destinaton revealed!

Hello, lovely friends!  I had lots of fun reading your comments when we arrived on Wednesday.  Thank you for sticking with me as I traveled, did some site-seeing, was excessively tired, could not sleep, did some things at my dad's conference, explored a little more, edited photos, and then patiently-or-not-so-patiently waited as the hotel internet decided it didn't like my laptop and would not let me get online again until just now. {let's hope it lasts.}

So, yes, I'm in Europe.  But no one actually named the city or country where I'm at.  And I don't blaim ya, either.  It's not like this place was on my top "must visit" list, like France, England, Italy, Greece, and Spain are.  I hadn't thought about it much before my dad told me I could come with him on another of his business conferance trips, but long story short, I'm so thankful I'm having the opportunity to visit here.  Goodness, it's beautiful.

Here some hints to build up your suspence (what, you thought I'd just tell you? mwahaha).

--There are about a bazillion canals and therefore a bazillion bridges bridges here.  (Not Venice, though.)

--We're visiting the Anne Frank House and Rijksmuseum sometime soonnish.

--Bicycles are popular.  Well, that's an understatement.  You really can't look anywhere without seeing a bike, or someone biking...there are bike paths by the side of every road.  (I've already been nearly killed on multiple occasions.  Well, kind of.)

--It's tulip season right now (though being in a city, I really haven't seen any yet).

--The language spoken is Dutch.



my guess is that this means "bakery."  anyone know for sure?

Got it yet?  I'm in The Netherlands.  Amsterdam, to be exact.  And I'm so happy about it, despite the fact that last night was the only time I've actually slept eight hours in a row the past three days (jet-lag, why must you exist?).  It's a lovely old city.

There will definitely be more to come about these first few days: flight stories, photographic ramblings, awkward moments, things about dad's conference.  And then this weekend we're visiting museums, heading to see windmills and flowers, and doing some other various things (like shopping, I hope?).

But for now, I’m sharing a few pictures I took from yesterday, when my dad took the subway down near Dam Square during his break.  City/lifestyle/tourist photography is something I'm not used to doing, but I loved finding quirky details and other beautiful things.  Way, way fun.



wearing my "i heart roma" sweatshirt in amsterdam.  i know...



if this building is a house (i think not, though), i'm living there someday.  totally.



the sign on the right cracks me up.

the royal palace, which is open to the public except when it's not.  like right now.  gawsh.



hope you're having a lovely week!

with love,
--hannah m.