Of course we weren't going to stay in Amsterdam! We were off to our favorite "spa location", the Ons Krijtland Hotel in Epen, Holland ( www.krijtland.nl ). The Bessem family and staff always treat us well, the food is excellent, and the hikes through the fields and forests are beyond beautiful. The area is so peaceful that it's hard to even imagine what happened here during the the second world war. If one is looking for a do-nothing trip with plenty of relaxation, this is the spot.
Another visit to the American Cemetery at Margraten:
The brave soldiers whose remains were not located are inscribed on the walls that surround the pond. In some instances, they were later found and identified. In that case, a bronze marker is added to the inscription. Looking closely at these walls, it's apparent that flying in bombers was not a good idea during World War II. Almost all of these men were in Bomb Groups, and very few remains were ever located:
Flying in balloons near the hotel was, however, a great idea for some people:
And, the appropriate ending to every trip...
The wiener dog count! For the first time in the annals of recorded history, Pati won with 9 dogs to Gordon's 3.
