European Vacation

Lebette and I headed off this month to visit friends living in the Netherlands. It was before the silly season at work for both of us and we hoped it was after the bad winter in Europe.

We were right!
First off was to see the friends who live in the village of Handel Netherlands, which is in the southern part. We had a chance to watch Nat Man score a goal in his teams 3-1 defeat of the neighboring village.

Another day was spent With BotBot and his mandatory swimming lessons. Good thing the pool was enclosed and heated....unfortunately it fogged up the camera lens, and this was the only photo to turn out.

Life in the village is good, with everything from school to church less than a 10 minute walk away. Plenty of time off to go and even watch the village motocross races one weekend!

Check out the next post for life in France vacationing with the boys!

Bayeux France

Off to visit the Normandy beaches with BotBot and NatMan...

First off was the Cathedral at Bayeux, which holds a tapestry (actually next door) from the late 1070's that recounts the Norman conquest of England in 1066. The tapestry is over 200 feet long and an amazing accomplishment. I list it as a must see when visiting the Normandy region of France.

All around the cathedral were the gargoyle waterspouts. This one looked kinda fuzzy with the grass growing out the top!

Then it was off to the Normandy beaches! The beaches where Allied forces stormed ashore in 1944 to retake Europe during WWII. The beaches were impressive, and the first wave of guys off the landing craft sure faced a daunting defense. The weather was suitably cold and rainy, which was perfect weather to appreciate the sacrifices made back then....

After spending the afternoon along the beaches we headed off for Mont St Michel. The views were amazing, as was the construction of the inside of the Cathedral on a 240 foot pyramid of rock out in the ocean (bay really, but who cares!). Dinner was cheap, and if you have time, the hotels on the rock are fairly cheap (less than $150 per night for a room with toilet/shower) during the off season. Check it out!

Now back to amsterdam!!!

Amsterdam !!

Ahh, the good life. Strolling along the canals of Amsterdam and watching the sites....no I do not mean the red lit ones! Lebette and I spent 2 nights at the beginning and end of the trip at the Waterfront Hotel in Amsterdam, just off Singel canal. (hotelwaterfront.nl). The room was nice, although next door is a night club that was a little loud at night, but then again they were kind enough to loan us a bottle opener for our wine one night!

Anyway, the flower market was just around the corner where you can order tulips to be delivered to the US.....when they are in season during the summer. However, you can pick up tulip bulbs at the airport that have been US FDA certified to bring back. And for the really fun loving crowd they plenty of young cannibis plants for you to........take home?plant? I don't know what to do with those plants.

The Dutch love their bicycles as a form of transportation. Here is a picture of the 4 level bike parking garage at the main train station in downtown Amsterdam! That is a lot of bikes...and most of them looked the same to me. You think you have a tough time finding your car in a mall parking lot...imagine this.