On the barge -- almost

It seems the Oregon rain has followed us to Amsterdam. While the first day of our trip, in Haarlem, the weather was glorious, yesterday and today look familiar to us webfooters -- rainy and windy. We've checked in at the barge and are awaiting the rest of our fellow travellers before we set off. I took the opportunity while waiting to use the computers at the Amsterdam library to update the blog. This post should be, at least, free from all the typos I noticed in my last post. Typing on a touch-screen Dutch computer isn't fun, which accounts for all the misspellings, etc. on the last post.

Those of you in Portland will know that we got a call yesterday from home that Mom had died on Thursday. This puts a burden on us, as we feel guilty for continuig our trip, despite the urgings of friends and famiy to do so. We've bought a cell phone and have arranged to have her memorial service at 1 p.m. on 7/17 after we get back.

Here's some more learning about Europe:

1) A message of ïnsufficient funds"on the ATM doesn't really mean your bank account has been emptied out by some nefarious person. This is the message that nearly gave us heart attacks on the day we landed. We learned that it really means the amount you want to withdraw exceeds the ATM's preset limit. Whew! Would have been a really frugal trip if we couldn't use our ATMs for cash. Managed to withdraw funds in smaller amounts just fie.

2) People think I'm German but have no trouble identifying Wm. as American. Makes for interesting conversations. I can almost understand the Dutch if they speak slowly, but Wm. is totally lost.

3) Rainy days are good times to visit museums. Yesterday in the rain we visited the vanGogh (say van HHHock while simultaneously spitting if you want to say it correctly) and Rembrandt museums and took a canal boat cruise. No photos from that, as museums don't allow cameras.

4) Indonesian food is interesting. We ate a rijstafel (rice table) dinner. 13 tiny side dishes served with a big bowl of rice. Most of them spicy and indefinable but very tasty. Stems from Dutch colonial times when people stationed in Indonesia tried to outdo one another by having their cooks prepare more and fancier dishes to be served with the rice.

5) Haven't tried eating the raw herring yet but it's in the plans for later. So far have been enjoying the many types of cheese and the delicious bread.

All for now. Must get to the ship before they sail without me.