all text and photography in this guest post by rani nugraha…

“I keep thinking about the day we went cycling around dropping off invitations to your book launch  – I saw so much more in the city than ever and was so inspired – it was like I just breathed in your 3 years of Amsterdam experience in one day trip!”
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The idea for The CITIZN Project had been brewing in my head for months. When it was launched online earlier this week, I wrote the above in an email to Pia, just to tell her it had finally happened, and was reflecting on one particular memory of a day we spent together last year.

Two summers ago, Victoria Hannan kindly introduced Pia and I, just before Pia’s book Amsterdam: Made by Hand was due to launch. A fellow Australian, I had spent some time travelling in London, Helsinki and Copenhagen, finally arriving in Amsterdam without much of a plan or without knowing a lot about the city. Over lunch one rainy summer afternoon, Pia and I bonded over tea and travel tales, and quickly became friends.

I spent those early summer days learning my way around town through guide books, tourist maps and just sheer hopelessness – there’s something to be said about finding your way out of a maze of canals and streets christened with names which you can neither spell nor pronounce.

I was also starting to discover well known hot-spots and must-go places but still felt that I wasn’t really connecting with the city, wondering what I was lacking. I had a home, a bicycle, friends and a job but still felt that I was just floating around a foreign place.

Fast forward to May 2010, when Pia and I were cycling through the tiny lanes of the Jordaan, along the canals of the Nine Streets district and through the city centre, dropping off invitations to her Amsterdam: Made by Hand book launch. Over the course of that day, I became acquainted with the side of Amsterdam that fascinated and inspired Pia as an artist and an author and at the same time, I felt like I was really starting my own dialogue with the city. When we spoke to some store owners, artists, craftsmen, and designers who featured in Amsterdam: Made by Hand, they opened up to us with stories of their crafts, their passions, their stores, their neighbourhoods, and their city. One thing was also clear: They were all enamoured with Amsterdam.

The population here is as diverse as it is charismatic, with it being such a melting pot of creativity, commerce, politics, and culture. I was sure the city was filled with intriguing people, just like Pia and the people featured in her book.

The CITIZN Project was created for residents to share a little about what they love about the city they live in, but equally, I wanted to know more about the people that call this amazing city home. After all, one person’s muse is another’s amusement park: everybody has a different perspective on this bustling global village because of the huge diversity in interests, neighborhoods, nationalities, occupations, and inspirations. A lust for life can be fuelled by sight, sound, taste, or scent, and in my opinion, these things shouldn’t be coveted, they should be shared.

Each person featured in The CITIZN Project shares a little about who they are and the places, events and sounds of the city that shape their scenery.  Ultimately, it’s the people that hold the essence to Amsterdam’s character and The CITIZN Project is just the platform where their stories get told. Over the course of the next few weeks, I wanted to share with you here in Pia’s (blog)house some of my favourite spaces in Amsterdam and shed some light into why I love to live here. With a passion for simple and honest food, live music, impulse vintage purchases and the creative industries, I hope you’ll enjoy my perspective on the place I call home.

x rani

(the following post was written and photographed by (blog)house guest Cath Conroy…)

I have a confession to make. I am one of those people who perpetually lives life in the past or future. Like most humans I have a tendency to focus on where I’m going rather than where I am right now.

My partner* on the other hand is content to while away an entire day lying in the grass, staring at the sky and thinking of nothing but cloud gazing. He is the poster child for Eckhardt Tolle. Me – always worrying away about time I’ve wasted, bills to pay, where I’m headed next and who I’ll be in the future.

The great thing about travel is you have to go with the flow. Trains late, hotels booked out, wrong turn – you really can’t do much about it but let go and enjoy the moment for what it is.

I have been promising to dig up these photo’s of my travels in Japan for Pia for ages (thanks for your patience Pia!). What struck me as I looked through them was how at peace I was in the moment.  They hold a special place in my heart and I can still feel the sense of stillness and contentment that I felt whilst taking them. A good reminder to stop and smell the roses and appreciate all the special moments I have here in my new home.

