Mercure Dordrecht

... load the bike which kept overbalancing - that is going to get old real fast if I can't find a solution.

Took a quick ride around the Vondelpark and photographed some random sculptures then considered my route out of the city. The free map covered only the very centre and since Utrecht was nowhere to be seen on the signs I was thinking I should procure a road atlas of the Netherlands; but until I found a forecourt I elected to follow the sun out of the city (which ...

in Den Haag or the Hague, whichever you prefer.

I was going to join some other couchsurfers in Rotterdam, a half hour train ride away, but I'd much rather just have a half relax day and update my internet stuff, search for some couches, etc.

I'll head back into Rotterdam in a ...

... I don't know why I'm sharing them with you - they're not great. Nowhere was open as it was Sunday, but there were quite a few tourists around. I had lunch in the main square, and there was litter and cigarette butt ends everywhere, and a fight almost broke out between 3 men in the corner of the square - I really didn't like it - maybe I was there on a bad day? I'm in no hurry to return anyway.

... into the full swing of gettng ready for christmas - which is a much more religous event - since the presents are done at sinterklass . Anyway , the real christmas trees that are so big & bushy are brought home & decorated with the most perfect decorations , a couple of strings of lights might hang here & there but nothing too flashy , the christmas trees are so beautiful they look exactly like they are off the front of a christmas card ...

... dutch language BUT that could leave us here for some years - although we will keep trying ! We probably wouldnt be so keen to stay if it wasnt for all the help and hospitality that Karin and John and Karins family have given to us since we arrived - so if anyone has any complaints about us not being home for christmas blame them ! So we are preparing our selves for a cold dark christmas - and ...

... wetsuits or not. After signing the appropriate paperwork, though, Dad, Alex, and Eric all dutifully donned their stunning wetsuits and graciously allowed us to snap pictures amid bouts of giggling. While the three of them were in the classroom, Liz, Ep, Mom, Maggie and I found the best place on the beach to laugh at - I mean watch - their initial surfing attempts. I screwed the appropriate lenses onto the camera and switched into high speed settings ...

... surrounded with a nice park right in the middle of the residential area. We also went down to Zeeland a lakes district surrounded by farms and which also has a beautiful big beach - the best one we had seen since Africa ! We could even just make out the white cliffs of Dover, England in the distance. But it hasnt all been fun and games since we have arrived. We have been hitting the pavement and the internet to try and find some work. There are a few ...

... between two destinations vs the green paths which are the scenic route!). Halfway through the trip, the battery on the GPS system started to die out and we were having difficulty finding the red bike path. This led us to some very interesting areas around the outskirts of Amsterdam... we saw some beautiful parks, many soccer fields, and new housing developments (block-like apartments which are all very industrial in design - not nearly ...

... i was actually i little hesitant at the concept of riding all day on a bevy of roller coasters, not so much fearful, just a little apprehensive at the very real possibility that i may vomit all over the shop come the first upside down bend. Nonetheless, i threw down some eggs courtesy of Legion Dave, ****** around with the other clowns momentarily, then hit the train station with the crew, leaping on the first train to Hardewijk, some 45 minutes north east in the ...

... step. Two Dutch soldiers came out and started asking us questions "Who are you? Where are you from? Is it true that you were taking pictures? What was your purpose for taking the pictures?" Andrea was very honest and explained that she didn't know it was not allowed to take pictures and her ONLY reason for doing so was because she is from the US and thought it would be cool to have a picture of the US embassy. Well, they ...