits, cooking comfort food and baking  delicious pies.


I am saying Good Buy to the gorgeous summer with a bunch of photos from Amsterdam. It's also my way of saying "Mijn Liefde, A'dam!"  






My visit to Amsterdam was brief, yet enough to fall in love with the extraordinary city 
where 
there are more bikes than people,
there are more museums per square meter than in any other city in the world.
Where the mesmerizing network of cheerful canals creates not only a picturesque atmosphere, but also a luxury of living on a houseboat.
Where people (as well as my son) think that Amsterdam pancakes are better than the french crepes.
Where locals are friendly, tolerant and speak excellent English.
Where, as my friend added, there is more Amstel than water...




Amsterdam is a charming patchwork of history, culture, entertainment and food. It is also a surprisingly quiet and serene city despite the large wave of tourists. What immediately struck me was the silence. However, a sophisticated Amsterdammer convinced us that it's normality and this sort of peacefulness was the reason his Parisian wife chose to move there. 
"Cool city!", my son couldn't help exclaiming.

Unfortunately, I didn't meet my good friend Lili this time, but I believe I will  go back soon.



 



I hope you enjoyed the picture walk of A'dam, dear friends. 
For more pictures taken by me, find me on Instagram under sylviasimplelife.

Thank you!