Amsterdam

AMSTERDAM! Diane and I spent a short time there - arrived Thursday morning, left Sunday morning - and fell in love with the city! Main impressions are beautiful canals, lots of bicycles, beautiful architecture, and very friendly, free-spirited citizens! Since Dana wasn't along, all pictures are by MFE; however, Dana did some work on some of them!

There were bikes everywhere and they definitely had the right of way! Below - a multistory bike park; to the left a mom and 4 kids. We decided these women must have really strong legs. We saw young couples all dressed up going out for Saturday night on 1 bike - man pedaling, woman seated sideways either behind him or on his lap!









We stayed in a small studio apartment in the Joordan district - a beautiful and picturesque area and very convenient. On Saturday morning we awoke to find a huge market outside our front door! Nearby were many small cafes, bars, and shops. These pictures are the market and Diane at one of the cafes.









We packed a lot in to our short time! We took a canal boat trip, walked around Dam Square and the Red Light District, and had drinks at Leidensplein - a huge area of tables, umbrellas, and street entertainers. We visited the Van Gogh Museum (and a special exhibit of Starry Starry Night - wonderful), the Riijksmuseum, the flower market, the Van Loon mansion, and the Anne Frank House. I visited a small house boat museum. We got very good at riding the tram and at finding our way around in general! (The only disappointment was not seeing fields of tulips - a little too late. We had tickets to the Keukenhof's final day, but were advised not to go as all the flowers were gone). This was minor in the overall enjoyment of the trip - definitely a city to re-visit - with my photographer!

2 pictures of the flower market:


At the Van Gogh Museum we were lucky to be there for the "Friday Night party" - a pretty good, small jazz group.
Diane and I in the Van Loon Mansion gardens
Sipping genevere - a very old traditional Dutch whiskey- at Wynand Fuckink (couldn't resist the name - had to visit)


A windmill, which was closed, but still worth a tram ride for a view. The galley of the houseboat museum.





Diane with a famous Dutch author



Various views of Amsterdam scenes, architecture and house boats:
The Grand Palace in Dam Square
There were cows everywhere, but this one was especially eye-catching
Dam Square
Canal scenes, including a "traffic jam"


































Oesterkerk, which was at the tram stop for our apartment.

Below: Magna Plaza, a big shopping centre in the gorgeous old post office
building, which we're told was almost torn down!

May 2009 Anna's First Communion

We were invited to a First Communion party in Asdee. Anna was the guest of honor - but we didn't get a picture of her in her beautiful white dress! Her parents, Donie and Joan, have very talented families. Joan's family and a few other friends played music. Eveyone danced, and almost all of the children performed. Anna took several turns and did a wonderful job, singing "Down in the River to Pray" and also doing some pretty decent Irish dancing. (The Speech Therapist in me couldn't help being proud of how much of the song was intelligible!!) There was some mild competition between dancers from Co. Clare and Co. Kerry!






Mary Frances and Joan solving the problems of the world, and enjoying it!





Joan's family (Co. Clare) Joan's Dad Donie's family (Co. Kerry)


Donie's dad and aunt (bro & sis)

May 09 Michelle's Visit

Michelle came to visit from South Dakota. (We worked together at the NWA Coop Early Childhood Program and have remained very good friends). She wasn't here too long, and during her stay she made 2 speeches at ITT which were very well received. She had been speaking in England and Belfast before arriving here, so this was a work trip with a bit of fun on the side!


On Saturday we went to Dingle. Dana got some good pictures of some scenes you've seen before, and a couple of especially good ones of Fungi the dolphin.
























Sunday we went to Glenbeigh, Cahersiveen, and Valentia. Most of these pictures are from the top of Geokaun Mountain. We had beautiful weather both days!




Ballycarbery Castle was especially fun on that day because the cows were grazing all around it - up close and personal!