Symphony Hotel Noordzee Scheveningen

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 ...

... ago), we arrived around 6pm on a Saturday. All the shops were shut and we ended up having Chinese takeaway for tea. Even worse, we ended up having cold Chinese takeaway for breakfast the following morning. I didnīt want a repeat of that experience! We got back to our farmhouse in the early evening. The kids put their pyjamas on without being asked so we took the hint and all sunk gratefully into bed.

... this one, but apparntly it has been converted to a youth Hostel. One of the first 2 or 3 youth hostels ever established. Dinner is at the hotel. Sauerbratten, some red cabbage dish (very vinegary) and a potatoe dumpling (read 'fist sized ball of starch'). Lots of gravey for everything. The meat and Heffeweissen are pretty good. After dinner... Devastation! The gelato shop is closed I stagger back to the room (aka train station) weeping gently

... standing there in amazement of all this beauty. There are people fishing on one side because there is a canal and the other side has all the tulips. As I am slowly driving down this small road, I spot a white swan floating gently along the canal. I stop my car and take pictures of it from my window. She must have heard the camera because I can tell she spots me and I arouse her curiosity. She starts to swim toward where I am, I just keep taking ...

... that today was much, much easier. The girls that I trained were much more appreciate than the ones yesterday. I've been keeping things rather simple for my meals. This morning I enjoyed my smoked fish with some fresh apricots in some kind of juice and a bowl of cereal (I was really missing my cereal lately). For lunch, I had a slice of peanut butter on bread and a bowl of soup (some kind of broth that tasted like curry ...

... our first destination for this day. This market stretches several blocks east - the stands are clearly visible on Google Earth. Just zoom in on the pin placement in the blog. I'll make an entryless pin placement for the Van Gogh Museum. We have a liesurely breakfast then wander out looking for the Albert Kuypstraat that houses Amsterdam's largest outdoor market. The trams go everywhere, so we pour over our maps and find ...

What more can you say about Amsterdam then it is big kid Disneyland. Everything and anything that you could want is there for you. Even if you don't want it, it is there for you. Our first day in Amsterdam started off in a hostel that was more party then hostel. What a great start! The location right downtown was great and the bar downstairs was great for meeting people. We met 2 girls from Canada and went out to our very first Amsterdam coffee ...

... we got to see a windmill, a cheese farm and a clog makers shop. It was amazing to see a big hunk of wood turned down to a shoe. It was done on a lathe much like when you have a key made by following a shoe. How about the size of wood that was needed for the shoes I was wearing. Also, I found out how cool and moist the shoe was after the clogmaker took the ...

... took us way too long usual stoned lost tourist prices i am sure we payed ok attention span not lasting very long, i will run down next day van gogh museo, great stuff eyes opening up to european culture and all that, then the heineken experience, not muesum but experience very interactive for a muesum,pretending to be a beer bottle and all, 3 beers included in the price a bonus meet up with 3 aussies went for pancakes then had dinner the national dish rec by ducth guy to have ...

... disapointed me, I did'nt find it special at all and I didn't really see so much painting that were splendid to me or worth a infamous 'do not miss'. Most of Rembrandt were not the known one of him and only some Vermeer but the girl with a pearl earring wasn't there anyway. Then I took the bike again and cycle around town, pass in the Red Light and then to Jordaan and Grey area and stayed there on a bench enjoying the sun (my wallet chain also ...