De Herbergh van Badhoevedorp

Just what you want to see when you are landing - a plane on fire. OK, it was the airport's fire training grounds. But fire and smoke sure does get your attention. Should post some pics after I get home. Also got one of the windfarm offshore ...

... we went back to the hotel to drink wine and play cards, then back out to the Pancake Bakery for dessert where we ordered two hot chocolates and an order of poffertjes (little dough cakes). We ordered ours with butter and powdered sugar...they were like heaven on a plate. SO good!! A lovely way to end the day. Today we visited the Amsterdam History Museum, a very interesting museum about (obviously) the history of the city. It's laid out very well in ...

... etc) on major tourist attractions and restaurants. Michelle and I each purchased one on-line. We departed Miami on Thursday evening at 8:30pm on Martinair (http://www.martinair.com). Because the flight was not full we each managed to get a row of three seats, which allowed us the comfort to lay down and catch some zzzz's. After a seven and a half hour flight we arrived in ...

... Rainer drove us to the airport in a rented bus. His wife drove the bus back. The start was very rough. The plane shook like crazy but at least we are in the air. I wonder if we will make our conector flight. We missed the flight - have to spend a night in Amsterdam and will fly to Arusha tomorrow instead.

... and we went out for dinner Mmmm I think it was a french place- EVERYTHING on the menu is cheese! Deep fried cheese cheese soup cheese this and that.. well yess I was in HEAVEN! So after that they took me to the Red Light District it was really cool and I even saw some Trannies! haha I wa sl;iek THATS A MAN! And they were like uhhh yeahhh.. haha your not allowed to take photos but I took some at the bridge just oevr looking the whole place and then I ...

... what we have been in the mood for. I'll make it up by having a Herring sandwhich with onion, pickles & mustard tomorrow. Maybe after our visit to the Anne Frank house. Tracy and I were also going to go on a bike tour. This should allow us to cover more ground in a smaller amount of time. Another couple activities on our agenda - Amstel tour, the flower market and possibly a canal boat tour.

... Interesting! Love the concept, meeting new (international) people! It was the start of a week with little to no sleep, good talks and frequent visits to The Last Waterhole! Julean turned out to be great company, I was very impressed with his jamsession performance. Thanks for your 4 signed cds!!! The day Julean left, Lino was waiting for me outside in the cold when I came back from work. In the few days we spend together I learned more about Madeira ...

... had my share of train mishaps - I've been lucky that something like that hasn't happened to me yet. My plan before leaving Canada was to finish off "A Tale of Two Cities". I haven't even picked it up since leaving Europe in October. I should really try to read it - it'll be a good way of curing my insomnia. So I never ended up reading on this train ride - just sat and thought about nothing in particular. I find train rides to be quite ...

... profiting from the blood and sweat of others was relegated to the status of antiquated servitude, the human race would evolve beyond the hamster wheel of WORK, KILL, DIE. Sinclair championed ROCK & ROLL, DOPE AND ****ING IN THE STREETS. He insisted it was within our power to create a life that celebrated freedom by means of TOTAL ASSAULT ON THE CULTURE. For this, The Man took his freedom away. "FREE JOHN SINCLAIR!" we screamed in the streets. Abbie screamed it ...

... all the festivities. I arrived in Amsterdam on Saturday evening; just in time to catch a vintage train from the early 1900's (the first electric train car in Amsterdam) to the O.H. (Original Haarlem) to take part in a swing dance in Haarlem's old train station built in 1870! I have to say it was the coolest dance I have ever been to. Over the last few days I have toured many of the sights in Amsterdam, including the ...