The Netherlands

And now we return to our regularly scheduled blogspot.

It has now been 5 weeks since my return from Europe.  In that 5 weeks, I made a brief trip home (Canada) and a vacation trip with Neal to Maine.  But I have to finish blogging about Europe because there's just way more to show-n-tell.

The Netherlands was not really so much a destination as it was a necessity.  The hotels in Belgium's Verviers region were booked up for a Nascar-type race on the weekend we visited.  So we found a hotel across the border in Holland.

 This is a view from our balcony.  

We were on the 3rd floor.

Remember this trivia as it becomes significant later.

With some time to kill Saturday morning, we headed north to the charming village of Valkenburg.  

Janet wasted no time hitting the shops.

And I wasted no time finding the perfect subject for my photos.

Of course, I meant the bread. :)

It was a beautiful day for outdoor dining!

Now, remember the 3rd floor balcony?

This hotel had a curfew of 11:00 p.m.  They lock up and turn the lights off, and you'd better be back in your room.  

On Sunday night, our missionaries in Belgium had kept us out quite late...rebels that they are.  And we were bookin' it trying to make curfew.  We pulled into the parking lot a 10:56 (collective sigh).  But the night agent must've had a date and decided to leave early.  So, of course, we were locked out!

I did not relish the idea of sleeping in the car with my four travel companions.  Nothing personal.

Us girls had been a little annoyed that the cleaning crew kept leaving our balcony door unlocked.  But on this particular night, we hoped they had done it again.

So with a great deal of noise, furniture shuffling and uncontrollable, hysterical laughter, we stacked 2 patio tables and a chair and sent Ted over the rail to break into our room, just as the village clock chimed 11 times.

Holland--I will never forget you.