After seeing a lot of friends in Denmark, I wanted to see people I care about outside of Denmark too. I called up Leon, and ended up being in Amsterdam for about a week.
Concertgebouw
Leon invited me to the Concertgebouw concert hall.
It felt like Leon knew everyone there, and it was pretty cool because I didn’t know anyone.
It was a new feeling being on the sidelines at a music venue, not knowing anything or anyone.
The young musicians really enjoyed their concert, and it was a joy watching them celebrate with an impromptu extra concert after most people had already left.
Jazz Jams and Nighttime Adventures
We also went to the cinema all dressed up, and Leon invited a girl to join us -he was on fire that evening! We went to a jazz bar with the girl andeeeh… my memory is fading away ever since we walked past that coffeeshop 🤫🤫🥴🤨
Reunion Rendezvous
Leon also managed to get an old friend to come to see us, Stijn. We had all attended Orkesterefterskolen in 2012 and I had hardly seen Stijn after that.
It was cool seeing old friends like that -had not changed that much actually!
Leon and I forgot to take a picture with Stijn, but we made up for it 😅
Nina
Nina came to visit and Leon was kind enough to lend us his apartment.
THANK YOU LEEOOON ♥️ -an actual hero!
Nina was there for most of my time in Amsterdam.
Nina, Leon and I got on some bikes and went to outer edges of Amsterdam, hopefully someone took some pictures, because it's surprisingly charming 😅
The three of us had a great time and we got to play the violin, piano and Leon sang some blues! Leon left.. Nina and I enjoyed Amsterdam together -it was a special time for both of us. She had a ticket back to Paris one day before my ticket back to Denmark. Waving goodbye at the bus station made me feel more than I expected.
Unexpected ending - A bonus concert
On my last day, I was restless and unsure of what to do in the apartment. Feeling a little empty. But I ended up talking to Leon’s neighbors and they suggested I play a concert for them. It was really cool and when I opened the window, people from outside could hear and I could tell they were enjoying the music.
Since Leon’s apartment is near the canals, some people in a houseboat also heard me playing music and they invited me over. So I took my violin and went there and they gave me wine and food. I played some music for a while and people started dancing on the boat and the street.
There was a girl who could hear me all the way across the bridge and she asked if I knew Leon (crazy coincidence, she knew him too!) and then she took the violin and started to play as well.
At the end of the evening, the houseboat guy that invited me there said I can come back anytime I’m in Amsterdam, -big thanks to Rik for being such a generous person!
Right now I'm on my way to The Netherlands again, and if I can reach Leon on his phone I might drop by again for a small visit 😅