* A funny note about the term partner. The other day I was visiting my physio for the 4^th time who finally felt appropriate to ask what “she” does for a living. Apparently boyfriend is the more common term here and partner is reserved for the gay community. Not that I mind but sigh, another faux pas on my list of living in a new country!!

all text and photography below by cath conroy…

I was born near the ocean in Australia on the “gold coast”. Then we moved to the country in central queensland (almost the outback). It was very dry, flat and very very hot. Then when I was a teenager I moved to a small city.
Recently I’ve started to examine the impact on how the places we’ve lived shape who we are. I never realized until I moved to a foreign country how much an impact my physical surroundings have had on me. I think I’ve been pretty blessed to have experienced a myriad of experiences in different landscapes.
However all throughout my life I’ve always had a strong connection to the sea. Whenever I’m stressed, down, tired or just plain down and out its the first thing I visualize in my mind and the place I find myself yearning to escape to. Strange these connections we have – some may put it down to the comfort and memory of childhood but I think its more than that. I only lived for a very short time near the beach but its so deeply ingrained in my soul. I often wonder if other people feel like this? As I’ve started to delve more into the places I’ve lived I’ve realized I feel lucky to have such a strong love and respect for warmth, heat, sand, ocean, bush, trees, grass. Its part of being Australian I suppose with all that space and nature (I’m sure Canadians could relate to me here and uncannily a place I really want to visit).
I’ve written alot lately so this time – for my final part of my travels in Spain – I thought I’d leave you with a photo story of Cadaques. We only spent the day here but it was such a beautiful and memorable day.

It’s that time of year. The days are getting shorter and darker as winter steadily approaches. Don’t get me wrong I’m really looking forward to Christmas and the festivities that go along with it (the streets are already aglow with wonderful twinkling lights). But as the days are grey and rainy here in Amsterdam and I prepare for my first “proper” winter, I can’t help but think of escaping. Sometimes I have a fleeting sense of wanting to turn back the clock – just one more week of blue sky and soaking up the sunshine!

It’s probably normal (tell me it is!) and as the year winds down most of us are looking forward to a rest and relax. Since I’ve done a lot of moving around this year I’ve committed myself to staying still for a while – pottering around in my first real home in almost 8 months since my partner and I uprooted our entire lives for adventure and change traveling the world. It’s blissful to do all those things I once took for granted – framing photographs, buying knick knacks, drinking endless cups of tea staring at the canal below my window and getting to know our beautiful new city on bicycles.

Every so often when I hear of exotic travel plans or visits abroad my heart gets restless and I get that wonderful feeling of anticipation. Looking at Pia’s amazing pictures of Canada this week reminded me of the deep connection to nature I felt in the Pyrenees mountains earlier this year. For me this was a truly magical place and I can’t wait to go back and explore more. Right now whenever I miss the smell of fresh air and greener than green trees I simply take a wander down memory lane…

“I’ve got a great idea”. Sometimes my day begins with this sentence. I’m lucky I’ve got a great partner (thanks Al) who embraces my sometimes-ambitious. borderline crazy plans. And so this is the way it began in Figueres, northern Spain. We were enjoying a leisurely few days in the birthplace of Salvador Dali with our new found freedom in a hire car. “How about a little roadtrip?” I suggested, “Its not far to the border of France”. In order to get back to Spain and return the car we somehow decided to do a roundtrip and include the Pyrenees Mountains. It certainly was a lot of driving – we drove up to France into the Pyrenees from the French side, onto the Spanish side where we stopped for 2 nights before returning to base camp at Figueres. Phew! But the fresh air, the countryside, the mountains.. aah it was bliss.

One of the nice things about not being in a hurry is being able to detour along the way. Once we got over the border into France we stumbled upon many gorgeous villages. Being right on the border of France and Spain meant most were bi-lingual and this transpired to food as well with a lovely mix of french-spanish cuisine. We took the opportunity to gather supplies along the way and had a wonderful impromptu picnic of fresh bread, cheese, nuts, cured meats and juicy nectarines to finish. Delicious!

It was a long and winding road to the top of the Pyrenees Mountains. It really felt like we were in a fairytale winding up and up and up to the peaks above us. No Jack and the Beanstalk at the top but the sense of exhilaration was well worth it. The crisp fresh air and mountains dotted with villages made me feel instantly relaxed.

In our long term travels people often asked me where we stayed or how we managed to budget for that many months away. It mostly depends on two things 1. availability last minute 2. the type of traveler you are. This wasn’t a backpacker trip for us and so we mostly did a mix of small hotels or pensions and the occasional splurge with a last minute price. For this mini-trip I wanted something romantic and cozy and was lucky enough to stumble upon a small hotel – formerly an art nouvea mansion on Pulgcerda Lake (in the village of Pulgcerda). It was absolutely blissful and we had a luxurious stay eating, drinking local wine, spa baths and wandering leisurely around the beautiful lake right on our doorstep.

