NH Marquette Noord-Holland

... I headed off to buy a bike pump only to find out that almost all the shops were closed. The only shop I found to be open on Sundays is a tiny bike rental company next to the main train station. There I bought a pump and headed back home. Of course the pump didn't fit. I walked to bike to the company. I had them fill it up and I ...

... and coffee at a little cafe and plan our next attack. (wow, I've really been hanging out with Chris alot - now I'm looking at sight seeing as a conquering issue!) It's off to the Rijks Museum to view some of the fabulous Dutch art on display from the well known to the obscure. One of the crowning moments has to be standing before Rembrandt's Night Watch. Seeing it in person definitely gives you the goose bumps; I had no idea it was THAT big. Working our way around the countless ...

... any particular cuisine, we decided that it was perfectly acceptable to eat at the Hard Rock Cafe. I am very glad that we did because I finally had that real cheeseburger that I have been craving pretty much since I got here. It was divine. After food, we walked to the Anne Frank House. I regrettably have never read The Diary of Anne Frank, but visiting the house was still a very sobering experience. We next met up with the boys and did some ...

... rickety bookshelves lined with books... it was a great place. The first night we went in I think Dylan and I ended up playing chess for four or five hours?! I hadn't played in a long time...it's a really good game to get into! Warning: you can develop chess tunnel vision though. It's a strange ailment...but possible! Well... it felt possible... =P The first real day we had in Amsterdam, we went to the Van Gogh Museum. It was incredible ...

... your plans very easily when you meet fun people that you want to travel with. So to Amsterdam we went. I had already explored much of the town during a 10 hour layover Stephanie and I had while flying to Cairo. So Steph and I guided everyone else around the town. It was pouring rain the entire time which made it difficult to walk around the city for long periods of time. We went to the Anne Frank house and explored the attic she ...

... to meet up with Noel, Audrey, and Anthony at 7 at the hostel.  However, they stopped to eat and wound up being an hour and a half late.  So the rest of us were all starving, and went out to find dinner once they got there.  It took us forever to find a place we could afford, and by the time we did, Vanessa and I had to leave to meet up with Kara and Nicole again who we said we would go out with that night.  So now, its 10:00 and we ...

... I get another day in Cuzco to acclimatise to the altitude Negatives: Miss the jungle Lose the first 3 days of the trip Ah well - things like this happen. I'll update you all as soon as I can, but I am on my way - just hope my luggage is too or that will be another saga. For some reason I keep thinking about a bottle of champage when I get back too - can't think why. Until next time ... where ever that may be

... with the birth of the gorgeous Lilou. I am her very proud and happiest Godfather, thanks Bro! If it was not enough, a nice and early birthday diner followed as a surpise, few weeks before my 30th when I should be on my own in the middle of the Rajasthan. This is gonna be a great year!!

... little drunk or as if I were wearing a mouth guard. After a bit more of a wander we began our survey of european supermarkets with a visit to the wonderous Albert Heijn's, where we bought tasty foods to eat at the campsite, then wandered into the bar to surf the net for campsites in Den Hague and listen to the awful live music they'd laid on for us. Despite this, we liked the Camping Zeeburg - a really cool, cheap and convenient place to stay to visit Amsterdam.

... purposes such as pumping water and generating electricity.

Melanie had to go on a quick business trip to Sao Paulo, Brazil, so she let me come along. I spent the night with a colleague of hers, Nancy. Nancy has 2 small children and we really enjoyed playing together. In Brazil they speak Portuguese, but Nancy can speak English too! Here's what she said about my visit: "Luigi and Giovanna will miss Rosie - the ...