DAMN IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK IN THE 'DAM!

Another city, another song, another day of busking experiences, though they're all good this time. Back in Amsterdam after more than a year I'm happy to say I'm in my flow again, even if I only play for an hour due to exhaustion from a sleepless night on the bus from Paris. I arrive at 6.30 a.m and after a beautiful morning walk along the canals, a compulsory visit to Maoz Falafels to sample the all-you-can-eat salad bar, and a few hours of sleep in Bob's Youth Hostel (ahhh, so many memories from last year.. this year I am the only girl in a dormitory of boys who seem to like walking around in their underwear - I feel pretty safe as always though, and tuck a sheet into the bunk above me so I have some tent-likeprivacy...) I'm back on the streets and singing on a busy stretch of mall near Dam Square.

Today in my blog however, I am the observer. I finish my 'set', count my 'wages' and sit to watch Daniel about to play his balaphone. He's a beautiful Swiss brother with ringlets of brown curls and a huge smile, who carts his 13 kilo 'Balaphone' around town searching for places to play. Wow, he's amazing! He sings as he plays ( the Balaphone is a percussive instrument, like a huge xylophone but with an African feel to it) and the rhythms flow out of him. Earlier we sat and swapped busking stories on the sidewalk and now I'm happy to take a few minutes to sit and relax and watch him, and soak up this Amstersphere. There's weed in the air (of course!). The sun is out and it's just hot enough, t-shirt weather but not hot enough to make your t-shirt stick to you. Hoorah! My spirits have well and truly lifted and people are passing, eating fries with mayo (a Dutch specialty) or icecream and it's a good feeling.

I ask myself why I've only given myself three days here?! Could it be possible I purposely miss my flight to Salzburg, Austria in three days time and spend more time in this Dutch capital? I'm seriously considering it, just sitting here soaking up this vibe on the street. A tram comes and temporarily blocks the sound from me. Ahh, there it is again...

Now a helicopter overhead obstructs the beautiful African beats... There's a crowd of people around my friend now as he bops away at his instrument. As I don't have a camera I have to capture these moments somehow, so although my throat is sore and my body needs more rest for sure, just for now I'm gonna sit and enjoy this sound a while longer...