Here at SHINE we share a passion for travel, a passion for finding new inspirations and ideas. And we just can’t help being always on the move – visiting new and rediscovering old places, being surrounded by people or just wandering alone in the countryside. Our stories and experiences are both big and small. We want to share those with you and hope they will make you smile and some interesting ideas for your life!

Today, we begin our weekly travel post digest and are taking you out of your chair and onto a quick trip to Amsterdam, capital of Holland. A city that has been reinventing itself throughout the years, always on the edge of the style and art (I guess legalised smoking helps!), while respecting and promoting its historical heritage. A place where we are going to explore some of the most interesting shop windows just in a couple of hours!

We are walking down the canal street. The sun is interrupted by darks clouds and light rain. Our mind wanders around and for a second it feels we are in Venice. You almost can see how the gondolas are gliding on the water and the mysterious couple are wearing long hooded velvet capes.. their faces hidden behind beautiful mask with feathers.. their destination unknown.. the dreams wears off and you can feel your nose pressed against cold glass of a Venetian Mask Shop (Nieuwe Nieuwstraat 29, Amsterdam or www.maskshopvenice.com). The place is breathing with life, mystery and glamour. Alive with colours – gold and silver, shades of velvet and purple, deep and vivid. It calls you to submerge into the mystery. Hide beneath the mask and play a charming game of who-is-who. I think we want to hold Venetian style party very soon!

Sudden ray of light offers a chance to continue exploring. Amsterdam is truly a city of contrasts, as our next stop is a nightmarish fairy tale. The famous De Sprookjeskamer (Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal 383, Amsterdam or www.desprookjeskamer.nl) welcomes us. Mushrooms, Little Red Riding Hood, dolls, deer and red and white spots are just about on everything that you could imagine are crammed in the little shop space. It feels awkward being here, almost if an old communist era has sprung to life in the middle of Amsterdam, and invaded our beautiful and Disney perfect fairy tale..

Be Nice or Leave is a sign that welcomes us at our last stop. Putting on our best smile and armed with British politeness we enter the world of pictures and it feels like home. You see, Friends of Art (Keizersgracht 510, Amsterdam or www.artunlimited.com) shop loves pictures and so do we. In fact, not only pictures, but greeting cards and posters are to be found here, and the company has an undying enthusiasm for looking for new pictures and publishing the best that it finds. Definitely a great place to get some new cool images and posters for your walls!

We hope you have enjoyed our first little trip into the city of Amsterdam, next we are going to Prague. Catch us Tuesday, 28th July when we are exploring Prague just in two hours!