We left Pittsburgh in Tuesday evening and landed in Toronto around 8 where we thought we'd have dinner. Made a bungle and had to go back through security, which was kind of a time eater.  But we had a couple hours so we were fine,  tho the service at the burger joint was incredibly slow!  And the $15 burger was lukewarm. Ah well!  Had we known there would be a warm dinner on the flight (at 11:30 pm!) we would have waited...?!  Probly not - lol!

The flight didn't seem overly long to me,  but sleeping was difficult.  Dozed in and out,  probably totalling 4 hours maybe.  Waited so long to get luggage and finally got out to Di!  She was waiting for us with hugs and also amazing chocolate almond pastries! Hugs for Nessa and Evan too (one of her littles), as we traveled with her mom and aunt who are also visiting. The airport is cool and very industrial-looking (not restrooms, but toilets on signage!)  We found a Starbucks in the airport and munched and visited. A lady asked Di a question -  in Dutch.  She says people do that all the time,  thinking she is native because of her height. I'm finding it's true -  my 6 foot daughter is on the low side of average for height here :-)

Took a bus to the apartment.  They live on the 2nd and 3rd floors -  super steep steps!  They live in Museumplein - a very ritzy neighborhood.  Di says she can't afford to shop on their street.  Met the children (Giovanni, Bianca and Matilde) and Nonno and Nonna (Rosa's parents) . Nonna fed us a yummy pasta carbonara for lunch.  We hung out for a while, played with the kids (they LOVE the farm animal and dinosaur sound books I gave them!), got settled,  then headed out for a walk around Amsterdam.

Very busy city! Thousands of cyclists. Di tells us they have the right of way over people and cars.  The cars will stop for pedestrians,  but not the bicyclists!  We quickly learned to recognize the bike lanes and to look both ways twice! And they have Bedo sirens here - lol!

We saw a couple "coffee" shops (no coffee,  just weed! )  and some sex shops... Interesting :-) Walked through the floating market where the back side of the open air shops actually float on a canal. Lots of flowers for sale! You can even get your own Marijuana starter kit-lol!

We decided to do a canal boat tour and it was relaxing and fun, but we are starting to feel fatigued (Leah actually took a snooze on the boat). It was a guided tour so we learned about the city.  People actually live in some of the houseboats right on

 the canals! Took a walk through the park where Di takes the kids. Again,  watch out for the bikes!  Rosa was home when we got back,  so we met and visited and enjoyed cheese-less,  very yummy lasagne for dinner (made by Nellie, the Spanish cook, who we met). Retired around 8:30,  very sleepy tonight.  Di gave me her bed and took the couch.  Judy and Leah took the kids room and they slept with mama. Nonno and Nonna are leaving tomorrow early so the guest room will be free tomorrow night.