We had the opportunity this morning to train at a local club’s facility. The grounds were very impressive. They included five grass fields, three turf fields and an awesome stadium. (See picture attached) After training it was back to the hotel for a quick shower, and then we hit the road for Amsterdam. On the way we stopped at the Rembrandt Windmill, took some pictures, and then headed for an authentic Dutch Cheese/Wooden Shoe Factory (not to be confused with the Cheese Cake Factory in Denver- Renee). The proprietor was a very entertaining gentleman. He taught us the process of making cheese and then took us into his shoe factory, where he manufactures wooden shoes. As hard as it may seem to believe he is one of only five people in Holland to make them. After the tour we continued our bus ride into Amsterdam, where we started the day with a canal cruise. The seventeenth century architecture that exists throughout the whole city is most easily viewed from the canals. Unlike the homes we are familiar with in Aberdeen, all of the homes in Amsterdam homes are connected together for what seems like miles. Of these homes, the smallest house was actually only two yards wide. From the cruise we walked a couple of miles across the city to the Van Gogh museum. Along the way we encountered literally thousands of bicycle riders that have the right away on roadways. There were a variety of shops, some of which sold things illegal in the US. Once we arrived at the museum we had the opportunity to view some of Van Gogh’s most famous paintings. The museum was an awesome experience and set the tone for what would be a great evening of shopping. The uniqueness and wide variety of boutiques and bodegas were an awesome site as well as an experience.
We returned to the Hotel for a late and the culmination what would be Theresa Peterson’s 50th Birthday party. All in all another great day/experience! Tomorrow we are off to the American Cemetery and the Caves of Valeknburg.

Stay tuned…….