Netherlands

LIVING IN STYLE WITH GOOD FRIENDS IN THE NETHERLANDS
September 11, 2000 - September 13, 2000

Wednesday, September 13, 2000

As Rich so eloquently put it during our first few hours in the stylish penthouse apartment of our friends Marga and Bernd, "I am so happy...I could cry". Once again, we are very lucky to have the opportunity to really experience every day life in a country with very nice friends that we have met during our travels. We met Marga and Bernd while we were in the Galápagos Islands. They were very witty people, and we knew then that we would be seeing them down the road when we got to The Netherlands. By the way, many people here still call it Holland. I prefer the name Holland as well.

So here we are. Marga came to pick us up at the train station when we arrived Monday afternoon. She drove us around the modern city of Rotterdam to show us the highlights and then brought us to their "flat" which is located on the Maas river. The flat is absolutely stunning. It comes right out of an Architectural Digest magazine. There is an open terrace which overlooks the river and the art deco bridges that cross the Maas in the distance. We had cocktails and a delicious dinner together with Marga and Bernd. As always, they kept us laughing the entire evening.

Yesterday, Tuesday, Marga took us on a tour to nearby Den Haag and Delft. We had a great time enjoying coffee in the conservatory of the Kurhaus hotel and viewing the excellent Mesdag Panorama art museum in Den Haag. If you visit this city, you must do both.

Last night, we enjoyed Mussels and wine and Bernd's amazing photographs of the Galápagos Islands, Oman, Africa and America. He really should be a professional photographer..but he has a very successful career with Unilever, so I can understand why he has just kept it as a hobby.

Right now, Rich and I are getting some work done. Marga is preparing for friends to come over. We will enjoy coffee and some delicious German waffles together. Today is Marga's birthday. I should be the one preparing the afternoon treats. However, she is better at it than I am and insists on doing it; however, I will now go and at least see if I can assist her.

Bye for now.

Thursday, September 14, 2000

Many people ask if we have changed during our trip. I always answer that I do not think that I have really changed, but that I now appreciate my life, friends and family a lot more, and that I will not take my good fortune for granted.

After the fine hospitality that has been shown to us by so many people while we have been traveling, I can also add another adjustment that I will make in my life when I return. That change is an increase in responsibility to others. I want to be there for other people a lot more than I have been. I want to do more things to make my friends and family happy. I also believe that it is important to spend more time and energy on people that I do not know, but that may need a friend or a helping hand. I have seen others that we did not know very well go out of their way to take us into their home and do many very special things for us. They have now become very good friends and roll models. While I do not want our journeys to end, I do look forward to seeing my good friends and family, and spending quality time with them. I look forward to doing nice things for other people and returning the hospitality that has been shown to me over the last few months.

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