Amsterdam - Welcome to Opa's Home!

Amsterdam was always going to be a very special leg of our journey through Europe.  For two main reasons.  It was the place we would meet up with two wonderful families from Al Ain to celebrate Alex Brown's 40th birthday.  What an awesome place to be able to celebrate such a milestone!  Secondly, and perhaps more important on a personal level for me, was that it would afford me the opportunity to spend a little time in my father's homeland and more specifically, in his home town.

Centraal Station

So we caught a train from beautiful Belgium and embarked on a 3 hour journey to Amsterdam's Centraal Station.  Ben decided leaving Belgium was not something on his agenda and decided to have a tantrum of nuclear proportions on the train station platform and continued this on the train.  This did not bode well for the journey.  We survived it though, and standing outside the Centraal Station was rather special.  My dad had once lived in this city and it was very moving to think that I was now, albeit fleetingly, treading some of those same pathways.

Dam Square

It took us a while, but we managed to find our accommodation; 10 or so minutes from the city central.  Over the next four days we were to master the train and tram system and make our way around this beautiful city with ease.  Our accommodation was an interestingly small apartment up four flights of stairs that had an interesting aroma (tongue firmly planted in cheek); but suitable for a short stay.  The best part about it was the location; so close to a gorgeous wee playground for the kids and on the doorstep of the aesthetically beautiful Erassmuspark.  It was around the corner from a wonderful bakery and from a small supermarket and the best KFC that I've ever tasted!

Eating out in Amsterdam

As I mentioned, one of the best parts of travelling to Amsterdam was the fact that we were meeting up with Kiwi friends.  How weird was it to meet up at a small bar in the middle of Amsterdam, with the Brown families (Jenny, Alex, Brooke, Sasha, Micaela and Pheonix)!  A world away from New Zealand, and Al Ain so to speak.  We spent the next three days travelling the trams and buses visiting such wonderful sites as the Jordaan, Anne Frank's house, Van Gogh's museum, the IAMsterdam sign, Dam Square, the red light district, Markham and Volendam.

In Volendam

So many highlights...the first being the bus tour to Markham and Volendam.  Two wonderful, small villages well outside of Amsterdam City Centre.  We managed to have a whirlwind tour of the cheese factory, the clog factory and all surrounding areas.  Anne Frank's House was another, personal favourite.  It was amazing to see this house with all the things Anne kept on her walls, her actual diary and writings.  Having read Anne's diary as a teenager and then taught this book, it was pretty special to be able to see it.  Such a moving experience.  Van Gogh's Museum was also a highlight.  There is something to be said for taking toddlers - easy line-jumping access to save time upon entry!  We probably saved a good hour on our line-waiting time.  To behold the artwork that was previously only viewed on a website or in books was pretty darned amazing.

Anne Frank's House

In all of this we had wonderful friends to share the time with.  Our kids get along so well, so it was just easy to go to places and do things knowing the kids were happy and being well looked after; by many adults.  Jenny and the kids and I had a lovely afternoon on a canal cruise, playing in the local playground and then partaking in that KFC mentioned above, while the others celebrated Alex's birthday in the only way they know how...completely drunken disorganised style!

Happy birthday Alex!

For me, the greatest highlight though was taking a train out to Haarlem, the place where my dad grew up.  It was a train trip tinged with anticipation, excitement, nostalgia and a little sadness.  It became a more emotional experience than any part of our European journey to date; simply because if I'd been able to choose to do this visit my way, my dad would have been there by my side.  I would have given anything and everything to have been able
to take him with me and have him visit his home once again.  The next best thing though, was to take my family with me to experience this.  And, through new age technology, to be able to show my dad what has become of his childhood haunts.  And we all loved it.

Haarlem

What a lovely wee town this is!  It has been beautifully maintained and restored.  It has that lovely 'old' town feel about it, but with new touches in keeping with the town's character.  We had the pleasure of dining in a lovely cafe alfresco given that we knew the very next day we would be heading back to the 50 degree heat of the desert once again.  What a treat that was!  We dined beneath the church that my father remembers so well from his childhood and that has been lovingly restored.  What a juxtaposition too, to the busy streets of Amsterdam that we'd spent the previous few days exploring.

Walking through Haarlem

Our only regret was that we could only spend one day here.  If we'd been able to plan again in hindsight, we would have spent longer.  As we turned to walk back to the Haarlem train station we all took one last look behind.  What a memorable opportunity in our little ones' lives...to see where their Opa had once been born and raised.  Where their distant relatives had trodden the paths of their lives and where they too had been able to tread; albeit briefly.  They have photo memories even if their own evades them as they grow.  They still talk now about visiting Opa's place.  We intend to keep these memories alive for them.

The curtain thus closed on our wonderful, memorable holiday.  Amsterdam was such a fitting place for this.  It got me thinking once again.

Beautiful Canals

We decided to go to Spain rather than the UK this time around.  I don't regret that decision at all...Spain was certainly one of the biggest highlights.  But being in Amsterdam made me realise just how important it is for us, and for our children to make the most of the opportunity we have while so far away from home - to find that connection back to family.

England, and especially Ramsgate in Kent is a place we simply must go to.  Not because it is the tourist destination not to be missed!  More importantly, it is where our heritage lies.  It is where Lily and Ben's Nanny Pam and Pops were born and raised.  It is where Nanny Pam's trees have been planted in her memory.  It is where the Foster and Samm families still reside.  Having experienced how moving and special visiting a place where those before us have trodden, it is then for us, something that simply must be done.

Walking through Erassmuspark

So watch this space.  Next July expect my ramblings about the Empire  upon which the sun (once-upon-a-time) never set.