Hello from the Netherlands! We have emerged from our fog of jet lag and it now seems to be a good time to fill you in on our last few days of travels. We left sunny Vancouver on Friday and arrived to a cloudy Amsterdam on Saturday. Travelling with my mother-in law, Sherri, and brother-in law Michael has been very amusing so far. This is the first time they have travelled to Europe and Matt and I have been so entertained by their travel rookiness:) We've been coaching Sherri about how to figure out train ticket machines while not turning your back on your luggage, and other important travel survival tips.
Michael, on the other hand, has adjusted well....we think. He is quietly taking everything in, while giving us no hints that he is that impressed by anything.
Our time in Amsterdam was a whirlwind. We arrived at 10am on Saturday and quickly managed to get ourselves into the city. We were able to check into our hotel and then forced ourselves to get out and about so not to succumb to our lack of sleep. We set off on foot, exploring the narrow streets and canals of the historic centre. We quickly learned how important it was to look carefully both ways before crossing...whizzing bikes, speedy trams, and pushy tourists kept us on our toes! I imagine us Thomas' looked like a line of ducklings walking down the streets of Amsterdam, all following Matthew and his trusty map.
Matt insisted on doing research to find a good restaurant for our first European meal. We got advice from Miranda (a local family friend) on which neighbourhood would allow us to escape the hoards of tourists and overpriced menus. Matt found a great brasserie for us to eat at. A fantastic meal, but by the end we were starting to convert into jet-lagged zombies. After returning to the hotel, Matt and I pushed ourselves through the jetlag to enjoy the sunset from the hotel's 'Sky Lounge'. We each had a nightcap. While taking in the beautiful views of Amsterdam at twilight.