Amsterdam....Netherland

We boarded the train from Paris Nord Station to Amsterdam...the trip took about 4 hours....The children enjoyed so much....It is more comfortable than an airplane....The minute that we arrive Amsterdam station....The people are nice and very helpful....I asked around where I can take the tram #9 to be at my friend house on the East of Amsterdam...we got out of the tram and got on bakery where the kids had middle eastern Pizza....while I asked which way I need to walk in order to go to my friend's house....I love the smell of the city....we found our way and put our luggage and went out to walk around the city...It was almost noon so we walked to a park that many people were heading to...we found out that it was Festival of the end of Slavery....So many people from Surinam and different part of Africa...where everyone came with their traditional custom....It was amazing to see so many people in one place with different nationality , different kind of food.....We stayed at the festival until the kids got their energy out....Then I have to find my way back home....That was task sine I didn't know which direction is the North....However the Dutch people are very warm, welcoming and helpful....They rush to your help.....I love the spirit of the people....We stayed one night at my friend's house....where he gave us the use of his flat but he was traveling in Barcelona....The next day after light breakfast of cereal we rented a "bakfiets" It is bike that the kids can sit down in the front and you bike everywhere We rented it for 2 hours....We went back to the flat at 3:00pm and got our bags and put them in the bakfiets and returned to the center where we returned back. We walked 10 minutes to the train station and we bought a ticket to Eindhoven....The ride took 2 hours because they were working on the track so I have to switch trains....However there were free Wii-Fii where we talked to Bader on Skype....and people were very friendly with the kids and helping me find the next connection.....either with checking the train schedule or just tell me which station I need to exit....even somone lend me a cell phone to call my couch-surfer host to tell her I will be late to arrive at the train station........Finally we made it to Hogolon a small village about 25 minutes from Eindohaven.....Loved seeing our couch-surfer Roel and carlijn......