My weekend in the Netherlands (so far!)

So I wrote this fantastically detailed e-mail to my parents about what I have been up to so I decided I should write a blog about it!

Friday morning I got up at 6 in the morning or so and rushed around to get things ready for my trip since I had not packed (I did not plan well. I know this now!) I got to the station in time and made it to the airport with plenty of time (Thank God!) because there was this crazy couple who kept cutting lines and things just go slowly in Italy. The flight was only 2 hours but unfortunately the woman next to me has probably never even heard of deodorant.. so that was gross. Anyway I get to the airport and Marc was waiting with Jelle, who I have not seen in 6 years, to take me to Amsterdam to look around! The city was really interesting and I got to walk by the red light district (ahahahaha). I had some traditional dutch french fries along with a chicken burger, which was amazing. We did a bit more walking and catching up before we hopped the train to Marc's town where his dad picked me up and Marc biked home. Literally everyone rides their bike here and it's safe to do because drivers are more respectful! I saw a 70 year old with a basket on her bike just riding along and it made me think how I totally want to do that when I'm 70. Marc's house is really neat and I love the modern feel :-D The room I am staying in is Texas themed and made me feel at home. Friday night we went to Marc's girlfriend Mariela's house where we had a dutch barbecue in the nice cool weather. Saturday I woke up,ate a traditional dutch breakfast and finally got to eat some peanut butter before going to Rotterdam to see the city and walk around the market. I had some fried fish and french fries because dutch people love their fried food! Everyone really is tall... I feel like a midget but it's ok cause they are really nice. Saturday afternoon Marc, his family, and I went to Dordricht to ride the flausterboot (not sure on the spelling.. but it means whispering boat) to tour the city since it's on a set of canals very similar to Venice. It was beautiful! Saturday night I got to experience bike riding to a bar (and back..) but it was really fun to go out and see dutch people sing songs from the musical Grease! Sunday morning we got up early and went to church but I couldn't understand much since it was in dutch. We came back and had a wonderful lunch of different kinds of fruit after going to see the windmills! I really would like to live in a windmill now.. or have my dentist's office there. I got to take a nap when we got back and then had a delicious cheese & bread meal :-) I went to a park with Marc & his girlfriend and got to pet a beagle! Sunday night we went to visit Marc's friend who has having a birthday and it was nice to just hang around with some people from another country. Monday was fun because I got all dressed up in my "Nederland" gear and headed to the airport. Unfortunately my flight was delayed by 3 hours (whooo!) so I got to have a nice glass of wine waiting for my plane to arrive like a true Italian. When I finally got back to Rome I was very very tired, feeling much taller, and realized just how hot Rome is >.< Good thing is Tuesday (yesterday) was a holiday in Rome so I got to visit different beautiful parks, see the statue of the ecstasy of St. Teresa at the church of Santa Maria della Vittoria (please google it!). I still have no sense of direction in the city and wonder if I ever will.. Hmmmm...