Maiden trip to Amsterdam

Having to cancel our winter ski trip due to illness, the consolation prize was a reschedule to Europe. Yippee. Escaping a cold Ottawa spring, we headed to the land of tulips in the Netherlands. In today's world of pre-booking everything, it was a "last minute" voyage to explore Amsterdam. We saw a fork in the road - and took it.

At customs, when asked the purpose of the trip, E quickly responded "Girls Trip!". The border agent responded in Dutch with a big smile and christened it "maiden trip", thus the title of this blog. Perhaps a nod to the Dutch seafaring heritage too? For these, meisjes, the tone of celebration was infused.

Jet lagged, red eyed and confused, we joined Anya and Lonnie for some patio time post King's Day when the rest of the city was hungover. So glad they had the time to meet us.

Orange everywhere for King's Day, even Lonnie was in orange

Kukenhof gardens and flowers

We came for the flowers!

Splendid Kukenhof gardens

Loving the blooms

Its a lot of work to get them where they belong

Field of tulips!!

Wouldn't be a trip to Holland
without an iconic windmill

Delft

An hour's train ride outside of Amsterdam led us to Delft, we met up with my longtime friend Anton. I am so grateful to have friends in so many places in the world. Anton, an official tour guide for Antwerp, was in his element taking us through the history and culture of Delft. Psst, if you're traveling to Antwerp, I have an "in" with the tour guides. Mussels from Brussels and From A to B

Delft is a picture perfect town
famous for the blue and white porcelain
we associate with the Netherlands.

Check out the tiny ceramic houses
above the transom

Even the faucets suggest...
washing your hands, you dirty minds!

The market square

from the tower of the New Church

Town Hall in the market square

Yeah, all 376 steps
in a narrow staircase

The House of Orange burial sites
in the Old Church.
Johannes Vermeer, Dutch master painter
is also buried there

Cheese?!

The Girl with a Silver Earring

E "towers" over me

Culture

Hmm so many options...
what shall we do?

Lets go to the Rijksmuseum

Contemplating the masters

Proof everyone needs a cat

The Cuypers Library in the Rijksmuseum
is the largest and oldest art historical
library in the Netherlands

The Milkmaid by Vermeer
The ephemeral light expressed by paint can't be captured in a photo.
Seeing these masters in person is truly a moving experience

Rembrandt's Night Watch's restoration

Canals and vibe

The patios of Europe!

How do they open a window?

Next door to the church,
so you could confess your sins

The wisteria!

The site where Monet painted

THE houseboat featured in
Ted Lasso's Amsterdam episode

Food and drink

The best pizza, ever at Dope.
No not that kind,
Italian pronunciation is like "Dop-ay"

Delicious smoked salmon sandwiches

Delicious brunch

Trying the patio options.
Drinks to match the flowers

Had to try it.

Yes, that's an exclamation
about the frites mit mayonnaise

Getting around

Bicycles everywhere!

Morning rush hour in Amsterdam.
Bicycles sure cut down on emission
and noise pollution

Canal transportation

Need to be small to get around

Daycare kids on the move

The oddest thing.
A random vintage hockey skate in a field.
Long lost skating home after a night out?

Close to home near the signpost?

Getting ducks in a row

Look, Ma! One leg

Crazy as a coot

Better go in the goot

Floating flower market

Stroopwafels certainly made
our trip go round.
Our go-to snack!

Thinking of where to take out next mother-daughter trip!

A sneak preview of our epic bike trip from Saigon to Bangkok for the next blog entry. Sooo many pics to sort through. Adrian and I spent a wonderful time in South East Asia with a few days in Bangkok and travel through Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand.