October Sky

As we turned another page on the calendar, Amsterdam looked radiant in beautiful shades of amber. I can’t take credit for these photos as they were taken by IAmsterdam on Instagram, but they are too beautiful not to share. They perfectly capture the autumnal spirit of the season that I so desperately tried to emulate on my iPhone. #Fail.

 

 

 

With this as the backdrop, so many great things happened in October. It would turn into a novel if I tried to recount everything, so here’s the shortlist, followed by details of my trip to Tel Aviv:

·         Codell reunion in AMS! Sometimes you spend a lot of time at work with people you don’t really like, and sometimes you spend a lot of time at work with people who become family. I believe I’ve said this before, but I am very lucky to have experienced the latter. Such is the case with Kristen, Rachel and Tara. It’s rare these days that we all can be in the same place at the same time, so I couldn’t have been more excited when we managed to work out a girls weekend in Amsterdam in early October. It was a wonderful weekend full of lots of laughs, failed attempts to take a canal pic that everyone was happy with, and fun cocktails. Next step: getting them to all move to Amsterdam J

 

·         HUSA reunion in AMS: Rach and Kristen left Sunday am and by that afternoon, the next group of visitors were in town. So great to have some of my HEINEKEN USA fam in town, for what ended up becoming quite a memorable afternoon of drinks and dinner in the Jordaan. Always a good time with this crazy crew.    

 

 

 

·         Walking the catwalk at the 2017 Corporate Affairs Forum: I did a brief presentation on our work with some of our international brands for colleagues from around the globe at our annual forum. And had some fun playing dress up with current colleagues J

 

·         Day trip to Belgium to meet the monks of Affligem: Affligem is quickly becoming one of my favourite beers in our portfolio. Affligem is an abbey beer which was brewed by the monks of the Affligem Abbey in Belgium from 1074 to the 1950s. And although the monks do not brew anymore, they are still involved in some aspects of the brand. It was quite interesting to spend the morning with the monks to learn more about the history of the abbey, and the beer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

·         Flying across the Atlantic for 48 hours for my niece’s birthday, sneaking in a visit with Casey and enjoying amazing weather and fun times with the family in DC: Alani’s birthday party at the National Zoo was too cute. My sister did an amazing job scouting out the best location to host 15 of her toddling pals, and of course decked the party room out in celebration of Alani’s 24 months on earth. We went on a walking safari with a guide throughout the zoo on what was a beautifully warm October day. Was it insane to go home for this? Yes. But completely worth it. The best part: no jet lag. I think it’s because I actually was not there long enough to adjust to the time difference. The worst part? Going straight from the airport to work Monday morning. Rough.

 

·         The month ended on a high with a visit from my friends Steph and Lexie. Steph and I have been besties essentially since we were born! Steph and Lexie explored Amsterdam for a few days and then the three of us were off for some fun in the sun in Tel Aviv…

Tel Aviv far surpassed my expectations! Of course I knew I’d have good company, but I was really unsure what to expect. I was in Tel Aviv briefly a few years ago for about ½ a day, which is not nearly enough to get a taste for the city. It’s become a real hotspot over the last few years and is a big destination for those seeking the beach, delicious food, and nightlife that rivals NYC. When I mentioned to colleagues and friends that’s where I was headed, I was met with “It’s amazing!” or “I heard it’s amazing!” And it certainly did not disappoint.

We landed on Saturday afternoon, just in time to stroll along the beach and enjoy a late Israeli brunch. The Israeli breakfast is no joke. A three-tiered dish with dips and salads galore arrived. We were in complete heaven! Eggplant, tabbouleh, sweet red peppers, avocado and more. All the things I love (minus the copious amounts of cheese), on one huge plate. We dug in and enjoyed every bite.

 

 

Day 1 was really dedicated to eating, because, what else would you want to do on vacation? I should note we also joined a gym near our AirBNB for the week and we made an appearance our first day in town too.

But then it was back to eating. For dinner we enjoyed a feast on the beach at a popular Gordon Beach restaurant, La La Land. We indulged in homemade hummus, freshly baked bread, and fresh seafood while sipping on rose and watching the waves tumble against the sand. What could possibly be better?  

 

Day 2 was dedicated to the beach. If you haven’t caught on by now, I am a complete sun worshipper. I will regret this one day, but for now, being in the sunshine is my jam (don’t worry, I am very good about putting on sunscreen…and sometimes good about reapplying). The beaches in Tel Aviv are magnificent. Pristine sand and clear blue water with the old city of Jaffa to one side and the new port to the other.

 

On day 3 we were met with a little bit of rain, so we hit up the shops. From the boutiques of Dizengoff to the cute village of Neve Tzedek, the city was a shoppers paradise.

 

 

The rest of the trip pretty much followed the same pattern: Gym, tan, eat, repeat. And no, we did not take our inspiration from the Jersey Shore!

It’s just amazing how a few days of fun in the sun can revitalize you. And the best part? The fun didn’t stop there. We still had a few days together in Amsterdam after the trip. But you’ll have to stay tuned to hear more…