Worldly Chatter

My father is a World War 2 buff and is coming to Holland in September. I was surfing the net in hopes of finding places throughout the country that appeal to his historical nature. My have I hit a jackpot of information for him yet where in the world would I start! Along my internet travels, I came across a website dedicated entirely to places of relevance to the war, bunkers, hide-a-ways and museums galore. I can take him to Amsterdam, Arnhem and any city having any significance but there has to be something I can also teach him. He wants things to stimulate and make his studies real. In Amsterdam, the Anne Frank House is always popular. You can take a historical canal ride through Amsterdam and it makes routine stops to her house. Then there is the Holandsche Schouwburg (Dutch theater) where many Jews found themselves before transportation to a camp. There is the Verzetsmuseum, which is dedicated to the Dutch Resistance. In the province of Gelderland, we have Arnhem and Operation Market Garden where many can see the details of Market Garden and what remains in the Oorlogsmuseum.
There is the Homomonument in Amsterdam which I am sure he does not even know exists. The monument opened September of 87 and consists of three pieces, all in triangle shape with pink granite. Its construction was in honor of the gay men and women of World War 2 while also honoring all GLBT people who still live with discrimination. Roughly, 50,000 gay men were sent to their deaths during Nazi power but few actually know the facts, as it is generally not mentioned in history books. Its birth came about when gay activists attempted to put a lavender wreath on the National War Monument on the Dam Square and informed it was a disgrace and removed it. Dutchie and I finally found it on one of our ventures through Amsterdam and was a moving sight. Each triangle points in a different direction. One points to the National War Monument, one towards the Anne Frank House and the third towards COC headquarters, the oldest Dutch gay rights foundation.
With so much history in Holland, it seems almost silly to concentrate all my efforts to one point in history but it is his passion and his vacation yet it should not be a problem. With Bunkers, caves, museums, monuments and other WW2 history around this small country, it should not be any trouble to make him happy!
Yet I want to give him something different. Maybe there is something out there on the subject my father does NOT know about. Doubtful but my search is on! Any suggestions let me know! Wish me luck!

WW2, Anne Frank, Homomonument, World War 2 in the Netherlands, Arnhem, Dutch Tourish, Dutch History

Camping, I’ve done it on several occasions in my life. I have slept in a tent, having it flooded while I slept, and I have slept soundly and dry in a caravan. The Dutch are big on their camping. People love to go out camping for a week or six weeks. There are those die hard campers who have grounds that they call their summer home year after year. Yet for the Dutch, it isn’t with a tent. Let me introduce you to the world of Dutch caravans!
Camping Jachthaven Uitdam is fifteen kilometers outside Amsterdam and has tons to offer. Walking, cycling or boating and the grounds come fully equipped for your caravan, grocery store and a place for the kiddies to go! Now, the caravan is particularly important to the camping life here in the Netherlands. Each park that has a lot for your caravan, big or fold-up, and a means for you to power it up and have gas and plumbing is a winner to the Dutch, they aren’t big on tents you see. Another park is Gaasperpark on the Gaasperplas (Gaasper Lake). Twenty minutes from Amsterdam it has similar features to the other park but with one rule to go by. No powerboats or motorbikes. This is strictly for cycling, rowing, sailing and anything that doesn’t require an engine on the trails and waters. My point, the outdoors is a great way to spend your time in Holland! But before you start clicking on links and planning let me teach you about the caravans you could rent, or buy if you live here.
Vouwcaravan; they are very popular for the light traveler or the person with not a lot of space. It literally means folding caravan. First time I saw it I was a tad puzzled, what was this box I thought! Then I remembered the vouwfiets, folding bikes, and laughed a little; with a country so densely populated that so small they find a way to fold just about anything! It has enough space for a small family and when you’re done fold it back up and hitch it to the back of your car and go.
You also have the tourcaravan and stacaravan! Stacaravan is literally stay caravan. Dutchies, who are big on camping yearly will by a massive stacaravan, rent or buy land on camp grounds here in Holland and make that their home away from home! Dutchie told me of a family member of hers who did this. They went up in size until they ended up with a massive stacaravan and now is fully furnished for their get-a-ways! Grounds to put your put your home away from home can be found all over Holland! You can also find a stacaravan on campgrounds that have them permanently on site for those who don’t own or rent but just want a place to vacation. I wouldn’t argue doing this!
Then you have the tourcaravan. Tour caravans, travel caravan, either translation with do just fine. You guessed it; these caravans go where you go! These are particularly popular to rent or buy for the Dutchie, tourists who love to travel Europe! Dutchies love these to go to Austria, Germany and elsewhere in Europe. You can easily search on the web to rent one and get great package deals. Skiing packages, mountain climbing packages and more! But you cannot forget to pack!
The Dutch rarely go anywhere without a caravan full of Dutch goodies. Hagelslag (sandwich sprinkles), pindakaas (Dutch peanut butter) and Dutch kaas (cheese) are a must! (You can see they love their sandwich stuff!) Never forget the coffee! Just like the English have tea time, the Dutch have koffietijd (coffee time)! You can usually count on a community of campers either here in Holland or elsewhere getting together for koffietijd and a party in the evening to have some fun! So rent a tourcaravan, grab the hagelslag and koffee and travel! It’s better than sleeping in a tent that floods when the Dutch rain comes!

