Second Holland Holiday (5)
I sat looking out the window in amazement at the huge fireworks that were going off right in front of us. They were going in every
direction. Down to the street from windows above, sideways, upwards, just everywhere you looked were explosions of color. Silly me
thought, surely they would stop when we were walking to the bonfire later. NOT! We sat around for a while having a great time
eating, drinking, listening to music, talking, and laughing. Eventually it was time to go to the bonfire. Marco grabbed his
pocket-full of firecrackers (of which would cause him to be smacked many many times by me), and we all headed out. The trip to the
end of his street is a very short one. However, when you are walking, trying to avoid flying heat missiles in the form of fireworks, it
seems like miles! And if it wasn't bad enough that my heart was jumping every 2 steps from the loud bangs of things being shot off
within ten feet of me, little Mr. Funnypants Marco was having a jolly good time throwing those damn firecrackers at my feet!
We finally made it through the warzone called Bragastraat (his street name) and arrived at the bonfire. Holy shit this thing was
huge! The flames were taller than the buildings and the heat was incredible. The only thing that made me nervous was the wind that
was blowing the flames closer and closer to the trees and buildings. With the exception of Marco, we all stayed a safe distance back.
He of course walked up right next to the damn thing! As I stood there I was happy to see the fire department on the other street, just
in case they were needed. The site of the police put me a little more at ease at well. However, when I looked way down at the end of
another street, I saw a line full of headlights. I asked what they were, and as if it were an every day occurrence, Conny just said,
"Oh that is the army and riot police, they are there for when trouble starts." WHAT?! Holy shit now getting hit in the head with a
multi-colored bomb seemed like nothing compared to the possibilities of what could happen if they all came charging in! I was
officially freaked out. Never in my life have I been involved in a riot or had the army have to come to the rescue of an event that I
was attending. And this was supposed to be fun? Yikes! I'd hate to see what it takes to actually scare these people!
We stayed at the bonfire for a while before heading back home. When we got there, it was their turn to shoot off their fireworks. I
stood there covering my ears as I watched them shoot off tons of fireworks. It was pretty fun, except the times when the wind would
blow over the bottle, thus causing the damn thing to shoot off sideways instead of upwards. Marco and I had a very different opinion
of when he shot off his last one. I was happy as shit that we would now be going back inside, where it was safe. He on the other
hand moped around like a little child that just lost his favorite toy. hahaha
When it turned midnight, just like at home, we did the countdown and did the kissy thing. Wow, this was so cool, we were starting
the New Year together. I'm sure the tons of alcohol I had drank was helping, but was happy as could be. I didn't make it too much
past midnight though. They were all ready to stay up all night, but I couldn't keep my eyes open anymore. I felt bad, but I told Marco
that I really wanted to go home and go to sleep. I didn't even mind if he wanted to stay, but he came with me anyway.
New Years Day we were going back to his Grandma's house during the day and then to a party at a bar with Peter and Wilma
that night. I had already made sure that we were going to be at his Grandma's house at the same time Conny, Jan, John, and Irene
were going to be there. I also made sure that Marco remembered how uncomfortable I was the last time, and why. He did, so I had
no worries.
This visit to his Grandma's was much better than the first. There were now 6 of us that spoke English, which made it so much
easier. I still didn't understand the majority of the conversations, but this time it was at least fun trying to imagine what they were
all talking about, rather than worrying that I didn't have a clue. And of course, any time Conny or Jan were around, they would do
their best to keep me informed of what the general idea of the conversation was. Even Marco did a much better job of helping this
time. After a while the 6 of us ended up sitting in the kitchen while everyone else remained in the living room. People would come
in and out to get food or drinks, and they would speak Dutch to them then. But for the most part, while we were in the kitchen, they
all spoke English.
Towards the end of the day, one of Marco's uncles came to join us in the kitchen. Marco had told me about him before. He loved
American classic cars, he collected them in fact. He didn't speak English, but I did pick up on a few words that he was saying. So
when I heard something that sounded like the name of the car that my friend and boss, Jeff had just bought, I asked Marco if that is
what he was talking about. And in fact, he was. He told his Uncle that my friend had a car just like his. And with that, his Uncle
went and got a magazine that showed a picture of it. He handed it to me and asked Marco to see if this was the car he had. Yay, I
could actually be involved in this conversation! hahaha I told him yes, that was the car, and with that, Marco did an awesome job of
translating for both of us as his Uncle and I carried on a short conversation.
