Uh-Oh Castles and The Best Tea EVER!

Finishing from last night, the Barbeque was phenomenal. I am being used as a tool for learning for Carlijn's friends just as much as I am using them. Having very deep political discussions with people that have a completely different perspective on things is very refreshing. Plus, it also challenged my knowledge of my government and why we run the way we do. Something to note - DUTCH FOOD - the cookout is NOTHING like the American cookout consisting of burgers, brats, hotdogs, chips, pop etc...these people COOK at cookouts. They of course use meat but meats of all styles - Chicken Kabob, bacon etc....and they make interesting things like wrapping tomatoes, feta cheese, and several spices in tin foil to create a very small wonderful treat! Very nice!

This morning, Gail and I got up to head out of the city and go north of Amsterdam. Utrecht, the city that I am living in south of Amsterdam, so we were going a distance. The path was a road less taken. It was small- the size of our bike paths here but it had an absolutely beautiful landscape passing through small towns.  Once we reached our destination, we were able to see several windmills (what Holland is known for) and see how wooden shoes are made. Very interesting stuff. The place was a large tourist trap but none-the-less very informative! After that, Gail and I decided that we were hungry and as we headed south we stopped on the north end of Amsterdam to have some lunch. We went to a small (but very quaint) little eatery that sat just on the Harbor of Amsterdam. Learning about Dutch culture is very different. Here you do not tip the waiter. Only in extreme cases do you leave tip - if the food was beyond you wildest dreams. Also, no free refills - people who know me well know that this is going to be a very challenging thing to adapt to - I like a lot of liquid. I ordered Iced Tea to drink and let me tell you, it was wonderful. It was nothing more than Nestea powdered mix but the difference was the use of carbonated water - It was the best tea EVER! At the end of our meal while Gail was paying, a waitress approached me and in very fast, advanced (for me) dutch asked me if my meal was good - not knowing what in the world she was saying I asked her in Dutch to speak in English. She apologized for mistake and then I apologized and said b"I'm learning," to which she replied "It's really my fault, you look Dutch." And that my friends was the goal of this trip - to assimilate! After we were finished we headed farther south back to Utrecht. Once there, we stopped at a castle that was built in the middle of a small town. The gardens were fabulous. The home was very self sufficient in the food it grew as well. Tired and exhausted, we headed back to the house we Gail and I both crashed from our long morning. Carlijn came for dinner amd afterwards I set out to find a pair of pants. It is a style that never caught on in America but thrives here in Europe. Mens 3/4 length pants - very attractive pants and it was my goal to find a pair to purchase. I set off by foot towards the center of town and found my pants and ordering them in (mostly) Dutch! SUCCESS! On the way back home, I stopped at the market to pick some Cola (because I love it) and I grabbed some strawberries for Gail and I. 

Good News, I finally moved into my room and out of my suit cases. Its a good feeling!

Michael Jackson Died today as well as Farah Fawcett - Interesting to watch the reactions

Tot Ziens, (Til I See You Again)

Taylor