ricardo vacapinta
@vacapinta.mastodon.coffee.ap.brid.gy
Mexican-American in Amsterdam. Citizen of the world. Ex Astrophysics student. Mostly talk about books, art, culture, language and living in Amsterdam. Speak […]
[bridged from https://mastodon.coffee/@vacapinta on the fediverse by https://fed.brid.gy/ ]
[bridged from https://mastodon.coffee/@vacapinta on the fediverse by https://fed.brid.gy/ ]
Saw a motorcade today here in Amsterdam and it was for the president of Finland, Alexander Stubb. C is a big fan of his and waved and cheered him as he went by. He waved back (the car windows were only lightly tinted) and it made her day.
(The Dutch King was sitting next to him and also waved […]
(The Dutch King was sitting next to him and also waved […]
Original post on mastodon.coffee
mastodon.coffee
December 12, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Saw a motorcade today here in Amsterdam and it was for the president of Finland, Alexander Stubb. C is a big fan of his and waved and cheered him as he went by. He waved back (the car windows were only lightly tinted) and it made her day.
(The Dutch King was sitting next to him and also waved […]
(The Dutch King was sitting next to him and also waved […]
Mindless accumulation of wealth is an illness. See the current crop of billionaires sitting on piles of gold stolen from society.
I'm heartened by the fact that when you put a 'normal' person in charge of billions their instinct is to give it back to the people it was stolen from.
See this post […]
I'm heartened by the fact that when you put a 'normal' person in charge of billions their instinct is to give it back to the people it was stolen from.
See this post […]
Original post on mastodon.coffee
mastodon.coffee
December 12, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Mindless accumulation of wealth is an illness. See the current crop of billionaires sitting on piles of gold stolen from society.
I'm heartened by the fact that when you put a 'normal' person in charge of billions their instinct is to give it back to the people it was stolen from.
See this post […]
I'm heartened by the fact that when you put a 'normal' person in charge of billions their instinct is to give it back to the people it was stolen from.
See this post […]
Biked all the way to Amsterdam West (8km away for me) for two special and delicious things:
Baklava from Serifoglu. Perfectly balanced, made with pistachios from Gaziantep. Brought back a small box.
Coffee from Fried Hats. My favorite coffee in all of […]
[Original post on mastodon.coffee]
Baklava from Serifoglu. Perfectly balanced, made with pistachios from Gaziantep. Brought back a small box.
Coffee from Fried Hats. My favorite coffee in all of […]
[Original post on mastodon.coffee]
November 28, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Biked all the way to Amsterdam West (8km away for me) for two special and delicious things:
Baklava from Serifoglu. Perfectly balanced, made with pistachios from Gaziantep. Brought back a small box.
Coffee from Fried Hats. My favorite coffee in all of […]
[Original post on mastodon.coffee]
Baklava from Serifoglu. Perfectly balanced, made with pistachios from Gaziantep. Brought back a small box.
Coffee from Fried Hats. My favorite coffee in all of […]
[Original post on mastodon.coffee]
Seeing a movie at the Tuschinski in Amsterdam is such a treat. Probably the most beautiful cinema I've ever been in.
#amsterdam #tuschinski #artdeco
#amsterdam #tuschinski #artdeco
November 21, 2025 at 7:54 PM
Seeing a movie at the Tuschinski in Amsterdam is such a treat. Probably the most beautiful cinema I've ever been in.
#amsterdam #tuschinski #artdeco
#amsterdam #tuschinski #artdeco
Picking up my Christmas Panettone from Chiara's on VanWoustraat! Its that time of year. Might as well have an espresso and a taste of another panettone while I'm here...
#amsterdam #panettone
#amsterdam #panettone
November 20, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Picking up my Christmas Panettone from Chiara's on VanWoustraat! Its that time of year. Might as well have an espresso and a taste of another panettone while I'm here...
#amsterdam #panettone
#amsterdam #panettone
Strolling through the Louvre with kids. They are half-paying attention. Finaly we reach the Code of Hammurabi Stele.
Kids: Whats that?
Father: An ancient code of Laws
Kids: Yawn
Father: For example..."If a son strikes his father, his hand will be cut off.."
Kids: You have our full attention.
Kids: Whats that?
Father: An ancient code of Laws
Kids: Yawn
Father: For example..."If a son strikes his father, his hand will be cut off.."
