So Much Happening, So Little Time

Insanity always rules at the California DMV, and this time was no different. I wisely scheduled an appointment, only to find it didn't show on the DMV system. After a tortuous three-and-a-half hours, I finally passed my test and got my license. All names are spelled correctly and typically the worst picture.

While Daniel has been in Europe, I have been diligently weeding, gardening, and just beginning to reap what should be a fantastic bounty. Timing not being on my side, I expect the full vegetable explosion to happen while I visit Daniel in Europe. I told my neighbors to please avail themselves rather than let my efforts go to waste.

My trip to meet Daniel started with a two-hour delay and five gate changes, but I finally arrived in London: the good news, it was an empty flight with plenty of room.

The original plan for after I arrived was to meet at the hotel and go for a quick local pub dinner. As usual, Daniel decided he didn't want bad food, so we texted back and forth from two different airports and taxis, to agree on a place. I made the reservations on the road.

I will never again complain about the traffic in Los Angeles because London has the most miserable traffic I have ever seen. The streets are crowded, narrow, and curvy, and they drive on the wrong side of the road. On the way to our first dinner, we took an Uber and jumped out a half mile from the restaurant because walking was quicker.

The following day we dropped off the tea I brought from the U.S. for Daniels' boss (yes, I get the irony of bringing tea to England.) Finding ourselves near Oxford Street, we went shopping. Selfridges is an upscale department store with a lunch counter serving, among other things, caviar, oysters, and champagne; the perfect mid-afternoon snacks. Dinner that night was an experience. We ate at Sexy Fish, an Asian restaurant though highly recommended by many people; it had horrible food and the worst DJ ever.

The next day was close to perfect for me. We braved the lines and made it into Wimbledon. We snagged front-row seats (no tickets required) to a great doubles match. We walked the grounds, ate Cornish pasties, Scotch eggs with beer and wine.

The following day, we were up at dawn to catch the 8:00 a.m. train to Amsterdam, the only way to travel. Comfortable seats, spacious cars, big windows, breakfast and snacks included. Our hotel is in the Hague district, with over one-hundred embassies and the International Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

We were not called for jury duty, but we did spend the afternoon at the Mauritshuis Museum, which houses a huge collection of Rembrandts and other Dutch Artists. Unfortunately, we were not able to get into the Vermeer Exhibit; advanced tickets are required.

The next day, our first stop was the Van Gogh Museum, and then on to the Anne Frank House, one of my bucket list items. A heartbreaking and sobering experience that serves as a reminder that the atrocities are still with us and need to be at the forefront of our consciousness. Humanity needs the reminder.

We needed a relaxing quiet change, so into full tourist mode, we took a canal tour, which included a Heineken tour. Fun, informative, and a good way to learn about Amsterdam neighborhoods and enjoy a beer.

The day ended with Daniel coming down with the flu. He's in bed, and I'm off to see the rest of The Hague museums.