Should We Stay or Should We Go

  For our last day in Amsterdam, the men decided to visit the Rijksmuseum while I chose something quite different. I went to the National Holocaust Museum. I knew before I went that it would be a difficult visit, but I also felt that it was something I wanted to do while we were in Amsterdam. The museum tells the story of the persecution of Jewish people in the Netherlands during the Second World War, beginning with what life was like before the war and following the gradual process of discrimination, persecution, deportation and murder. What struck me most was how much it helped me put a picture in my mind of what actually happened here in Amsterdam. We had spent our days wandering through beautiful streets, along canals and across bridges. We had admired the old buildings, enjoyed the cafés and watched people going about their everyday lives. Then, inside the museum, I was reminded that these same streets had once been the backdrop to something unimaginable. The museum is lo...

It’s October first and the beginning of another blog challenge month with The Ultimate Blog Challenge.  It’s a month long challenge where participants  try and share a blog post everyday along with supporting fellow participants.  I’ve signed up to participate, but since I’m currently travelling with my family by both land and sea, I’m not sure whether I’ll be able to make everyday.   If you’re interested in joining, you can find the challenge here: Ultimate Blog Challenge Beyond Amsterdam Yesterday we decided to leave Amsterdam behind for a day and see a little more of the area around the city. We hopped on a train and made two stops, each very different from the other. Our first stop was Zaandam. Zaandam is only a short train ride from Amsterdam, but it felt like we had stepped into a different world. The town has a long connection with shipbuilding, timber and the industrial development of the Zaan region. At one point, more than 600 windmills were operating her...