EUROPE DAY 26: PANCAKES

Wandered around today. Rode one of the trams for about 30 minutes in one direction until the scenery got boring, then rode back and had lunch at a genuine Dutch pancake house. We had a taste of all their specialities. First we split a ham and cheese pancake which was a huge crepe-like pancake (but a little a bit more substantial than a crepe) with thin slices of ham and melted cheese. It was heavenly. Then for our main course we split a traditional Dutch pancake served with slices of lemon and dusted with powdered sugar. YUM--it was as big as the plate and beyond heavenly. For dessert we split a serving of traditional poffertjes, which are little tiny puffy pancakes, served with fresh strawberries and whipped cream. We were over the moon. I am going to make sure we go back for more before we fly home.

By the time we were finished eating it was starting to rain and we were ready to go back to the hotel. Both of us planned to read for awhile, which we did, but then the next thing we knew we were waking up and it was 8:00 at night. We seem to be sleeping more than usual and I think it is a combination of our constant processing of new input, constant vigilance, increased exercise, and, oh yes, perhaps age.

We headed back out for dinner to a place recommended in the guidebook, called Bazar. The neighborhood looked a bit deserted but we found the place and it was clearly a popular spot. And we had a spectacular Persian dinner served with a side of frites and mayonnaise, washed down with Dutch beer. By the time we got back to the hotel it was almost 11:00 at night and getting dark. Jeez, eating dinner that late? We really are going native.

Tomorrow we are off on an adventure to Bruges. We have to change trains twice--let's hope we don't get lost in Brussels.