Amsterdam

After saying goodbye to Michele in Brussels, we took the train to Holland, where I had my nurse educator conference.  The conference was held at a hotel out in the middle of the tulip fields, which would be great if the tulips were in bloom, but we weren't there at that time of the year.  Still, we did get to do some fun stuff, like riding bikes and walking, other than just attending the conference.  Our last full day we took a bus and two trains and went to Amsterdam.  While there we visited the Riksmuseum, and the Anne Frank house, and of course walked, seeing the canals and beautiful houses of Amsterdam.

A field by our hotel.  The hotel is on the left (tower is part of the hotel grounds)

The train station in Amsterdam, with beautiful architecture, once again

A church near the train station

I don't know what this building once was, but now it is a mall!

Rachel with the Riksmuseum behind her

A painting of the crucifixion from the year 1260.  Blows my mind!!

And this one is from 1300

A self-portrait of my favorite Dutch artist--Rembrandt

Rachel in front of a Rembrandt

And another Rembrandt

This is one of Vermeer's famous paintings--The Milkmaid

Even the architecture IN the museum was beautiful

Musical Company by Van Rijn

The outside of the Riksmuseum--Beautiful like the art within

Across the canal is a group of girls waiting outside the hotel that One Direction was staying in--hoping to get a glimpse

And of course, the canals, which Amsterdam is famous for

Rachel and I waiting in line outside the Anne Frank House

So Belgium has chocolate, and what does Holland have?  Cheese!!

Our last train ride ended in Haarlem

Our new nurse friends from Malaysia and Indonesia that we met at the bus stop on our way home from Amsterdam

Rachel on the beach near our hotel at sunset (Noordwijk).  Goodbye Holland and Belgium!!  I have had a wonderful time seeing you with Rachel

Happy Birthday, Rachel!!

So for Rachel's 19th birthday, we took the train from Brussels to Liege (Belgium).  Michele gave us great directions again, and it was a mom and daughter day.  It has been a great 19 years having Rachel for a daughter, and hopefully the memories we have made on this trip will be remembered on many of her future birthdays as well.  Here are some from Liege:

Happy 19th Birthday, Rachel!!

The train station in Liege is a a must-see architectural wonder--of course it was easy to do so since we took the train there!

St. Paul's Cathedral

The Castle of the Counts

Another way cool church, which unfortunately was closed  (All were but St. Pauls)

Rachel and I at the bottom of the 375 stairs up to The Castillion

And at the top!!

Look closely--bet Anny, Michele and Alison didn't know they also came along on this birthday trip!!  (Taken from the top of the Castillion)

Such a sophisticated 19 year old!

Kaoma had a specially prepared dinner for us with food from the Congo--complete with the delicacy of caterpillars!  It was a great day/birthday.

Brugge/Bruges Belgium

Today Rachel and I went to Bruges (Brugge in Flemish) by train.  Michele had to work, but gave us AWESOME directions, and we made it with no problems.  BRUGES IS SO BEAUTIFUL!!  I love the houses, the canals, the windmills, the cathedrals.  Since pictures say a thousand words, here they are!!

One of our first views.  Rachel was in love with the city immediately

No way to come to Belgium without eating a waffle!!  REAL Bruges waffles!

Rachel in the main square.  They had trucks set up selling fruits and vegetables.  We bought cherries, since we missed out getting some in the US

There are canals throughout Bruges.  I imagine it is like Holland, but I guess we'll find out soon!

Bruges in in Flanders, the more northern part of Belgium (and nearer to Holland).  All of the street signs were in Flemish

Another view of the cool houses--and the bikes!!  So many people here ride bikes.

Rachel in front of one of the cathedrals.  

Back in Brussels

I have a conference I am speaking at in Amsterdam, and decided to take Rachel along for her "senior trip".  Since Amsterdam is only three hours by train from Brussels, we just HAD to see Michele first!!  She picked us up at the airport, and took us home--she even had a table of Belgian chocolate (and "milk" or sweetened condensed milk) for us.  She offered to let us sleep (and two pretty much sleepless nights getting here made us pretty tired), but we don't have many days here, so we went into the city.  What a beautiful place Belgium is.  I have not been good about posting, but will try and do better when I am here.  We are staying with Michele and her mother here in Brussels, so hopefully the pictures will come while we are here.

Michele had a table full of Belgian Chocolate laid out for us when we arrived

Annie and Michele posed with this same cat
three years ago

Rachel and I in the main square--Brussels

Rachel and I with Gudule Cathedral in the background

Weird sculpture of Buffalo in the park by the cathedral--more graffiti on it than three years ago

Manneken Pis  (Little Boy peeing)
This is a famous sculpture that everyone comes to see.  He is dressed in the
Belgian Red Devils uniform.  Everyone here is crazy about World Cup
soccer.  We got to see the game today; Belgium vs Algeria--
BELGIUM 2, ALGERIA 1 --Woo Hoo!!

The three of us-me, Rachel, and Michele

Michele and Rachel