Kids: You have our full attention.
November 18, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Strolling through the Louvre with kids. They are half-paying attention. Finaly we reach the Code of Hammurabi Stele.
Kids: Whats that?
Father: An ancient code of Laws
Kids: Yawn
Father: For example..."If a son strikes his father, his hand will be cut off.."
Kids: You have our full attention.
Kids: Whats that?
Father: An ancient code of Laws
Kids: Yawn
Father: For example..."If a son strikes his father, his hand will be cut off.."
Kids: You have our full attention.
I went to the Minimal exhibition at the Bourse de Commerce in Paris expecting to be unmoved. For the most part this was true. But they had a Lygia Pape work which was astounding. Illuminated threads from floor to ceiling simulating shafts of sunlight […]
[Original post on mastodon.coffee]
[Original post on mastodon.coffee]
November 16, 2025 at 9:34 PM
I went to the Minimal exhibition at the Bourse de Commerce in Paris expecting to be unmoved. For the most part this was true. But they had a Lygia Pape work which was astounding. Illuminated threads from floor to ceiling simulating shafts of sunlight […]
[Original post on mastodon.coffee]
[Original post on mastodon.coffee]
Just got through giving out bags of candy for St. Martins day here in Amsterdam. Kids come and sing and you hand them candy. Word must have gotten out that we were giving out American level of candies and we got swamped!!
November 11, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Just got through giving out bags of candy for St. Martins day here in Amsterdam. Kids come and sing and you hand them candy. Word must have gotten out that we were giving out American level of candies and we got swamped!!
Was near Javastraat tonight and stopped at one of the Turkish bakeries to get some Borek. Owner was closing shop so gave us tons of free food! Invited some neighbors over and had a feast. Petit fours too.
I love Javastraat, some of the best food in Amsterdam and totally off the tourist radar […]
I love Javastraat, some of the best food in Amsterdam and totally off the tourist radar […]
Original post on mastodon.coffee
mastodon.coffee
November 6, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Was near Javastraat tonight and stopped at one of the Turkish bakeries to get some Borek. Owner was closing shop so gave us tons of free food! Invited some neighbors over and had a feast. Petit fours too.
I love Javastraat, some of the best food in Amsterdam and totally off the tourist radar […]
I love Javastraat, some of the best food in Amsterdam and totally off the tourist radar […]
Original manuscript of Wittgensteins Philosophical Investigations at Vienna's Literature Museum. One of the highlights of my trip to Vienna.
#vienna #wien #wittgenstein
#vienna #wien #wittgenstein
October 18, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Original manuscript of Wittgensteins Philosophical Investigations at Vienna's Literature Museum. One of the highlights of my trip to Vienna.
#vienna #wien #wittgenstein
#vienna #wien #wittgenstein
My US drivers license expires this year and I cannot renew it. I should - but haven't - applied for a Dutch one.
All this means that I cannot legally drive a car. Given that I haven't driven a car for 5 years, I'm not seeing this as a problem..
All this means that I cannot legally drive a car. Given that I haven't driven a car for 5 years, I'm not seeing this as a problem..
October 15, 2025 at 9:20 AM
My US drivers license expires this year and I cannot renew it. I should - but haven't - applied for a Dutch one.
All this means that I cannot legally drive a car. Given that I haven't driven a car for 5 years, I'm not seeing this as a problem..
All this means that I cannot legally drive a car. Given that I haven't driven a car for 5 years, I'm not seeing this as a problem..
In all the discussions about migrants here in Amsterdam, one key statistic is I think overlooked. If we look at the percentage of Amsterdammers that were foreign-born throughout recent history, it has only been higher than it is now at one point in time:
We […]
[Original post on mastodon.coffee]
We […]
[Original post on mastodon.coffee]
October 14, 2025 at 3:10 PM
In all the discussions about migrants here in Amsterdam, one key statistic is I think overlooked. If we look at the percentage of Amsterdammers that were foreign-born throughout recent history, it has only been higher than it is now at one point in time:
We […]
[Original post on mastodon.coffee]
We […]
[Original post on mastodon.coffee]
It only recently occurred to me to walk by the Hilton here in Amsterdam and look up at the corner suite where Yoko and John had their bed-in. Look closely. The phrases 'bed peace' and 'hair peace' are there on the windows.