camping, caravans, stacaravan, vouwcarava, tourcaravan, campers, Netherlands, Europe, Holland campgrounds, Europe campgrounds, Camping Jachthaven Uitdam, Gaasperpark, Gaasperplas (Gaasper Lake), Tourist activities

In September I am getting married and some of my family will be flying here for the occasion. (Some happy dancing on my part at just the thought!) Since none of them have ever been they need a little guidance as to planning their stay and what is there in Holland. So here I am going to give as many tips and websites as I can possible give to help anyone looking to plan that perfect trip to the Netherlands.

First you need a ticket right? There are so many places to get a flight whether it is an affordable price or if money isn’t a factor. Remember my suggestions for finding the best flights for your trip? Well here is the link to refer back, just in case. Might I also suggest Travelocity as well as the suggestions I made earlier. Now that you are on the path to your flight you need a place to stay. You can book a flight with hotel stay or you can go to hotels.nl for a few more suggestions. There is a little English flag to the right so don’t panic when you see all the Dutch!

Alright, what’s next? What is there to do in the Netherlands? Well, aside from the windmills, wooden shoes and tulips that Holland is known for there is an entire history and culture to explore! Take a walk through the city; admire the views over their bridges, around their canals and parks! Museums can be found all over Holland ranging from historical information to the art work of the famous painters we all know. We have canal rides with some that last an hour and others all day. The rides that last all day are the package deals that really help you see Holland. Amsterdam for example has canal rides that take you through the history of the city with stops at the Anne Frank house and other historical places. Architectural canal rides takes you to the most beautiful places in Amsterdam from beautiful Churches that have been here for centuries to the modern office and apartment styles popping up. You can arrange trips based solely on museums as well! They have the well known home of Rembrandt at the Rijksmuseum and the sex museum that’s just a five minute walk away from Central Station. They also have the not so known museums of technology, horror as well as Amsterdam’s football team Ajax and its museum and the Heineken Museum. For a better guide to their museums let me refer you to here. The Amsterdam Escape! For information on dining, night life, more hotels, and things to do let me take you to here; Amsterdam!

Now I know that there are plenty just like me who love to shop. So here I will inform you that just like you and me, the Dutch love to spend their time and money on clothes, shoes, gadgets and gizmos too! The endless shops and markets that go on there is plenty to do and spend your money on! Souvenirs, clothes and anything else you can think of can be found here! Shopping can be slightly different to the average American who is used to the stores being open until eight, nine or even ten at night. Here stores are open until five or six unless you go on a shopping night where the stores stay open later. On average stores are closed on Sunday’s unless you are in a major city such as Amsterdam. You would have to find out if the town you are visiting has shopping that Sunday as each town is different when it comes to having a shopping Sunday and when. As shopping is during the day you can hit the night life that goes on!

Now let us not forget the food! Holland loves food, both native and international. With restaurants, pubs, bars, cafés and snack bars that can be found all over Holland, virtually every corner has a snack bar and every center has an endless variety to choose from! Indonesian, Greek, Turkish, American, Italian, Dutch and the list can go on!
One more thing. If you want to learn some helpful Dutch to get around here is a good site that could help you out with simple phrases. But be warned, the Dutch have a tendency to pick up your accent or the fact that you aren’t very good at it and will revert to the language you use so long as they can follow you. They learn English and most are quite proud of it and use it whenever they find someone to try it on!

