Dear lacefriends,
since I am back I want to write a short report but I found a big mess
inside my "cat" which DP caused during my absence, and had to work to
get my dates back.
<I had a wonderful time in the Netherlands. First a wonderful course
by Nel Butter. And the first group of lacefriends from all over the
world and still making new friends.
Our bus travel to Groningen was very amusing although the weather has
changed to rain. And we became wet during the rest of the day.
I did a bus tour around Groningen which was very interesting. We saw
some different ways living in a more or less close group of houses.
And we saw and heard that every nowadays famous architect had at least
built one building there.
The exhibitions at the congres were are mixture of traditionel and
todays laces. The wall with the more than 200 bags sent for the
competition was breathtaking. How the different Nation-stalls were
decorated made the decisssion for the best hard work. As you still
know Spain won with only one vote more than UK.
I could only attend the lecture about the reconstructed folk costumes
of the part of NL Groningen belongs to. And this wasn't a lecture as
we knew. It was more a live show because the ladies and gentlemen wear
the costumes and they were explained from one man in a humorous way.
The place was fantastic spacy with lots of possibilities sit sit down
and relax and chat with lacefriends.
The dinner was in my opinion a bit noisy with the organ playing and
very crowded in the room were we get our Apperitif.
It was nice and I hope all of you taking part came home sain and save.
Greetings
Ilske from HAmburg in Germany
Am 25.07.2008 um 05:00 schrieb Alice Howell:
Days 25-27 Amsterdam and Day 28 Home
Took a very early train from Groningen. Two quick transfers, and a
15 minute walk to my hotel. Hotel was on the Singel canal next to a
bridge -- delightful view from my windows. Very old building but
updated facilities. Lift big enough for ONE person, only, plus a
suitcase. It was an interesting city to visit while resting up from
the hectic week just past.
As soon as I was settled, I headed for the West Church. I could see
the towers from my window. Over 3 canals and down a couple blocks.
On the way I passed the Anne Frank House. The line was more than a
block long. The church was very plain inside, but restful. The
windows were clear glass so there was a lot of light. Organ music
was playing, but I discovered it was from a tape player, not live.
I was just too tired to have the patience to stand in the Anne Frank
House line, so I strolled towards city center. Found Dam (Central)
Square, and a crowd of people. Winding through the crowd, I
discovered a magician doing magic tricks inside a large rope
circle. On another part of the square were young men pretending to
be statues. Two were dressed as gladiators and painted-- one in
bright green and one bright blue. There were also a Darth Vador and
a gorilla.
Down a side street I could see McDonalds and Burger King signs. On
the square was a Hot Dog Wagon. USA fast food is invading
everywhere. I window shopped until I saw a bakery/lunch cafe and
got some food which I took back to my room. A nap followed. (I was
really exhausted from the busy tour week.) Later I took another walk.
The next day I went back to Anne Frank House and found the line only
20 feet long. By the time I came out again, the line was as long as
the day before. The travel book that said to go very early was
correct. The next errand was to find an internet cafe since the
computer in the hotel was down. After doing my computer chores, and
strolling through the streets back to Dam Square, I found that it
was Book Fair day on the square. There were 10-12 rows of tents
full of tables of books. I was able to find a couple in English to
read on my flight home. Back to the hotel for another nap, and then
another walk in the town.
The third day...my last day in Amsterdam... I went to the North
Church to see a Textile Fair that sets up there on Monday mornings.
Clothes, fabrics, trims, linens, plus some food, produce and
household items filled the square and a street. Found some
interesting trim for lace pillows and a gift for my DH. The weather
had suddenly turned to summer -- hot and dry. No raincoat today.
Central Station was the next stop where I caught a train to
Rotterdam to visit Theo Brejaart in his shop. After a nice visit, I
returned to Amsterdam and took a Canal Cruise. I thought it would
be a comfortable way to see as much of Amsterdam as possible in an
hour. This cruise went on some different canals than the shorter
cruise we took the previous week on the tour. It was a very
pleasant hour. A nice dinner in tiny cafe near the hotel completed
my last day in Amsterdam.
Day 28 - Home
I didn't sleep very well that night, and was up about 4am. I
noticed people and cars acting strangely in front of the building
next door. They would stop, look, and then go on. Sometimes a car
would drive around the block and come back. One bicyclist almost
fell off his bike.
I left the hotel about 6am. As I past the building next door, I
noticed that the windows had red lights in them. The Red Light
District was supposed to be several blocks from my hotel.
Evidently, it has expanded a bit.
My backpack was heavier than when I came, and so was my suitcase. I
could not resist some of the new books on the vendors' tables.
Dispite the extra load, I made my train in good time, checked in for
my flight, had some breakfast, and was the first person through the
inspection for boarding the flight. Amsterdam airport has a
separate small inspection station at each boarding gate. Once
through, you are in a contained room that leads to the boarding
ramp. If there is any problem with something on a flight, only one
planeload of people has to leave the area and come back through the
inspection -- not a whole airportful. Very efficient.
It's a 10-1/2 hour flight from Amsterdam to Portland. We were late
leaving Amsterdam, and a bit late arriving in Portland. We landed
at a new terminal building across the airport from the regular one.
All the customs procedures have to be passed before one can get out
of the building, then ride a bus to the main terminal. It was a
different procedure than what I went through 10 years ago coming
home from Arachne 98. I think I'll just do in-country flights in
the future. It's much easier.
Both husband and cats are happy to have me home. Jet lag is easing
up and I'm getting back into the normal activities of summer. And I
have come to the end of this long tale of my trip to the other side
of the world.
28 days. 17 lace exhibts. 10 churches, 2 long embroideries. Many
miles of walking through cobblestone streets, over 600 photos to
process, and tons of memories to think about all winter.
Alice in Oregon - where I'm going to have to shop for a very large
scrapbook.
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