Raining in Baltimore

Actually, raining in Holland. I'm in a jet-lagged, car-sick, hungry daze, but I'll fill you in on what little I have seen of this amazing place so far.

My flight was interesting. Sat next to a Russian woman who had no reservations about ordering me food/drink while I was asleep, tucking my blanket around me tighter, and waking me up to watch the (not so) funny part of the movie she was enjoying. She was sweet though, and talking to her made the time go by quickly. Probably only got a full hour or two of shut eye, though.

I had no idea what to expect getting off of the plane. Bear with me, readers of mine who are better travelled than I. I got scared. I thought of stepping off into this mass of confusion, prostitution, and drug dealing where I would be lost in the language barrier. Hardly the reality. Everyone we've encountered so far is fluent in English and the airport looked hardly different from the one I spent the better part of yesterday in.

The drive from Amsterdam was about 2.5 hours... In the beginning it didn't look any different than driving the 101 towards Gilroy...'cept it is totally flat. Tons of cows, horses, goats, etc. But as soon as we (8 of us in a shuttle with a very friendly Dutch man) got into the country, it morphed into a landscape I can not compare to anything I've seen before. Again, I was in a sleepy, disoriented stupor, so I didn't take pictures. But honestly. Excuse the cliche, but I didn't know there were so many shades of green. It just stretched for miles and miles along the highway. Farms with these quaint little lumpy cottages and windmills all along these green fields lined with perfectly placed trees. Also, the rivers and lakes are still and flat, making the only break in color the dark slate of the pools.

Then we pulled off the freeway. I can not begin to describe the town of Well. It's like a cross between the beautiful neighborhoods you see in WW2 movies (we are quite close to Germany) and some perfect little town you walk through in Disneyland. I'll wait until I can post pictures.

Same with the castle. Oh wait, I LIVE IN A CASTLE!!! It's like Harry Potter. But better. No pesky owls darting around. The grounds from what I've seen are gorgeous, two moats, a Dutch RA named Johnny. Seriously?! This is my life.

I can hardly keep my eyes open, and while I've been resisting the temptation to nap, I think I'm about to give in. Send emails.