Strandhotel Zandvoort

... are used to reclaim land. A lot of the Netherlands used to be under water and many parts of it are still below sea level. There are also lumber windmills, which we saw here, and mills used for grinding to make flour, dye, etc. We saw windmills everywhere not just at this park. And many of ...

... like candles on the tables. I took a walk with the baby to the market (5 mins away) that was open on Sunday; my German relatives were a little afraid nothing would be. It was a challenge to my American shopping habits to limit myself to only what I could carry or pack on the stroller. Especially when my mandate included beers and water. Also, everything was in Dutch, so it was a real challenge just to decide what ...

... s best sweet and savory pancakes. Looking back at Amsterdam, 3 experiences stand out. 1. The Supper Club. This was our 2nd visit to the Supper Club, so at least we knew what to expect. After entering through a discreet door in a tiny alley, we were greeted by a hostess of very ambiguous gender. We made our way to a bar complete with padded black walls adorned with handcuffs and leg chains. After a drink, we were escorted into a massive, all-white room lined with beds. A ...

... Amsterdam flag. The XXX originally stood for flood, plague and famine and now it is Hope, Freedom, Democracy. AMS was the hub of the adult film industry in the 1950s and the flag was printed on each film canister exported. That is why adult firms are refered to as XXX. The sex workers are represented by a union. It used to be required by the government that the workers were tested quarterly and ...

... out for so many vehicles! We walked to the Red Light District and it wasn't as seedy as I thought it would be. It was also early evening though. There were lots of testosterone filled, loud mouthed jocks though (most were British) who roamed the streets in packs, and there were lots of puke on the streets. I am sure there is a correlation between the two! There are also open urinals here, no door, just a urinal. The ...

... to say about that, expect for the fact that the work is quit repetative and computer minded. Getting to know a few more people there. We went out with a few colleagues 2 weeks ago, nice to spend time with them outside the work place. Different talk, more laughs! Close contact with Mira is definitely a plus. Never realized before that we have so much in common really. Besides seeing people and going out to diner a lot during Restaurantweek (special week when 3-course ...

... alarm to leave the houseboat early! We were first making our way to the quaint town of Alkmaar, known world-over for its cheese market (the oldest continuously-operating cheese market in the world if we are to believe their advertising.) We thought we had beat the crowds but such was not the case, it was extremely crowded. It was difficult to see the action on the square where costumed actors were re-enacting the cheese distribution system of years gone ...

We split up around noon today, Lisa going one way after the post office and John & I continuing in our own direction. After some stumbling we found the De Hortus gardens, entrance fee only 3 Euros! (Half price due to some minor contruction.) There are several trees here that are centuries old, including a 300 year old Cycad. I've taken a ton of photos, but I'm sure when I get home all I'll remember is "oh, plants. Hmm." The colour and ...

... but the intensity of Anne's diaries and the preservation of the hiding space amazed me all over again. There was also a new wing added since I was there, sort of an interactive, thought-provoking series of quizzes regarding our constitutional rights. There was also a bigger display of her diary entries and loops of video clips of Holocaust survivors and/or people associated with Anne and her family. It's an amazing museum that left me with a sigh of relief that, although unjust and ...

... anecdote, I think I set a new record for amount drunk in a night every time I go out (so each night out I drink increasingly more). Back to Heineken, yeah, even after like 8 $1 beers, no puke and the next day, the hangover is minimal. The dutch know what they're doing! Since most of my time as of late has been the same old, I didn't think it was really worth adding to the blog. I had been getting hella antsy (the people here form Cali say "hella" A LOT and ...