seekingmygreaterperhaps

… Or “Goodnight my love” in Dutch. This is about the only appropriate phrase I know in the Dutch language aside from “thank you.” I am blessed to have been able to visit with two really great friends from camp, Sandra, and Sanne. In a weekend I saw Den Haag, Rotterdam, and Breda. Needless to say, the Netherlands kicked my butt in the best way possible.

This is my friend Sandra, and I stayed with her and her family in Cappelle aan den Issjle (spelling wishy washy.) We had a BLAST.

Our first stop in Den Haag was the Escher museum, which is a very famous artist who I know you have seen. He does a lot of optical illusions, like the impossible staircases, and the hands that are drawing each other, etc. If you stare at a piece, you will eventually see that things are improbable, when at first you’re like, nah that could totally work. Escher is like- PSYCH, busted. Then your mind is blown. This goes on for a full 4 levels of the museum. It’s a pretty neat time.

After this museum, we continued on the Den Haag with a do-your-own walking tour that Sandra found (she is an excellent tour guide.) Then I was slightly tired, so we had a chill night of catching up back at her house.

The next day we were off to Rotterdam! Our first stop was the Hotel New York, where emigrants would have their parting farewell meals before boarding a boat to move to America. That in itself was really neat. It had a special significance for me, since I TOO will soon be returning to America. On the walls there are tons of memorabilia with nautical themes too.

We then had lunch and took a tour of the SS Rotterdam! This would be one of those cruise liners that people would take overseas. It is luxurious and still decorated in 1960s decor. The people there were overly friendly, and we had one woman who talked to us about the color schemes for about 10 minutes. Thank you, but I want to see the captains deck too, kind ma’am. Which we did- which rocked. This was a really fun tour and a great way to spend the afternoon until we got to…

BREDA! Here is where Sanne lives, and we were there for a fun Dutch night out. But before that,

We ate this. I cannot remember what it is called, but you each get a little pan, and then you choose your meats and cook them yourself. It’s a slow meal and you get to socialize a lot. Also, it is tasty as all get out. Dutch people apparently do this for a lot of holidays. (Like actual holidays, not vacations… ha I’m funny.)

Then we went out, and I don’t mean to brag, but Sanne said I lasted better than any other American that has visited her. YEAH! Increased tolerance!

The next day Sandra and I returned to Rotterdam, where we spent the afternoon at the Swan Market! This is a big thing with lots of food, and then on the other side has a bunch of handcrafts. (My jam.)

Also, I ate some corn on the cob- FINALLY! It still has nothing on Indiana, but it was a nice taste of home.

Soon thereafter, we ventured to the top of the Euromast, which is Rotterdams big pole like skyscraper. Remember how I like heights? You get a neat view of the city from up here.

This is a place where you can sit down, kind of like a ride, and it turns around and you see the city in 360. The whole time I was waiting for it to drop, just like the Drop Zone at King’s Island… luckily it didn’t because I wasn’t wearing any safety gear.

Aaaand, that pretty much sums up my weekend with my amazing camp friends. I am so so so blessed to be able to visit people I love who already know me and all my quirks. I love people in hostels, but sometimes I just want to joke with people, and you never know how people’s sense of humor is, and I would probably offend them. Needless to say, I am glad I got to pass the weekend with camp people, and then get even more excited for camp. YAY! Also, the Netherlands rules.

Thanks for sticking with me until the end: Here is a picture of me standing next to a giant statue of a gnome with a buttplug.

*you read that correctly*