Walking, Walking, and more Walking!!!

Day 2: Walking Tour

Things that I learned today: 

1. Stay on the sidewalk as bikes will run you over and cars sometimes will stop for you, but it is not a guarantee. 

2. A simple "deer in the headlights look" and the term "I don't speak dutch" can help you out at times. 

3. You can say no thank you, something I didn't think I could do. This is especially handy when a man with a microphone and a friend with a camera come up to you and ask you to sing on what we think could be a dutch television show.

4. Leiden is pretty during the day and even prettier at night. 

5. That what seemed to be the express lane at Hoogvleit really is a line for people with credit cards. Whoops! 

6. Everyone is really really tall! 

7. Everyone rides a bike no matter what they are wearing! Some ladies in skirts were even peddling past us (I have to learn to do this like they do). They also do some amazing things on their bikes like walk their dogs, balance three kids on a bike and talk on the phone (probably won't ever master this because of my hand eye coordination not being the greatest and I don't have five kids). 

What I did today: 

Since we had not gone grocery shopping I ended up trying a nice bakery that is traditionally found in Northern Netherlands. I can't remember the name of the bread that I got, but I know that it is really good and the croissants melted in your mouth. I also had sinaasappelsap, orange juice, that tasted amazing. We then went to the classroom to go over a handbook and were greeted with coffee, tea, and stroopwafels (which are 2 cookies that are similar to waffles with syrup between them.....in other words the downfall of keeping to any sort of diet plan while here! 

My new addiction! STROOPWAFELS and Coffee! 

My breakfast! 

We then went through a fantastic handout of Do's and Don'ts. one of my favorite was "Beware of Lover-boys/girls." It was hilarious listening to Steef explain what that was. After our introduction course we went to lunch at one of the student eating spots. I had a ham and cheese sandwich, which something to note when you get a sandwich here the cheese is on one side and the meat is on the other. I also had a vlees kroket, and all I know about it is that it is a dutch food you have to try because it was really good! It kind of look like a mozzarella stick, but it really is not. 

Coca Cola light, Ham and cheese sandwich and vlees kroket.

After lunch we had a walking tour of Lieden. I instantly regretted wearing my flats as the cobblestone and brick streets take a toll on your feet and back. This tour let us see the places that we need to become very familiar with, like ATM's, bike shops, telephone shops. 

Me standing by the Rign so you can see just how beautiful it is.

After the tour we went grocery shopping at the Hoogvliet and got phones. At the Hoogvliet I went into the wrong check out lane and made the cashier a little unhappy, but I learned that the lanes that seem to be express are not really express but rather for cards only. Oh well!  I got my food then made a ham sandwich and after that went to the Hema to get shower shoes with two of the other girls. While returning from Hema a television man, at least we assumed he was working for Dutch TV, asked us if we wanted to sing a song in the street. I wish I could say that we belted out a song, but since we could not think of one we didn't. Next time we are prepared to sing "Row Row Row Your Boat" in a round robin!

Here is me standing on the busy shopping street of Haarlemmerstraat after shopping at Hoofvleit.

Here is a picture of one of the Canals at night. This picture really does it no justice. It is beautiful!