In the early part of the flight while they are serving supper, I watch some of the movie without the audio and am just delighted to see that I can still read Dutch subtitles well enough to pretty much follow the plot line, which is a great relief since the only actual study of Dutch I've made since last year is a few hours of browsing around in Donaldson's A Comprehensive Dutch Grammar. Well, that and reading some Dutch novels in translation.

And bless Rina, I'd told her that by now I know my way around well enough that there was really no need for her to go to the trouble to meet me at the airport, but this time, sure enough, she's there with Hans in tow and furthermore has driven out to meet me, so I get to go into town in the luxury of her old Citroën.

After a preliminary unpacking and gift distribution, I am still so jazzed over my arrival that I can't sit still, so I set out for Albert Heijn to lay in some groceries. It is such a pleasure to be back here, especially in this part of town where I feel completely at home.

I take a scenic route to Albert Heijn, going through Mosterdpotsteeg in hopes of seeing a new Morcky Boy opus, but alas the steeg seems little changed, as does Albert Heijn although I can't find that wonderful fresh chilled spinach-gorgonzola soup that I found so seductive last year.

Oh, and speaking of seduction. I'd said that I'd taken my Wires of San Francisco series about as far as it should go, but what I hadn't realized is that I could also do the Wires of Amsterdam.

I promise not to dwell on this, but here's one I took this afternoon of the back of the palace from in front of Albert Heijn.