The Journey Within

As Rosa strengthened from her op, I was able to take a little more time exploring the city, on my way to fetching Lucia from school or out on shopping trips. I really love that it's a short walk to a good organic supermarket, EkoPlaza, with an organic butcher next door. Great chicken soup to strengthen the body and feed the Soul! I have seen photos of the canals here in Amsterdam, but actually being here is so fabulous! It's a busy and sometimes hectic city, what with pedestrians, bicycles, "bromponies", cars, trams, buses and delivery vehicles. And they flow in the opposite direction! Rosa had to often grab my arm!! But now, 4 weeks later I have got it down!!

Here is a selection of street scenes from the city.

When I first arrived I said to Rosa we should go to a coffee shop. She laughed!!! A coffee shop here is very different to one back in South Africa. A place to enjoy coffee and a pastry is a café. A coffee shop is a most desirable tourist destination where one can partake in numerous marijuana products!!! Here is the first one I saw ~ have not been to one yet, apparently most touristy and expensive. But it is a must before I leave!

Every time I take grab my phone to take a photo of food, I have a quiet chuckle. So many people comment with disdain about those who post photos of what they eat on social media!! But I give a horse's a$$!!!

We are a foodie family, into the 4th generation of being passionate about what we eat, how it is prepared and where to buy the best possible ingredients. So I am VERY happy to share with you here the deliciousness I have thus far experienced!

Healthy meals at home with Rosa & Lucia

Who would imagine that a seaweed burger could be delicious ~ not something we find in SA!!

A selection of yumminess from the local organic market @ Noordekerk. The mushroom selection really blew me away, as do the cheeses and breads. Life is great!!

My first entry for this blog was for the boom! festival almost 10 years ago in Aug 2010. How unexpected to be back and sharing my journey in photos and stories again!

Much like my 6 week trip to Portugal in 2010, which felt like a home-coming and reuniting with Soul Family, and became a year long stay, Amsterdam feels as Divinely Orchestrated. I've felt so strongly that Rosa's call to me to be her post surgery carer was a beautiful catalyst and “carrot” to get me to Europe so that I can more consciously visit the places where I had walked 10 years ago. To collect Keys and imprint Codes yet again. Am I really here??!! Unbelievably exciting!!

Spirit clearly told me that while I am caring for my precious Soul Sister and her child, that would be my main focus and as soon as that gift of service is done, I must trust DAY BY DAY as to where I must be and what I must do. That is quite an ask for me, especially as I prefer to plan ahead. It feels quite scary at times if I think that when I leave the warm hearth and heart of Hartenstraat, I have no idea where I am to go. “Last minute Lee”, who has been asking for less last minute, digs deep and trusts even more fiercely to be guided in every moment.

In the meantime I am enjoying what I can of Amsterdam. I love the vibe of the city, I love the freedom to travel wherever, on trams, buses, trains, metros, well into the night, alone, without any concerns. I love that things work! I love that I feel safe on the streets. Quite different to South Africa. Our exchange rate is hideous though, but I refuse to convert!! I have met friends of Rosa who also feel like my Tribe. On my 2nd day here I was able to travel to Rotterdam to meet with my SiStar, Nuri, with whom I have had deep connection and done much Earth Grid Healing for a year now, together with Robyn. Who would ever have thought!! Dinner with her and her husband was a very joyful and special experience and we did a call with our 3rd SiStar of the Trine ~ very special!

It has been quite adjustment to my body, as I use bones and muscles that are not so actively used in SA!! Lots of walking which I am loving, the cold required adjustment and in the first week I suffered from brain fog while out walking. But as you all know, I love winter, so this is a treat for me.

I am honoured to be able to care for Rosa and Lucia to allow her the best opportunity to heal well. She is strong and positive which makes it all more powerful. And I am grateful that the Spirit call to be here was heard!

My Loves in Amsterdam!

The Belem Cultural Centre - worth a blog entry all of its own. The MOST amazing exhibitions! This is one of the things I love the most about Portugal. The culture and creativity are throbbing.

