Amsterdam

This past weekend a group of the students and I took a ferry from Newcastle to Amsterdam. The ferry was unlike anything we expected. It seemed more like a cruise then a ferry. But we were all housed in the "Jack" part of the ship. (Think about titanic...you'll figure it out). We were sure that if our ferry went down we would be the ones gated in the bottom of the ship with no esape. The cars were even higher then us! But it was a good time. The trip over there was smooth, but the people on this ferry were LOUD!!!! I found it very difficult to sleep that first night. We ported in Amsterdam around 9:30 am and after going through immegration and what not we boarded a bus to have a one hour tour of the city. This was beneficial when Sierra, Alexis and I wanted to find the Anne Frank house after we got off the bus.

The Anne Frank House was an amazing thing to see and i am glad we waited in the "Q" to get in. Just to think about what life must have been like for her and the others living in that small space...it's so hard to get a handle on. We did not get to the Van Gough Museum...just not enough time! After the Anne Frank House we sought out the Hard Rock Cafe and did a little souivinear shopping. Then we grabbed some Mc Donalds for the ride home and our dinner.

When we got back on the ferry we were exhausted and took a nap. Around 7 we woke up and did a little exploring of the ship again...went out on deck and Alexis and I just had a good chat before heading to bed around 11.

Early the next morning we were awaken by a woman's voice coming through the speaker to tell us when we would be back into port in Newcastle. We were back on the bus headed for home about 10.

When we reached the castle i quickly showered and threw a load of laundry in before my friend's Matt and Ashely came. It was so good to see friends from home! We just spent the afternoon together. I took them to Barter Books where they met my new good friend Dink and i bought the book "Atonment". Then we headed over the pastures to do some sheep chasing and take "harry potter" pictures with the castle in the back ground. After climbing the hill back into town we went to Grannies for scrumcious sandwitches for dinner and headed back to the castle to enjoy them in the library and just catch up and chat. And ofcourse, before they left I had to take them to my favorite pubs, "the lhairy emon" and "blackmores", for a few drinks. Then it was off the bus station where we discovered they had missed the last bus to the train station. After some quick thinking we go the number for the taxi and booked an ride for them to the train station. Seeing them really made me realize how important everyone back home is to me. Dont get me wrong, i love it here in England and really hope to come back again some day...but it's just not the same without everyone you love.

The pictures included are ones from Amsterdam and the one of Ashely, Matt and I at Blackmores.

I will try and post again soon....it might be hard because i will be gone on holiday. I havn't decided if i will be bringing my computer yet or not.

Love you all! x

Con