The North Sea

I was so wrapped up in France that I did not do much research about the Netherlands. Hence, I am a little chilly.  I have only one jacket and was not aware that I would be so near the North Sea. 

So, I had barely begin to feel confident riding my giant bike and then it rained.  It is difficult to see when the rain is smashing into one's face, causing one's mascara to run into said eyeballs - and so we had a near head on collision with an oncoming bike-rider yesterday.  Instead of horns, we have little bells, hardly sufficient for such panic.

Alas, it is lovely.  We peddle to our school, The Peace Palace, right past the world peace flame, navigate through all the tourists who are not allowed into the compound, run through security - who we now know very well and scan ourselves into our class.  On our route, we pass several embassies and the ambassadors houses in a windy little treed bike path.

Beautiful, very lucky to be here.

Yesterday, the Israeli Ambassador talked to a small group of us - he was twice the Ambassador to Canada.

This evening we are being received by the mayor of The Hague at a reception where the dress code translates to be 'ready for the night'.

I am scheduled to go to The Humanity House this Friday and the Irish Embassy next week.

This weekend however, we are planning on taking the train up to Amsterdam for the Pride Parade which instead of floats on the street have a parade of boats on the canal.  We are going with our new friend from Russia and another guy from Lebanon who lived in Montreal for a year, tried to be a Canadian lawyer - but said it was too hard.  It promises to be exciting.

Thanks for tuning in again.
c