A Week Without Dave

Last weekend began my adventure to be by myself – without my husband in this land they call Amsterdam.  I have realized that my “free spirit” has not yet “freed” itself!  I have decided I am not a very independent woman which kind of surprises me.  However, I ventured out on my own quite a few times this past week and I am learning how to work situations out for myself.  It has only taken 57 years!

I had heard about a market that is only open on Saturdays that has organic produce, meats, breads, cheese, you name it along with flea market booths.  So on Saturday I got on the internet and figured out which trams to take to get there.  It was in an area I had not been in before and was not familiar with.  So that afternoon I ventured out on the trams.  While on the tram to get there the driver made a long announcement – in Dutch, of course – and I heard the name of my stop but figured I should be fine so I really didn’t give it a second thought.  So I got to my stop, got off the tram, looked at my map and figured out which direction to begin walking to find the market.  It was a really nice market – much nicer than the other large one I had already been to.  While walking around these markets you always have to keep in mind that you have to carry whatever you purchase back with you to the tram stop and home.  So I only bought a small piece of goat cheese and a wool hat.  I also met up with one of the woman I have met and she had a friend with her from Greece.  We enjoyed walking around looking at all the fun stuff and then I left them and walked back to where I had gotten off the tram.  Oh, no – the construction that I really didn’t pay attention to – there were no tracks for the tram going back the direction I needed to go and it was quickly turning dusk.  So after a few minutes of panic I said to myself just start walking the direction you came from and there has to be another tram stop with the tram headed your direction.  I found it and got home safely.

I have a weakness for these markets and I had also heard about another market that only happened on the First Sunday of each month.  This market was more handmade and unusual items.  So, again on Sunday I figured out the tram schedule and headed out.  I loved this one and plan on going to it again next month.  I purchased a few Christmas gifts and had a homemade sausage sandwich on my way out.  I didn’t encounter any problems on this day except that it was extremely cold and I really didn’t wear quite enough clothes.  I have learned to carry umbrella, gloves, hat and scarf in your bag just in case!

Let’s see then this week I have gone to two coffee get-togethers, to lunch with a couple women and today was an all day trip to a little town named Nijkerk where there is a Polish Pottery Outlet.  There were about 15 women from the American Women’s Club and we all piled in cars and headed out early this morning.  For any woman that likes to shop, get great deals and loves pottery – Paradise!  Shall I say I have most of my Christmas shopping done!  After the shopping, we all headed into the town square and had lunch at a really nice café.  Today I had Maize Soup and half of a Brie, Apple, Walnut Sandwich.  Shall I say YUM!  I was in a car with 4 other women and we had a little trouble trying to figure out how to get out of the little town and finding the expressway (I was not driving!) but we figured it out and were safely home by 3:00.

I have received several emails from friends this week that I haven’t really talked to in a long time which causes me to excitedly open my email every morning to see who has emailed me while I have been sleeping.  I have to say I am a very blessed woman to have all of you out there praying for us, emailing us, calling us and just letting us know you’re there.  Thank you!

Dave heads home tomorrow and I am anxious to see him.  Next week will be a busy week for him as several people from San Diego will be coming over.

Hugs!