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We are loving Amsterdam! We found a great little apartment. It is on the second floor and one whole wall is windows. We are surrounded by trees and it feels like our own tree house. This sort up makes up for the fact that I really wanted to stay in a houseboat. Next time!
The city is full of bikes. Like nothing I've ever seen. It costs almost 100 euro to park in the city center for one day. Anthony took the car to a lot outside the city limits and took the tram back in. Speaking of trams. When we first arrived and went to the office to retrieve the key to the apartment a pedestrian got hit by a tram (bus) right outside the office. After all of our car escapades we thought the police were outside to give us a ticket for parking in an electric car spot (we were just going to be there a minute!). It seems they had more improtant things to take care of, so we avoided a ticket. Horrible incident, but truly remarkable that people, bikes, cars, buses, etc. aren't colliding on every corner!
Today we went on a bike tour of the countryside around Amsterdam. It was really great. The tour had a great guide (plug for Pete at Mike's Bikes) who taught us much about the history and formation of Amsterdam. Basically the water is drained from canals and land formations, polders appear and you have Amsterdam! (Pete said it better). We stopped at a windmill from the 1600's, a dairy farm where we sampled cheese and a wooden shoe manufacturer. Side story - at the shoe stop you watch while they place a block of poplar wood on a machine that shapes the outside of the shoe and then a second machine that hollows out the hole. The whole time our group is watching and wood chips are flying everywhere all I can think is, "We aren't wearing safety goggles. We didn't sign a waiver. Come to think of it we aren't wearing helmets while we ride bikes either. We are so not in America!" The other members of our tour were a group of 7 women from Oslo who met in law school and take a girl trip every year together. We were laughing with them about the differences from one country to the next.
All worked out fine, but Mike's Bikes might have had to reconsider the whole waiver thing after Nina's brush with death. She went to the bathroom during the safety talk (not our best parenting move). When she got out on the road she went about 10 meters and crashed into a car. Poor baby was trying to use pedal brakes. She got a quick lesson in hand brakes and we were off!
Tomorrow AG and Celeste are taking a WWII tour and then we all head to the Anne Frank House. Despite not one item of clean laundry between the 4 of us we are smiling and stinking up Amsterdam! Laundromat in the 'hood has been closed since Saturday when we arrived. I bought a shirt today and can't wait until it opens in the morning. Off to enjoy our gouda from the dairy farm today with a glass of wine.
Amy
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Robin Koko Alexis and I fell in love with Gouda will in Austria and Germany-i just bought a block at our farmers market on Thursday-Yummy. I will have some later and glass of wine and think of you! Hugs to all!
Mom / Grandma Enjoying the blog every time there is a new entry. Belgium looks like a fun week of exploring and sightseeing. Miss you all and can't wait to spend more time with you in Greece.