From Beach to City

A sad day today as we said parted ways with Len and Karin. We ended the trip with them in a great way. We enjoyed breakfast in the sunshine on their patio before heading to the beach. We walked along it for a while before the rain started to come down. Then we decided to take shelter and enjoy some lunch. We are sad to see them go but are so thankful for the time that we had with them and the great memories that we made. 

 

The sun was shining so I have squinty eyes. Along the way we saw a few things at the beach. For starters we saw a jelly fish encompassed in the sand. Looks harmless from this view, also looks squishy and makes me want to touch it, but I resisted that urge. We also found a capatiller while we were sitting next on a bench eating dessert. Don't know if I have ever seen them before in real life. They look a hedge hog mixed with a porcupine. Porcupine only because it kind of looks like it has quills. I was talking and it came to see me, which I didn't really care for, but Luke very much enjoyed poking it and rolling it around.

 

     

We even came across a kite boarder, sailors, and many surfers. Including some paddle boarders with a jolly man playing the trumpet while everyone else paddled him around.

 

This is me thoroughly enjoying my caramel filled stroop waffle!! It was delcious!!

 

We continued our full day but heading to our hotel in Amsterdam. We decided a few days ago that we would stay an extra night in Amsterdam so that we could see a few more things, and not have to rush away from mom and dad so fast. We made it to our hotel, which we got last minute for decently cheap, and it is a pretty awesome place. Large shower, super comfy beds, lots of room to put our stuff. This was surprise especially due to the fact that even the few hotels we have stayed are certainly not this spacious. Only complaint, horrible pillow. Stuffed to much they are stiff. But the beds are delightful.

From dropping our bags off we immediately headed in the direction of Anne Frank House. Much to our delight the line was shorter then it was when we saw it yesterday. We waited just over an hour before we got to go into the museum. As I mentioned before I love history, and am very ineterested in the wars for some reason. A number of years ago I watched a documentary on Netflix about Auschwitz, which was when I learned that it is in Poland, except that fact was very soon forgot. Anyways, that is where Anne Frank died. The museum is interesting as it takes you through the whole storehouse that was  operating under the annex that they lived in. The Annex itself is very, very small and it hard to believe and picture how 8 people lived in it with stuff and beds and furniture, for so many years and were unable to move during the day so that they wouldn't be heard. Unfortunately we weren't allowed to take pictures, but I took pictures of the postcards in the gift shop.The annex was empty, which was both good and bad, as it allowed you to walk all over and to see everything, but it is hard to imagine the pictures and everything fitting into the space and how much smaller it would become. It was very interesting to see, but the annex itself was a very short time during the visit, and I must say it was good to see but something that I had definitely built up in my mind. 

 

From there the evening flew by as every day seems to do. We walked and sat for a bit in a plaza and watched some people. And we picked up some cheese to enjoy later in the evening. We got me my souvenir Holland duck which of coarse I am thrilled about, and continued to mosey on and walk the streets.

 

I thought this was cool, it is a whole Delft set. 

We made our way to the red light district, we briefly went past yesterday when we were in town but decided to go back. It is an interesting street to stroll down, short lived, and contained to a certain area. But something that is a part of this city and the culture that it is.

We found a gluten free place to eat dinner. Our legs were definitely thankful for the rest. From there we started to mosey our way home. Sadly, the rain started to fall. It wasn't so bad to start but then it started to fall in bigger droplets. This became annoying, and made us wet which wasn't great. We were headed to see the I AMsterdam sign which isn't far from our hotel, but still made the journey a little less enjoyable. But cuddling up under the umbrella we walked and saw and eventually made it back home.

 

 

On our walk we saw the Heineken Experience and a funny little house that was crooked and so were the windows.

 

 

To end the evening off we have wine and vanilla cheese back at home. A relaxing way to wind down the day.

 

The Netherlands has been good to us. Great company, gluten free food, awesome memories made. My Dutch family is converting me, and after the great experience, even before, I was ready to embrace it. 

 

"If you ain't Dutch you ain't much, and it doesn't get more much then clogs and wheels of cheese." *Luke Havinga

And so the adventure continues...