My Host Parents

This past weekend my host parents came to visit. I am so happy they were able to make it!! We had a great weekend…and they even helped me pack. Uwe and Andrea arrived Friday afternoon, about the same time I got back from Stavanger. I met them at Amsterdam Centraal, which was perfect, and we stored our bags and went for a canal cruise. The weather was fantastic, and quite warm, so we enjoyed the city from water level then dined on some Dutch pancakes. We were all tired so we decided to call it a day and head back to Haarlem. Upon arrival at the train station, I offered for them to take the bus, but they wanted to walk home from the train station. On that walk, I ran into some upper managers who were here for work. I didn’t even realize they were in town, but it was good to chat a bit with them.

On Saturday we decided it was a Haarlem day. We saw some sights that I had not yet seen (churches and markets) then headed to the beach. We didn’t get there till around 3 but it was probably just as well because it gave enough time for the mass crowds to leave. It was still busy since the weather was so wonderful but the traffic and parking was tolerable. I also managed to suffer my first sunburn of the season on my back side so now my back and back of my legs are about 2 shades darker than the front side. I guess I will have to try and correct that while at the lake for a few days. After the lake, we made it back to Haarlem in time to see America loose our soccer game. What a sad 2 hours of my life.

On Sunday we headed into Amsterdam. The original plan was the Van Gogh museum, but we decided to take a bus tour of the city and see some other sights and learn little known facts. One of these facts: on average 1 car per week ends up in the canals. We were also able to go to another big market that is open every day. I went to more markets last weekend than my entire time here, combined. They do sell some pretty good things! After touring the city for awhile we came back to my apartment to pack and watch Germany kick England’s butt in soccer. The packing has gone so easy thus far I’m worried. It seems too good to be true. I guess I’m not done yet, though.

Me, Uwe, and Andrea on the bus during our tour around Amsterdam. It was a double decker.

I am really going to miss this country!


They definitely know how to support soccer! It is a ton of fun watching it in this country.

The crowded beach at Zandvoort. Only a week before it was stormy and full of foam. This is much better!

Uwe & Andrea in front of the St. Bravo church in Haarlem. I had seen pictures of this place but this was the first time I had "found" it.

Cliffs of Dover

Since we had 3 days in England, we decided to take a day trip. I had a book “The 25 Best Day trips from London” so I tossed it to Boyd and let him pick. We all figured he was more of the history person than the rest of us so he could make a good decision. He had a hard time deciding between Battle, where the Battle of Hastings took place and Dover, where the big white chalk cliffs are. It turned out to be a great decision on Boyd’s part.

We jumped a train for about an hour and a half ride down to Dover. We talked to the man on the train selling refreshments and he gave us the hints on where to go. We followed around the city map and went to the tourist information booth and they told us take the bus up to the castle because it is a long walk and when Europeans say that, we listen. After waiting a few minutes and staring into a pretty stream, we caught the bus up to the castle. When we paid the entrance they asked if we wanted to sign up for the War Time Tunnels tour free of charge. We said yes and then set off to explore the castle. The castle was really neat because everything was open. There were no rooms roped off and they had a lot set up like it might have been back in the day. The castle has served a lot of purposes over the year ranging for a place for royalty to stay all the way down to a prison. We also learned why a bathroom is called a W.C. (Water closet) because they kept their clothes where they used the restroom because the ammonia would keep the moths away. I’ve always wondered that, and now I have the answer.

After exploring the castle, and purchasing a bottle of mead, we headed to the tour meeting place to explore the tunnels. The tunnels were expanded and used during WWII and were going to be a backup plan during the Cold War in case nuclear war. Considering the cliffs are chalk, they determined that it wasn’t the best idea due to how porous the rock is. The tunnels were also used as a make shift hospital during the wars and offered suffered condensation buildup that would drip on the control rooms that helped communicate to the rest of the world and run missions for evacuating soldiers from France.

