The Trip that was: September 5, 2013 / 2014.

2013.  

This is the earliest in September we had been in the Netherlands, having arrived early on September 4th. We had a special reason! In 2013, Dutchboy's parents were celebrating 50 years of being married and there was a special party planned.  We flew in a few days ahead of the party because the kids had planned to surprise their parents with photos. Of course Dutch people don't like to pay for photographers when you have a perfectly nice camera, and can get photos printed in an hour at Hema! So, on our second day of vacation,  I played photographer for the day and shot lots of photos of Dutchboy and his sisters in Bloesempark. The park is part of the Amsterdam Forest (Amsterdamse Bos), and is known for it's amazing Japanese cherry trees. Cherry trees don't bloom in September, and may bees don't fly then either. No maybes about one thing-- it was hot. It was one of the hottest days on record for September, in the upper 80's.  The leafy shade was a welcome respite from it!  I took hundreds of photos, but I'll only share a couple that make me smile.  Seeing Dutchboy with his sisters is always a treat.  It's a way I don't see him any other time. And let's face it, they adore teasing their brother. And I enjoy that way more than I should. I considered his exasperation with them my payment for services rendered. 

2014. 

 This was a day again spent in Amsterdam.  I'm afraid you'll see a lot of that in the next month or so.  This was our first full day in Amsterdam in 2014, having flown in on the previous day.  I like to spend my first day in the Netherlands in Amsterdam, eating fries and wandering through the streets that I love so much.  
 

First stop-- Museumplein!  This may be the first in what would become the recurring photography series entitled, "Big GIANT Dutchboy".  Don't you LOVE that the guy that looks like a little angel tourist on Dutchboy's shoulder?  Seriously, though, if you're in Amsterdam this is a great stop to people watch, catch street musicians, and eat the krentenbollen you packed for a snack. 

Courtyard for the  Amsterdam Museum

That huge statute? It's "Dragon DJ" by Hamid El Kanbouhi.  Apparently, he was trying to express the complexity of religion, by showing how "religion would look as a person."  Oooookaaaaaaaaaay.   I don't see it. 

An exciting discovery: My shoes were MEANT for this city.  The stitching matches the city emblem!

One of our other traditions is taking the free ferry shuttle across the IJ to have a drink at a restaurant called De Pont and watch people bike furiously towards the departing ferry, and then laugh when they miss it, or cheery when they make it.  It's great fun!  

The building with the banners is the former Shell Building,now the A''dam Tower.  At this point in 2014, it was a work in progress, but it is now open and you can do cool things like drink in the rooftop bar, or pay to swing in a giant swing over the side of the building.  No. No thank you.  You can see in this picture the weather was turning gray. Weather changes so quickly in Amsterdam. Cool and cloudy is the norm for our holidays, and a sharp contrast to the previous year. 

The joy of finding your wine matches your shirt. 

The rest of this day was spent along the Prinsengracht and the area around Westerkerk.  Dutcboy and I both love the lettering on the building, juxtaposed with the very old canal house and the black fronted, old warehouse (now apartments). 

One of the things I love best about Amsterdam, art is everywhere. And you see the quirkest, weirdest things in house windows. 

Tot Ziens! 

Are you lonesome tonight?

 Today's installment is AGAIN not from the appropriate September date.  Apparently, I should have actually LOOKED at the photos from September before I said I would share a daily photo album!  Instead, we're looking at one my favorite times ever. 2011. July and August.  Dutchboy's eldest sister and her family came to America! It was an absolutely MAGICAL time, even if it was one of the hottest summers, ever.  Days were well into the upper 90's when we picked them up in Washington, DC at the end of July. 

Capitol! 

Library of Congress. People think when I go on vacation, I tour libraries. I don't! REALLY. 

                                                 

I arranged a tour of the White House!  Back when that seemed like a great idea, and the world was a safer place.  See all these people clustered together?  Who can imagine that now??  I'm almost claustrophobic looking at all those people.  I don't know what Dutchboy and I were talking about, but I can see I'm right. And he should just agree. 

Dutchoy in front of the White House. With a Safariland hat. Looks like a good 'ol Southern Boy, doesn't he?? 

National Gallery of Art. Where life imitates art!

Every time I stand in front of this beautiful work, I cry. Much to Dutchboy's embarrasment. It's one of my all-time favorites.  She is just so beautifully captured. Right down to the brushstrokes. Portrait of a Lady by Rogier van der Weyden.

Iwo Jima Monument.

Netherlands Carillon. Donated to the United States in gratitude for liberation of World War II. Couldn't have donated something prettier?  It's very...utilitarian. 

Gratuitous North Carolina photos.  It was hot. Miserably hot.  The Dutchies swam a lot at Kerr Scott Reservoir,  hiked Stone Mountain, and tubed down the New River.  I, however, did NOT.  I don't even like to sit in a bathtub.  But they had fun! 

But one can only have so much fun in Wilkes County, and the Dutchies had a plane to catch in Memphis. So we took a couple of excursions along the way. 

First stop, Nashville! 

This is the result of forcing a family to stand awkwardly on stage at the Ryman Auditorium holding a guitar.  

The next stop was just for me!!!  Third Man Records. Jack White's record label. I'm pretty sure they heard me squealing a block away. 

                                                        

 Last stop on the tour, Memphis! Dutchboy and I had been to Memphis a year or so prior, and it was a thriving, happy place.  This trip was different.  It was 105 and 110 degrees on the days we were there, so you had to go out early if you wanted to do anything. And Memphis was in a recession. Things were so economically depressed, shops were closed. Beale Street didn't even have the same sparkle.

We made a stop at the Lorraine Hotel. Such a somber and moving tribute. And an atmosphere that is completely different than the city around it.  It is one of the places where you feel history.  In the words of Obi-Wan, "as if millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced." 

And then there's the Heartbreak Hotel...

And Graceland itself...

Jungle Room. 

And there we were at the end of Lonely Street. It was time to put the Dutchies on the plane.  We had become so very close to this family in there time here, I was as broken-hearted as the pool at Heartbreak Hotel.  But they left us with great memories...and their soccer ball to keep us company until we saw them ! 

Tomorrow we return to Europe...and yes, I've checked. Lesson learned!

Tot Ziens!