On your bike for little Dutch pancakes

Thanks for all the comments from everyone, it's really nice to keep hearing from you, especially that you are enjoying our blog. It's amazing how easy it is to stay in contact while you are travelling. Especially when you can even get wi-fi at caravan parks but then you really need internet access now, there have been some things we have needed to book online and more information seems to be available online than in other forms.

Of course translation is now our big need. Emily and Sam prepared dinner tonight, it was funny watching them translate the directions from the mexican chicken wrap packet to work out how to heat them. It was even funnier to start eating beef wraps!

Even though most people speak English, signs and lots of information is still given in Dutch. We watched a presentation at the science museum (Nemo) in Amsterdam yesterday, didn't understand a word of it but it must have been entertaining as the crowd laughed, cheered and applauded at the appropriate time.  We just looked at each other bewildered until the actual visual demonstration began.

Our other main attraction yesterday was the Van Gogh museum.  Many of his most famous paintings (including Tan's favourite: Almond Blossom) are on display, including one of five of the remaining versions of sunflowers he painted.  Now we still don't know if one has 'For Amy' inscribed on it (reference for Dr Who fans).  It was good that Emily and Sam had both studied his art with Mrs Scanlan at school and so were enthusiastic at seeing them in person.

For those following Em's blog as well she has created another one for Europe: http://somuchtotellyoueurope.blogspot.com/

She has made me sound like a criminal, catching trains without tickets.  Really it's not my fault, the machine at our station only takes Dutch debit cards or coins and we don't ever have enough change for all of us.  At least yesterday we bought some tickets, I even accidentally bought two for Ollie so that makes up for our free trip a little bit.

Today the weather was looking good, though it changes quickly, so we decided to take our first bike ride to a neighbouring town, Laren.  We had a map and directions from our hosts so felt reasonably confident.  The bikes required a little adjustment though as they are quite tall people.  We now all have sore rumps (except Ollie who I doubled and got to sit on a cushion!) but enjoyed a tasty treat of Poffertjes (the little dutch pancakes) in Laren.  It was a pretty little town with quite a ritzy shopping strip, I saw some Italian thongs in a shoe shop for €75 (around $100).

The route we rode along went through the forest and some lovely old houses with thatched roofs, we even saw our first authentic Dutch windmill up close.  The kids have been still riding the bikes around the neighbourhood all afternoon.

Our accommodation is very nice, we feel like we are getting a real taste of Dutch life.  House swapping is a great way to experience another culture as a family, it's very relaxing to have a local home to base yourself from rather than a hotel.  You get to enjoy all the local peculiarities that I'm sure aren't always available in hotels such as exploring the contents of the pantry and fridge to figure out what to eat, as well as figuring out how to work appliances.

Our bathroom here has a lovely lead light window made up of small diamond shaped pieces, interestingly only the middle section uses frosted glass, the edge pieces are all clear so you can see the street quite clearly looking out from the bathroom.  I'm sure the view looking in from the street isn't quite as clear but it is a little disconcerting.

Netherlands Day 4