Now I hope that with the information I have provided as well as the links that you will be able to plan your trip to the Netherlands in no time! Anything I miss, just and I will be happy to find out for you! Happy Travels!

http://www2.holland.com/us/

http://goeurope.about.com/cs/holland/l/bl_holland_map.htm

Netherlands, Holland, Amsterdam, Tourists info for Amsterdam, Traveling to the Netherlands

In Amsterdam there is so much to do that you can’t get it all done in a day. I’d recommend a week to cover every museum, canal ride and attraction the city has to offer and still have time to shop and check out the restaurants along the way. But right now I want to talk about the Leidseplein Theater located on Leidseplein in Amsterdam. It sits on the corner surrounded by bars and restaurants. It’s small as it seats about three hundred but the funniest stuff happens there and it isn’t your typical Dutch outing as it isn’t done by the Dutch but the American expats.

Sitting at long tables that are situated throughout the theater you are served drinks and food while the cast of Boom Chicago put on skits of rehearsed material as well as quick thinking comedy with audience participation as a must! Having never been before I wasn’t sure what to expect but had heard about it through Dutchie and had been shown their website with videos available to get me ready to go! Oh but you really aren’t prepared when it’s live and you are in the middle of these actors asking for suggestions from the audience and you see how fast they work with them! There was one particular skit that had me rolling done with Hilary Bauman. Now understand something here, the Dutch are perceived as being stuck in the 17^th century with their wooden shoes and windmills on every corner. Now take two tourists who find a tall Dutch woman smoking a cigarette and want a picture with the ‘real deal’! The wife gets in the picture but hubby finds it too bland and starts with the wooden shoes, please put these on for the picture? Next comes the windmill knick knack that is placed as the back drop for the picture and when she doesn’t feel strange enough while trying to explain that wooden shoes haven’t been worn for centuries he attempts to put a tulip in her mouth as the added touch! Rolling with laughter at the antics on stage they top it all off with her spitting out godverdomme (god damn it) and the tourists walk away dejected thinking she is German!

They pick at their surroundings in Holland but remember that America is their birth place and that can’t be left untouched either! Hilarious and a great evening out for any expat or tourist! I highly recommend you go to their website and check out their videos and while you are there listen to the weekly podcasts of ‘A slice of the Shiny’ by Rob AndristPlourde where they interview locals and the cast of Boom Chicago. You’ll laugh and learn a great deal about Holland and the current trends!
As I am only a half hour away from Amsterdam I am going back for more! Heineken Late Nite and the new show Me, myspace and ipod I really want to see! Go! See! I wouldn’t let you down on this!
Picture owned by BoomChicago

