We flew in to Amsterdam on a rainy night. We climbed out of the cab with all of our luggage (me, holding a 50 lb stroller bag filled with a stroller, a mini bike, and toys on my back and lugging Des along on top of another rolling suitcase and Bill, with one of those really tall camping/hiking/metal frame backpacks and another rolling suitcase). I was exhausted and couldn't wait to slide into bed.
The apartment we rented was absolutely beautiful. It faced a little square, so across the way I could see a flower shop, a tailor, a cafe, and, much to my surprise, an Indonesian food store (side note: Dutch first went to Indonesia in the 16th century to look for spices. Indo became a Dutch colony for a while and Indonesian ingredients are widely used in Dutch cooking). The apartment belonged to a traveling, single nurse who was away in Panama when we got there. Her brother met us and he was so nice and kind and probably spoke better English than we did. Come to think of it, most Dutch people we met were more articulate in English than we are.
Anyhow, the apartment was lovely. In the middle of the third night of our stay, I start shaking Billy awake.
The apartment we rented was absolutely beautiful. It faced a little square, so across the way I could see a flower shop, a tailor, a cafe, and, much to my surprise, an Indonesian food store (side note: Dutch first went to Indonesia in the 16th century to look for spices. Indo became a Dutch colony for a while and Indonesian ingredients are widely used in Dutch cooking). The apartment belonged to a traveling, single nurse who was away in Panama when we got there. Her brother met us and he was so nice and kind and probably spoke better English than we did. Come to think of it, most Dutch people we met were more articulate in English than we are.
Anyhow, the apartment was lovely. In the middle of the third night of our stay, I start shaking Billy awake.