Nederland Vacation 2008

Nederland, Dutch for the Netherlands!

We departed Houston at 3:30pm on 10/23 and arrived at Schiphol Airport at 8:20am on the 24th. Wow, what an airport, this is a major European stop, it has a shopping mall attached, the train stations, not just local trains, but the high speed trains as well and the Sheraton. This airport sits below sea level. So we dropped our bags at the hotel, figured out how to get the train tickets using a kiosk and hopped the train to Amsterdam.

Bright Sunshiny day… We arrived at the station before the masses, wasn’t the case when we returned in the afternoon. Since Sam has been there many times, he took me on a walking tour, the red light district wasn’t real busy at 10:30 in the morning, only a couple of working girls, that looked bored talking on their cell phones. A walk thru Dam Square then a boat tour on the canals. The boat tour was much needed, I hadn’t slept on the flight, and my feet were getting very heavy. Did we take any pictures, uh no. By the time we made it back to the station, the masses were out, and my thoughts of renting a bicycle were gone, I don’t think I’ve ever seen that many bikes! Finally about 4pm back to the train station. Thank goodness for having the quietest hotel room I've ever had in my life, I would never have guessed it staying at the airport!

Drizzly – foggy day…Sunday, up early and off to catch a tour bus! Our tour started north of Amsterdam. First stop was Zaanse Schans, were we saw how they made wooden shoes (poplar wood), and we saw windmills, there are only about 1000 of the old kind left, the others are like the ones we see in West Texas. Back on the bus to Volendam to learn how to make cheese, and cheese buying. The village was really pretty, again it was raining so we didn’t take a lot of pictures, but we did see a small hotel that said Brad Pitt, Kurt Douglas, Elizabeth Taylor and others had stayed there. We had lunch, then a boat (but to0 rainy to see anything) ride to Marken a fishing village, the bus picked us up, and off to South Holland. Our first stop was the Royal Delft Factory, then a city tour of The Hague (Den Haag), the last stop was fun, it was called Madurodam, everything is 25 times smaller than in reality.

Light Drizzle - Monday...off to Rotterdam with business guys that had flown over from the UK.

DOWN POUR - Tuesday, while Sam was off at meetings I was taking the train in to Rotterdam for a day of sightseeing, and touring the harbor, instead I chose to stay at the hotel, read sleep and watch the BBC. Later that evening we went to dinner at Las Palmas, owned by their famous chef.

Sunny - Wednesday..I attended meetings at a terminal (of course the Sun was shining)...later that afternoon back to Amsterdam. Our business friend stayed in Amsterdam, and we all went to dinner at an Italian Restaurant, the a pub for a brew.

Very overcast - Thursday..took the train to the Airport with our friend, and had decided we were renting a car for a Friday road trip! Back to the city for more walking. We received news today that Chloe had gone, so I wasn't in the mood for much, except a beer.

Rain - Friday...off in our VW Polo (a supermini car sold in Europe), we drove to Burges, Belgium, and had a great day even in the rain. Got my lace trimmed table cloth.

Rain - Saturday...our museum day. We hit the Van Gogh and the Rijkmuseum. I love going to museums, yet I very seldom go at home.

Sunny - Sunday...Flight departed at 1:40pm and arrived at 5:45 (3 movies on the way home, and 2 on the flight over).

Not alot of pictures taken because of the weather, but I always buy a picture book of where I go! Things to remember, look both ways, not only on the street, but bike lanes, and trolley lanes, watch what windows you look in to, there are all kinds of shops, and coffeeshops aren't really coffeeshops, oh and it rains.

I like Holland and hope to go again someday! Thanks to Gary, Mom and Mary for dog sitting.