Amsterdam: Highlights (December 9-15)
This was the last week of school before winter vacation – and our last week in Amsterdam before we go traveling again for a few more weeks and ultimately return to Evanston. I’m having a lot of those cliché “Wow! Time goes fast!” sort of moments this week while I try to soak up all of this beautiful city while simultaneously tamp down my excitement about using an American washing machine.
We filled the week with a blur of activities – trying to knock off the last of our unfinished bucket list activities, revisiting some of our most favorite spots, and saying a whole lot of good-byes and see you laters to friends here.
The top attractions that made our “must visit one more time” list included the Nemo Science Museum, the Artis Zoo, and the Cat Café. (You can tell which family members have more voting currency than others by these choices!)
Ben and his friend, Sanjana, at the Artis Zoo.
The cat cafe, with a cat photobomber.
The Science Lab at the Nemo Science Museum.
Not surprisingly, more than half of our visit again places involved food: Eating appeltaart, pancakes, and the now legendary pasta parmigiana from the Italian place on our block all got a lot of votes.
Last Winkel for the FInkels. (Ha!)
Eli and I once debated the practicality of having our own 40 kilo wheel of cheese in our home kitchen.
We will miss living on the Herenstraat. Our stay here proved (anew) that home can be where you make it. In just a few months we befriended many of the shop owners and store managers on our block. There is something so comforting about walking home from school and waving or saying hello to your neighbors.
Here are some farewell pictures with our friends at Deus, the store that shared a building with our apartment, T’Goede Soet, the chocolate shop on our corner, and Max, the Indonesian restaurant across the street.
Home Sweet Herenstraat
The Deus team who share our building.
Max, whose restaurant (called Max) is an upscale Indonesian spot directly across the street from our apartment.
The owner of the chocolate shop on our corner. I think we were her best customers!
On Sunday, our last day in the Netherlands, we hopped a train and left Amsterdam for the nearby town of Haarlem. Emotionally, at least for me, it was easier to fill the day with something big and new than to try to stay busy, likely arguing over exactly what should be our last-last thing in Amsterdam, and with most of our goodbyes already said.
We stopped at a cafe for brunch, toured Haarlem’s beautiful windmill, and then attempted to visit a nearby castle/mansion, now a hotel on beautiful grounds, for lunch. In the end, it was two-out-of-three for us. The castle restaurant couldn’t accommodate us and we ended up back in Amsterdam for a late lunch.
And, of course, this week we had so many sad and sweet goodbyes. Both kids were showered in love and homemade gifts from friends at school.
A beautiful going away gift from Ben’s friend.
Last day at school!
Ben and his teacher.
We spent time with my dear friend Jill (and her dog Benny too), Norah’s dear friend Trinity, and our best family friends in Amsterdam, the Hubers.
The commute crew.
As we left school on Friday afternoon, Norah asked me (through a few tears) if it’s possible to feel sad and excited at the same time. I told her that was exactly how I felt about leaving Amsterdam too. If there were a way to live with a foot in both worlds, I think we would do it.
For now though, I am about to open my last, enormous, Finkel family itinerary I’ve titled “The Big Finish” and we are off to soak up the last of our time together abroad.
