To celebrate the completion of my thesis and the return of my marks I traveled to Holland to visit my friends, Isis and Florentine. Isis and I met last fall during our course, Reading African Cultures. She and her partner David live in Utrecht. Florentine and I met whilst we were both traveling in Peru in September 2007, and also lives in Utrecht. The holiday was absolutely amazing, so relaxing! I ate delicious Dutch food, slept in, road bikes and laughed with good friends in their beautiful country.
This is my riding on the back of Isis's bike on the way to see Flor. This is a GREAT way to travel!
After spending a long time in the local shop having Flor translate various gift cards for me (I LOVED this game!) we made it on a train from Utrecht to Amsterdam. We wandered around near the train station looking for the best deal on bike rentals and finally ended up at this lovely place. Two beautiful green bikes for 5 euros each for 4 hours. done and done. 
Me in front of the red light district in Amsterdam. Was a little disturbing to see the women in the windows dressed in less than modest attire, maybe not disturbing... so much as sad.
Cycling down the side of the canal in Amsterdam, we were lucky and had some amazing weather. I think all my holidays from this moment forth must include a biking component. 
Rollerblading in the park... all the rage on the continent.
Our train approaches Amsterdam station and after a long day of cycling and looking at shoes and boots all over the city we are ready to head home. I was really excited to see the selection of shoes in Holland involved numerous pairs of low kitten heels and flats. After living in Leeds for a year where heels are often at LEAST 4 inches, this tall girl friendly, clumsy girl friendly style was a welcome change!
Flor had me try the traditional croquettes with a vegetarian twist! The twist being that they were vegetarian, verdict? delicious! fried food is so good.
I happened to time my visit with the Utrecht Cultural Festival which meant free activities and music all over the city! We spent the morning painting mugs in the arts and crafts section. I chose to paint mine with the 'hieperdepiep hoera!' motto of the trip. (Dutch for hip hip hooray!) I saw it on a lot of gift cards and chose to make it my holiday mantra.
After a few days with Flor I returned to David and Isis's flat and the next day Isis invited me for lunch on the canal. One of the most beautiful parts of holiday are these lower level restaurants right on the canal. The second floor is at street level and then in a more protected area you can enjoy a meal outdoors and by the water. lovely!
David let me borrow his bike and Isis and I took a ride through the countryside. Our destination: riverside cafe serving massive Dutch pancakes!
and here it is!
Isis and I spent a day baking cookies and making soup and bread whilst watching Atonement (good film). This blue cheese foccacia along with pumpkin soup was especially amazing on a chilly Autumn day!
Cafe Linda! This one is for my mom, the call the Snack Bars are where they get the junk food like croquettes, fries, fried mozzarella, etc... .all those delicious Dutch treats that balance well in a lifestyle where I see more bikes than cars on every road.
This was taken the last day I was in Utrecht and Flor and I went to a little cafe so she could do her school work and I could do some reading and writing. These little sprinkles are what you order when someone has a baby. pink for when the baby is a girl and blue for boys. Since both Flor and I are due to be aunties next March there was MUCH talk about babies and baby clothes and how great it is to be an aunt and how excited we are. Whenever we saw the little babies on the back of bikes, or toddlers learning how to ride I thought of how excited I am to take Champ (my niece/nephew) out for a bike ride :) So Flor ordered me these little anise flavored sprinkles as a surprise. :) I did become quite attached to the idea of having sprinkles on my toast for breakfast, but favored the chocolate ones over any others. Yes, Yes I did bring a box back with me to England :) soooooo good.
This is my riding on the back of Isis's bike on the way to see Flor. This is a GREAT way to travel!
After spending a long time in the local shop having Flor translate various gift cards for me (I LOVED this game!) we made it on a train from Utrecht to Amsterdam. We wandered around near the train station looking for the best deal on bike rentals and finally ended up at this lovely place. Two beautiful green bikes for 5 euros each for 4 hours. done and done. 
Me in front of the red light district in Amsterdam. Was a little disturbing to see the women in the windows dressed in less than modest attire, maybe not disturbing... so much as sad.
Cycling down the side of the canal in Amsterdam, we were lucky and had some amazing weather. I think all my holidays from this moment forth must include a biking component. 
Rollerblading in the park... all the rage on the continent.
Our train approaches Amsterdam station and after a long day of cycling and looking at shoes and boots all over the city we are ready to head home. I was really excited to see the selection of shoes in Holland involved numerous pairs of low kitten heels and flats. After living in Leeds for a year where heels are often at LEAST 4 inches, this tall girl friendly, clumsy girl friendly style was a welcome change!
Flor had me try the traditional croquettes with a vegetarian twist! The twist being that they were vegetarian, verdict? delicious! fried food is so good.
I happened to time my visit with the Utrecht Cultural Festival which meant free activities and music all over the city! We spent the morning painting mugs in the arts and crafts section. I chose to paint mine with the 'hieperdepiep hoera!' motto of the trip. (Dutch for hip hip hooray!) I saw it on a lot of gift cards and chose to make it my holiday mantra.
After a few days with Flor I returned to David and Isis's flat and the next day Isis invited me for lunch on the canal. One of the most beautiful parts of holiday are these lower level restaurants right on the canal. The second floor is at street level and then in a more protected area you can enjoy a meal outdoors and by the water. lovely!
David let me borrow his bike and Isis and I took a ride through the countryside. Our destination: riverside cafe serving massive Dutch pancakes!
and here it is!
Isis and I spent a day baking cookies and making soup and bread whilst watching Atonement (good film). This blue cheese foccacia along with pumpkin soup was especially amazing on a chilly Autumn day!
Cafe Linda! This one is for my mom, the call the Snack Bars are where they get the junk food like croquettes, fries, fried mozzarella, etc... .all those delicious Dutch treats that balance well in a lifestyle where I see more bikes than cars on every road.
This was taken the last day I was in Utrecht and Flor and I went to a little cafe so she could do her school work and I could do some reading and writing. These little sprinkles are what you order when someone has a baby. pink for when the baby is a girl and blue for boys. Since both Flor and I are due to be aunties next March there was MUCH talk about babies and baby clothes and how great it is to be an aunt and how excited we are. Whenever we saw the little babies on the back of bikes, or toddlers learning how to ride I thought of how excited I am to take Champ (my niece/nephew) out for a bike ride :) So Flor ordered me these little anise flavored sprinkles as a surprise. :) I did become quite attached to the idea of having sprinkles on my toast for breakfast, but favored the chocolate ones over any others. Yes, Yes I did bring a box back with me to England :) soooooo good.