After a number of months off, I'm returning to Trippist. And now I have a new home base: For the past year or so I've resided in Leiden, a beautiful city about 30 minutes southwest of Amsterdam. Leiden is a fantastic place to live - it's incredibly picturesque, has great shops, restaurants and nightlife, and is home to Leiden University, the oldest university in the Netherlands. I can't forget to mention its thriving expat scene for students, those in the workforce, families and kids - you name it!

Life outside the big city is different in many interesting ways. I've learned what it's like to commute (back to Amsterdam!), to learn a new city, and to encounter an entire group of people that have chosen not to live in the capital for one reason or another. In the coming months I'll share my Leiden finds on Trippist, but also comment on other places of interest, particularly in Amsterdam since I visit so often. It's great to be back!