Boerejongens with a kroket

If you're Dutch you know what that headline means. It is food related and not a particularly good combination. Still, I had a pancake with "boerejongens" (raisins that have been sitting in a liquor for a long time) followed shortly by "twee kroketten met brood" (two meat-filled, cylinder-shaped, deep-fried mini-logs on bread.) It was great, especially since I had it on a patio at a restaurant in Holland accompanied by my closest family and with a cup of great Dutch coffee (though I wish they did free refills in Holland.)

You've guessed right, I have been neglecting my blog because I have been working on my waistline in another part of the world. Seriously, it is impossible to go home and not gain weight. All my friends thought I'd go fat in the U.S., the opposite is happening. My lifestyle here is pretty healthy, but when I spend time back in the Netherlands I end up eating appelgebak (apple pie), saucijzenbroodjes (bun with sausage), amandelbroodjes (almond filled pastries), patat met (fries with mayo) and much more almost on a daily basis. Being in Holland is almost like being in a candy store. (And I didn't even mention the beer!)


At least it gets compensated somewhat. In the 10 days that I was there I played tennis twice, went on a three-hour bicycle ride and a hike in the woods. Also, we strolled a lot through the lovely downtown areas of towns such as Kampen, Middelburg, Goes and, of course, Haarlem.

Now that I am back, I will also be able to enjoy riding a Dutch bike. It took a bit of effort, but I now have a Sparta bicycle in the U.S. With help from my dad, friends Michael and Anne Marie, Continental Airlines and a friendly cab driver here in San Francisco I was able to bring my Sparta home. I unpacked it tonight and rode it around Burlingame. It rides really well and made the trip unscathed!

There's too much to tell from my trip. Suffice it to say that it was fun to see the family and I was happy to be able to spend a day with my longtime friend Merel as well. Apologies to all my other friends, who I was unable to see. Most of the time was spent with family in Overijssel at Landal Greenparks de "Witte Bergen," that's why you didn't see me. I'll do better next time.