While there will never be tele-porting space travel, this is the nearest thing to it; fly from an earth-bound African village (of sorts) and land the middle of a historic European city such as Amsterdam. What a shock. Just leaving our hotel room at the outskirts of downtown and riding the metro into the city center left us open-mouthed. And how could it not be this way? We were nearly as shocked when seeing everyday life on the African road. It is good to be amazed no matter which road you travel on.

Amsterdam is a beautiful place steeped in arts and culture. And food, let’s not forget the food. Choices of bread alone are endless and my mouth is watering seeing the fresh loaves of bread in every other window. We picked up some appetite stimulator (when in Rome, right?) and take advantage of all opportunities. 

The metro and light rail systems are ideal and to no longer be driving in a strange place is freedom personified. We can walk anywhere and when tired, we can ask anyone how can we catch a train or a bus to wherever we need to go. And they will tell us, exactly. They won’t make anything up or advise with a wave of the hand, “… it’s just some kilometers that way” . We know now that we have left the planet Africa.

Museums are plentiful and we spent a full day in the Rijksmuseum and nearly all the next day at the Van Gogh. In-between, we wandered the canals and enjoyed the parade of fashion going on around us. The style leans heavily on black and grey – we fit right in except for shoes. Bright patent-leather did not make into my luggage, but I will look for some when I finally get home – even if I don’t have a place to wear orange/pink oxfords. Despite a day-long cold rain, bicycles are still the most prolific form of personal transportation; they are lined up three deep and blocks long in various places. It is inspiring and I cannot wait to ride my bike again. 

There is much to contemplate at the end of this long journey. The people, the places, the events. Before departing we were fortunate to dine with our Oregon friends Jen and Jared, who were in staying near us in Joberg. Cynthia and Frans at Meerkatsplaats gave us a fine farewell and reminded us that we must come back to Africa and camp with them. Adrian and Rentia are on the road, doing their own camping trip – we envy them their route north. But we’ve been there, to the north. We’ve been so many places and made so many friends in the last two years. Now we return to our other friends and family and our home on Deer Creek Road. Tough to beat that.