The 1st exhibit was entitled Mappamundi - I was blown away by what the artists have come up with to present maps to us in unique ways. Here's the blurb from the brochure -

Following on from the cartography of scholars and engineers, contemporary artists have brought a fresh impetus and reworked maps to express suffering, dissent and humour. Whilst keeping abreast of rapid technological change, they have grasped that a map is not a simple representation of a fixed external reality, and by combining images, objects, numerical data and local practices they have sought to contribute to contemporary debate and explore our collective imagination.

Mappamundi sets out to showcase these contemporary artistic-cartographical practices. Drawn from around the world, using every conceivable medium and genre, these pieces – some tragic, some optimistic – bear witness to the visible energy of a world in crisis. Far from expressing certainties, the cartography of these artists presents us with sui generis maps of doubt, conflict and desire.

You can't see the detail so clearly here (not permitted to use flash so the quality of my pics not that great - sorry!) but these 3 pieces are made with at least 50 layers of posterboard that have been cut out in relief to create the contours - quite brilliant!!

Then there was some truly inspiring artwork in various media

This is my favourite piece - about 3 metres x 2 metres, done in indian ink but with a technique using water, I think, to create a softness on the edges - most inspiring, and a medium I haven't yet tried...soon soon!

Quite something!! This is the spiral staircase in the entrance foyer

and even the loo doors are artistically decorated!

And so I find myself back home in Lisboa. Lovely to see all the friends and "family" again. I am very excited!! Spent quite a bit of time and energy to find the cheapest flight to Barcelona...what a mission!! But I have success. Leave on 10 March for 6 days. I plan to stay at a very reasonable youth hostel and also visit Montserrat - one of those must see places, with deep spiritual connection. Until then I take in some more sights and tastes of the capital city, mostly in Porto Salvo at the apartment of my earth angel.

Oh bloody!! Dammit!!! It seems I am just not meant to go to Barcelona?? After my mission impossible to get a suitable ticket, I get the dates wrong (still cannot figure out how)...prepare to leave today, but my flight was on the 9th (yesterday) so I have lost out. Try to find another cheap flight for today but no joy. GREAT DISAPPOINTMENT! But as always I trust things are as they must be

My heart is rent...just as the earth in Japan. Today (11th) when I woke I heard of the massive earthquake and tsunami. It strikes so deep in my heart and spirit. I had a sense of impending earthquake for 2 days already and during the night experienced my physical symptoms that always go hand in hand with a spiritual prompting to intercede in prayer for a situation. But the full extent of this human tragedy was not realised until later. I took a long walk, just to get my feet on terra firma, connect with God and prayer protective shield and pillar of Light over the country, its people and the nuclear reactors. I walked around the main centre, watching life continuing as normal, whilst on the other side of the world a scene of devastation, anguish and loss of life was playing out. I felt numb, immense pain in my heart. This has been a day to change our planet I am sure.
See the gems in the midst of the pain
and continue to hold Japan and all the earth in your heart and prayers

I decide to spend a day at Ikea - it is an all-in-one massive store for any kind of home furnishing you could imagine. HUGE! Some stunning things in there and a good way to ease the pain. I have a delicious lunch of baked salmon, with veges and a delicious lemony sauce.

To give my friends a break from my mug I head off to town and book into a cheap n clean hostel down in Baixa-Chiado. My 1st evening there I landed while a birthday party was on the go, right in front of my room...not much chance of an early night. If you can't beat them, join them!

The next night I was invited to a great club where they play acoustic music - the band was from Cabo Verde - some very sweet vocals accompanied by tabla, guitar and sax. Mmmmmmm.

Lots of time to walk around the old city....so many narrow, twisted alleys of pulsating Lisboa life.
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One of my most precious encounters....a friend at the hostel had told me of this man with his 2 puppies who would sing on the streets. When I went out the next morning I heard his sweet voice on Praca do Comercial. I just closed my eyes and drew in the sacredness of his song. We chatted, shared time and space without really understanding each others language very well....it was a special moment of soul and spirit connection. Take a listen - he sings from the Book of Psalms

(sorry...some delay with the upload of my video....watch this space!!)