Holland!!!!
Trip Start
May 19, 2008
1
12
20
Trip End
Jul 21, 2008
The Hague,
Zuid-Holland,
Netherlands
Saturday, June 21, 2008
We had finals yesterday for 6 hours, all hadnwritten, all extremely exhausting. When we finally finished and then we finished the day with a celebration ice cream, a celebration lunch (where we ate everything left in our kitchen so that we didn't waste anything), and then we had a celebration nap, and got up for a celebration dinner.
The dinner was at a really nice villa outside of Florence, where Mark Twain apparently stayed at one point in his life. It was a gorgeous house and beautiful grounds. We ate outside under a tent, something around 8 courses. We were so full by the time we finished. The Duke was so proud of us, and so excited that all of his students were together. It was hilarious. A great dinner overall. Except that the bugs ate us alive as we were outside all night, and it took awhile to get home.
Our last course wasn't served until around midnight, and we had a flight around 7 the next morning. By the time everyone got taxis or rides home, it was almost 1 or 2 in the morning. I still had packing to do, so I was up late. Our baggage requirements for our flight was 1 bag under 44 lbs. There was no way I was going to take 3 bags of luggage and fit it into 2 and still keep my checked luggage under 44 lbs. At least, that's what I thought, but I sure did get close. I actually packed my smallest piece of luggage as tight as possible, and layed it inside my biggest luggage and then packed stuff around that. I took all of my heaviest things: books, jeans, sweatshirts etc.
view from the villa where we ate dinner
and packed it into my medium luggage piece and took the risk of trying to get that past the staff and use it as a carryon. In the end, I got all my stuff checked and in my carry on with no extra cost. I was about 10 lbs over but the guy I went to was nice and let me through. Thank goodness.So we are now in the Hague in Holland. It's beautiful here. It is about 10 times better than Italy. Everyone is so nice, and its cheaper, but beautiful. It is a lot more like home here. There are trees and grass the city is just gorgeous. The hotel has real internet and its free in the lobby. I am so excited about this program. I will keep you updated because I am predicting that it will be awesome.
Comments
Picture
Where's the pics. The internet is free. You don't have to buy anything at McDonald's. The French have been freeloading off the U.S. for decades. You spent enough in Europe already. Take what you can get free. Don't they have any soup kitchens?? He-he-he. Hope you are having fun. We miss you.
Mom