Amsterdam March 2008

Spring break - Andy's senior year of high school

This was Andy and Jill's first trip to Europe. We selected it for a few reasons, in no particular order:
1. Most people understand and/or speak English
2. Most people would know how to pronounce our last name (it is Dutch)
3. We knew it would be easy to get around

Our first big decision was made after watching a Samantha Brown program - where to stay? We decided to rent a houseboat on the Amstel river. I would make the same decision again. We loved it. Granted, it was a bit cozy, but it was a fun experience. The boat was solidly anchored, so there was no movement at all. And, it came with a cat, who belonged to our hosts who lived in the other (bigger) side of the boat.

Amsterdam has one of the best science museums I've ever been to. We spent an entire day there - in part because the weather outside was miserable. I wasn't sure when we arrived if there would be enough stuff to entertain two teens, but there was. It was a really good day. Picture was taken at the science museum - Jill enclosing herself in a gigantic bubble.

We spent the equivalent of one day in art museums - Van Gogh's and the Rijksmuseum (sp?).

In keeping with being American tourists, we did have one meal at the Hard Rock Cafe.

We took a day trip to the Hague, and one to Delft.

Highlights - and places to check off my list:
Anne Frank house
Cafe society (No, I didn't)
Canal cruise - relaxing and a great way to see the city
Oude Kerk - old church (it is really, really old)
Red-light district (No, I didn't) - great people watching
Rijksmuseum - most of it was closed for renovation though
Van Gogh museum - loved it!
Delft - lovely town
Het Mauritshuis - great gift shop

England November 2009

I can tick two places from my list:

1. Stonehenge
2. Royal Pavilion

While historically significant, please don't ever come to England just to see Stonehenge. You will be disappointed. I'm glad I got to see it, but we really were going to drive by it on our way to a meeting. The rocks really aren't as impressive as you might expect them to be. And...my new shoes got muddy.

The Royal Pavilion was worth the trip to Brighton to see it. It was a royal home (not really big enough to be called a palace or a castle, in my opinion) built by one of the King Georges. Queen Victoria used it as one of her residences at one point in her life, but it wasn't big enough for her huge family.

Parts of the Royal Pavilion are very Oriental in their decorations, but other parts are more Polynesian. I preferred the Polynesian rooms. The banquet hall and kitchen were very impressive. It would be a great place to have parties!

The King who built this place had a thing for snakes. I hate snakes. There are snakes in some of the decorations. Ick!

London 13 November 2009

I had lunch at Borough Market. I heard about this place from Samantha Brown - who has several shows on the Travel channel. I had a fried cheese sandwich from the same guy who made her sandwich when she went to Borough Market.

I then had afternoon tea at Harrods, after doing a little window shopping. Harrods is an amazing department store. I remember my first trip to Harrods when I was in college. The only thing I could afford to buy at that time was a key chain.

Afternoon tea consisted of 5 small sandwiches, 2 scones, 4 pastries, tea...and I splurged and got champagne too. It was delicious!

I didn't do any other shopping this time...but I was tempted. Harrods actually has a little store in the airport, so that is where I will pick up some gifts.

England 12 November 2009

It was another work day, but we made a stop at Orford Castle - near the SE coast of England. It isn't the nicest...or largest...castle I've ever seen, but it had its own chapel as well as a small jail. I wonder why those rooms are no longer included in homes???

I walked to the top and was rewarded with a great view.

We also stopped at the site of Sutton Hoo, but the buildings were closed so there wasn't anything to see.

Sutton Hoo, according to Wikipedia; is site of two Anglo-Saxon cemeteries of the 5th century and early 6th century, one of which contained an undisturbed ship burial including a wealth of artifacts of outstanding art-historical and archaeological significance.

England has really, really old stuff. I am always reminded when I am here how young my own country really is.

England 11 November 2009

This was a work day - very long, and busy. However, because of the route we drove to client meetings, I had the opportunity to see Stonehege. A picture will be coming.

London 10 November 2009

I had a little time today to spend at the Tate Modern. Awesome art!

The highlight of the day:

London theatre......


.....wait for it....

Phantom of the Opera

Enough said.

London 7 November 2009

I love London. I always find new adventures.

I forgot my umbrella. It didn't start raining until 10 pm, and I was pretty much done for the day. I'm still hopeful for good weather the rest of the trip so I won't need to buy one.

I also forgot my camera, so these blog posts will be sans pictures. Or...I could steal pics from the Internet. I've been known to do that.

Sadly, I didn't get as much done today as I planned. I have been unable to get my BB connected to UK's local mobile phone network. I'm sure I got more frustrated than I should have been, but I am here alone; so it was important to me that I can easily connect with people back home.

The highlight of the day was going to the theatre. I bought the ticket before I left, and because I was a single I got a great seat. I was 5th row - dead center. I saw Breakfast at Tiffany's. I really enjoyed the play. It is different than the movie.

I've had season tickets to the Guthrie for ~ 10 years. I see lots of plays. I've only seen one play at the Guthrie that had any nudity - Six Degrees of separation.

Breakfast at Tiffany's had male and female nudity - and I had a great seat. I think Europeans have a different - more open - attitude toward nudity.

"Life is a moderately good play with a badly written third act" Truman Capote.

Good day, good day! Now I need to try and get to sleep. It is 5 pm at home, but I need to sleep now.