in Italy

Here we are in Volterra Italy.
It only took three trains and two buses from Milan, but Cyndy was right, the gelato was worth it.

Dinner fantastique

Hier, le diner d'Elizabeth

Ce soir au restaurant le plus gourmand a Nantes; voila quelques photos

Le Bureau

Voici Jacques dans son bureau avec l'art de mur français typique.

En France

Nous sommes arrive en France, et enfin nous rencontrons la famille d'Edouard et Marie. Nous avons mange un diner fantastique! Je crois que c'etait amusant d'entendre la conversation en "francais" de Dan et moi.

Amsterdam

Dinner and Cabbage Boat Ride

One of these people splattered yellow paint on an original Rembrant at the London's National Gallery.

Another "Amsterdam School style" house

This beautiful house which we admired on our bike ride yesterday, belongs to Carina's parents.

It looks like a cupboard on the outside but it is a tiny bedroom.

Instead of a garage, there is space in the house for cows

Eating Eel

Jeff took us to an exotic locale where we could sample smoked eel.

Doesn't this look appetizing?

Let's get a nice slimey one.
Yes! Delicious!

How to bicycle in Holland

First check the 1615 map, which is still good - the roads haven't changed.
Get a second opinion, though.
Ride through towns which have great bike paths along the roads and bicycle stoplights and bicycle-only bridges
While riding through the dunes, open only to hikers and bicyclists

there will still be a cafe where you can stop. Check your map alongside a canal.

Another Dutch House

We visited the house featured in Dutch architectural guides and depicted in this famous Dutch painting.


It has been restored to its former elegance. (The elegantly tiled bathroom)

It also happens to be the house where Daniel's cousins live.

Graduation Parties

Indonesian menu: created by Jeff

Hospitality: provided by Carina

Entertainment: provided by Daniel...

... and Eline

At last week's graduation party, the teachers were invited. This party was for parents and students. I think next year's graduating class at BHS should keep that in mind when planning their graduation parties. Daniel is out serving wine and blue cheese to his friends, so I guess that would be one thing different.

Inside a Windmill

Everyone sees pictures of windmills from Holland, so here are some pictures of the INSIDE of a windmill. I got a tour from someone who didn't speak English well, so I'm not in a good position to describe all these gears and axles, but it ends up grinding wheat into flour.

The house that Jeff built

Daniel's house, designed and built by Jeff. Great house, isn't it?

At Daniel's

First thing we do, of course is go for a bike ride!
Look at Dan - riding a bike with no helmet, no spandex and no bike gloves!

No Photos!

Longest Travel Day

Summary:
flight from Seattle two hours late due to the crew not knowing about the flight.
missed the flight to Amsterdam
rebooked on KLM after going back and forth between KLM and Delta terminals to work it out
that flight was over three hours late due to inability to refeul during lightning, and the ensuing 60 plane back up at the runway
baggage stayed in NY
The good part about the flight was that, as you can see in the photo, Dan was the highest all time scorer on the on-board trivia game.

Photo before we all disperse around the world