After a short while, his Uncle wanted to take us to see a few of his cars that he owns. We said our good-byes to everyone and then
Marco and I joined him. We went to his land, which Marco told me stories of how they used to play there when they were children.
The houses around here were so beautiful, and obviously belonged to very rich people. When we got to the garage I got to see 3 of
his cars. They were so cool. He had them all shipped from different places in America, and each one still had the state license plate
on it. He used one, I suck at car names so I can't tell you what it was, that was a car from the 50's. He had it decorated and used it
as a limo for weddings. Another was I believe some kind of old cadilac, but who knows. And the third was the same car that Jeff had
just bought. Same color and everything. Through Marco, he was telling me that he was the head of a European Classic American
Car Club. There were thousands of members, and car shows all through Europe. I couldn't wait to get home and tell Jeff about this!
When we were done looking at the cars, we went back to his Grandma's house to get his car. Now, his Uncle that lived with his
Grandma had also come with us, because he was going to get a car and drive it home. I haven't mentioned it before, because I
thought it would be rude, but that particular Uncle is, well, a little slow. So the site of this big slow man driving this little bitty car
in front of us made me laugh. I kept thinking, "Oh Gawd, he's gonna crash into something, I just know it!" But, he never did.
When we got back, I thanked his Uncle for a wonderful time and we left to go home. We had a few hours before we needed to go
to the bar party, so we laid around and relaxed. The day so far had gone great. Marco did such a wonderful job of translating and
including me in things, and I knew that Peter would be there tonight, so I once again had no worries. We took the, hmmm I don't
know what it is called, but it is kind of like the trolleys in San Francisco, to the bar. These trolleys by the way, that will just assume
run you over rather than stop if you are in their way! Anyway, we took this so that he wouldn't have to drive us home all drunk after
the party.
When we arrived at the bar there were lots of people already there and it was still being set up. Now, in Holland, when you greet
someone, you give one kiss on each cheek. (In fact, the first time this happened to me was when I gave Conny her gifts. She came up
to me and leaned forward and I thought she was going to kiss me on the lips! hahaha) Anyway, that is how people are greeted,
especially on Holidays. So when we first walked in, one of Marco's friends came up and kissed me on each cheek and said Happy
New Year. Ummm, these kisses were just a tad too long and slow for my comfort level! hahaha But, I knew he was drunk, so it was
cool. And hell, at least he was being friendly! Continue
direction. Down to the street from windows above, sideways, upwards, just everywhere you looked were explosions of color. Silly me
thought, surely they would stop when we were walking to the bonfire later. NOT! We sat around for a while having a great time
eating, drinking, listening to music, talking, and laughing. Eventually it was time to go to the bonfire. Marco grabbed his
pocket-full of firecrackers (of which would cause him to be smacked many many times by me), and we all headed out. The trip to the
end of his street is a very short one. However, when you are walking, trying to avoid flying heat missiles in the form of fireworks, it
seems like miles! And if it wasn't bad enough that my heart was jumping every 2 steps from the loud bangs of things being shot off
within ten feet of me, little Mr. Funnypants Marco was having a jolly good time throwing those damn firecrackers at my feet!
We finally made it through the warzone called Bragastraat (his street name) and arrived at the bonfire. Holy shit this thing was
huge! The flames were taller than the buildings and the heat was incredible. The only thing that made me nervous was the wind that
was blowing the flames closer and closer to the trees and buildings. With the exception of Marco, we all stayed a safe distance back.
He of course walked up right next to the damn thing! As I stood there I was happy to see the fire department on the other street, just
in case they were needed. The site of the police put me a little more at ease at well. However, when I looked way down at the end of
another street, I saw a line full of headlights. I asked what they were, and as if it were an every day occurrence, Conny just said,
"Oh that is the army and riot police, they are there for when trouble starts." WHAT?! Holy shit now getting hit in the head with a
multi-colored bomb seemed like nothing compared to the possibilities of what could happen if they all came charging in! I was
officially freaked out. Never in my life have I been involved in a riot or had the army have to come to the rescue of an event that I
was attending. And this was supposed to be fun? Yikes! I'd hate to see what it takes to actually scare these people!
