Today in Amsterdam was one of the warmest days we have had here so far.  The sun was shining and the sky was blue.  There was still a lot of wind but, the sun made it much more bearable.  The four of us met up with one of Dad's coworkers, Margaret.  She moved here from Seattle a few years ago.  

Margaret took us to the botanical gardens in Amsterdam.  The gardens were founded in 1638, so that  herbs could be grown for medicinal purposes.  Now they grow all sorts of different plants for people to go and see.   There are many different green houses that you can go into.  There is a tropical green house that is really hot and moist.  In another green house they grow desert plants this green house it hot and dry.  Another green house was full of butterflies.  In some of the green houses you could climb a stair case up to a walkway hanging from the ceiling.  It was really fun to look down at all the plants.  Some of the plants were over 300 years old.  After wandering around the gardens we ate lunch at the cafe there.  Then we came home on the Metro.  We are now watching the two man bobsled on the BBC.  Today the British curlers had a day off from competition, so we were spared the agony of having to watch it. :) 

This is Ellie and I in one of the green houses.

This is Margaret, Ellie and I in the tropical
green house.

This is Ellie and I on one of the walkways.

The tree behind us is really interesting,
it grows in a swirly pattern.

This is in the desert green house.
Someone accidentally let a cat in.
He was really cute and friendly. 

This is a Glasswing butterfly. I have never
seen a butterfly with see through wings before.

This is another  butterfly.

This is another part of the gardens.