#amsterdam #peace
#amsterdam #peace
October 13, 2025 at 9:06 PM
It only recently occurred to me to walk by the Hilton here in Amsterdam and look up at the corner suite where Yoko and John had their bed-in. Look closely. The phrases 'bed peace' and 'hair peace' are there on the windows.
#amsterdam #peace
#amsterdam #peace
My current active/about-to-read list:
Thomas Bernhard - Woodcutters
Ingeborg Bachmann - Malina
Dino Buzzati - The Stronghold
Carlo Ginzburg - Threads and Traces
Cristina Rivera Garza - Habia Mucho Neblina o humo no se que
Philipp Blom - Fracture
Macedonio […]
[Original post on mastodon.coffee]
Thomas Bernhard - Woodcutters
Ingeborg Bachmann - Malina
Dino Buzzati - The Stronghold
Carlo Ginzburg - Threads and Traces
Cristina Rivera Garza - Habia Mucho Neblina o humo no se que
Philipp Blom - Fracture
Macedonio […]
[Original post on mastodon.coffee]
September 20, 2025 at 4:26 PM
My current active/about-to-read list:
Thomas Bernhard - Woodcutters
Ingeborg Bachmann - Malina
Dino Buzzati - The Stronghold
Carlo Ginzburg - Threads and Traces
Cristina Rivera Garza - Habia Mucho Neblina o humo no se que
Philipp Blom - Fracture
Macedonio […]
[Original post on mastodon.coffee]
Thomas Bernhard - Woodcutters
Ingeborg Bachmann - Malina
Dino Buzzati - The Stronghold
Carlo Ginzburg - Threads and Traces
Cristina Rivera Garza - Habia Mucho Neblina o humo no se que
Philipp Blom - Fracture
Macedonio […]
[Original post on mastodon.coffee]
The Netherlands yesterday started giving out COVID vaccines (for the LP8.1 variant)
You can make your appointment here:
https://ggdafspraak.nl/corona/
You can make your appointment here:
https://ggdafspraak.nl/corona/
Een (corona)prikafspraak maken, verzetten of afzeggen -
Wil je een prikafspraak maken, verzetten of afzeggen? Kijk hier of dat kan en hoe dat gaat.
ggdafspraak.nl
September 15, 2025 at 11:11 PM
The Netherlands yesterday started giving out COVID vaccines (for the LP8.1 variant)
You can make your appointment here:
https://ggdafspraak.nl/corona/
You can make your appointment here:
https://ggdafspraak.nl/corona/
If you are at all a Tilda Swinton fan, she is coming to the Amsterdam Eye Film museum this month to give some performances. Tickets only opened an hour ago but there is still space...
https://www.eyefilm.nl/en/whats-on/a-biographical-wardrobe/1502300
https://www.eyefilm.nl/en/whats-on/a-biographical-wardrobe/1502300
A Biographical Wardrobe | Eye Filmmuseum
World premiere of an intimate and deeply personal performance where Tilda Swinton, together with renowned fashion curator Olivier Saillard, brings her own eclectic clothing collection to life, unpacking family heirlooms, red carpet dresses, film costumes and personal items.
www.eyefilm.nl
September 9, 2025 at 11:06 AM
If you are at all a Tilda Swinton fan, she is coming to the Amsterdam Eye Film museum this month to give some performances. Tickets only opened an hour ago but there is still space...
https://www.eyefilm.nl/en/whats-on/a-biographical-wardrobe/1502300
https://www.eyefilm.nl/en/whats-on/a-biographical-wardrobe/1502300
"Still, when
they make you write your poems, later on,
who’d envy you, force-fed
on all those variorum
editions of our primitive endeavors,
those frozen pemmican language-rations
they’ll cram you with? denied
our luxury of nausea, you
forget nothing, have no dreams."
from a poem called […]
they make you write your poems, later on,
who’d envy you, force-fed
on all those variorum
editions of our primitive endeavors,
those frozen pemmican language-rations
they’ll cram you with? denied
our luxury of nausea, you
forget nothing, have no dreams."
from a poem called […]
Original post on mastodon.coffee
mastodon.coffee
September 3, 2025 at 10:45 AM
"Still, when
they make you write your poems, later on,
who’d envy you, force-fed
on all those variorum
editions of our primitive endeavors,
those frozen pemmican language-rations
they’ll cram you with? denied
our luxury of nausea, you
forget nothing, have no dreams."
from a poem called […]
they make you write your poems, later on,
who’d envy you, force-fed
on all those variorum
editions of our primitive endeavors,
those frozen pemmican language-rations
they’ll cram you with? denied
our luxury of nausea, you
forget nothing, have no dreams."
from a poem called […]
Trying to send money to a friend in the US and it is incredibly difficult. No, Venmo doesn't work outside the US. I don't have antiquated checks. What works bets for me is direct bank transfer but people in the US are weird about that info...
