Back in the USA

We landed safely back at LAX with feelings of withdrawal and rejoice. Our trip was without a doubt, one to remember. Thousands of images taken, many miles walked, and total satisfaction.
We quickly began processing additional images and adjusting back to life in Santa Barbara. The weather here has been great and very hot.
You can see images from our trip in the travel portfolio section on our website.

Last Taste of Amsterdam

"Suddenly waking up, Sergio rolls over amidst his dream to ask, what time is it? I replied, shit, it is 10:53 (knowing our shoot was at 11am)" With that story behind us, we were on scene and on time and as always prepared. A few hours later we had returned to Dam Square where we had met our model Stephanie. We had a great time working with her and enjoyed the last bit of sunny weather. There was a great deal of attention pointed at us during this shoot as we progressed through the red light district, down alley ways, and along the canals. It was a great jump off to our morning. We then returned to a local pub where we met a couple people from the states. They were a fun bunch and we enjoyed a few laughs.

As the afternoon passed on, we realized we had yet not eaten and therefore began our search for food. Our search ended with two doner schwarma filled with all the fix-ins. Two hours later... we then proceeded to the shop with the "best bread of my life". Unfortunately, she was closed and we left without bread. Immediately, we began walking towards the Anne Frank house. We entered with great expectation and respect. Although there was great history presented and information about the story and life of Anne Frank, we left not as moved as we would have thought. However, we do feel that it was a memorable experience and one that should not have been missed. The night ended with another doner which again was quite delicious.

As a the day came to rest, we realized our Amsterdam experience would soon be put on hold. This city has shown us its best side and given us perfect weather. The people, the sights, the sounds, and the smells have left us fulfilled till our next visit here. Amsterdam showed us another side of the world and a society that although differed very much from ours, functions perfectly well.

Tomorrow is back to London for two nights before our safe return home. We will see you soon!

The Gift

Today was yet another memorable and rewarding day. The morning started with a load of laundry as it had been just over 10 days of traveling since we left LA. We grabbed a quick Chinese noodle dish as we waited. The light was beautiful, the air a bit warmer than yesterday, and everything was going quite well. In chatting with a local, they explained that today had been the most beautiful and best day they ever experienced in Amsterdam and that comment made me immediately smile. Not only were we experiencing a great city but with the pleasure of having record weather. We shot several restaurants and eateries while exploring Amsterdam. Again our feet took us everywhere, constantly immersed in everything around us.

Our appreciation for this city has developed into a firm relationship and people welcomed us in every which way. Today went perfectly from the view from the front of our hotel to the last look down the canal before we headed in. Today's gift came twice in the form of food and spirit. We stopped into a little bakery to take some pictures and ended up walking away with the most amazing bread/pasty creation that I have ever eaten; and I have eaten a lot. It was a raisin load bread with a huge amount of raisins lined with a fig and almond spice center. We quietly devoured this loaf by the nights end. Just two doors down, we photographed some Italian pasta which turned into an exceptional dinner.

Yesterday, we had met this lovely girl at a coffee shop and luckily tomorrow we will have the pleasure to shoot a fashion editorial shoot in Amsterdam. We are both very excited to capture beauty in face of beauty. What we thought would be a short walk turned into a long expedition with an intermission for a bier. The walk took a good part of two hours and again opened us to new areas of the city that looked nothing like what we had seen. Every corner looked like a different country. Countries noted include, Beijing, China, London, England, Paris, France, and San Francisco, CA. Many paces later, our relief came as we approached our home base in the red light district. Today was a gift for us in many ways and we hope that we can pass on this gift to others!

Amsterdam by foot

Another day of adventure and exploring. Amsterdam yet again treated our eyes to a spectacular show. The weather was perfect, the air calm and cool. We continued to see the inner workings of the city and look beyond the typical tourist point of view. We interacted with locals and foreigners and with every interaction we walked away with something new.

Amazing Amsterdam

Amsterdam has definitely grown on us and today's weather was perfect. We spent the day walking around new areas and continuing to explore the sights and sounds of Amsterdam. Peaceful water ways, blue skies, beautiful trees, and a soft breeze followed our every step. Boats gently cruised down the canals and people road their bikes and walked alongside. We listened to performers sing alongside outdoor cafe's and a man spit fire in new ways. The highlight of today came as we were crossed over a canal. A man on a small boat cruised to the foot of the bridge and armed with horns and a variety of instruments played the most beautiful and soothing music, stopping crowds of people in their tracks. For a few moments, we heard nothing but his instruments and felt the breeze across our bodies. Today was a great day!

Getting into the Groove of Amsterdam

Following up on yesterday... We found a small room yesterday afternoon on the 3rd floor of a very narrow building. Climbing up 50 steps (and I counted) with overweight bags and gear was no small feat. Once in the room, we happily laid down for a few moments of rest. Our little hotel was in a great area which made it very easy to walk around the central downtown area. As the sun began to descend, the air cooled and Amsterdam's night scene rose to life. We spent the next four hours walking around and really getting into taking pictures here. Although the sun only peeked through for a couple minutes, the light still had a beautiful feel. We explored Amsterdam's famous Red Light district, its many alley ways and canals, and took in the unique culture. After nearly two days of hectic traveling, we had settled into Amsterdam and taken a liking to it. The air is sweet smelling and around every corner is a new experience. We took photos in several bars and pubs and were met by very friendly people. Towards the end of our night, we came across a brilliantly lit carnival in the Dam Square. The lights seemed extra bright as people young and old enjoyed the festivities. Amsterdam had grown on us. The canals and paths alongside really make Amsterdam a charming and pleasant place.

Traveling: London to Amsterdam

Yesterday was our day of traveling which started out quite well and seemingly continued on forever. We woke up around 8am, packed our bags and headed to the train station. We would be taking one train to Brussels and then taking another train to Amsterdam. The first train took just over two hours and went very well, passing through beautiful country side. After an hour wait in the Brussels train station, we made our way onto another train crowded with people. The ride took closer to three hours although felt like an eternity. Multiple stops, people on and off and the desire to get settled made this ride a bit longer than it really was. However, we arrived safely into Amsterdam Central Station in the city center. After finding out some local information, we headed out to the city center just a few minutes down the road. Hotels, B&B's, hostels were all booked. Surprisingly, we had chosen the busiest day of the year. No rooms existed anywhere. We ended up taking a train back to the airport to find a hotel near there which ended up being a nice change from our previous room. Once checked in at the hotel, we set down our bags and went to use the hotels spa facilities to take away some of the stress of traveling. After cleaning up, we headed out to the city center and explored Amsterdam. Amsterdam is a city unto itself and no travel books or movies could ever depict this place. The city is dirtier than expected as trash lines every street. However, the canals and charming architecture make it a more pleasant experience. The weather is a bit overcast and hazy but at least there is no rain and we look forward to exploring the small streets and canals over the next few days. Amsterdam although very different from London, offers a wonderful list of attractions.