It was a great day exploring another part of England and drinking the mead on the train ride back. It was terribly sweet, but if someone offered me another glass, either iced or warm, I would take it. Room temperature wasn’t the prime drinking temperature. I don’t have any pictures because I let Karla the photographer take the pictures and we haven’t all exchanged pictures yet but trust me, they are great. If you want to know more about Dover, you can click the link HERE.

London with Americans

So, finally updating my blog. London with Tabatha, Karla, and Boyd was crazy fun. We didn’t do a lot of museums, but we did tons of walking and saw all the major sights. We were even sure to ride the London Eye since I didn’t get to do that last time I was in London. My other “to-do” thing was Westminster Abby. The others waited for me outside and I went in alone. I couldn’t take pictures but it was absolutely amazing to see where such great minds were buried such as Geoffrey Chaucer, Shakespear, T. S. Eliot, the Brontë sisters, Jane Austen, Isaac Newton, and Charles Darwin.

Another amazing activity we got to do was go see Phantom of the Opera at the London theater. I saw it in Vegas once upon a time but it was definitely the abridged version. Seeing in London in its original theater was truly amazing and gave us all the chills. Their singing was unbelievable and we all enjoyed it so much. It was funny though, that all of the dancers had burnt chests just like every other citizen of the UK because of the great weather. Good to know they are human too!

Every evening we generally went and got a drink (or two) at a local pub. We always tried to be back by our hotel before midnight for fear of getting stranded when the Tube shut down. It was just enjoyable being able to catch up with the girls (and Boyd) about what has been going on in their lives, reminiscing on old times, and debating our futures. We have all changed so much since graduating college not to long ago, but yet we are all still so much the same. I was so glad to meet up with them in London and be a part of (and reason why) they made the trip over the pond.

Tabatha, Boyd, and I at Leicester Square

Us girls having a drink. So good to be back together.


Outside of the theater after the show

All of the people enjoying the amazing weather at Leicester Square

York & Newcastle

After a brief week of working and recovery from Copenhagen and Sweden, I headed off to England on Saturday, May 22. I arrived very early on Saturday morning and caught a train up towards Newcastle which is located in north east England towards the Scottish border. I met a friend and fellow NOV employee from there during a seminar I attended in Houston. We really got along and had a great time and I threatened him that if I was ever in the area I was going to visit. He accepted that threat so I figured I better follow through with it. I bought a book that contained the 25 best day trips from London and York was one of them. York is about an hour south of Newcastle and is a precious town. It still has about 3 miles of medieval walls that line the city as well as small cobble stone streets that wind around the buildings. York has the largest gothic structure in Northern Europe so that was pretty impressive. I didn’t pay to go into the church because I didn’t have the time but it would have been neat. The city’s tourist website can be seen HERE. I did manage to do some shopping while I was there though. That was the most fun! It was just a splendid afternoon. I caught the train around 2:30 and headed into Newcastle to meet up with my friend.

My hotel was located right across the street and conveniently right next door to a Starbucks. I figured what better way to implore American irony than having him meet me there around 5. We walked down to the Quayside (pronounced Keyside) to look at the river and their famous bridges. He gave me a brief history of the area and then we decided to have a beer outside (with ½ of the town) and enjoy the amazing sunny, warm weather. We migrated to a few pubs and just caught up with each other’s lives and discussed a bit work in there. He caught the train home around 9 and I retreated to my room for a restful evening. My room over looked the street and the train station and it was very warm because I could not open my window but other than that, I slept like a baby. I had to catch the morning train at 9:30 to head back to London to meet another friends so I welcomed the early night and a long rest. If you would like to learn more about Newcastle, you can click HERE.

The bridge in Newcastle connecting it to Gateshead. It is a smaller version of the bridge in Sydney, Australia

The cute little streets of York


Inside the church in York. Over 1/2 of all the stained glass in England is in this church

The outside of the church in York

Cute mideval buildings in York