In contrast to all this, there are buskers here in […]
In contrast to all this, there are buskers here in […]
Original post on mastodon.coffee
mastodon.coffee
August 5, 2025 at 7:59 AM
Trying to send money to a friend in the US and it is incredibly difficult. No, Venmo doesn't work outside the US. I don't have antiquated checks. What works bets for me is direct bank transfer but people in the US are weird about that info...
In contrast to all this, there are buskers here in […]
In contrast to all this, there are buskers here in […]
The Linear B class I'm taking at the Leiden U. Linguistics summer school is breaking my brain. But we're getting to the good stuff now which is the relationships between the Homeric epics and Mycenean.
July 30, 2025 at 12:55 PM
The Linear B class I'm taking at the Leiden U. Linguistics summer school is breaking my brain. But we're getting to the good stuff now which is the relationships between the Homeric epics and Mycenean.
One of those great Netherlands weekends where we took the train to wander around the labyrinthine Drents museum, grabbed rental bikes and went biking all over the Drenthe countryside, stopping to see prehistoric monuments (pictured here as well as our bikes […]
[Original post on mastodon.coffee]
[Original post on mastodon.coffee]
July 27, 2025 at 6:07 PM
One of those great Netherlands weekends where we took the train to wander around the labyrinthine Drents museum, grabbed rental bikes and went biking all over the Drenthe countryside, stopping to see prehistoric monuments (pictured here as well as our bikes […]
[Original post on mastodon.coffee]
[Original post on mastodon.coffee]
Reposted by ricardo vacapinta
Watching @notjustbikes videos and adding to my list of places in Europe to visit. This one is incredible, I spent the first few minutes thinking “I wish he hadn’t muted the ambient sound so people could realize how quiet a city without cars is”. Then I realized he didn’t! […]
Original post on mastodon.social
mastodon.social
July 7, 2025 at 8:37 AM
Watching @notjustbikes videos and adding to my list of places in Europe to visit. This one is incredible, I spent the first few minutes thinking “I wish he hadn’t muted the ambient sound so people could realize how quiet a city without cars is”. Then I realized he didn’t! […]
I've been listening to Mexican Cumbia lately. Sharing two songs. One is by the band 'Dulce Rosario y Los Sepulteros' or 'Dulce Rosario and the Undertakers' They perfomed in black undertaker dress except for Dulce who wore colorful baby doll outfits!
I've […]
[Original post on mastodon.coffee]
I've […]
[Original post on mastodon.coffee]
July 4, 2025 at 2:18 PM
I've been listening to Mexican Cumbia lately. Sharing two songs. One is by the band 'Dulce Rosario y Los Sepulteros' or 'Dulce Rosario and the Undertakers' They perfomed in black undertaker dress except for Dulce who wore colorful baby doll outfits!
I've […]
[Original post on mastodon.coffee]
I've […]
[Original post on mastodon.coffee]
Preserved hammerhead shark head in the Palazzo Poggi, Bologna.
June 28, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Preserved hammerhead shark head in the Palazzo Poggi, Bologna.
Have spent the week in Bologna at the incredible film festival Cinema Ritrovato which shows hundreds of movies, newly restored or rediscovered after having been lost. The purest celebration of Cinema. Saw a restored Chaplin Gold Rush in the Piazza Maggiore […]
[Original post on mastodon.coffee]
[Original post on mastodon.coffee]
June 28, 2025 at 12:18 PM
Have spent the week in Bologna at the incredible film festival Cinema Ritrovato which shows hundreds of movies, newly restored or rediscovered after having been lost. The purest celebration of Cinema. Saw a restored Chaplin Gold Rush in the Piazza Maggiore […]
[Original post on mastodon.coffee]
[Original post on mastodon.coffee]