14 Jul 2014

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 !

13 comments:

  1. Lovely birthday weekend! Toby gets cuter every time we see him! We hate driving in the rain, glad you made it safely.

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  2. Toby is really growing up. That was quite a birthday weekend. How special to be able to share it with all your family.

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  3. Awww, you deserved all that spoiling. What gifts. Do show us when you been to the beauty parlour! You don't look 71! I love the boat trip with little Toby and I would have done somersaults to see that old camera. What a lovely weekend, I see you had. (((Hugs))) Jo

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  4. Happy Birthday. It looks like you had a good time. I bet you enjoyed playing with Toby. He has lovely blonde hair. Glad you got home safely in the rain.

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  5. It is not that common to sit in common areas in the Netherlands, but when children are playing outside it will be done to keep an eye on them as well as being able to chat to the neighbours.

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  6. Happy birthday! A special birthday weekend with your loved ones, such a memorable day for you.

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  7. Sounds like great fun. I love the shots of you and Toby.

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  8. what a fabulous birthday celebration you had! let us know if the beauty shop does perform magic! I am game to try it; I am 74!

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  9. Happy belated birthday. You don't look like you need a beauty parlour - but I hope you'll enjoy being pampered.

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  10. Looks like a wonderful time! That could be a camera history lesson!

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  11. Will you show us a before and after the beauty treatment photo?
    Sounds like you had a great family birthday, Toby looks so grown up.
    Those old cameras look amazing, your son must have been so pleased to see them all.

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  12. Your grandson has grown up very quickly! What a great time you must have had.

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  13. A belated happy birthday Gattina - it looks like you had a lovely interesting weekend out and some good prezzies ...

    and yes the little lad has grown quickly .. life I suppose!

    Cheers Hilary

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