Ooh, purdy flowers . . .

After checking the weather, and the hours and entrance fees, I went to the Trompenburg Gardens and Arboretum.  Of course, there was a lot of going up and down the stairs--for breakfast, to get my computer, to put the computer away and have a shower, etc.  Plus, every time I go upstairs, I have to lay down for a bit, because I'm so winded.  But the sinus infection seems to be going away at last, even though the effects still linger.  Right now, it's bark is worse than its bite.  I still have a nasty cough, but I don't have to blow my nose nearly as often as I did even just yesterday.

It took about 45 minutes to get to the arboretum, then I paid my 6 Euros.  I walked to the tea house straight away, because I hadn't eaten since breakfast, and was practically starving by then.  I had a sandwich with salmon and cheese spread, which I think was sort of like a bagel with lox--only the bread wasn't a bagel.  I also had some coffee, which was very tasty.  I think they had real cream or something.

After lunch, I wandered around some more before heading back to the entry building.  There, I bought yet another umbrella (this time, one with a plaid pattern and a slip-on cover which cost 14,95 Euros, so it had better not break in a strong wind) and a small hardcover notebook with a small "map" of Rotterdam on the cover.  There are 54 pictures in the "Vacation in Holland" album on my Facebook profile from the arboretum alone.

Both on the way there and on the way back (as well as during some other walks I'd taken this week) I kept seeing posters for The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers LIVE.  These puzzled me, because that particular movie came out ten years ago, so why even try to have a live version so late?  Plus, why only do the second movie in the trilogy?  And how is it live, anyway, when the posters have pictures of the same actors as in the films?  Too bad I couldn't understand all the Dutch on the posters--at least I got a picture of it, so someone might be able to figure it out and tell me eventually.

That was a lot of walking, so I went straight back to my room for a while and just listened to my iPod before coming down to eat something for dinner and posting all the photos and an account of my day.

I don't know whether or not I actually will go to either Arnhem or Volendam tomorrow.  The way I figure it, I believe I have just enough for train fare back to the airport on Thursday morning, plus a bit more to buy gifts for everyone.  I can easily get what almost everyone requested (stroopwafels, cheese and chocolate sprinkles) at the market on the corner after I check out of the hostel.  Besides, I think I've thoroughly enjoyed myself, and every time I add new pictures to the Facebook album dedicated to this vacation, the upload slows down exponentially further than the last time.  There are 273 photos in there, after all.

I almost bought some slippers shaped like wooden shoes for Dylan on Saturday while I was at Madurodam, but he already has slippers, so I decided against it.  Maybe I'll find something at the airport that he'll like, or on the way to Rotterdam Central train station.  I also contemplated the slippers as gag gifts for some of the adults, but also decided not to do that.

It's raining again!

I got up this morning, saw it was raining, had my breakfast downstairs, and went back to bed.

Why sleep more, you ask?  Well, because I'm pretty sure my rampant allergies have now become a full-on sinus infection.  I can hardly breath for the coughs choking me, and getting all the way upstairs to my room takes the wind out of me.

I was planning on going either to the Open Air Museum in Arnhem or to Volendam today, but it's raining in both places, as well as here in Rotterdam.  The Open Air museum will cost me 14,95 Euros, along with the more than thirty-eight Euros for train fair.

Turns out, I'd have to take a train to Purmerend Overwhere, and then a taxi (yikes!) to Volendam.  The train ride alone (both directions, total) will take 35,40 Euros, and I have no idea how much the taxi would cost both ways.

So, I could pretty much go to one or the other--not both--since I have only about 100 Euros left.  Tomorrow, I'm definitely going to the Arboretum Trompenberg and having lunch, even if I have to slog through the rain with that silly umbrella.  Today, I might walk up to the market on the corner for some cough syrup or some Dutch equivalent of DayQuil.  Don't really need Sudafed, because the moisture in the air is doing a good job of draining my sinuses as it is.  Too bad it's not this wet and rainy in Maryland.  (Just kidding!)

Checking something. . . . Perhaps if I bike the last leg to Volendam?

. . . It would take 34 minutes, one way, by bicycle.  But both trips together would still cost me nearly 80 Euros.  Bah.

Arnhem or Volendam?  Volendam or Arnhem?  I can't decide.  And it will have to be either tomorrow after lunch or I'd have to get back before the walking tour of Rotterdam on Wednesday.

I'll decide later.