The castle we can't get to....

Ever since we started coming to Amsterdam, one of the places that we have wanted to visit is the castle Muiderslot. It is a preserved medieval castle in the town of Muiden.

Something has come up every trip - we *plan* to go, but then we never do. So I was determined that we would make it there this time!

I researched the castle online, studied the train and bus routes and planned the day. Yesterday we took a train from central station to Amsterdam Amstel station, a train/bus station in the southern part of Amsterdam along the Amstel river. We were supposed to get a bus from Amstel station to Muiden.

When we got to Amstel station we found out that the bus lines recently changed and there are no buses from Amsterdam to Muiden! Now the only way to get to Muiden is by car! So once again....no castle!!

Since we were already at the train station, we bought tickets and went on to Haarlem - our favorite sleepy little town. We decided we would eat some pancakes at our favorite little outdoor cafe in the Grote Markt. It's a really nice open area where the kids can run around and play while Jeff and I drink some coffee and watch the people.

We arrived in Haarlem to find that the Markt was one BIG madhouse! The traveling carnival is in town and the sleepy quiet town was transformed into a jumble of children's rides, funhouses, suikerspin (cotton candy) booths, and dare-devil rides screaming American rap music!

Of course it all looked like great fun to the kids! We ate our pancakes amongst the noise and congestion and then let the kids ride a few of the "safer" rides. Journey and Jagger rode the little cars and motorcycles that go around in a circle and then the little motorized cars that you drive around within a fixed area with little walls. Justice tried ut the bumper cars. I held my breath the whole time - our last incident in Amsterdam with bumper cars left Journey with a burn mark on his shoulder from the seat belt, and Justice's face had smashed into the steering wheel and we thought his nose was broken! This time everything was okay though, so I was able to relax!

Justice and Journey decided that they wanted to go into this "funhouse". It looked fun from the outside - a giant wheel that looked like one that hamsters run in, moving platforms, spinning wheels, etc. Journey lasted about 3 minutes inside. The interior had moving staircases, blaring music, air jets that suddenly blasted large bursts of air, sudden honking noises - he started crying and Justice had to bring him out. They both jumped a railing and ran out - Journey was sobbing and shaking! Poor guy! He really had his hopes up and this "funhouse" wasn't much fun for him!