Last week I was on my way to Foam, the photography museum on Keizersgracht, to go on a guided tour of the exhibition ‘Set Amsterdam‘ by Dana Lixenberg.

I had 10 minutes to spare, so figured I could shoot a few pics of people on bikes & how they were dealing with the rain and heavy winds that had come upon us.

The tour was supposed to be led by Paul Marbus, location scout for the popular Dutch tv series ‘A’dam & E.V.A’ (Adam & Eva / Amsterdam & And Many Others), but he called in sick and the tour topic changed to ‘Antiphotojournalism‘. I had been looking forward to hearing more about the visual backgrounds of this show, as its main character is the city of Amsterdam, so this was quite a bummer.

Here’s the trailer for ‘A’dam & E.V.A.’:

Every day our lives cross that of dozens, maybe hundreds of others, other people we don’t know: incidently passing by, people from the same neighborhood, shop keepers, complete strangers, a voice at the other end of the line, young, old, closeby or at a distance. Our existence continuously touches that of others. Often there’s nothing particular that happens; we just happen to be close, at the same time and at the same place, to then disappear from each other’s lives forever.

The series’ season ended a month ago, I had never watched it on tv, so I resorted to the internet archives. I was blown away. So clever, so nice, so compelling and so true to form. The reason I got to this show was that Marco (the author of Muenchenierung) and I did a presentation about marketing (cycling) at the Agora Symposium, and he’d picked this video as a prime example of co-promotion. (Marco was also the one who tipped me about the photography tour).

Back to Foam: ‘Antiphotojournalism’ was very impressive, moving and interesting as a viewing excercise (being the news buff that I am), but it was not what I came for. Dana’s photos of humanless interiors in Amsterdam were beautiful and I was able to put them in the right context, but Paul’s presence was needed. All in all, I was glad I went.

Before exiting the building I bought the spring issue of Foam magazine, themed ‘Happy’.

Its feature article starts with:

What is the fundamental nature of happiness? Is it a mood, an emotion, or simply a series of agreeable events? Are there different kinds of happiness and what characterizes a pleasant and satisfying life? And, of course, how can we achieve a state of supreme happiness? Perplexing questions indeed.

It explores the cultural and economical aspects that so popularly define ‘hapiness’, states different surveys and looks at the question through the prisms of different photographers, sprinkled with famous quotes on the subject:

To be truly happy and contented, you must let go of what it means to be happy or content. – Confucius.

Happiness is nothing more than good health and a bad memory. – Albert Schweitzer.

But what is happiness except the simple harmony between a man and the life he leads? – Albert Camus.

For me it is easy. My two-wheeled friend lifts more obstacles between myself & happiness than I can count. I just have to remind myself of it occasionally.

Then I read this…

Weekend in Vondelpark. You wonder how it’s possible, 3 weeks straight of nothing but summer-like weather. Yet another day (*gasp*) of getting together, in this case with Álvaro, his girl Tatiana & their friends from all over Europe, each bringing a contribution to the bbq.

Off and on, I glance in the distance, pick up my camera & snap. Or walk to the bike/ped path, sit my ass on the gravel & gaze in wonder. Or frantically hop on my bike and actually chase after some individuals. My bewonderment doesn’t manifest itself because of the sheer ‘critical mass’, as that’s a given. No, it’s just about how incredibly at ease everybody looks, much more so than usual, as if my brain needed another reset. More of the ‘take a load off’ & loads of ‘joie de vivre’ vibes intoxicating one’s mind. I’m Marc & I’m an addict.

‘Adjust’

‘Back Seat’

‘Face It’ & ‘Hi!’

‘Trailing Young’

‘Atta Girl’

“This Small!”

“There!”

‘Comfy’

‘Different Priorities’

‘Back Bending Fast’

‘Straight Up Fast’

‘Audience’

‘Dottie’

‘Rokjesdag’

‘Matrimony’

“LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL” & ‘Sindändùne’

Beautiful & grand.

I like my Amstel rides. No, not the Amstel Gold Race, my Fr8 would be out of his league & element, aside from the fact that this event, ironically, takes place in the far south of the Netherlands. That, and this website is not of the lycra-persuasion.

Instead, I’m talking about just hopping on and riding down the Amstel River in the middle of the week, checking out the terraces to see which one would facilitate our need to enjoy the early evening sun & some consequential beers the best.

Passing Rembrandt’s House, he was nice enough to leave a bike path in his will…

Joining the line at Meester Visserplein…

Passing people on the Hermitage exit…

Taking a gentile short-cut, avoiding the shade of Wibautstraat, merging at the Amstel waterfront…

Looking right towards Skinny Bridge never fails…

Crossing some streams of consciousness along the way…

A bit of tunnel vision passing the Amstel Hotel…

We found the perfect spot, the terrace of Cafe De Ysbreeker. We were hardly original, aka hardly alone…Still, we easily managed to grab the best spot.

It’s far from summer, so not much later it got chilly, pre-dinner drinks were over & we headed back.

Nothing really beats this, right?

