The Final Dutch Day: Amsterdam December 29,2008

The boys of the Glover family needed to go to Amsterdam in order to talk with the embassy about updating their passports and so we took a day trip to Amsterdam. While the family went inside and since I'd forgotten to bring my own passport with me I walked around a large park area for a little while on my own where I saw several neat buildings and the street (literally) of nothing but museums. Afterwards we went to lunch and continued exploring. I experienced Amsterdam's many sides, shopping, food, and even a bit of the "red light" district where I saw several cafes not meant for drinking coffee. I'd already known to expect the cafe culture as a little different from what I'd been used to and I knew that weed was legal as well but it still came as a shock just how common it had become. I saw many other interesting and amusing things including the grand central train station, the mall that appeared to more of a castle then a mall, and even the bicycle parking garage filled with bycicles. As well I experienced new flavors of puff pastry like things with powdered sugar on top, a Dutch version of the Croquet at McDonalds, and hot chocolate. A sweet ending to a sweet day. The next morning I was off for the airport to head to Italy with sweet Dutch memories to bring along with me.

Dutch Days 2: December 28,2008

That morning we woke up relatively early and decided to take a trip to the open air museum where I learned a lot of the history and culture of the Dutch. In the open air museum we went and watched a movie that talked a lot about history in this large egg like dome that moved. It was well presented and very interesting to experience. Afterwards we walked around looking at all the different stages of old Dutch life including the farming, housing, cooking etc. We took a few rides on the train, ate delicious pancakes for lunch, played on the playground for a little while. I also got to experience an old fashioned Dutch way of cooking by making what appeared to be some sort of friend porage with molases on top. It was here I was adorned in an old red and white apron and sat at an old fashioned Dutch oven with a large frying pan and spatula like thing wowing the crowd with my amazing cooking skills. Wowing is a bit of an over statement but I don't think anyone thought I knew what I was doing till they saw me in action. Afterwards we found a gigantic windmill adorned with large slide where we went "sled riding." As there was no snow we just slid down the slide with rubber tubes. As the day was drawing to a close the last thing we did was to go ice skating and it was here I got to share in the experience of teaching Mark-Jan how to ice skate. It took a minute for me to get my feet back as it'd been so long since I'd last gone ice skating but it was a glossy finish to a wonderfully spent day.

Dutch Days: The beginning December 27, 2008

I made it to Holland relatively quickly, landing in Eindhoven. From there I took a bus from the airport the train station so that I could hop on a train and head to Ede to meet with the Glover family. I soon found myself at the Ede train station relatively early with little way to contact the Glover family as I'd lost the number somewhere along the way there. I tried several times on the rediculous cell phone as well as a pay phone to contact them and let them know I had arrived but the Dutch pay phones are either very complicated or I'm just not all that pay phone saavy as I failed several times before I was finally able to leave a voice mail message on Matt's phone. It wasn't soon before long that Matt Glover arrived at the station to pick me up and we headed back to their house where I met his wife Winnie and his two adorable sons Mark-Jan, and Tim. After a little while Grandma came to pick up tim who would be staying with her for the weekend. After Tim and Grandma left winnie and I went out to see the large weekend street market where all sorts of fresh fruit and vegetables as well as goodies were being put up for sale. It was here I tried a fried fish dish with a dutch version of tarter sauce that was really sweet but delicious. After we walked around a little more picking up some items for dinner and the kittie before heading back home to enjoy what's called "hot pot" and wine. It was a fun and delicious make it yourself dinner where you selected meats and veggies sticking it in the fun dishes over a a small movable frier like thing which I have no way to describe. It was a long and enjoyable dinner before bed.

The Day After, December 26, 2008

My last day in London was a push to see as much as possible as I headed out quite early in the morning in search of several things. First I quickly went to where I thought the Wimbeldon stadium would be only to find out it wasn't where I thought it'd been located. Afterwards I made my way quickly to search for the infamous Abbey Road where the beatles took the photo for the appropriately titled album. Though once again my directions had been slightly off and so slightly defeated and feeling down I discovered to my great surprise a small pub where I grabbed a quick fish 'n' chips and a pint. After refreshing myself with food I made a quick stop at the Harley Store that had been closed the first time around and returned to the Chelsea stadium from earlier as well. If I'd had time I would've purchased tickets to the game that was taking place that day but instead I just made a quick stop in the store to purchase a gift for my dad and my youngest brother. Quickly I made a stop off at the Buckingham Palace where I watched as the guards stood their stillest only moving when they were scheduled to "march." It was all a neat show and after snapping a few shots I then made my way over to the London Eye as I'd scheduled a ride on the large enclosed ferris wheel. Along the way I stopped off in Westiminster Abby where I was able to see Parliment, Westminster Church and all the other beatiful buildings surrounding this area this of course included the most famous of London's buildings Big Ben.

