Monday, July 29th

So this is our last full day in Amsterdam. The sun is shining this morning and the forecast is for 28 degrees so another hot muggy day.  But still ten degrees cooler than it’s been so it is at least bearable. Yesterday we got an early start and walked down to the train station with the intention of going to Delft. Just before the train was to arrive they announced a fifteen minute delay.....and then another delay and then finally cancelled.  As were many of the other destinations.  Even the short trip to the airport was cancelled. I’m glad we weren’t headed there.  We have decided we need a plan B in case it should happen again.  The trains are fantastic when they are running but delays and cancellations seem to be quite common.  At any rate,  we took a tram to the south station where we were finally able to get a train to Delft. It was well worth the trouble.  It’s like something out of a fairy tale.  Beautiful buildings and canals.  Flowers everywhere and not too many people.  If we had to do it again this is where we would have booked.  Live and learn eh?
When we left Amsterdam in the morning it was a mix of sun and cloud and quite a bit cooler than it had been. Ian decided to take a jacket, just in case.  No way, not me! I had been so hot for so long I couldn’t imagine wearing a jacket.  Shortly before the train reached Delft .......guess what?  It was raining!  But lucky me, it had stopped by the time we got there.  It wasn’t exactly cold but it was a lot cooler and the wind had picked up.  So I decided I needed to buy a sweater or light jacket.  Well, who knew?  Did you know that Amsterdam has the tallest men in the world.  And the second tallest women in the world.  No sweater or jacket for me.  So I settled for an umbrella.  One size fits all.
By the time we got back to Amsterdam it was about six o’clock so Happy Hour.  Off we went o our little brown pub.  Great people watching!  Then back to our apartment for a dinner of salad, leftover pizza (reheated in a frying pan because for the life of us we can’t figure out the microwave/oven), and chocolate bars.  Went to bed around ten.  Probably our latest night.
So today.......if the trains are running .......we are going to try another visit to Haarlem.