We landed at Schiphol around 11 a.m. on September 28th, and what a flight it was - it's hard enough to sleep on a plane, but try to sleep while there's a total lunar eclipse to watch from your window seat at 35,000 feet!  I took it as a sign of all the exciting things to come in the next 21 days.

 

By 2 p.m., my luggage was safely stowed at the hotel in Haarlem, and I was off to the nearby Grote Kerk Market Square to find my first taste of Europe - literally, I was famished!  My youngest daughter had urged me to 'try a Doner' while I was in Europe, so It didn't take me long to fall in line when I spotted the Doner Kebob truck.  Now, what to order?  The man in front of me had just been handed a tasty looking sandwich-like bundle, so when it was my turn, I simply pointed at it, smiled and said "one please."  It was the best fast food lunch ever!

 

With hunger banished, I heeded the Rick Steves' advice to take a walk to overcome the jet-lag I was beginning to feel.  I found a wonderful little quilt shop that kept me occupied for quite awhile - it also gave me a good chance to practice my "resist temptation" mantra!