the Netherlands is unreal. it is a place of astounding beauty. the people are amazing and the culture is so different than america. I am exploring Maastricht with guusje and we met her friends Jon (who visited Sarasota with guusje and is headed to new Hampshire at the end of jut), caren, and anke. they were so hospitable and I had fun trying to figure out side conversations in dutch. Maastricht is so clean and all of the streets are stone. it is so picturesque. I am so fortunate to have this connection in the Netherlands. now I'm exhausted... but not jet lagged which is good. guusje has more fun activities planned for tomorrow, and then tomorrow evening her dad and step mom are preparing a big Dutch dinner for me. I had my first sample of Dutch rare tonight, and I enjoyed everything but the croquets (spelling?). they weren't bad; they just weren't what I expected. tomorrow will be filled with more adventures, and tonight has been an excellent start to my european adventure.