We have been extremely lucky to have so much family visiting us here in Amsterdam. Living this itinerant lifestyle does not allow us enough time to visit our five offspring who are spread from Oregon to Florida to New England and then North Carolina and Colorado in between. We always try to have two guest bedrooms for family and friends. We also offer all expense paid visits as an added enticement for their travels to foreign locales. Last week we had the Newport Rhode Island contingent with us and this week we are delighted to host Emily and Tim from Portland Oregon and Geoffrey and two of his three daughters from Marshall North Carolina. His oldest daughter is in school and she elected to wait and visit us in London in July. His wife Sofi stayed home with daughter Bhavanii.
Emily and partner Tim arriving at Centraal Station after taking the train from Schiphol Airport. They flew in from Morocco after spending a week there. The bag Emily is carrying is full of rugs and blankets which they purchased in the souks of Morocco. Emily and Tim visited us in San Diego this past January and we spent Christmas of 2021 with them in Oaxaca Mexico when we were living in San Miguel de Allende.Beers and French fries at our favorite local Cafe.Meanwhile Geoff is leaving Asheville North Carolina airport with Freya and Gaorii.Geoff says that they are great travelers.They were all asleep in the back of this Taxi when Jim met them downstairs.They are a bit travel weary after flying from Boston to Reykjavik and then on to Amsterdam.They perked up quite nicely with Grammy Sandy’s grilled cheese sandwiches.Grammy is so creative and fun.Welcome gifts from Grammy.Playing on the roof deck with soap bubbles from their gift bags..Playing UNO with auntie Em and uncle Tim.
Plenty of fun in this house.This is where Freya slept the first night.Off to the zoo with Grampy and Daddy. Only about a 15 minute walk away.
Video of the elephants shower.Leaving the zoo to meet Grammy, Emily and Tim for a boat ride.Emily found this place, Sloepdelen B.V, where we could rent an electric boat to tour the canals of Amsterdam on our own. We feel that this is a must do during a visit here.Skipper Jim on the tiller. He did a great job navigating the canals.
Geoff and Freya took a swim in the canal.
Passing the Rijksmuseum.
We had a great time on this tour with only one incident when a big tour boat sideswiped us on purpose because we were going the wrong way on a one way canal.
This video shows what we did after a full day of touring.Great travelers and walkers these two. Off for another day of touring Amsterdam.On the ferry from Centraal station to NDSM for a visit to STRAAT Museum, a museum for street art and graffiti. This is another of our highly recommended places to visit in Amsterdam. We have been here once before with Kelly and are very happy to return for another look.A yellow submarine at the NDSM dock. If you are wondering what NDSM stands for, this is it, Nederlandsche Dok en Scheepsbouw Maatschappij which translates to Netherlands dock and shipbuilding company. The museum is in an old shipbuilding facility.Emily and Tim rented bicycles for their whole stay here. They biked and ferried here.This is such a great space with stunning street art and graffiti. All of the artists painted these murals on sight, mostly with spray paint.Tim letting his inner child out by coloring.After the museum we went next door to IJver Amsterdam for snacks and drinks. Kids are playing UNO.It’s Amsterdam, it rains, Grammy sheltering Gaorii on the way to dinner.
A meal at our favorite Eritrean Restaurant Asmara. All but the kids have been to Ethiopia which is a neighbor of Eritrea which used to be a part of Ethiopia.I have my own umbrella on the walk home.These are the best times for grandparents.
Emily and Tim rented bikes for their whole stay, Geoff rented a bike for a few hours.What kind of pancakes am I going to get?Fun with bubbles at Nieuwmarkt.Last night together until June when we are all meeting up on the Oregon coast.Sibs saying goodby to each other.By Grammy and Grampy we had a great time.Geoff and family are spending one night in Reykjavik before returning home.
It is always bittersweet saying goodby as we will really miss our family but it is also nice to return to our own peaceful and quiet diversions.
I enjoyed these family photos so much, especially the one depicting a dance party in the penthouse! Looks like you all had such a memorable time. Enjoy your few remaining days in Amsterdam.
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