School trip with Luca

 

In my capacity as babysitting uncle I get to participate in some of the fun outings that Luca has. This time it is a school trip to a children's paradise in the middle of nowhere just outside Amsterdam. In this veritable kids Garden of Eden the young-lings have the choice of swimming, indoor climbing range or outside playground. Luca loves water, so swimming it was. After lunch, organised by Miss Anita, some hardcore playing was done outside.

Family BBQ

 

With a Chilean in the family it has not been a real Summer without a family BBQ. Luckily the weather was good when Cristian was back in Amsterdam during his yearly stint in Santiago to take care of the honours and prepare the wide range of char coaled delicacies. 

The spoilt nephew

 

Nephew Boaz had so much fun the last time he stayed at Uncle Ben's that he couldn't wait to come again. With a precedent having been set the last time, the stay had to include watching movies and eating popcorn. 

Queen's Night

 

On April 30th the Dutch celebrate the official birthday of H.M. Queen Beatrix (the day is the birthday of her late mother Juliana. Her actual birthday is in January). On that day people dress up in orange clothes, sell all kinds of junk in the streets and generally have a good time. Increasingly the festivities start the previous evening, as is the case in Amsterdam. 

Vertigo

 

Several times a year the central square in Amsterdam, Dam Square, is turned into a fair. Besides the usual fairground attractions there usually are some exciting contraptions to entice the visitors. While I love roller coasters and the like, I apparently do not like the rides that bring you 50 to 60 metres above the ground at high speed. Case in point the motorised swing ride that has you sitting in a seat without too much protection. You are taken up about 50 metres while going around at ever increasing speed. Before I got on I thought it would be a great ride, but during it I become less and less comfortable. Is it vertigo? Or just old age?