my house

Just kidding. This is a little bar by my house that I like a lot. Apparently this is a bar where old ladies like to hang out. There's also a dog who growls at you when you go to the bathroom.

Leiden

Leiden

Saturday

Recently I discovered that there was a terrace on the top floor of V & D here in Leiden. There's a little place where you can get some nibbles or coffee and enjoy a very pretty (and perhaps the highest in the area) view of the city center. At times it can feel like you're experiencing a scene from Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds", but in this case the gulls are more interested in your food than they are in killing you.

colors alive

Leiden

Leiden

just another way to waste your time....

So I was checking out my feeds today and I came across this Polaroid downloader. Basically, you drag any image to the Polaroid icon and that's it. The image will develop just as a real Polaroid would.. so you can watch it appear before your very own eyes.. ooohh.. nostalgia at it's best. I photoshopped mine to add some wear and tear. I think, if you click the images, you can see them in greater detail, which will show you the detail of the polaroid.

Julianastraat - where I live

Kalvemarkt



Zoeterwoudsesingel



Hartebrugkerk



Kalvemarkt

the little camera that could...

I know these photos are terrible quality.. but as I walked around the city today, I came upon some people playing on the canal. I had to zoom as much as my little point and shoot could handle to get this. I love her Nijntje (Miffy) sled and crazy hat :)

chilled

I decided today was a perfect day to take a walk around Leiden. I didn't test the air before venturing out- but I felt prepared enough. I set my ipod up, had my camera in my pocket, and just walked.

It was very cold.

I didn't get far. I ended up going to check out the sales on the shopping street.

I did manage to take this though. It's not a prefect photo, but I love the way the windows are illuminated by the sunset.

Meneer Janson

It's something of a project... to find a local "me" place. In Brooklyn, it was Smooch. I'd go there and sit for hours, sipping coffee, wine, or eating lunch while working on school assignments or reading. There was live reggae during the afternoons in summer, quirky employees, and it felt great to be a part of that.

Here I've struggled a bit, because my proximity to the town center is a bit further, and I'm not really sure if it's cool to work on a laptop in most places. I have been eying up this place called Meneer Janson since I arrived.. and I think it may what I'm looking for.

What I like about it, is the fact that during the day there are always people sitting at the bar reading, and the bartender isn't intrusive. The music is super chill, and the lighting and decor create a relaxing and cozy atmosphere.

point and shoot

Yeah.. I need a "real" camera, but in the meantime, I've really enjoyed just snapping away on my wanders around this city that I call home.