We stayed at the bonfire for a while before heading back home. When we got there, it was their turn to shoot off their fireworks. I
stood there covering my ears as I watched them shoot off tons of fireworks. It was pretty fun, except the times when the wind would
blow over the bottle, thus causing the damn thing to shoot off sideways instead of upwards. Marco and I had a very different opinion
of when he shot off his last one. I was happy as shit that we would now be going back inside, where it was safe. He on the other
hand moped around like a little child that just lost his favorite toy. hahaha
When it turned midnight, just like at home, we did the countdown and did the kissy thing. Wow, this was so cool, we were starting
the New Year together. I'm sure the tons of alcohol I had drank was helping, but was happy as could be. I didn't make it too much
past midnight though. They were all ready to stay up all night, but I couldn't keep my eyes open anymore. I felt bad, but I told Marco
that I really wanted to go home and go to sleep. I didn't even mind if he wanted to stay, but he came with me anyway.
New Years Day we were going back to his Grandma's house during the day and then to a party at a bar with Peter and Wilma
that night. I had already made sure that we were going to be at his Grandma's house at the same time Conny, Jan, John, and Irene
were going to be there. I also made sure that Marco remembered how uncomfortable I was the last time, and why. He did, so I had
no worries.
This visit to his Grandma's was much better than the first. There were now 6 of us that spoke English, which made it so much
easier. I still didn't understand the majority of the conversations, but this time it was at least fun trying to imagine what they were
all talking about, rather than worrying that I didn't have a clue. And of course, any time Conny or Jan were around, they would do
their best to keep me informed of what the general idea of the conversation was. Even Marco did a much better job of helping this
time. After a while the 6 of us ended up sitting in the kitchen while everyone else remained in the living room. People would come
in and out to get food or drinks, and they would speak Dutch to them then. But for the most part, while we were in the kitchen, they
all spoke English.
Towards the end of the day, one of Marco's uncles came to join us in the kitchen. Marco had told me about him before. He loved
American classic cars, he collected them in fact. He didn't speak English, but I did pick up on a few words that he was saying. So
when I heard something that sounded like the name of the car that my friend and boss, Jeff had just bought, I asked Marco if that is
what he was talking about. And in fact, he was. He told his Uncle that my friend had a car just like his. And with that, his Uncle
went and got a magazine that showed a picture of it. He handed it to me and asked Marco to see if this was the car he had. Yay, I
could actually be involved in this conversation! hahaha I told him yes, that was the car, and with that, Marco did an awesome job of
translating for both of us as his Uncle and I carried on a short conversation.
After a short while, his Uncle wanted to take us to see a few of his cars that he owns. We said our good-byes to everyone and then
Marco and I joined him. We went to his land, which Marco told me stories of how they used to play there when they were children.
The houses around here were so beautiful, and obviously belonged to very rich people. When we got to the garage I got to see 3 of
his cars. They were so cool. He had them all shipped from different places in America, and each one still had the state license plate
on it. He used one, I suck at car names so I can't tell you what it was, that was a car from the 50's. He had it decorated and used it
as a limo for weddings. Another was I believe some kind of old cadilac, but who knows. And the third was the same car that Jeff had
just bought. Same color and everything. Through Marco, he was telling me that he was the head of a European Classic American
Car Club. There were thousands of members, and car shows all through Europe. I couldn't wait to get home and tell Jeff about this!
When we were done looking at the cars, we went back to his Grandma's house to get his car. Now, his Uncle that lived with his
Grandma had also come with us, because he was going to get a car and drive it home. I haven't mentioned it before, because I
thought it would be rude, but that particular Uncle is, well, a little slow. So the site of this big slow man driving this little bitty car
in front of us made me laugh. I kept thinking, "Oh Gawd, he's gonna crash into something, I just know it!" But, he never did.
When we got back, I thanked his Uncle for a wonderful time and we left to go home. We had a few hours before we needed to go
to the bar party, so we laid around and relaxed. The day so far had gone great. Marco did such a wonderful job of translating and
including me in things, and I knew that Peter would be there tonight, so I once again had no worries. We took the, hmmm I don't
know what it is called, but it is kind of like the trolleys in San Francisco, to the bar. These trolleys by the way, that will just assume
run you over rather than stop if you are in their way! Anyway, we took this so that he wouldn't have to drive us home all drunk after
the party.
When we arrived at the bar there were lots of people already there and it was still being set up. Now, in Holland, when you greet
someone, you give one kiss on each cheek. (In fact, the first time this happened to me was when I gave Conny her gifts. She came up
to me and leaned forward and I thought she was going to kiss me on the lips! hahaha) Anyway, that is how people are greeted,
especially on Holidays. So when we first walked in, one of Marco's friends came up and kissed me on each cheek and said Happy
New Year. Ummm, these kisses were just a tad too long and slow for my comfort level! hahaha But, I knew he was drunk, so it was
cool. And hell, at least he was being friendly! Continue
