Netherlands and Belgium

Spent the last week in the so-called low countries and had a good time, despite lousy weather. I started in The Hague where I stayed with some family friends which saved Money. The Hague is quite nice with a neat old town and some grand old buildings, such as the residence of the Dutch Royal family and the Dutch parliament. The downside is that it it a bit too uch of a government city and there are too many ugly modern buildings that spoil things a little. I spent aster sunday in Amsterdam with some friends from the f1db.com forum. It was snowing so we spent much of the day in pubs and cafes (not coffeshops). It was a vry enjoyable meeting. I spent sunday night back in the Hague before stying two nights in Amsterdam. It is a very interesting city and one learns a few important differences. The most importat is the difference between a cafe and a coffeshop. A Cafe is a regular cfe with coffee and the likes while in a coffeshop the main product sold is NOT coffee. I also saw the famous red light district. It is an intriguing site, no matter what your position on the issue is. Also got to see the poignant Anne Frank House as well as walk the streets of the beautiful city. nother interesting thing of Amsterdam is that most resturants employ cats to deal with the mice prolem, but I doubt those who work in the coffeshops are the most effective mose catchers..... After Amsterdam I went to Belgium, a very divided country. I was staying in the flemish part, in Antwerp and it is not a good idea to speak french there. My main day I spent in Ieper (Ypres) in the southwest of the country wheremost of the WWI cemetaries are locted. I managed to see the Brooding Soldir Cnadian monument that commemorates all those young Canadian Men who were killed by the first Gas attacks in April 1915. I also saw the place where John McRae wrote the famous poem, "In Flanders Fields", surrounded by a cemetary, in Flanders fields. It was very poignant and worth the 3 km walk from the Ieper city centre.My only visit to theh Wallon(French speaking) part of Blgium was when I went to Charleroi Airport (which Ryanair callls Brussels)and Flemish was not to be heard..... I am in Glasgow at the moment and guess what, it is raining!!!!! What a surprise.