Den Bosche called, and we answered.

It was another early morning. Aaaaagh! These were just about doing us in, these early mornings! But up we got because we had a DATE in a little city called:

's-Hertogenbosche. Yeah! Try saying that ten times fast! 

No, actually try saying it once. It's really hard. I've been practicing all week. Still haven't got it. There's a reason they shorten it to "Den Bosche", which rhymes with "Ken Mosh". Helpful? I think so. You're welcome.

Anyway, up we got, and managed to get out on time this time (trains don't really wait for sleeper-inners) and gobbled some croissants for breaky. YUM! (A favourite by all five of us. We are going to LOVE the food in France!)

We got ourselves out and to the tram station in time, which was nice.

Yes, it is on the meridian in the middle of the road. Does it make us nervous with wiggly girls? Um, yes. But we are learning to chill out, and to pull them back when trams come along. :)

And what do you know? We made it to the train station! Alive and well! And then got on the train and of course this promptly happened. 

I'm referring to the sleeping children, but you know, the beautiful sweeping natural countryside also happened! That's what happens when you leave a city. :)

I had a quick iphone check of the old tonsils to see how they were doing. I've actually taken quite a series of these as I've been watching them. The flash really helps. I thought of doing a "tonsil progress" post, but then thought the better of it. They're still pretty swollen, as many of you tonsil experts would be able to see, but then I also have unusually large tonsils, as I was once told by a doctor. I didn't know whether to be complimented or embarrassed, as if he had just told me I had unusually large boobs. 

For the record, I'd prefer large boobs over large tonsils.

Um. Anyway.

You may have noticed in the first picture that there are SIX pairs of feet rather than our usual five. That's because we have a lovely neighbour who is Dutch whose mother lives in this very town of Den Bosche and who happened to be visiting her daughter a few weeks before we left for our trip! Well you can imagine how it happened  that we met, talked about our trip, and she offered to host us in her city for a day! Yahoo! 

Introducing Annie, who was about to introduce us to a famous treat....Bosche Bol. Huge cream filled pastries (think overloaded cream puff) covered in chocolate (think overloaded cream puff covered in chocolate). Hmmm that was redundant. 

So, here's how much we loved them:

BEFORE

AFTER

Okay, so I see there is still some left in the picture. I assure you by the time we left, they were gone!!

I had to snap this picture before we left the patisserie, It was art!!

On we went to explore the streets of this lovely city for a while. It was lovely, and very different from Amsterdam. For one, the bikers were not death traps. No, they actually slowed down and wouldn't plow you over. That was a plus. 

Many stories were told to us, including one about a rich man who gave the city this marvellous gold-plated dragon that served as an icon for the town gathering place for years. 

It made us feel a little uncomfortable. 

So we moved on. 

The architecture was as impressive as Amsterdam, and yet different. It was interesting to see the subtle differences, or maybe to feel them. I'm not sure I could really pinpoint what was different, only that it felt like a very different place. 

The next item on our itinerary was to ride the Binnendieze, or the canal boats. This was amazing!

We headed off on what felt like a quaint, fun little ride...

But soon took our breath away. You woulnd't know it, but under the walls of the canals it is SO quiet. 

All the sounds of the city die away and it's just peaceful. 

All you hear is the sound of the water. 

And the echoing of the lapping water through the tunnels.

We drifted underneath homes, shops...

...and old churches...

This is alongside the canal in a tunnel. In the past, the canals were public, but now they are only for select boats.

Long ago, before toilets, there were poop chutes that would empy into the canal! Yummy!

This was a bricked-over window. Long ago the king would tax townspeople for each window they had, so if there wasn't enough money in the wallet, well...

Near the end of the canal tour, we got to see outside the city wall. Another interesting perspective.

Lunch time!!! We went to this cool little restaurant. It is staffed by people with Down Syndrome! Cool! Really good food, in small portions, as always - appropriate portions! YUM.

We wandered through the town town area, which was really cool, and out into this square where we got a view of the next, and last, destination of our visit. The cathedral. Be prepared to have your mind blown.

First of all, holy cow. The architecture. I mean, it was SO intricate! So incredible!

Hilariously, there is an angel in this achitecture that is wearing pants and chatting on a cell phone. Can you see her? Weird? Yes. Hilarious? Yes. But there's more.

You can call her. Really. I got her number. She'll give you advice. Or pray for you. Or something like that. WOAH MAN! So funny!

Anyway, that was a little funny thing in the midst of the most breathtaking cathedral I have ever seen. Check it out.

It was so incredible. The picutres don't nearly do it justice. It was so amazing! Not only that, but in one end, we saw a sign for the display exhibit they had currently on. It was the Shroud of Turijn! Seriously! It was really quite moving, the whole thing.

Okay, so breathe. Right, Onward,

It was now time for us to get going. But not before Ryan grabbed this cute shot.

Haha!

Oh, and we may or may not have tasted some fresh stroop wafels on our way to the station! :) These are a dutch delight that we've had back home in Canada as well, but fresh ones were quite different!

Yum. And off we ran to the train!! Back to Amsterdam.

Weeeee!

When we arrived home, we made up a simple dinner and ate it out in the little courtyard that our place shares with our hosts. It was a lovely, goofy, over-tired time of munching. 

And now, they are all alseep. And soon I will be too. Good night, Amsterdam. Good night, Canada, America, Japan, England, and all the other countries you dear readers are reading from. Love to you all. Until our next post. :)