Just had a nice walk back from our visit to a windmill in nearby Sloten. Apparently, Sloten is where Rembrandt was born. We had a great tour by a retiree who really interacted with the kids and got them engaged into what the purpose of this windmill in particular is about. They got to try on some clogs and see how a windmill is used to move water from one level to another to keep land dry!

We are fortunate to be staying with an old Scripps College friend, Amy and her husband Henk. They are generously letting us stay with them at their home outside of central Amsterdam. It takes about 15 minutes by tram to get to central Amsterdam, so it’s very close and very convenient. We are spoiled by amazing dinners that Amy whips up accompanied by wonderful conversation. The kids are happy as they have some of the creature comforts such as a television and space to hang out and stretch their arms and legs. Ani has been enjoying feeding the ducks in the dike just off the terrace in Amy and Henk’s backyard. There are times when you can hear the cicadas sing along with a host of birds that I have never heard before. Everything is a lush green and the hydrangeas are blooming like mad, brilliant pinks and blue/violet. Last time I was in Holland it was early spring and cold as all heck! It’s nice to be here at this time with wonderful downpours of rain followed by warming sun.

We will be staying in Osdorp until August 1st and have plenty of time to explore Holland. We have already visited Anne Frank Huis, Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Musuem. Other fieldtrips will be to Haarlem, Gouda, the “beach”, the Saturday market and back to Sloten to visit the local cheese farm mmmmmm…..

My favorite question from Roan came when we were looking at tourist T-shirts downtown, “Mom, why do they have marijuana leaves on so many of their shirts here?”

He opted to buy some Gouda cheese instead of a T-shirt.