Well...we are in the last few days of our European tour...and feeling gutted and kinda ready to get back to routine! Ben and I have decided that 2 months is about enough for us to be able to really enjoy and appreciate everything we see!! A couple of days ago we went to Bruges in Belgium, which was just gorgeous...and had we seen it at the beginning of our trip we would have been amazed...but instead were like...'Oh that's nice, another cute wee street'. Call me ungrateful or unappreciative...but don't get me wrong, we do still love seeing it, but it hasn't quite the same 'Wow' factor as when we begin! I think once we have had a break for a month or so we will be back into 'Wow' mode...just in time for Christmas in Hong Kong with Mum!!
Well, we have been to Germany and fallen in love with New Wine...which tastes exactly like sparkling grape juice, but is actually wine...dangerous stuff is all I can say! We have seen a million cute wee castles, and Ben has crashed, and flown successfully, a remote control plane. One night we offered to cook tea for the friends we were staying with...Spaghetti Bolognaise seemed the appropriate choice. Now Ben, being used to cooking for just two...in which there is always enough left-over for another two nights dinner...decided, being that there were 4 adults and 2 children, he needed to triple the amount he would normally make. This meant his usually very flavourful Spag Bol lacked the amount of sauce to needed to keep this tradition. Not only this, there, once again, was enough left-over to do another two nights dinner...for all 6 of us, plus some!! We were lucky to find room in the fridge for the copious amounts of left-over pasta!
We then braved driving on European roads again and hired a rental car to drive to the Netherlands! Here we stayed with friends of Aaron's, who he lived with and worked for, for a couple of years! They were the nicest family, and we know that we will be in touch from now on. We fell in love with their youngest daughter...who is just too cute...and tried to convince her to come to Disney Land in Paris with us and then on to London, but I am thinking she didn't understand our English, (due to the fact she couldn't speak it), because for some strange reason, she declined!
We spent a couple of days in Amsterdam...and much to my disappointment, and despite my trying, we didn't get to try hash brownies. Each time I wanted to, Ben assured me that we would be driving soon and therefore couldn't do it. I don't know how me trying a brownie would affect his driving the car? Maybe next time we are in the Netherlands? We visited one part of the red light district...which is literally porn in every shop, visible to all the passing public, and half naked women in every window, beckoning for Ben to come in...despite the fact he was walking next to his wife. They quickly stopped their beckoning the moment I was looking in their direction. I visited the Anne Frank Museum...which was quite amazing, and Ben, who hadn't read the book and decided he didn't want to come, found his way to the Red Light district again, accidentally, or so he says. The minute we met up again, he told me he had a confession...feeling very bad, he said he had been looking for some shop, when he found himself in another part of the red light district and all the girls in the windows were beckoning him. The fact that it was literally the first thing out of his mouth the moment he saw me has convinced me he was genuinely there by accident. I can imagine him freaking out at where he was, knowing he would have to explain himself to his wife later, and trying to get out.
Meeting some of my Dutch family was a bit of a highlight for me. My Opa's brother is exactly like my Opa...despite the fact they hadn't lived in the same country since they were 12. They laugh the same, have the same mannerisms, look the same, even talk the same. It was crazy! And I was amazed that I felt such a connection with this supposed stranger, whether because he reminded me of Opa, or simply cos he is family, I don't know? Never-the-less, we were truly spoilt by them and had the most lovely day, and are planning to return to meet the rest of the family for Christmas next year.
We spent a day in Belgium, eating chocolate till we felt sick, and drinking beer. We travelled up the Dutch canals in a boat drinking tea and eating Dutch food. We danced till 5am in a Dutch bar at a 3rd of October festival. We wandered along the beaches, and tried Dutch Croquettes...mmm...sooo good! All in all it was an amazing visit...and as with Switzerland, we were so sad to leave! But have made our Dutch friends also promise to come visit for a weekend in London!
Now, back in Germany returning the car, and awaiting with dread our 10 hour night bus ride to Paris, we get ready for the last 4 days of our holiday!
