Mid week joy!!!

It's mid week during one of my most stressful weeks to date, and yet all I can think about is how exciting my life is right now and how grateful I am for all of the blessings I have right now! A &A are coming in two days! I have such great friends here! Seriously, my cup runs over. It reminds me of the Jars of Clay song that talks about God's mercy leading us through valleys of sorrows to rivers of joy. I used to think that song was quite sad, but I've discovered that its really quite exciting when you consider the reward on the other side of the valley for the faithful. I've found a river of joy in Holland; while not as great as the end game, I can now see some of God's plan for me during some rough years at home. I wouldn't have been ready for this incredible time now without that valley.

Keukenhof Round 1

Ahead of my biggest weekend since moving, I felt like it was a good idea to do a practice run to the tulips, just to make sure I could find them when A&A, R&F and mom and dad get here next week. 

I drove to Lisse this morning.  I haven't mentioned my car much....it's been relatively uneventful with the car because I rarely use it.  I filled up today for the first time since December and getting the car, which means I had to figure out my fuel card for the first time today.  It went fine - but I think the gas attendant thought I was a bit thick as I couldn't figure out how to use it.  Ah well.  Joke's on him because I filled up and paid for it without incident!

The drive to Lisse was really nice.  Faith the GPS got me there with no issues....she's so good.  I did see fields of flowers on the way there, so I know where to go now to see flowers that aren't in a park.  No places to pull over though.  I wish I had my bike - it would have been nice to find a place to park and bike through fields of flowers.

Speaking of Faith, I'm glad she was good today.  We had a major argument this week when I needed to go to Rotterdam.  It was all my fault, but it didn't stop me from getting mad at her.  I learned that you should never select the Shortest route of the options if you need to be somewhere on time.  Faith took me through downtown Rotterdam in the middle of morning rush hour.  Thankfully I made it to the building in one piece with 2 minutes to spare.  What a crazy morning, Faith!  I apologised to her....I think we are good now.  Is it a sign of going crazy when you really think you have a relationship with your GPS?  I always wanted a sister....

I went straight to Keukenhof which is essentially the Garden of Eden, minus the fruit trees.  The smell of flowers permeates everything.  The design of the garden makes you think you've stepped into a new world.  It's so beautifully unorganised; the wandering paths make you think you could be lost in the park forever - and you're ok with that.  I skipped the map to just enjoy the freedom of exploring.  Everything typical Dutch is within the park - clogs, a windmill, tulips, waffles, etc.  Walking up to the main gate, they had planters with tulips in them, bright yellow ones.  My immediate reaction was that they must be fake - real tulips are not that bright or that big.  Nope - they were real.  Everything just looked that good.

The good news for my guests next week is that park was not nearly in full bloom.  Most of the tulips were not in bloom yet, so it should be really great next weekend.  Same story with all of the fields around the park - not quite there yet.  Excited to see it in all its glory.  The only question is will the sunny weather continue?????  It's still chilly, but at least it's sunny.

I also learned to have my camera fully charged when going to Keukenhof.  I lost battery about 3 hours in.  Sad day - but at least I have another 2 trips!

Some of my favorites (full album posted on facebook):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

London, my third home

So Houston will always be home and currently, Holland is home.  But I have grown to love London as well.  It's such a blessing to have meetings there or get invited to come over when everyone knows I'm working by myself or on the phone all day.  It really makes for a great week to know I've got a few days here and there in London.

I went before Croatia as well for a quick overnight trip.  Nothing to post from that outing, except that I got a lot accomplished at work and managed to have a lot of fun on Wednesday night as well. 

My latest trip was for the weekend.  I needed to be in London on Monday for some meetings, so I scheduled to come over early to do the weekend. 

I stayed once again at Hilton Hyde Park - trying to build up those points.  On Friday night, I met some of my co-workers for a proper night out on the town to celebrate a career milestone for one of them.  Great times.  I learned about the bar scene around the office again and saw my first mouse (in a bar).  Exciting!

After a late, late night on Friday, I was slow to get started on Saturday.  I first went to Portobello Road to reenact Bedknobs and Broomsticks.  If you've never seen this movie, your not missing a classic Disney film.  However, as a kid, I was obsessed with this movie.  It was like my Finding Nemo.  There's a song in it about Portobello Road and I felt like it would just be a magical place.  As the line goes, "street where the riches of ages are stowed".  I enjoyed it, but it was super crowded and cold, so it probably needs a second shot:

George Orwell's home....somehow I pictured him living in a very depressing place, but it was actually a cheery neighborhood with pastel color houses.  Who would have thought?

 "Anything and everything a chap can unload is sold off the barrow at Portobello Road"

 Beautiful vintage sewing machine display in a clothing store

 Beautiful vintage sewing machine display in a clothing store

Crowds!!!