Amsterdam, Netherlands, Boom Chicago, Leidseplein Theater

I am baseball fan, I grew up with the entire family talking baseball when in season and then football was another topic that was a biggie. I never got into football as much as my family would have hoped but baseball I did grasp and enjoy; especially when we would head to Shea Stadium or to the Bronx for some Yankees. I do understand football and have been to a couple of games in New Jersey but the passion that so many Americans have isn’t in there for me I suppose. My father was big on taking us to baseball games and it is an experience I haven’t forgotten and miss here in Europe. In 2005 I went to the World Cup Baseball final game in Rotterdam. The Netherlands were the host of that year’s low profile tournament and we took the opportunity to go as baseball isn’t that popular here and it was a great opportunity to get in a great game. While it wasn’t the same as sitting in Yankee Stadium it was still a rush just to be there! To sit there with the cool air on your face with a program in your chair while you cheer on the team was great to feel again! So as an American who enjoys baseball and even a football game once in a while, I feel lost in this European world of Soccer!
The FIFA World Cup was held in Germany last year and I was here to watch it on television as the Netherlands tried to get the World Cup Champions. With as much of an effort and gusto that the Dutch had they couldn’t do it after being eliminated in the second round. I hadn’t a clue to the rules, how it work or anything! I had never watched a soccer game for more than a minute. It wasn’t on the television much and I can’t recall my school even having a soccer team! I had much to learn I realized. While the 2006 FIFA World Cup was going on I swear the entire country was orange with pride! People colored their hair orange, decorated themselves, their cars and bicycles orange for the occasion and I was even able to purchase orange mayonnaise and dish soap! The list could go on and it was quite a sight to see! I even got into the festivities and bought a orange football shirt and cheered on the Netherlands while they were on television just as all the Dutchies did! It was actually quite exciting!
I went to Wikipedia to do some reading on the sport and asked a ton of questions to my partner about the game. If I am going to live in Europe it is best to know at least a little about the continents favorite sport! And I did learn a lot I will admit this but not nearly enough to carry on any conversation in the sport and I even get the name wrong as I refer to it as soccer and the rest of the world calls it football!
Next year is the European Championships and it seems to be the buzz in sports news. The talk of players, coaches and captains is all over in any country. You can go to any bar and if there is a game they will post that it will be on the television and who is playing. I really do feel lost in this sport and I can’t help but think I need to watch more and attempt to become a fan of a local football club but which one when the Netherlands has so many I wouldn’t know where to begin! I want to chat baseball and aside from the American expats out there and my partner there isn’t a place to go here for baseball!
So why write all this to begin with? Well, yesterday I went to Amsterdam to shop near the Amsterdam Arena. The Arena holds the football club Ajax and there happened to be a game yesterday when we arrived. We arrived at noon and while the game didn’t start until 2:30 there were already a swarm of people partaking in the hot dog stands and wearing their red and white colors while chatting with fellow fans about the game soon to start. The Arena was huge and the Ajax logo and colors shown with pride all over the outer parameter of the arena. Another thing that caught my eye was the ambulances and swat teams that sat on standby. I couldn’t believe I was actually seeing this even though I was informed that swat teams show up at every game to control the hooligans that come in support of their club. I have heard stories about it here, in Germany and Italy but never had I really seen it. They sat there quietly while the game went on and I was informed they sat all around the arena not just where we were. I watched on the news last year as the German swat teams prepared for the World Cup. Exercises were held in preparation and it was an intense sight to see! In my opinion it’s just a sport but the supporters seem to think different. Yet despite this strange sight I couldn’t help but smile. While Americans find passion in baseball and football Europeans find passion in their soccer (football) and they come together to celebrate that. Will I always be that American missing her baseball and football or can I learn to appreciate this part of my new world and even find it to cheer on a club and talk shop?!

Netherlands, Netherlands football clubs, expats, FIFA World Cup, Soccer, football, baseball

Ever have it where you wanted to plan a great vacation yet you were left with too many websites and ‘great deals’ coming into your inbox or mail box that you are left overwhelmed and lost that you want to cancel the whole thing? Ok, maybe it wasn’t that dramatic but at least there was frustration setting in on something that was supposed to be relaxing and needed? Well, whether it is overseas or the next state over there is help out there to find the best package for you, at the very least places to go to give you some guidance through that process of planning the perfect getaway.

Now I know there are people out there that money is no object on such an endeavor while there are some out there like me who want a great trip but don’t have a wallet that can constantly be left open. So I am going to tell you about a few places that can help you along the way.

• Cheaptickets.com is a website for both domestic and international flights. You can get package deals on tickets, car rentals and hotels. Mix and match if you’d like. There are also options for cruises and activities to the location you are looking for. For those who regularly travel you can register with them and get extra deals and are able to save your itinerary on the site itself.
• Expedia.com
  Also Domestic and International but this is a bit more promising for those who are looking for a more detailed vacation. As with Cheaptickets.com you can do activities, cruises, package deals but unlike Cheaptickets.com you can plan a trip bases solely on a particular purpose. Take skiing for example: expedia.com can search for great skiing destinations as well as the best price for your budget. They can help with lodging and even tell you places in that area for ski rentals. Another thing that I have observed in my hunt for great prices on tickets is that expedia.com on average has lower airfare and less transfers. It can also be viewed in other languages outside of English.
• Travel.yahoo.com I have used yahoo for tickets internationally and they also do domestic. Yahoo is very thorough in planning a trip. You will find activities, cruises, hotels and car rentals. Great package deals and you can plan a trip entirely on an activity such as mountain climbing, skiing and whatever else suits your fancy. Their prices vary but I have gotten great prices using yahoo. The only issue I had with using yahoo travel was its primary clients are Americans. I say that because I was unable to use a bank card from Europe to pay for the tickets. I had to use a card issued from America. It can be a large inconvenience when you’re starting point is outside the US.
• Priceline.com In searching through their site I have observed that this site would better suit the US more than outside travelers. Your departure has to come from inside the US but it does fly international. Again there are package deals on hotels, car rentals and tickets. The site is simple to use and prices are great. While it goes outside the US its better deals can be found in domestic flights.