Of course the point of driving all this way wasn’t to stay inside so off we went exploring. I’ve often heard people describe the feeling of peace and spirituality in destinations like Machu Picchu (I’m dying to go here!) and I can’t say its exactly the same but I felt such a sense of happiness and freedom high up in the Pyrenees mountains. We found countless charming villages and took long invigorating hikes along pristine streams. The Pyrenees for me was one of those places that puts things in perspective and reminded me its important to stop and enjoy the moment. Sometimes there is a bigger world out there than the worry and day to day that fills our lives. Its just making the time to see it!

text and photography by cath conroy.

After almost 5 weeks in four international cities (Hong Kong, Amsterdam, Paris and Barcelona) we were well and truly ready for a country escape. A popular day trip from Barcelona is to Montserrat Monastery. This Christian abbey is located high atop a winding road (or hair raising cable car ride) in the Monserrat mountain range. The jagged peaks clustered together are a peculiar formation that make for a breathtaking site.

We decided to hire a car and take our time meandering through the countryside. Allowing ourselves 3 leisurely days meant plenty of time for exploring, impromptu picnics, hiking and taking in that fresh country air we’d so been craving.

I’ve got a confession to make – I’m a self proclaimed planner and organizer! One of the reason’s we decided not to pre-book any of our trip is to allow ourselves the freedom to be spontaneous. Now I’m not going to lie, when this turned pear shaped I often found myself tearing my hair out wondering where we were going to stay next. Luckily for us this was one of the times it paid off. I found this gorgeous little boutique winery tucked away at the base of the Montserrat mountain range complete with a gourmet restaurant serving local cuisine. Best of all, being summer – when most Spaniards head to the beach to escape the sweltering heat – we had it virtually to ourselves. Care to take a look around?

I have a penchant for good design and this tiny hotel was one of those places that got the details just right. From the vibrant yellow building that contrasted so well with the surrounding  lanscape, to the rich earthy tones inside. Arriving somewhat weary from the heat we were greeted with the lush, strong smell of wine wafting from the basement barrel room  (and really who wouldn’t feel uplifted by that smell?).The materials used inside the hotel are not only synonymous with a winery – concrete / brick walls, heavy wooden doors – but enhance that wonderful feeling of entering a soothing cocoon of relaxation. DidI mention the 5 star room, complimentry wine and a spa to boot? No wonder I slept like a baby. (I should also note these guys use solar heating and water purification – an eco friendly bonus).

After a good nights rest we set out for a morning stroll. Wandering amongst the vineyards, marvelling at the plump grapes and enjoying the quiet countryside was the perfect way to start the day. There’s something so fresh and invigorating about working up a healthy apetite in the country so we were delighted to discover breakfast served on the sunny deck overlooking the mountains. In fact the view was so mesmerizing before we knew it breakfast became lunch and relaxing with a book became watching the sunset with a chilled glass of wine. Oh how time flies when you’re doing nothing! You can forgive me for getting a little distracted by this wonderful little find? I hope so!

We awoke early refreshed by the previous days relaxing ready for our leisurely drive. Lucky for our early start as the winding road did not exactly endear me to this excursion. I was glad for 2 things: 1. We could keep moving for there was no traffic and 2. I didn’t catch the daunting cable car (having vertigo). Once at the top of the mountain I could breathe a sigh of relief and we enjoyed the lilting sound of the early morning hymns as we wandered around. The importance of this site lies in the “black virgin” statue that is housed in the Basilica. Said to be carved in 880AD it is visited by millions of pilgrams every year. After wandering around the grounds, and tasting the monks frangelico we were ready to explore the surrounding mountains.

The freedom of taking our time made our day truly special and we were glad we didn’t have to rush to get back on a bus or a train and fight the traffic. Our afternoon was filled with – a picnic lunch, a wrong turn down a dirt road to discover a beautiful abandoned church, conversing with some local children in our bad Spanish (ok they laughed), taking pictures, enjoying a stroll though a deserted hiking trail and finding ourselves in the middle of a tiny village drinking icy cold cerveza at sunset. The idyllic end to the day and our little adventure in the countryside! Did I tell you we fell in love with Spain? Wait til I show you where we went next…

all photographs and text by Cath Conroy.