Days 167-179 (June 16-28) ~ Our Holland Trip ~

Mark travels a lot for work and the opportunity for our whole family to join him on his latest trip. We are very thankful for Phoenix to have given us this wonderful opportunity. I am also very thankful that Kim was able to make the trip with us :)

Day 167 - June 16, 2013

Our flight (DL4025 YYZ to BOS) to Boston was on a small airplane. Flying into Boston was quite beautiful with the water, boats, etc. The captain of this flight was super kind to allow Carsten and Savannah to check out the cockpit. They each had a chance to sit in the seats and handle the controls. Carsten had a quick crash course on what things did.

We then flew from Boston to Amsterdam (DL266 BOS to AMS). During this flight, Savannah pulls out a big Tim Hortons peach juice bottle on the flight and says, I’m thirsty, I think I’ll have a drink.”…Ummm, how did you get that through security?? 

Savannah and Emma had a great time taking off and landing.

Day 168 - June 17, 2013

We landed in Amsterdam earlier than scheduled at 5:05 am. The bad thing was we had a lot of time to kill at the airport waiting for the apartment rental place to open. After missing a night’s sleep, it proved quite difficult to stay awake. We had a bite to eat in the airport, walked around and explored. Then sat around, some of decided to explore some more and eventually some of us dozed in the airport while we waited. 

Alex's journal entry

We got train tickets to travel from the airport to Amsterdam. After getting off the train, we started on our way to find our apartment. 

Wijttenbachstraat 30

We crashed at our apartment and had a 2 hour nap before we set out to explore Amsterdam a little. 

 

We had lunch/supper at Rembrandt Corner and quickly we remembered that when you order water you get a small bottle that costs quite a bit..not free like in Canada. 

 Day 169 - June 18, 2013

The kids really slept in! I woke up the kids at 10:45am after 15 hours of sleep!! We headed out to explore and see a little bit of sights. 

Oosterpark

Carsten made the first purchase of stroopwafels at Waterlooplein Market

…he was very very happy. 

At 2:15 we were able to take in the Anne Frank House. Since you are unable to take pictures at this place, I bought a bunch of postcards…that began my obsession of buying postcards ;)

We had an early supper at O’Reilly’s Irish Pub. Everyone liked the food there J

Day 170 - June 19, 2013

We started the day with a trip to the Royal Artis Zoo. While we all had a good time here…Savannah had a great time! She made a song about her trip to the zoo, zoo, zoo that we heard for the rest of the time we were in Amsterdam.

We made our way down to the Nemo Science Center in the afternoon!

 Carsten's Spy Glasses

Day 171 - June 20, 2013

Today was Alex’s 13^th Birthday! We toured a real working Windmill (VanSloten). The best part of the day for Alex was that he got to help turn the windmill. The other kids got to join in to lock it back in place. 

When we got back into the middle of Amsterdam we visited Dam Sqaure.

 We also visited three churches today, De Nieuwe Kerk, De Oude Kerk and Museum Ons’ Lieve Heer op Solder (Our Lord in the Attic). During our time in Amsterdam, we spent A LOT of time looking at maps to figure out where we were and where we wanted to go.

 It was raining on and off in the afternoon so we hopped on the Holland International Canal Tour for an hour and a bit to get out of the wet weather. 

UPDATE:

Today is Alex's 13ths Birthday. We are grateful for how Alex is maturing and often is a huge help.He loves hard and has a special relationship with Rowan. He almost always is willing to share a hug with me still for which I am thankful. He are a few of his favourite things...

Activity: Playing iPod

Animal: Cats

Book: Dragons of Starlight series

Colour: Orange

Food: Pizza or Mac & Cheese

Game: Minecraft

Movie: How to Train Your Dragon

Music: Christian

Person: My parents

School Subject: Math

Sport: Soccer

Toy: iPod

TV Show: Family channel shows 

Alex likes to play his iPod a lot and would play all day if we let him. He also likes to read when he finds a series that interests him. He loves games like Catan, Monopoly and Risk.

When Alex grows up he would like to be chiropractor or Computer programmer. 

 Day 172 - June 21, 2013

We visited the long awaited Muiderslot Castle and it was sooooo much fun. Since the kids have been into medieval time stuff, it was a hit by all. Unfortunately it was raining so we didn’t explore the grounds outside the castle much but we still had a great time!

Muiderslot Castle

 Alex on his Quest

 Fair maiden Savannah

En Guard

Pancake Bakery for an early supper as we expected a busier day on Saturday. Savannah ordered the animal pancake…expecting a pancake in the shape of an animal…boy was she surprised when she got a stuffed snake on top of her pancake. She named her snake, Mr. Snakey and he was a prized stuffy.

