The Countdown Has Begun

Today is T-minus two weeks exactly until our journey to the Netherlands. I'm hoping and praying for at least a few sunny days while we're there, so I can tiptoe through the tulips!

PS: If you're on Twitter, and you want to follow my cruise agent antics, you can follow me at @Cruise7Cs

The dilemma

For our upcoming Amsterdam trip, we're considering a day-trip into Belgium. Why? Because it's there, it's close, and we'll have a week. So might as well add another country to the list, right? :)

We're having a dilemma. Where in Belgium do we go? I've been told that Bruges is gorgeous, however, it's at least a 4-hour train ride away, and that's if we hit all of our train connections. So I think that's a little much for a one-day trip.

That leaves us with Brussels and Antwerp. Brussels has a little more to see, I think, but Antwerp is closer.

What to do, what to do? :) If anyone has any suggestions, I'm up for hearing them.

13 Things I'm Looking Forward to in Amsterdam!

Can't let the opportunity go by to promote my new book The List.

Since that's out of the way, lets get onto my 13 things!

We left off guessing where I was heading on my next trip, and learned it was AMSTERDAM!

I'm stoked about the trip, and here are some of the things I'm most looking forward to.



1. Tulips, tulips and more tulips!
2. Tulips and WINDMILLS!
3. Canals - I loved Venice for the canals, and I'm betting I'll love the ones in Amsterdam, too
4. Biking through the town. I just have to buy the extra bike insurance and just hope the rental doesn't get stolen
5. I can't wait to see Van Gogh's "Sunflowers" in person
6. Despite being slightly depressing, I'm very interested in the Anne Frank House
7. I'll admit it, I'm fascinated by the Red Light District, but not THAT fascinated. Just looking, no partaking.
8. Despite the fact that I think it would help me understand this crazy world better, I will not be partaking in the legal drugs. Unless coffee is a drug. :)
9. Side trip to Belgium, for waffles and chocolate! (It's all about the food.)
10. Seeing the peeing boy statue in Brussels. Hilarious!
11. Taking more photos than is normal.
12. Buying a pair of wooden shoes - for decor, not to wear.
13. Just seeing someplace new, and adding two more countries to my list. :)

Home of the new Thursday 13

And the Answer to "Where Am I Going Next" Is . . .

If you guessed AMSTERDAM, you would be correct-amundo!

We're going in April, and I can't wait. I'd always wanted to see the tulips blooming in Holland, but I never connected the dots from Holland to Amsterdam in my head (they are the same thing) until Jim said he wanted to go to Amsterdam. Once I found out that it was tulip and windmill heaven, I was on board!

It's hard to pick a good time to go to see the tulips. It's kind of like planning to see the cherry blossoms in D.C., you're kind of dependent on Mother Nature. So I just hope mid-April gives us enough time to let some of those bulbs see their blooms fulfilled!

Have a great weekend!