I know! Cycling is great ;). In every single way. So, you owe yourself taking advantage of it, too. Not enough inspiration for ya? Then come on down the Twitter way, join the good folks of @30daysofbiking and many more people, who are sharing and celebrating this simple but most effective, convenient & fun piece of machinery.

I think you get it by now: even when you ride alone, you ride together. Be very sure of that.

Today, like other days, I hopped on again. And not because it was such nice weather. I had to get from A to B. It sort of speaks for itself, doesn’t it? Never mind you missed out on a few days, hop on & embrace those rides.

I’m happy to report I didn’t jinx anything, so let me run my Saturday by y’all.

Instead of being gently woken up by the ritual humming sounds of our Buddhist neighbors at their temple on Zeedijk, the abundant sun did. Coffee, brekkie, opened my window and saw that all was quiet & quaint again [after a stag party infested night].

My bike crate had collected only an average amount of consumer waste & it took my neighbor across the canal only 10 minutes to scrub off the smell of wee at his doorstep.

Two doors back, the good people of Cafe Excalibur were already stocking up for yet another busy day.

I had no plans, other than taking it slow and seeing where things would end up. As ‘things’ go, I received this tweet from my mate & co-author Álvaro, aka Sindändùne:

A shower & 10 minutes later I was sitting on the stoop on the corner of Nieuwmarkt, as I had some time to kill while waiting for my drill sergeant…he’s Spanish, after all :).

Then, right after I thought to myself ‘Now I’ve seen it all’, Álvaro arrives on his loyal (German) BASF bike.

We sat down on the terrace of Cafe Fonteyn, ordered our respective beers & caught up on things. While the world passed by.

Or the world, in the form of a bachelorette party, presents itself to you in full glory…Again: “Now I’ve seen it all.”

In between, I briefly skipped over to the square to get acquainted with Danielle, who was working for the city, creating awareness regarding littering cigarette butts riding around on the ash-tray bike. I’ve posted about this bicycle-powered (a cargo bike frame by Workcycles) campaign before, but never got to photograph it myself, until now.

Alvaro asked me to join his bbq in Westerpark. Who was I to decline. So on we went, but not before declaring his appreciation for Mr Freight.

I quickly returned home, finding (homeless) Gerrit roaming my street.

As always he didn’t mind posing a bit. “As long as those pictures don’t end up in the newspapers, I’m fine with it.” he said. I gave him €2 to have a beer at Cafe The Old Sailor on the corner and wished him a fine day.

Popped into the supermarket for my contribution to the bbq & and I proceeded towards Westerpark.

Encountering an old but still perfectly working contraption along the way.

Entering Westerpark, scoping the grounds. Suffice to say, people get there by bike. It’s one of only two sane modes of transportation. A hint: neither of them is the car.

How else are you going to make the kids happy and bring your own trampoline to the park? Right, by bakfiets. In this case, you just rent one.

Meanwhile, the protagonist arrives, having parked his steed at the edge of the park.

The bakfiets owner from earlier sets up shop next to our spot.

Turns out he’s quite efficient…and eccentric :).

Álvaro’s girlfriend arrives. No further commentary needed.

Our neighbor has turned his bbq bakfiets around for better utility. Looks good. Meanwhile, we utilize our own.

Good people, too much food, plenty of beer…all ingredients contributing to a splendid day in the sun. Facilitated by the bicycle. If not for that darn bicycle, we’d be nowhere. Well, or very stressed out.

“Can I take your Fr8 for a spin, mate?” – “Sure, buddy.”

“Can you take me to my bike, mate?” – “Of course, buddy.”

Hold your man’s bike, while he secures the bbq..

Last bit of sun disappearing…

“Wanna go for a few more beers?” – “Sure!”

We steered to Cafe ‘t Smalle. Perfect.

One of those days you wish not to come to an end. Alas, we seized it, with ease & there will plenty more to come.
Lastly & fittingly, I want to share something that one of my cycling Twitter friends sent me early that Saturday evening, I quote Austin, a Brown University visiting student:

I’m a nomad. Having not stayed in anyone city for more than four months over the past four years, I find it difficult to name just one place that I could call home. I enjoy this lifestyle; traveling often is not only a way to learn about various cultures around the world, but it also allows me to learn many new things about myself at each of my new homes. As I switch from city to city, I am the only constant. This process helps me see what values and habits of mine remain intact regardless of my environment.

Amsterdam has recently reached the “home” status with me. Now and forever, I will be able to call this city home. Upon returning from a few days in Spain, I felt this realization more concretely than ever before. The once-overwhelming bike traffic is now the only way I can imagine a city functioning.

I know how you feel, Austin.

I’ve touched on it before, but we’re getting even closer. Two sunny weekends, back to back & this weekend is going to turn out twice as warm.

The long winter often felt like a hangover, which would regularly slow one’s motherboard to a grinding halt, so to speak. No more. We’re alive, we’re back & we’re going to live it up. Sod it if I have now jinxed the summer ;).

Step By Step

Daddy-Son-Dog-Mum (once again)

Up & She Loves Me

Couples

Grass Is For Bums

Move The Party

Urban Green Garden Fair

Pretty On Pink