trip details

Alexandre Shoenewerk

Jeune Tarentine

Marble, 1871

Musee d'Orsay Paris

Back from Europe, and still getting over the jetlag. I typically get very tired on the return trip...and this time is no exception. I have been going through my bags looking at my purchases, doing laundry and cleaning the house after the teenagers.

I had a great time; early in the trip we spent two nights in Paris, where I wandered at the Les Puces de Saint-Ouen after taking the number four metro from Vavin to Porte de Clignancourt.

After enjoying a beautiful evening walk, we came across the Eiffel tower aglow in blue, standing under it at the exact hour that the towers twinkling lights gave us an amzing, dynamic show.

The next evening I ate at a wonderful seafood resturaunt on Montpernaste. I ended it with the largest yummiest creme brule I have ever tasted! The last day in Paris we visited Musee d'Orsay and had lunch at an outdoor cafe.

As english speaking Canadians, we don't practice french very often, but I have to say, I am all the better for those grade eight French classes....and those bilingual cereal boxes. The language barrier was minimal in both Amsterdam and Paris. The Dutch speak english very well, and we know more french than we think.

Van Loon Museum, Amsterdam c. 1672

Back in Amsterdam we visited the Van Loon Museum; intertwined with Amsterdam's history, the Van Loons held positioins as mayors and the last Van Loon to live in the house was Dame du Palais of Queen Wilhelmina for forty years.The home is lovingly kept by the museum foundation. The plaster "icing" ceilings and metal balastrades excited me, and the high ceilings and old marble were the stuff of dreams. I have to admit though, while touring the house, I kept seeing it with undertones of modern for today...how great that would be!

Biking along Holland's countryside

For the first time, I got to experience the countryside in Holland. Brian stays in an airport hotel in Badhoevedorf, just outside of Amsterdam, so we took the hour long bikeride in and out of Amsterdam one day. You start near the airport, and end up at the south end of the Overtoom; a short shot onto the Leidesplein, and great shopping.

Did lots of shopping. It is apparent that I need to lose some weight. I love fashion too much, and I vow for next years trip, I will be into that size 14 easily. Paris was amazing for shopping, and if it wasn't so expensive to stay in Paris, I would spend more time there every trip. Next year, I will have more choices.

We looked at the price of apartments in Amsterdam, but feel we cannot get into a canal apt in the city, but looking at the outskirts, and discovering more public transportation options, we may be able to get into a basic apartment outside of the city for less than 150 thousand euros.

The house was pretty clean when I arrived home...my little boy is a man! How did he become so mature all of a sudden?