Busy Busy Busy Part II

Friday.
Today we left our lovely host family in Gouda. Our mum gave us some fruit, chocolate bars, juice boxes and stroopwaffles to take on the road with us, which was very sweet :) It rained all night, and drizzled all day. Our first day in Holland with no sun. But it was filled with fun none the less. First off we went the the Kinderdijk to see dozens of old windmills. Even though it was drippy and damp outside, it was a nice walk down the goose-shit covered path to see the dozens of windmills on the dike up-close :) We're in Holland, we have to go see the windmills right? Some people may tell you that I ran straight into a sign this morning. So yes. I did. Worse things could happen. But I was still very embarassed! From the Kinderdijk we got bussed to Delft where we first toured the Delft china factory/plant/gift shop. Afterwards we went downtown to explore the old and beautiful city. Kelsi and I walked around by ourselves for about an hour before stopping for lunch in the city square. We had Dutch "skinny"pancakes...I had strawberries and powdered sugar on mine, she got salami and cheese. And we both ordered cappucino. We have been eating very very well on this trip. Sometimes I feel all we do is eat! Fridays are the day to get married in Holland, we saw four couples enter and exit the city hall in the two hours we spent in Delft. So many happy people! Our evening concert was performed tonight in Katwijk aan Zee, a city on the coast of the North Sea. A wondeful town with a lot of trees and vegetation. And of course, the sea. It was our third performance in Holland, this time in a small church. I'd say 20 buildings the size of this church, could fit in the cathedrals we sang in yesterday, easily. The people who came to hear us sing were a fantastic audience. I love singing in small churches because the performance becomes so much more personal. And not just because of the close proximity of the audience :) Their smiles were infectious tonight. And the acoustics in their small sanctuary reminded me so much of the BJ Haan that it felt like we were singing at home. Tonight's performance. Beautiful. In the morning we leave for Fryslan. Land of the tallest people on earth. And maybe the most stubborn ;) A friend told me earlier this year that the men in Holland weren't very good-looking, I don't know why I believed her. The people are beautiful here, and not just the men; the children, youth, women as well. They have rosy cheeks, wide smiles, impeccable dress. I'm glad we're only three days into tour. I definitely could stay longer (not that I don't miss people at home!)