We are actually in Berlin right now, as you may already know if you´re following along at home. We had a fantastic time in Amsterdam (thanks, in no small part, to meeting up with our good pal Carrie for the duration of our stay). Casey was able to post a quick update about our arrival, but since then, we have been unable to find an affordable internet cafe to update you on our Amsterdam shenanignans.
I am pretty roasty in this 6ft x 3ft internet space, so I won´t pretend that this will be a coherent or well thought-out posting. Without further ado, here are some things that I have learned:
-I learned on the flight from Iceland to Amsterdam that whining sounds the same in all languages (thank you, 7-year-old Icelandic boy sitting in the seat behind me).
-I learned that Chuck Norris jokes do not sound the same in all languages (thank you, French teenaged boys raucously recounting jokes about "Shuck Nor-ees" on our first ride on Amsterdam´s tram system)
-I learned that it takes approximately one glass of wine´s length of time in a cafe to ride out the worst of a Dutch thunderstorm
-I learned that peanut sauce on fries is even more delicious than it sounds
-I learned that there are lots of tourists in Amsterdam (as demonstrated by the fact that an announcement was made over the loudspeaker of the tram which everyone ignored. When I asked the only Dutch-looking person to translate, they said the train was broken down and we needed to get off. With a collective "ohhhhh", everyone simulataneously deboarded.)
-I learned that no matter how many children one has in Amsterdam, there is a way to fit all of them on a single bike
-I learned to wear orange, scream "Goooo Holland", and become personally invested in a team in which I had no prior interest
-I learned that grocery stores cannot sell cold beer for some reason, but that sticking a warm six-pack in the frozen fries section for 25 minutes while pretending to browse Dutch magazine racks will do the trick every time
Over all, we had a fantastic time in Amsterdam (and we miss you already, Carrie!). UNFORTUNATELY, we have not yet found a way to post pictures, but I hope to find a way to do that in the not-too-distant future.
Love to you all (we love reading any comments, so feel free to say hi!)
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I thought of you guys when the Netherlands lost :( I hope you had an amazing time watching the game anyway!
ReplyDeleteKari and I are taking quick break from the shores of Lake Champlain to voyage into Vergennes for a brief relapse into the modern world of internet, so I thought I would say HI! and wish you the best of journeys. We miss you, and camp games are way lamer without both of you there to add to the bickering over the rules of Screw Your Neighbor. Don't follow in my footsteps and keep up with the blogging!
ReplyDelete-Nick
Well, sounds like you figured out the wine/beer/French fries w/ peanut sauce in Amsterdam. See any sights?
ReplyDeleteGreat time in Rexford staying with Debby while I was at the conference in Saratoga Springs. We went to see the NYC Ballet at the SPAC (Saratoga Springs Performing Arts Center) which in an amphitheatre with a roof but no walls. It was wonderful, despite heavy downpours. The pianist had to have two bath towels to wipe off the piano keyboard periodically. After, we waded through 4 inch deep rivers of warm rain along with hundreds of people (all with umbrellas) down the pathway and across the bridge back to the parking lot. Everyone was soaked and laughing - felt like we were in a movie. Met a guy from Switzerland at the conference who confirmed that "Europeans don't think much of air-conditioning", so I hope the weather cools off for you soon. Lots of love!
Bike and Build is in Lawrence KS again. Your present adventure seems a little less work. I remember Berlin when we were there prior to the wall coming down and then being in Mainz after the wall came down and seeing the East Germans so ecstatic about being free. Should be interesting to see the changes now after so many years of freedom.
ReplyDeleteEnjoying reading your blog and getting your take on so many places we have been to. Have a great time!
Love, Uncle Paul