Die Niederlande

Please forgive the long absence. We've had a full long weekend! Friday morning we were up quite early again to take public transportation to the Berlin central train station. We hadn't been to the Hauptbahnhof before; it's like a gigantic mall with train tracks running through at multiple levels.

We found our train to Amersfoort, the Netherlands. As is was a holiday weekend in Germany (again!), the long train was very full. We had purchased seat reservations, but as the assigned seats were facing backward, we managed to switch to another pair so we could enjoy the six hour ride. It was an easy, relaxing journey across the countryside into the neighboring nation. We even befriended a fellow passenger and enjoyed a long conversation with her, a German graduate student with many interesting insights and comments.

We had a fantastic time in the Netherlands. When we arrived on Friday, we walked around Nunspeet, shared some ice cream, climbed a look-out tower to view the forest, and enjoyed the rare sunny, warm afternoon. In fact, the whole weekend had fabulous weather. We saw old friends, renewed acquaintances, and introduced ourselves to new faces.

Welcome to the land of bicycles! With 13 million bikes and 16 million people, it's no wonder there is more parking for bikes around town than cars!

View from the tower in Nunspeet

We even met a lovely older woman who has had a pet turtle for 53 years! Jeff and I were fascinated by that. We got to meet and touch Peter the (girl) turtle and watch her enjoy a hand-fed banana.

Peter enjoying a snack; she's been spoiled and won't eat any other way.
It gives new meaning to "hand-to-mouth existence"

Shaking hands and making introductions with Peter, the
more-than-half-century-old turtle (I don't think she looks a day over 40 ;-)

All in all, a wonderful, refreshing trip. I only wish we had time to return for another visit before our European stay is over.