Maxima

So, here we are in the Netherlands.  My camera is not downloading my pictures so Blips let me borrow a couple of his.   Our flight with Iceland Air was very nice.  The food was good and we ate way too much.  For dinner Friday night we had meatballs with sweet/sour sauce in rice, a gourmet brownie to die for, salad and rolls of course.  We were so excited to get on the plane in Mpls that we got up and left behind our water bottles on the bench.  That was a problem since I usually drink a lot of water.  So, I only had two small glasses and two cups of tea for liquid.   We did not sleep more than a half hour before they put on all the lights and said we were decending in Iceland.  We did get water there and drank quite a bit.  Our passports were stamped at immigration/coustoms and our shoes checked again, of course, and we were on our way to Amsterdam.  We were immediately served breakfast…..ham/potatoes/eggs.  All the lights were on so we now stayed awake for the whole flight.  The seats were small but the flight was nice and no crying babies or people trying to save me.

Our first day here was full of family and lots of talking in Dutch and laughing and good food.  I really enjoyed seeing every single one of them and seeing how much the children had grown.  I just wish I could have been better company and said more to the older children.  I was sort of sleeping while awake….felt zombie like.  I think it is because of the water problem and not the lack of sleep although it could have been both.

By the second day, I was feeling much better and we went to our favorite Chinese buffet.  Blips warned me which tray was the deep fried bananas so I would avoid them.. ohhhhhh, that is bad stuff.  Monkey food.  The rest is very delicious especially the chicken satay and the dim sum.  Monday we went shopping in Dordrecht.  That is also where we got married.  We always go to look at the building where we got married since it is so beautiful.  There happened to be a bridal party just arriving.  That was fun to watch all the picture taking and remember our own wedding day.  We took the waterbus back to Papendrecht and walked home from the town center.  Acting real Dutch

Today we went to another of our favorite spots called Kinderdijk.  It is an area of working windmills along a canal.  It is a very unique peaceful breathtaking view.  Our oldest daughter and our granddaughter Jonna were with us making it extra special.  We walked along the canal for a very long time and then took the tour boat along the canal past the windmills.

On our way back to the parking lot, I fell off some uneven pavement.  It must have ben rather funny to see, since I was down before I knew what happened.  Now my right foot is swollen and I think we will stay home tomorrow so I can rest it.  We still want to walk all over Amsterdam next week. 

Today, Jonna started using some more English.  She said, “funny” when something was funny and then she would giggle.  She is also teaching me more Dutch.    I am having a great time and it is going way too fast. We get to see more of Nancy on Sunday and did I say I got to see our third grandchild on the echo at the doctors office!!!!!

During rush hour tonite, Wednesday, the 35W bridge over the river collapsed.  It is a four lane freeway bridge and it fell 64 feet into the Mississippi.  It is so unbelieveable.  Rescue workers said a minimum of 50 cars went down, some into the water.  Please say a prayer for everyone, their families and the rescue workers.