In the Land of the Dutch with The Dutch

A great start to the day, the sun decided to shine and the sky was blue. This was a great sight to see as we haven't seen the sun or blue sky in quite sometime. Only downside was when we left this morning the sky was grey, so we dressed far to warm for what it turned into. We made our way to a flea market we had heard of and looked at the trinkets and valuables of the people of Brussels, and stopped to have a coffee and watched the trading happen. Wasn't much to see, so we wandered through the streets some more, finding a great sausage baguette lunch for Luke and some fresh fries for myself. 

An interesting thing that we have come to terms with, is that gloves are an option. Most restaurant workers will just use there hands glove less to prepare food. In these cases you pretty much don't watch them prepare the food and you talk to distract from looking at what they are doing then you just eating what you are given. I think the most disturbing part about this fact, is that not once since we have been in Europe in general have I seen an employee must wash hand sign. Now, maybe they just all do, or they have separate washrooms that they use, but nevertheless just try not to think about it. 

We looped back around a few times to see if the peeing boy decided to have clothes on again, and he didn't. We are certainly glad this was the first thing we did, so we could see him with clothes on. Reason being it is much more comical that they dress him up.

We came across a few outside market places that were just packed with people. Unfortunately one was blocking the way to the train station so we had to just make our way through.

The other thing that we came across is two more different types of outside urinals. Poor ladies get the shaft, not that I would like to do this is public, there just aren't any public washrooms anywhere for us. They definitely do not clean these often as the smell of heated pee is strong in the air.  

I have never cared if Luke left the toilet seat up or not. Even before we were married if he was over it never bothered me to have to put it down. I also clean my own toilet so maybe that has something to do with it, I'm unsure. But I have a new appreciation for wanting the seat to be down when I get to it. As we have stayed in majority place that have a shared toilet as well as the trains having shared toilets, I don't want to be touching a thing, it is gross. Also when they do not have toilet paper or hand towels in them is a gross time. Thank goodness for sanitizer. 

Now we are on our way to The Hague where we shall meet mom and dad. Apparently you shouldn't try to train anywhere on the weekends, as they like to shut things down and cancel trains. But we made it! And so did mom and dad! We chatted with them a while and caught up before going and having dinner. I am sure that there will be a lot of stories told just over the week. We are glad to see some familiar faces and others who speak English, and be able to have a week with them! I also forgot to take a picture with them, but I will soon enough.

So far Holland is great! Plus they have sun here! And blue sky, so we really won't complain. It will also be great to not have to make decisions and go along for the ride. So far I have noticed people are tall, as per the stereotype, I have noticed blonde hair and blued people but not enough to declare it is the Dutch, even though that is what I expect it shall be. We are staying in a B&B it is awesome, to see inside the houses of people. It is on a street with just a wall of houses that are attached and across the street another wall. But big beautiful trees. The streets are lined with cars and bicycles, which Luke tells me are the silent killer here. 

Looking forward to seeing what the Netherlands have to offer with my Dutch family! 

And so the adventure continues...