08/05/10 - Amsterdam - Netherlands

It is still quite chilly. We were to go to the Royal Palace today in Brussels but we have met with our first illness since the trip. Finn has been vomitting and needs to rest and Tilly will get out of a walk if she can. However a little later Finn had perked - not puked - perked up so we walked to the Royal Palace but before this we had to do the mandatory Tilly stop at a playground. Crepes with Belgium chocolate for lunch then a walk through the markets. Drove to Amsterdam which was a nightmare. We could not get through the city because it was closed off because of the Giro Aitaloe (some Italian Enduro bike race) making access to the hotel very difficult. I still struggle with a left hand drive manual on the wrong side of the road and trying to argue with the Sat-Nav on finding an alternative route can be futile but eventually got there. People and pushbikes everywhere. No parking anywhere so I went to a private car park at 55 Euros (87.00) a day. I became quickly lost and spent a good hour trying to find the hotel whilst it started to rain. I then ended up in a Dutch police station to get directions from a police woman who looked absolutely stunning. The place I booked is an absolute dump with unmade double bunks complete with cigarette ash droppings. I compare it to a Thai prison. Happy Mothers Day to all the mums!