Dutch Movies

Alright, one story from our first day in Amsterdam that I thought deserved a post of its own.

As we were searching for dinner, we were also searching for a movie theater that I had read about in a United Airlines In-Flight magazine. It was supposed to be the absolute ending highlight of 3 Perfect Days in Amsterdam. When we got there, it looked great, but everything was, of course, in Dutch. So, we weren’t sure that we could actually see a movie in English. So, we shrugged the opportunity off, and began our search anew for a restaurant. We found a little Italian restaurant that was packed, so we figured that was a good sign. We ate a delicious dinner, and started our stroll back to our hostel.

This time we passed another movie theater. I decided to find out once and for all what the verdict was on the English vs. Dutch movies. As I waited in line to ask the movie attendant the question, I pondered what his response would be. Would he look at me bizarrely and think, “What tourist sees a MOVIE on vacation?” or would he just not understand me? What followed was not something either of us (Brother Bee and I) expected.

I walked up the the counter a posed my question, “Hi. I was wondering if all of your movies are in Dutch or if the English movies are dubbed in Dutch or have Dutch subtitles?”

He shook his slightly cocked head at me and replied, “Um, Dutch-made movies are in Dutch, but all the English movies are in English. We don’t dub our movies. We aren’t in Germany.”

OH.

“Well thank you kindly. I guess we’ll see a movie tomorrow night.”

Um…Toto, we’re not in Kansas anymore.

History of Bee Trip

One might ask, “Why are a sister and a brother taking a foreign trip?” Might seem odd, might not. But this is how it got started.

In the fall of 2000 the Queen Bee met German Bee. She was an exchange student from Hamburg, Germany. These two bees became very good friends over the year. As German Bee was preparing to leave in the spring, they made a pact: German Bee said to Queen Bee, “When you get married to Hubby Bee (boyfriend bee at the time) I will come and be a bridesmaid.” Of course these were the dreams and goals of two high school girls who just wanted a reason to see each other again.

Fast foward to Summer 2005, Hubby Bee proposes to Queen Bee. (trying not to be too romantic here) Queen Bee calls German Bee. YES! She’s coming and she’s a bridesmaid. Guilt sets in. Now Queen Bee must go see German Bee IN Germany! Something that I’ve been longing to do for a long time. Both of my parents have been to Germany, and I long to go! So, plans started. Who better to go with than your Brother Bee?

So, we’re leaving! March 22nd we fly to Amsterdam. Brother Bee is making this is Senior Trip/Senior Present and Queen Bee gets to go to Germany to see her friend again.

And that’s the short and sweet history of the Germany Trip. 13 days.