Maasluis

It took about an hour from Schiphol to Maasluis. It was a pretty interesting ride. I was most amused by the fact that here the steering wheels are on the other side, and everyone drives on the other side of the road. So it was pretty wack always thinking that youre going to crash or something. I was also very fascinated by the GPS in the car, and by the cellphone that could be transmitted through the car stereo. Holland is all go on their technology. I spent alot of time staring out of the window and pointing out every single windmill. We arrived at their home in Maassluis about 8 or 9am and i met Mieke, Uncle Renes wife who showed me to my room. Its a pretty cool house there, 3 stories high. All the houses here in holland are really high because there is a lack of space so everyone builds up instead of across. And they dont really have gardens unless youre really really rich. Most people have little courtyards.

I slept alot the first few days of staying there, trying to conquer my jetlag. It was pretty wierd because id wake up really really hungry very early in the morning, and get really sleepy about 3 or 4 in the afternoon. Slowly i met all the family. It is a busy busy household. All the kids apart from Cor still live at home. I met the girls in good time as well. Rianne, Marieke and Annelies. They are all very cool. Uncle Rene is really cool too. Its so funny because he looks so much like mum of course, but also Marcel. I reckon when Marcel is older he is going to look like uncle Rene.

The night after i arrived Cor took me into Rotterdam city which was awesome. The motorways are pretty funny here, reminded me a bit of Thailand. You have to go in a big circle around the city to actually get into the city. Its a really nice city but of course it was freezing cold so i complained a bit. I saw the big building where Uncle Rene works and we had a little walk around the shops. Cor took me out for dinner at this bar called 'Get back to the 70s and 80s'. It was so classic, really retro and we ate our dinner upon what i think is the go go dancer floor. I scanned the menu and guess what i ordered. Steak of course...having thought id never see a piece of steak in Holland. It was really rich, but it was absolutely delicious. We were going to meet up with one of my cousins Inge, but i was getting a bit tired so didnt want to stay up too late. So we decided to go to the movies. Oh my goodness, the movie theatres here are absolutely amazing. They are huge!! Huge is an understatement. And the seats are really really comfy. We went to watch 'Munich', the latest from Steven Spielberg. It was a pretty gruesome movie, but i totally reccomend that you go see it when it comes out.

I also trained into Rotterdam with Anton another day. Boy was it a fun experience going on the train. We walked about the shops looking for neccesities such as a scarf and gloves and a hat etc. I ended up finding a bargain cashmere scarf for only 3euro in one of the big department stores. Thats only like NZ$5. cheap like a bird. We had something to eat in the department store..because they have a cafe there. I had a hot chocolate and a chocolate crossaint. they were both very rich. I felt very sick after that. One of the things that annoyed me about that department store is that i had to pay to go to the toilet! Talk about stingy dutch. I also explored a book shop and found myself a book to read called 'The virgin blue' by Tracey Chevalier. I have read two of her other books so i hope this ones good too.

I ended up staying in Maasluis about a week which i hadnt planned on. But i had no clue what i was meant to be doing so i just went with the flo. Some other highlights of my time there were biking into town with Marieke to look at the shops, walking into old maassluis with Anton and getting a giant 'Stroopwafel' at the markets and buying dutch licorice at the Albert Heijn. i absolutely love stroopwafels..they are like biscuity waffles with sugar in the middle. I also got to watch Rianne play a game of Korfball which was pretty interesting. I couldnt work it out..its kind of like a really wack game of netball. I also really enjoyed the food during my stay here. It was interesting eating bread with meat and cheese for breakfast, and also getting to eat chocolate hail on your sandwiches!yum! I also got to experience eating Whitlof, a strange vegetable sort of like a really fat leek. Rianne celebrated her 21st birthday while i was here. It was interesting because you dont really celebrate your 21st birthday here like you do in New Zealand. What i did find funny though is that everyone goes around congratulating each other and shaking hands for the person whos birthday is. Crazy. (Photo - Old Maasluis)

One day i went to the beach with Mieke, and we took Kelly the dog with us too. I think this way maybe one of my favourite times in Massluis. It was so nice to see the sea. It totally made me homesick and reminded me of New Zealand...apart from the odd modern windmill poking up in the distance. But it was a nice day and the sun was out a bit. The beach was pretty isolated apart from a few people walking their dogs, and some even riding their horses down the beach. (Photos - Kelly at the beach, Me at the beach)

My time in Maasluis came to an end about the 2nd of Feburary. Piet Hein, my uncle came to Massluis and take me to stay with them for a night. So i packed my bags and said my goodbyes, and headed towards my next destination...Hoevelaken!