These are the most popular places to plan a vacation on the web yet there are so much more out there. My departure is from the Netherlands and because of that I can find great deals with local agents and websites catered to this particular country. Other countries have their own agents that are popular among the locals so keep that in mind when planning and traveling. If you have travel agents or websites that you recommend that I neglected to mention by all means leave a comment telling me about it.

Another thing I want to add is about flights and in particular; transfers. I have done both non-stop flights and flights with transfers. I personally hate transfers. A lot can go wrong and when all you want to do is go home transferring elsewhere can be a hassle. An example of this was when I was flying back from NY to the Netherlands. I had a transfer in Italy. The flight leaving from NY was delayed two hours and because of that the flight I was supposed to be on in Italy left without me! I had to wait a few hours at the airport for the next available flight to Amsterdam. I went with the transfer flight because it was cheaper but I learned from this experience I am going with non-stop from now on!

Now mind you there are people who don’t mind transfers. You can get great deals with transfer flights. Some enjoy the experience of going elsewhere while on their way to their main destination. My experience has shaped my travel from here on out but it might not for others. I will have more information on agents, airlines and anything else relevant to vacationing as I have them, if you have anything that others might enjoy by all means share your secrets!

travel, travel sites, ticket deals, vacations

travel, travel sites, ticket deals, vacations

The touristy things to do in Holland are abundant but I want to tell you about a place I went to in 2005. Madurodam: Holland in Miniature! The city of The Hague, Den Haag to the Dutch, is the third largest city in the country before Amsterdam, its capitol, and Rotterdam, its major port. It is where the government sits, the international courts are held and also where Holland sits as the size of a theme park! Madurodam is where you can go to see Holland on a smaller scale. All of its major attractions, businesses and other features are found here. Schiphol Airport, its train system runs on miniature rails while you walk around and find the Rijksmuseum with its paintings seen through windows that are roughly the size of your thumb.
When I first arrived my partner understood I wanted to see Holland in every way possible. I wanted to go to the museums where the famous artists such as Van Gogh and Rembrandt had their beautiful pieces on display. Windmills and canals were everywhere I went it seemed and I really did want to see them all. I was being the tourist as that was who I was at the time, a woman touring the Netherlands before she was able to make it her permanent home. Naturally I didn’t know nearly all there was to do here. You can get packages on line with a list of activities for tourists to do but they cannot possibly mention them all and most of the time they miss the good stuff that is tucked somewhere away from the limelight of the mainstream activities tourists find themselves in. Madurodam I hadn’t heard of, there wasn’t a search I did that led me there while I tried to seek out all the things to do! My partner was the hero for the day in suggesting since we were in Den Haag we should go.
There are over 700 features in this theme park! I was astonished at what I was looking at! I hadn’t seen a city on a model scale never mind an entire country! On a scale of 1:25 it has churches, castles, the waterworks system, airports, businesses, multimedia and recreational facilities were all in this small city! I was personally fascinated with the Castles and the Rijksmuseum and how you could really see miniatures of the paintings through the windows! It was created in 1952 as a war monument and a charity foundation. It was a town with a mayor from the Royal Family; Crown Princess Beatrix was Mayor of Madurodam until she ascended the throne in 1980. Each year there is another feature added. There is a committee that sees to its authenticity to the Dutch and their country as well as its maintenance.
Naturally the Dutch know about this little gem they have but a lot of tourists do not and it’s such a shame! It was such a treasure to see this amazing country on such a scale. To see the detail and passion that goes into it year after year. The commitment to adhere to the Dutch traditions they have is evident while you walk around eating poffertjes! The best I can describe that is that they look like mini pancakes. They just don’t taste like pancakes! You truly can learn a lot about their country in this afternoon visit to the miniature Holland! I had a great time and hope to go back and see what else they have added since then!
Madurodam, Netherlands, Holland, The Hague, Den Haag, Netherlands tourists

Madurodam, Netherlands, Holland, The Hague, Den Haag, Netherlands tourists