MY WEEKEND OF JULY 12

On Saturday morning we drove to Amsterdam to celebrate my birthday with the family !



I was very spoiled ! I got a beautiful bouquet, a voucher for a beauty shop (I will come out looking like 17 and not 71) and a modern art painting from grandson Toby !



When we arrived they were all waiting in the street, sitting on a bench and Mr. G had to show his talents as a footballer ! I found it very unusual that it is the use that families are sitting outside at their front door on benches or on the grass between the houses and the streets. Can't imagine my neighbors sitting on the street !

After a light lunch I was invited for a cruise to Pampus. After the Franco-Prussian War of 1870 the Dutch government feared an attack on Amsterdam. An artificial island was built, the Pampus fortress.



We waited in the sunshine for the ship to arrive, which had first to go to through a canal lock we watched the bridge raising and then the boat arrived. Toby had to wear a safety jacket.



It was a very beautiful ride on the sea



Then we arrived in Pampus, which also has a restaurant, besides the fort. I didn't go inside this dark fortress which reminded me a bunker.  I prefered to walk on the top around it and had a wonderful view on the little sailing boats and the blue water.



In the evening we were invited to a greek restaurant, which looked so modern, that besides the painting on the wall there was nothing greek. The food was good, but the prices horrendous for what it was including a minimum service. Toby met a little girl who presented herself as "I am a witch !" !



On Sunday my son's father in law arrived with his wife and brought him all his old cameras. It was like Christmas for my son ! The highlight was a 100 year old camera which had belonged to Toby's great great grandfather ! We were happy to see each other again, last time had been on their wedding. We had breakfast and lunch together and a real nice time. They both spoke very well German so there were no communication problems, we just mixed Dutch with German from time to time.



We sat on their huge terrace which is like a little garden and chatted, while Toby played and ate his lunch.

After 3 pm we left reluctantly, but we had 2 1/2 h to drive and Mr. G. was very tired. We had very heavy showers during our trip and sometimes I had to drive very slowly I hardly could see the street in all this rain. But we arrived safely and were greeted by our cats, our neighbor had taken good care of them !