Amsterdam part 1

School's out for summer!  

The end of the school year has finally come.  The craziness has subsided.  It amazes me every year how different the end of the school is for my students than it was for me.  They are happy that they get a break from school, but many of them are leaving our school forever.  These kids are so good at adapting to whatever environment they are put in and make new friends quickly, but saying good-bye is always hard.  There were many tears shed that last hour of school and we had to shoo a few stragglers out who really didn't want to leave.  It's hard not having a full high school.  We had to say awkward good-byes to students who will not be in our school next year, but aren't really going anywhere.

I am personally very excited about summer break.  I love my job and my students, but it has been an insane year and I need some rest.  Before going back to Wisconsin, Jamie and I decided that we wanted our own little family vacation.  So, we are currently in Amsterdam!  I know that most of you automatically think of marijuana and prostitution when you think of Amsterdam, but there is so much more to it.  To kick start our trip, we took a 3-hour walking tour of the city.  Yes, we did see coffee shops (they sell marijuana here, not coffee) and the Red Light District, but that was only a small part of the tour.  We learned a lot about the prosperous history the Netherlands has had and how the highest spot in Amsterdam is only a little more than 2 km above sea level. 

This used to be a weigh station and the right tower was used as a place to do experiments on bodies that had been tortured.  What was even more disturbing was that people would watch for entertainment.  Rembrandt went there once and later painted "The Anatomy Lesson of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp" after his experience.  

 This used to be the headquarters for East Indies Trading Company and is now a university.

Jamie is standing next to the narrowest house in Amsterdam.  People used to be taxed on the width of their house, so they build tall, skinny houses.  This house (the red one) is only 1.8 meters wide.  Jamie is taller than that!  There is only one room per floor which means a lot of up and down stairs and the stairs in Amsterdam are steep!


Our second day here was also Jamie's birthday.  He decided that he wanted to go to Belgium.  So, we took a 2 hour train and headed to Antwerp.  Aden loved the train ride!  Here he is being his normal goofy self.  

 This is inside the Antwerp train station.  It was stunning!

 We kept seeing hand figures being sold so I finally asked what the significance was.  There is a legend that there used to be a giant that guarded the Scheldt river.  If you didn't pay his fee when crossing the river he would cut off your hand and throw it into the river.  Don't worry, according to legend a young hero came and killed the giant.  The name Antwerp means "hand throwing" which is signified by this fountain near the city center.  Aden loved playing the fountain because there was no basin to catch the water.  You could run under the water and play in it like at a water park.

 Here is the birthday boy with his birthday drink. 

We fully enjoyed our time in Antwerp trying out the Belgian beer and chocolate.  It was a laid back day which was exactly what we needed.

 

Here is the nerdy math teacher in me... I got really excited when I found out that the B and B we were staying at was located on this street.  Can you tell why?

Part 2 coming soon......