Amsterdam Social Housing

Amsterdam Domesticity

Amstel Park

Cafe People in Amsterdam

On Saturday we 3 took the train into Amsterdam to visit a sewing machine store to see if they could fix my sewing machine. I am afraid I may have fried the motor. I ended up buying a second hand machine in like new condition and will try and get my machine fixed in Canada. We made a couple of wrong turns from the station and it was very hot to walk around. We found this little cafe and a late lunch - excellent. Pat even got a little extra protein in his sorbet!! The buildings are beautiful in Amsterdam. I have been doing a lot of sewing while Ian is on his tour de France trip.

Floral Holland

The Netherlands is the heart of the flower industry. Flora Holland is network of companies, ranging from breeders and growers to sales experts and export firms, representing every aspect of the business. FloraHolland flower auction plays a key role of matchmaker, intermediary and knowledge center.

By offering the best and broadest assortment of flowers, FloraHolland wishes to tie (international) commerce flows to the marketplaces. FloraHolland offers its members the best sales opportunities at the lowest possible costs. FloraHolland is a service providing company that is a co-operative enterprise and not focused on generating profit. Its warehouse is supposed to be the largest building in world. Flowers come in to the warehouse daily and are shipped out or picked out by buyers within less than 24 hours. Flowers are shipped to the warehouse in lots which are moved on long trolley like carts. Buyers bid at an auction that starts with the highest price and goes lower. Decisions are made within seconds.

Flora Holland has a self guided tours on elevated catwalks that allow views into the floors and the auction houses. An amazing abundance of flowers assails the senses - as you enter the building. The facility smells divine. There is a vending machine that sells bouquets!! We ordered tulip bulbs to be delivered to our home in time for fall planting.

Go Fly A Kite

It was a beautiful Sunday at the beach - we got turned around a couple of times and ended where we wanted to go but had decided not to go - how ironic. It was very sunny but the breeze made it delightful and perfect for kite flying.





















On the way home we spotted deer in a park and Ian pulled over so Pat and I could get out and see them. Pat took pictures and this is the best one.

Amsterdam Rotterdam - We Made It!

We have nicely settled in to our house exchange in Amsterdam. The flight here was uneventful and we met Devon with no problems at the airport although Devon's luggage did not make it and was delivered yesterday. At the airport we were assailed by World Soccer paraphernalia and Pat got an orange soccer ball. We watched the match between Netherlands and Brazil on the TV - lots of happy Dutch people with the result. On Saturday we took the train to Rotterdam to see the Tour de France prologue. It rained a bit but we had a good viewing site. Silly Pat would not let me take a photo of his face - I must have tried 30 shots and it made me laugh so much how quick he was. Rotterdam had lots of interesting buildings and development - Ian took the last photo. We had a good meal at Engels cafe. Lots of young people dressed in white were on the train going to the Ajax for a big clubbing party -they looked so energetic and fresh - we conked out while they were just starting their evening!