The "Suite" Life

St. Bavos.
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When most people decide to travel to Europe, they get excited about visiting Paris or Rome.  They can't wait to see the Parthenon, Michaelangelo's David, or the Eiffel Tower.  Me, on the other hand, I was most excited to come to Haarlem, Holland, and visit the house of Corrie ten Boom.

For the past seven years, I have taught the book The Hiding Place to my 8th graders.  It is the autobiography of Corrie ten Boom, recounting how she and her family protected Jews during WW II and the dire consequences they faced.  This book about faith and perseverance is one of my favorite books, Corrie is one of my most admired people, and yesterday I got to tour the very home I have read so much about.

I was most excited to come to Haarlem, Holland, and visit the house of Corrie ten Boom.

Playing frisbee in the park.
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Traveling from Paris to Haarlem (via Amsterdam) was a much different experience than our travel from London to Paris.  We discovered that our Eurail passes entitle us to FIRST CLASS seats!  I could get used to first class.  First of all, we were on a high-speed train that only stopped in the major cities. Next, almost immedieatly after departure, they served us lunch!  It was a little better than airplane food, but it was nice to feel taken care of.  The service continued for the rest of the 4 hour trip.  Water, coffee, snacks were all provided.  Unfortunately, I didn't realize that we'd get snacks and bought a candy bar just minutes before they brought them through the car, offering them for free.  The guy serving them just looked at me and kind of chuckled.  He said, "I remember you; you just bought one."  I was hoping that he'd refund my 2 euros, but he didn't.

We saw funny cars everywhere but this one was the best. They were announcing something in Dutch but were pulled over and ticketed shortly after we saw them.
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We transfered trains in Amsterdam and quickly arrived in Haarlem, a suburb about 15 minutes away.  We hopped aboard a bus and were at our hotel, the Carlton Square, in minutes.  Now, we had seen Shelley's parents' hotel room in London and were expecting something very small.  But, while checking-in, the receptionist realized that we had requested a child's cot for Bubba.  Unfortunately, the room we had booked was too small to fit another bed.  So she decided to upgrade us to a larger room.  God must have really wanted to bless us because the only room avaliable was room 510, the Carlton Suite.  Now this room is not magnificent by American hotel standards, it has a king size bed and a small couch/futon, but when we saw the bathroom we thought we entered heaven!  There was the biggest jacuzzi tub I have ever seen!  Ryan squealed! Shelley squealed! I squealed! In the last 3 days the Youd family has taken more baths that I thought was humanly possible.

Geoff and Ryan in front of the restaurant we loved in Haarlem.
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Saturday was spent exploring Haarlem.  Of course, the highlight for me was the Ten Boom house.  The house has been drastically remodeled because it was sold after WW II and not restored and opened to the public until 1989, but it was awe-insipiring to be in the same rooms as the Tem Booms.  The hiding place where the Jews hid is still there; we got to climb in and take pictures.  It was different than I expected, somewhat bigger and somewhat smaller.  I can't wait to read the book again and see how my interpretation changes now that I've been in the house.

Geoff in St. Bavos.
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Today (Sunday), we tried to go to church at St. Bavo's but were late and couldn't get in.  We slipped in as service was letting out and got to hear a little for the unbelievable pipe organ!  That thing was huge!  After being all awestruck by the magnificence of the cathedral, we did the only logical thing.  We headed to Amsterdam!  We walked past the palace (cool, another big building), through the flower market (lots and lots and lots of flowers), and through a big park.  Up to this point, the only true excitement was the challenge of averting Ryan's eyes when we walked past inappropriate advertising and all gift shops!  But then we realized we were near the Anne Frank house.  If you are ever in Amsterdam, this is not a tour to miss.  It was a multimedia, self-guided tour through the offices and the hidden rooms where Anne Frank wrote her diary.  It was a moving experience.  I have decided that I need to read the book again.

Ryan celebrating his birthday yet again. Lucky guy got a sparkler in his ice cream! We were at an Italian restaurant in Haarlem that was so good and kind that we went back several times that weekend.
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We have loved our time in the Netherlands.  Choosing to stay in Haarlem instead of Amsterdam was a great decision.  It feels small and quaint yet has plenty to do, see, and eat.  Plus, we missed much of the unsavoryness Amsterdam is famous for.  Tomorrow we head to Berlin, aboard a high-speed, first-class train, of course.  Haarlem could have spoiled us for life!