Our first week in Amsterdam

Well we made it. Let's get off this airplane 

and stretch our legs a bit. 

Wow...it must be about 10:00 A.M.

"Goedemorgen"

After we arrived in Amsterdam and met our driver without any incidents he took us to our apartment. However, when we arrived there was no sign of the landlord. Allan found the phone # of Morningstar's office in an old email and the driver was able to call Jackie, the office manager. She said she'd sent an email that the landlord wanted us to pick up the keys from him at the airport. Allan explained his phone stopped receiving emails once we left the U.S. The driver and I went back to the airport to find the landlord while

Allan stayed with the luggage that we'd already unloaded from the car. 

Me and the kids are on our way back to the airport. They were great sports when they heard that we

 got to go back to the airport. They have been so

good and have not complained a bit.

Way to go 

Spencer and Alie.

While we were gone, the owner of the building, who is temporarily living next door, showed up and opened the apartment and helped Allan haul our luggage up the stairs to our temporary home. Shortly after they had all the luggage in, I arrived with our key. All we brought with us is what we could fit in four large suitcases and four carry on bags.

"This is one steep set of stairs"

I wasn't to hip on going back to the airport to 

retrieve the keys, but I sure was glad when

 I saw that flight of stairs.

This set of steps was even steeper than the first.

 Thanks Allan for hauling 

 my luggage up those stairs for me.

Morningstar put us up for 30 days in temporary housing in Westerpark, which is west of downtown Amsterdam. It took about 10 minutes on the bus or 25 minutes or so walking to get to Centraal Station. Allan took the bus to Centraal Station and then caught the metro (subway) to Bijlmer Arena, the biggest football (soccer) stadium in the Netherlands. It is then a 6-8 minute walk to his office.

Biljmer Arena

This is Allan's Office building. He works on the 11th floor. 

This is the bike garage.

Allan's bike is in the center of the photo. It is the one with the black bags over the back tires.

This is Allan's Desk.  

Ok let's go back and see what our

 temporary housing looks like.

"Welkom". Come on in.

When you open the door you come right into the kitchen.

Wow, look at these dials on the oven.

                                    Humm, I wonder how these work?

It was a bit tricky trying to figure it out.
It was trial and error.
 

Our Living  Room

This was a side room/ guest room just
off from the side of the living room.

                 The next room is the cutest little bathroom. 

They call it the "toilet". 

This room is separate from the toilet

Hey Dad check out this tub...

A lot of places here don't have one
 of these luxuries of life.

Great place don't

 you think?

Ok so we needed some food, so we 

went around the corner and down a bit to

 the small but lovely Albert Heijn. 

(Allan really likes these shopping carts.)

 The carts are small for a good reason.

 Why? because you carry home what you buy. 

Remember you have a very small fridge 

and a small amount of shelf space

to store things.

These next photos are of some very important

cooking essentials. It took several trips to 

the market to actually find them. We were 

both very excited when we found them. We eventually 

found baking soda in a chinese market.

Forget about buying anything in bulk around here.

Oh except oil. They love to deep fry, so oil comes in bulk.

Yes, yogurt comes in a milk carton.

  

Vanilla. This bottle was good for just a
few batches of chocolate no bakes.
 

Spencer, you acrobat.

We all
 had a great
time
 making our
chocolate
 no bakes. 
Yum they were good.

This is the tiny
package of Baking Powder

I was very excited when I found
this yeast.  It takes 3 of these little gems to
 make a small batch of dough.

Check out the tape

 that seals the peanut butter lid 

closed for safety.

But hey, I can at least 

read what it acually is.

Cooking here is tricky, 

but I am getting used to it

On Wednesday, we went around to various municipal offices registering to live in Amsterdam. Allan went to work on Thursday and then had a four day weekend with work closed Friday for Good Friday and Monday for Easter. We spent the weekend walking around Amsterdam, seeing sights and becoming acquainted with which stores carry what and where various things are.

Enjoy some random shots

 around Amsterdam.

This is at Dam square.
The "Palace" is behind the Ferris Wheel

I love her hat!

Life size chess game going on.

Yes, we spotted the Invisible Man

Our "tickets to ride" on
 the Sprinter to get to Church.

You see that funny looking necklace that I am wearing?
It is a translation device that I wear at church 
during our Sacrament meeting.

What a week it has been. 
Thanks for tagging along with us.
Have a great time until 
we see you again.