Yesterday - Amsterdam

I wouldn't have thought you could see a lot of Amsterdam in 6 hours but we crammed in a lot.

We took a canal ride which gave us a lot of information about the city and the architecture. We wandered around the shops - and yes, we saw tons of head shops and smelled a lot of pot!

We even took a trip down to see the ladies in the windows - strange culture in Holland - they talk about it being Calvinist and pious but they have a lot of tolerance for stuff we would shy away from. The women were not that attractive and really gave the impression of how lousy a business it is to be in. We must have looked quite strange Cliff and I with the two older aunts - obviously tourists. More so then the prostitution is the storefront selling of sexual devices and porn - really more shocking than the women! Nothing I haven't seen before but not usually right on the street.

The architecture is beautiful, the shops are interesting but we were definitely in the touristy area.

Today we go overnight for a few days - I'm not sure where.

Vicki

Update-More Windmills

Today we go to Amsterdam for the day and tomorrow we go for a few days to the coast where we will see more windmills, cheese and a dam. Some of these things are preplanned so I will make the most of it!

I have found the candy, soccer shirt and little ceramic house I have been asked to find. Still keeping an eye open for lockets.

It has been raining every day and brightening in the afternoon. I don't mind but I think Marta is disappointed. The weather is mild so even the rain is not a big deal.

Sometimes I need to sneak away for a break - I'm an introvert so continually being with company - especially with so much Dutch - is draining. Sometimes I don't really know what is going on!

We visited Marta's brother whose wife was very concerned that she does not speak English. Marta taught Cliff to say - I take my coffee with a bit of milk in Dutch. When Marta's sister-in-law came out with the coffee Cliff said his bit and she was so shocked - she said "How is this possible that he learns Dutch so fast". We had a good laugh!

Send me your emails!

Hi Guys:

I can pick up my emails but I can't remember most addresses. If you happen to read this can you send me an email to shipmaker@primus.ca so I can get your address?

Thanks, Vic

Too Much of the Good Life

Okay, I can never go back to real life. Marta has been treating us very well - too well in fact. We are offered a drink at least twice a day - once in the late afternoon (I usually have a sherry) and again after dinner (I usually skip this one). We have had pan fried breast of duck for one meal, another meal we had Coquilles St Jacques from Paris. Each evening we normally have an appetizer - today was salmon and mackerel on crackers. The other day it was some other kind of fish. Breakfast is a selection of thinly sliced luncheon meats, cheeses, yogurts and breads. Cliff keeps telling me that I will not gain weight because we are actually eating 3 meals a day which is better for our bodies then the half-hazard way we normally eat. I don't believe him.