After going down Portobello road and buying some strawberries to snack on that were as big as my hand, I headed toward Leicester Square to see what was half price for theatre.  Unfortunately, the line was already super long, so I figured I'd shoot for a Sunday matinee if I caught one on this trip.  I didn't, but glad I didn't.

I then walked up Whitehall to see Downing Street:

I checked with the guards - David wasn't around for tea.

I then went to Westminster.  Did you know it closes at 1:30 on Saturdays?  No?  Neither did I.  Sad.  One day I will actually go in this building:

I then walked back up Whitehall:

Britain is so good at war memorials.  Maybe not as good as DC, but close.  Then I headed back to Leicester Square for lunch.  After that, it was to the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery for culture.  I liked the National Gallery - it reminded me of the Rijksmuseum (if it weren't under construction), with a broader range of paintings.  I especially enjoyed the impressionist exhibit, but the Dutch masters was really well done as well.  The Portrait Gallery I could have skipped.  It was like a British history year book to be honest, without the cool notes left in the yearbook by friends.  Not impressed to be honest.  I did see Kate's new portrait.  I like it - I know there was controversy over it making her look a bit old, but I think it's great.  A very well done and classy picture.  I then had tea at the gallery, along with clotted cream and a scone.  Yumm.

That night, I met a co-worker for drinks and dinner.  That was fun as well - all new bars and a new restaurant.

Sunday was a late start again due to another late night.  Totally worth it.  I first walked through Kensington Gardens: 

Then I did the tour of Kensington Palace, which to be honest, was pretty lame.  They added a lot of modern art to it (i.e. carpets with writing in it, sayings painted on the wall), all of which just felt cheap.  However, it was neat to say you were walking where Diana once walked and Victoria/Albert lived and where Kate/William will live one day.  Worth it for that.

I wonder if Victoria ever asked Albert if this dress made her look fat.  And if so, what was the reply?

After that, I had afternoon tea at the palace, which is fast becoming a tradition for me.  Go to a palace, drink tea like a princess.

Unfortunately, I'm not very lady like, so I definitely spilled part of my tea into the saucer.  Still working on my form.

To cap the weekend, I went to the Apsley house which is the former Duke of Ellington's home.  His claim to fame is defeating Napoleon at Waterloo.  He's kind of a big deal.  No pictures allowed, but great audio tour.

Croatian holiday - Monday, the final day in paradise

I absolutely loved Dubrovnik.  Some of that was the weather, some of that was just being near the ocean.  I can't tell you how enchanting and relaxing this trip was. 

On Monday, I got up fairly early and headed to the old town for breakfast:

I gave up hot chocolate for Lent, which in retrospect, was a really tough thing to give up.  European hot chocolate is the best.  This first cup (other than one cheat, which I didn't have a choice about - long story) was the best way to break the fast.  It was like someone took a ghiradelli bar and melted it with sugar.  So think and good. 

After breakfast, I walked up to the cable car platform for the ride to the top of Mt. Srd.  The lady at the ticket booth was really sweet - she was insistent that I was with my husband and proceeded to charge me for 2 people.  Only after insisting that there was no such man did she give me a refund for the other one.  Phew, that could have been an expensive trip.  Anyways, I took the cable car up, which freaked me out a bit, but its only 2 minutes of freak out, so I kept my eyes open the entire way. 

The views were great:

 Old town

 Old town

 Old town

 Fort

 More Dubrovnik

 Islander Lindsay

 Cable car of doom

 More of Dubrovnik

 As fake FPJ would say, 5 star hotel in Croatia.  Croatia only have 5 stars.

 Getting cute with the camera

Mt. Srd cross

After seeing the views, I headed for the museum that shows the history of the 1990s siege of Dubrovnik:

This museum was decidedly Croat and decidedly has not had enough money spent on it.  The floors of the exhibits were covered in water, in some places greater than an inch.  Some of the actual artifacts were covered in plastic to protect them, others weren't.  It was an interesting read, but much like reading about WWII in France, it definitely had a slight note of over exaggeration.  It was a bit chilling to think that while I was still alive, that very mountain fort rained bombs down on innocent women and children.  War makes people do crazy things.

 

 

Needing a bit of a pick me up, I stopped for breakfast #2 at the Panorama café, which has the most amazing views:

 

At any other place in the world, a table like that, if you could get a reservation, would cost an arm and a leg.  Here, however, I walked up, sat down, ordered and then daydreamed.  Cost was super cheap.  This is where having RS help me pick places is invaluable.  I never would have thought to do this, but it was a great way to cap a great trip.

I took a video of the trip back down the cable car, worth the time to watch if you have 2 minutes:

 

 

 

 

Me with my backpack headed back to the airport - sad to leave the sun and the warm.  Until next time Croatia!