Metal Meredith

Another busy day

Phil and I woke up at a relaxing 10am this morning. Both of us woke up between 7 and 730, only to fall back asleep for another few hours. Although we are enjoying the sites, I was enjoying getting a good 9 hours of sleep a little more.

We started our day with a 75 minute boat cruise along the canals. It was a great way to get our bearings in order to set out on foot. The boats are long and shallow, with glass windows and ceilings. You go through many of the canals into the port. Phil’s favorite thing was the houseboats, many colorful and decorated with plants and curtains; others look like a retirement home for a cantankerous sea captain, dingy and dark.

I was told that everyone here rode bicycles everywhere, but I was not prepared to see so many at Centraal Station, the train/ tram/ metro hub. It was just absolutely unreal. Phil and I think that there must be 10 bikes per person and you just take one and drop it off somewhere else to be used by someone else, much like our ‘give a penny, take a penny’ idea. When crossing the roads, you have to watch for bikes/scooters then trams, then cars. It is a never ending game of chicken.

We had pannekoken for breakfast, mine with apples, cinnamon and whip cream and Phil has raspberry. They were really filling and well worth the money. Phil hasn’t had a good cup of coffee since we left the US. He was overjoyed when his coffee arrived this morning, thick and creamy. Phil thinks there is a conspiracy in London to punish the coffee drinkers for not having tea.

Finally we got up the nerve to get on a tram, which is like their above ground metro/ streetcar. It was so confusing that even the ‘easy’ pamphlet of public transportation couldn’t make it simple to understand. It does seem that many of the people in the city are more than willing to help out those lost and confused travelers such as Phil and I. The tram conductor was nice enough to explain it to us a little better. He then told me that no one really gets it, so just wing it.

We took the tram to the central station and ate a hot dog. Then we found the other tram to take us to the flea markets. Phil bought me a super hat to keep my ears warm. We walked through the red light district, which was much less sexy in the daylight. We bought some cookies; Phil bought a beer and a few gifts.

The city is beautiful. The houses and buildings are either really old or very new. The mix makes it a fascinating walk. We took lots and lots of pictures but our lack of an internet connection is preventing me from putting them all up. I will try to get some more loaded and one last update tomorrow evening before we come home.

We had the biggest dinner of my life tonight, as we tried Indonesian food. We went to Saba Sebo, reportedly a famous local restaurant. We ordered sampler dinner for 27,50 Euros each. The plates of food were unreal. So much so that Phil decided to take a photo for those who didn’t believe us.

For anyone who is wondering, Vivienne seems to be having a blast. She certainly won’t be satisfied with our boring home life anymore. Grandma and Sissy kept her busy at Chik Fil A’s indoor playground and she didn’t sleep much. Grammy has just reported in that she went to the bathroom all by herself and informed Grammy after the fact. Follow that by her falling asleep at 530 Saturday night and not waking up until 7am Sunday morning. She is one tired baby. I am really enjoying my time away, but would be lying if I didn’t add that there is a pang or two of missing her these past few days.

Tomorrow will be more walking, more exploring and more eating and more tram riding. We are going to do our best to wake up at a respectable hour and enjoy our last final day of vacation.