After the pictures I made my way over and took a long ride on the London Eye while enjoying a cup of spiced/mulled/glu wine depending on who you talk to . After enjoying this I decided it was time to eat dinner and made my way over towards Hyde park where the Hard Rock Cafe was allegedly located near by. It was here I met Frosty Jack the snowman and claimed him as my boyfriend for the evening. We spent a lovely evening together in Hyde Park. But after walking around for a good hour and a half later I finally gave up on the search for the illusionary Hard Rock Cafe and hailed a cap to take me to the nearest underground station so I could head back. Along the way I got lost once more as the station nearest my hostel had been closed down for the day. After finally finding my way back I stopped of quickly to get a small dinner before calling it a night in the hostel and waking up at 3 am to get to the airport to catch a ride to Holland.

Christmas In London, December 25, 2008

Being Christmas not much was open but Duffy and I slept in and awoke the next day setting out in hopes of finding a legitimate fish and chips restaurant where we could grab some good old fashioned fish and chips and a pint. unfortunately there were no places around open and after walking several long tedious miles through London we settled for eating at a delicious greek restaurant where I played it safe sticking to calamari. Afterwards we made our way back to the hostel and having slept in extremely late it was already beginning to get dark but we traversed the city in search of something good to do. Finding nothing we settled on buying lots of candies and spending the night chatting, eating sugar untill our teeth rotted and sipping on bacardi breezers. The whole seemingly boring was packed that I forgot what the day even was before night fell and we once more decided to hit the hay so that the next day I could race around the city and catch up on all I'd missed out on.

London Lights: December 24, 2008

I arrived in London relatively early in the morning after a long adventurous bus ride and quickly made my way to the hostel to check in. After checking in and grabbing a quick breakfast, I went out to explore immediately. I took the undergroundand quickly went to the London Bridge and Tower where along the way I saw Ernst and Young, as well as the City hall which was very funkily shaped. I also saw the London Fortress and a huanted house called House of Doom or something tacky along those lines. Afterwards I went to see King's Cross Station. Later I found my way to the Chelsea Soccer Stadium, as well as one of the oldest Harley stores. I'd promised to find an awsome T-Shirt for my uncle while I was there but unfortubately arrived an hour too late but promised to make it back later that week. As it was getting late I made my way over to China town passing by Picadilly Circus along the way. In Chine town I took the suggestion of Fraser and ordered take out from an awsome restauraunt. Taking it home I found the chillies a little more then I could handle but enjoyed the meal none the less. It was at this point that I decided to make my way back to my room only to find my key didn't open the door to the room I'd been given. Going downstairs I talked with the desk to find that I'd been put into the wrong room. So I quickly threw my stuff together and left the room and moved into the other to meet my new roomate named Duffy. We hit it off and sat around chatting for a little while before we both decided to hit the hay wishing one another a Merry Xmas before turning out the lights and falling asleep.

Final Day In Scotland

The final day in scotland had saved all the best for last. It was finally time for meet the infamous Fraser of Smart Recovery as I received a call on the cell phone that was much more pain then it was worth stating that he would be around today and would like to come pick me up and show me Inverness. As time had passed by relatively quickly already and my bus that evening was set to leave sometime around 8 we kept the sightseeing close. First we went to Lochness in search of Nessie. But instead of finding Nessie I found the story of a man who held a passion for the search of the mysterious monster of the lake. This man's name I do not remember but I do remember his story. For his passion he sold everything he owned and bought a small trailer house moving out to lochness and taking up permanent residence with his new lakeside estate. It was here he spent his days searching for clues and answers to the msytery that is Nessie. On his days not spent traversing through online photographs and lake watching he sells small figurines to support his dream and is always willing to tell his story to a wayward traveler willing to listen.

After a few snapshots lakeside in the chilling rain we were shortly entertained by a small boy who decided to make lochness his own personal swimming pool soaking himself through his thick winter jacket and to the bone. Gives me chills just thinking of it each time. After a few chuckles we went to a local shop where the traditional scottish goodies were sold where I received my very own Nessie to take home with me. On the way back we stopped off at the park I'd been in just the day prior to look at the christmas lights all lit up only to find out that a rather idiotic bunch of children vandalized the beautiful display ruining the goodtimes for all to come. Instead we took photos by the bridge that had luckily been left untouched. After this Fraser showed me the history of Inverness as well as his history showing me the town where he lived as a small boy. Along the ride around I saw a peacock up close and personal but unfortunately my camera had stopped working for the day and wasn't taking my own pictures. As we drove we stopped at a locals only like pub where I had my first real scottish ale named Mr. Snowballs.

After filling up on a pint of ale we went over to pick up Fraser's wife from work and went home for dinner where I tried several new items as well including haggus, scottish style stew, and whiskey. The haggus and the stew were both delicious and the rumor that Fraser's wife was an excellent cook held more truth then even I can explain. I'd never been so full in my life with so many delicious scottish delicasies. The whiskey was very strong but I enjoyed trying it and the pudding for desert was like a piece of chocolate heaven. A delicous ending to a wonderful time spent in Scotland as afterwards I was loading a bus and on my way to London.