Amsterdam

Hi Amy and friends!

Sorry it's been so long since my last post, I've been hanging out in Amsterdam with Renée's friend Samson (who is know as 'Tikitu' by most people over here - that's officially his middle name though). This is Samson:

Samson/Tikitu is originally from Golden Bay in New Zealand, and went to Otago University in Dunedin, NZ with Renée. He's now in Amsterdam, still studying but working at the same time. He did try to explain what he studies - it's something to do with logic - but it made my poor owl brain hurt so I had to stop listening.

Anyway, Samson had lost his camera on a trip home to NZ, so we had to wait for it to arrive before we could get any photos. I had a great time hanging out on the Houseboat where Samson lives, but we finally got the photos done, so I'm on my way back to London. I'm hoping to get in a quick trip to Sweden before I have to head back to Horsell, but I'll have to see how much time I have left. (Amy, maybe your mum could email Renée and let her know?)

1. Something the Dutch do well is bicycles. This is a 'bakfiets' ('fiets' = bycicle).

Samson used one to move house, shuffling all his boxes of books and clothing and what-have-you in three trips across Amsterdam. It's recommended!
There are lots of canals in the Netherlands and many people choose to live on houseboats. Here are some we saw on our tour!
That's a bridge. If a boat comes through that's too big to fit underneath, it has to lift up to let it past. That's what all the magnificent ironwork is for.

This is Samson and me with his mandocello, called Marama. It's a type of musical instrument which is apparently a bigger type of mandolin, but tuned like a cello. That didn't mean much to me, but I like the music, and Marama and I got on fine!
This palce is called Brouwerij't IJ. It's a brewery and beer-tasting pub, built in the bottom of a windmill. Their logo (just about visible, the red sign on the side) is an ostrich. Personally I think an owl would have been better... It's another boat. On a canal. Not going anywhere fast, by the looks of that rust.
These, despite appearences, are also boats. People live in them. In fact Samson lives in something quite like this!

So that's my trip to the Netherlands. I'll look forward to seeing you all soon!

Love,

Sophie (the owl)