Kim's Yummy Pancake

Day 173 - June 22, 2013

We went to Noah’s Ark!! It was so awesome to see a real life size replica of the ark Noah built. It was a long train ride to get there…we were planning to go to Maduradam but it was raining. So we headed back for supper at O’Reilly’s again.

Day 174 - June 23, 2013

We started the day by going to Hillsong Live Church and it was very different from our regular church that we attend. It was very loud and like a concert but the people were very welcoming.

We also had a ferry ride to the Pannakoekenboot. A boat cruise with all you can eat pancakes and an icecream bar at the end. There was also a ball pit for the kids…Savannah and Carsten loved it! There people manning our boat gestured and gave away the leftover pancakes to another boat J 

Day 175 - June 24, 2013

The kids weren't too thrilled when we said we were going shopping today…they changed their minds though when we hit the Albert Cuyp Market. From trying on glasses, to seeing lots of fresh fruits, vegetables, meat and cheeses, to picking out magnets, checking out toys, etc…it was the “best shopping day ever”.  Carsten got a remote control car and a pocket watch. Savannah got a guitar and fresh lemons while Alex got two helicopters. Add in fresh king size stroop waffles and it was a good day by all. We all picked out a lot of souvenirs.

 Pee Pennies (it often costs to use the facilities)

Picking out magnets

Trying on Glasses

 Flowers

Fresh Stroopwafel

Alex at a toy vendor

Buying some art at Rembrandtplein

We tried out a new restaurant called 3 Sisters Pub. The food was delicious and we accidentally ordered fingerfood (we have no idea what the appetizers were but they were all good). The kids wanted to eat there again the next day. 

3 Sisters Pub

We were right at Rembrandtplein and there were artists selling their work by the statutes…we picked up a couple pieces. The kids enjoyed checking out the statutes (of the Night Watch). We picked up dessert at a little bakery...it was quite the experience ;)

Day 176 - June 25, 2013

Waterlooplein Market again. We got some neat souvenirs here...Croc Klompen, rings, klompen slippers, pocket watch, musical instruments and more. We also did a tour of Delft, Den Hague and Madurodam. Supper tonight was fries from the #1 Fries in Holland. We couldn't take them on the bus so we walked towards home until we were done eating and then caught a tram the rest of the way.
  

Delft

Den Hague

 Madurodam - Miniature Netherlands

Day 177 – June 26, 2013

After a little frustration, we found the MacBike Rental place and we rented bikes to ride around. We made our way to Vondelpark and biked in and around it having the kids taking turns leading. It is a really nice park mixed with nature and playgrounds. We really enjoyed feeding the ducks and the kids climbing trees.

The tram we always needed to find...Tram #9 Diemen Sniep

We stopped at an Apple Store just to say we were in one in Amsterdam ;) We bought some tickets for our return trip to Schipol airport and we finally got a chance to play chess outside the TropenMuseum. I think that was a major highlight of our trip and the kids likely would have stayed there for hours if we let them. 

Raising her piece after she won

We had supper at Marco Polo Pizzeria and Steakhouse, it was good. We also bought a lot of candy at Jamin today for the people who begged us to bring some back ;) 

Day 178 - June 27, 2013

We did a tour of Volendam and Marken. We started with a visit to the Cheese Factory…it was really neat to see how it is made and then get to sample some with different jams and mustards.

My favourite part of the day was the kids getting 

pictures in traditional costumes in Volendam.

Then we hopped on the Marken Express ferry. I loved going through the fishing village and all their small houses. We had a tour of the klompenmakerij (Wooden shoe factory). Our guide was awesome!! It’s amazing how quickly he could make a shoe. The kids loved learning about the smuggler klompen. 

We hopped back on the bus to go to Zaanse Schans where we picked up the last bunch of our souvenirs and saw a few more windmills. Savannah picked up some seashells and coins. Carsten got collector coins and I got more postcards, traditional hats and magnets. 

 We headed back to Rembrandtplein to spend the last of our euros on artwork from the artist we met earlier in the week. We also had a last chance to hang out with the Night watch soldiers. Took in some street musicians as we waited for Mark. We had supper with Mark for the first time this week and we chose 3 Sisters Pub.

Kim did a great job packing up our suitcases so they wouldn't be over the weight limit. Early to bed because we had to be up really early to begin our journey back home.

Day 179 - June 28, 2013

We left for the tram at 6:10 am and we made it to the train station in good time for the train to not show up. So we waited for the next one to come. We all got on and arrived at the airport a short while later. We headed home on KLM691 AMS to YYZ landing at 11:44 am.

Inside Central Station

 Waiting to board our plane home

 Flying home

We got through the airport no problem, got our luggage and then waited for the bus to take us to our parking lot which didn’t come. After a detour ride on a Park & Fly bus, she brought us back to where we could get picked up by the right bus.  We made it home by 4:35pm.

THE END :)