Three Days in Amsterdam

I've been a bit busy to do the blog as it's Graduation time, and the reason for my trip to Europe. My daughter is now Dr Anne Wyllie PhD. All our family have gathered here for this auspicious occasion and I've been pretty busy with functions and get together. However, we did have time on Wednesday for a visit to the Botanical Gardens which happened to be over the road from our hotel...

I'm pretty pleased with my phone camera for doing lovely shots of butterflies. Although I did take my macro lens over as well...

After the Botanical gardens, we went back to the hotel and got changed into some good clothes. Then Nikki and Vivie spent the afternoon wandering the shops in Amsterdam, while I read my book in a cafe. I wasn't in the mood for shopping! From the shops we caught the tram down to Anne and Michel's apartment where everyone got together for a big BBQ. Everyone who had come in from all over was there, including a surprise from my friend Erin who now lives in Germany. I hadn't realised she was coning to the graduation! Even my Mum cried when she saw Erin!

The following day we caught the train down to Utrecht where Anne's graduation was held. We wandered around having a look at the cathedral, then went down to the Stahl Cafe where we had lunch and a flat white. Utrecht is as always, a beautiful town...

The Cathedral is big, but was twice as big in the 1600s before it was attacked by a tornado and split in half!  It was never rebuilt, so the tower stands alone then a big square, and then the cathedral! Still very impressive though.

Next to the Cathedral is the Cloisters with the entrance to this next door. The building next to it is where Anne graduated, and afterwards we had drinks in the Cloisters which was lovley.

We weren't allowed to take photos during Anne's defence, so I took a few of the room before everyone arrived...

Anne's defence was challenging and some challenging discussion ensued, but she was very nervous (understandably). In New Zealand the defence happens behind closed doors, so for us, it was very special to see.

After the defence, the professors filed out to deliberate, and as you can see, the relief on Anne's face was obvious! It was all over!

 Then they came back in and pronounced her a Doctor!  I was immensely proud of her as we are all.

After the dirnks at the Cloisters we all climbed into a boat for an hours boat ride around Utrecht where we drank copious champagne/beer/wine and talked to everyone. I managed a few photos but not many as I was too busy socialising!

And then it was a fabulous dinner in Utrecht and a party. Anne's lab had made up a hilarious video of her life in Amsterdam. I'm hoping to get a copy for home to show friends. It was the funniest thing I have ever watched!

The next day - Vivie headed back to Greece first thing in the morning, and after Breakfast, Nikki and I packed our bags and then caught a Uber to Anne's apartment. We sat around talking, then Michel organised a boat for two hours around the Amsterdam Canals. It was beautiful...

Here's all of us on the boat...

And some of the sights...

 Michel pointing out this building and telling us what it was (I can't remember!)

A three storied bike park. However do you find your bike?

More modern buildings - the white one is a movie museum.

Pretty bridges over canals...

After the boat ride we had some drinks in a lovely park... I got a photo of everyone before they sat down..

Dinner at an Indian restaurant then back to the apartment. I was asleep as soon as my head touched the pillow!

Today Nikki and I headed down to Gouda to try some cheese...

I tried the Marijuana one. It tasted like.... Cheese. and I didn't feel any different!

After the Gouda we trained to Rotterdam to look at the archtecture...

And had a beautiful lunch at Markethal (Market Hall).

Walked around afterwards enjoying the sunshine...

Loved the malll that goes both above and below the street, but is still open..

Nikki showing how perfect we both are!

And then back to Central Station in Rotterdam to catch the train back to Amsterdam. Quick trip to supermarket on way home to pick up dinner. Another sightseeing day tomorrow!

Kinderdijk and Gouda, Netherlands

I fell asleep immediately the night before, and woke up thinking I had had 8 hours – felt so refreshed – to only find it was only 1.24am! Gah. Fell asleep again and woke at 5.00am. No getting back to sleep after that so gave up and worked on my photos.

Anne cooked an amazing breakfast of French toast stuffed with berries and yoghurt for all of us. We then got a taxi to the Hertz Rental car place and hired a car and set off to the Kinderdijk.

The Netherlands put on a stunning day for us to see the Windmills at Kinderdijk!   

The boat cruise I wanted to do wasn't running that day, so instead we walked along the canal..  We even found some fungi. Kicking myself I wasn't carrying my macro lens!

At the end of the canal, we hopped onto one of the boats that was working and hitched a ride back to the visitors centre. 

I got Anne, Jay and Gordon to pose for me...

Such a beautiful place...

Back into the car and we then went to Gouda.

Gouda is another very old town and very beautiful.

We also stopped for lunch and I ordered the eggs.  It was huge – 3 huge slices of bread, lots of cheese slices and 3 eggs.  I ate the eggs and cheese and felt my arteries harden with every bite!  The bread - I couldn't eat!

We stuffed ourselves trying all the cheeses too - so many cheese, so little time!

Cheese was even hanging on the power lines...

After wandering around gouda, we drove back to Utrecht, parked the car near Anne's apartment, then wandered into town for a beer.  Michel met us, and I was taken to this great beer place that is a converted church. I tried a Berry Beer – it was amazing – 3 types of berries-  and the beer was red.  Best beer I’ve ever had.

I could only fit in one though and I was getting chilly so ordered a hot chocolate.

We then walked through Utrecht and went to a Surinam restaurant for dinner.  More Surinam beers and beautiful food – I had a chicken satay starter only, but I was not hungry so that’s all I could manage.  Although weakened and had some ice-cream floating in advocaat and mint liqueur – yum!

I was having trouble keeping my eyes open so headed back home to bed, while the others went out for a few more beers elsewhere. I was asleep before my head touched the pillow!