Thoughts and memories of living abroad and improving myself while at it
Don’t know what you’re thinking, but I’m talking about the City of Amsterdam Coat of Arms!
Apparently the three X’s on the shield in the city’s coat of arms are Saint Andrew’s crosses.
Still, as Amsterdam is very famous for things less than saintly, one cannot help but wonder if there is any connection whatsoever between the identifier for pornography and the coat of arms. Which came first? The souvenir shops seem to take a particular liking in the coincidence anyway! 
Recently been on a short trip to Germany, and I still miss the Gemütlichkeit of it all!
Germans really know how to turn cosiness into an art. Last year in Vienna it was Café Schwarzenberg I fell in love with. This year, in the more modest Kempen town, near Düsseldorf, it was Burg cafe (photo). A little gem of a place, with mouth watering cakes and friendly staff (it probably helped that we were speaking the language)
For those who cannot be bothered to read the wikipedia article, the odd german word I used stands for something more than cosiness (as in a not too large place, well-heated and nicely furnished) connoting the notion of belonging, social acceptance, cheerfulness, and the opportunity to spend quality time.
I have about 3 kilos to remind me of the quality time spent in Germany. But hey, it’s the Christmas season! Ho-ho-hooo!…
