4th of July Brings Real Americans

What's the Connection: C.E. is one of Gene's very best friends from growing up and high school wrestling. That's where the similarities ended as C.E. went on to Stanford to wrestle, and get his Masters in English, and the became a MD after eight years in Nashville, TN at Vanderbilt University. It's also where he met his lovely wife, Brooke, who is the front runner for 2009 Nicest Person in the World Award.

Why the Visit: As mentioned, C.E. has been in school non-stop for the last 28 years, so it was due time for a four day break to come to Europe.

Taryn Stops over from Spain

What's the Connection: Taryn is the daughter of my mom's very best friend Georgeanne from childhood - it's that simple.

Why the Visit: Lucky girl managed to get hooked up teaching English in Andalucia, Spain for a year - not bad for an out of college job, huh? After her year wrapped up, she did a bit of traveling, including a stopover to see us. We loved having her around, especially Gene who got to have music night as she has a spectacular singing voice!

Angie Wins Title of Most Frequent Visitor!

What's the Connection: As mentioned in previous entries, one of my bestest friends from growing up - there you have it.

Why the Visit: She loves me lots... even took a special trip here, not even work related! She had to make sure her future niece/nephew recognized her voice:) We did a little adventure to Antwerp Belgium where we ate through the town, and she actually went back to SF with a tan cause the weather was perfect all week.

Costanzo's bring Snow

What's the Connection: Long time buddy from Atlanta, Cole consistently delivers a great mix of intellect and comedy topped off with the perfect amount of sarcasm. Cole also has a lot of enthusiasm for the democratic party...ahem...that's an extra large dose of sarcasm.

Why the Visit: Cole has a really cool gig that takes him all over the world, so he had the chance to come through Amsterdam, and decided to bring his fantastic wife Lauren. I wish Cole could have brought the rest of the Costanzo family with him, they are a great crew.

McGees Roll Through

What's the Connection: Kel and I met freshman year in college...so let's just say we go way back. Kel and Casey (Seattle folks) are for sure big favorites in the Willis house as they were a close drive for us from Portland....we even did annual camping trips (with their awesome kids!) ....we miss those.

Why the Visit: Casey (who is in our top visitor category thanks to Microsoft travel) had work in Amsterdam, and in France. He brilliantly cashed in on miles to bring Kel out for a weekend celebration....which we did, and then some.

At last, a Willis visit!

What's the connection: Well, see, about 35 years ago a couple in Atlanta had this kid, and they thought it would be fun to see what he and his wife have been up to in The Netherlands.

Why the visit: This was so long overdue, it also received a posting on our main page, and of course it gets another mention here. I think this was helpful to prove to my folks that we aren't living in the Red Light District, and that Amsterdam is a beautiful city to live in. Of course, they also had a chance to see about a months worth of sites in 10 days. Thanks again for coming Mom and Dad. Click here for all the pics.

Doctors Swing By

What's the Connection: Leanna is my cousin - daughter of my dad's sister - can you see the resemblance? Same height and all, makes for perfect clothes swapping.

Why the Visit: Leanna and Paul (boyfriend) are now both Doctors! To celebrate graduating from Optometry school, they toured all the fabulous parts of Europe ... Greece, Italy and ended in Amsterdam for a visit.

Return of Ma and Pa

What's the Connection: Again, pretty straightforward.

Why the Visit: Mom and Dad get the award for being 2 time visitors. While we'd like to think they only came just to see us, the real truth is Annette and Marc were getting married in Switzerland (see blog). But it was rather convenient we're close by. They took a train via Cologne Germany to go down the Rhine and eat sausage and then hit Amsterdam. And that they did - we took the little boat out and they even got on bikes....such locals. We want to thank Delta for sponsoring their free trip over - lucky us!

P-town Cruises through Amsterdam

What's the Connection: Adam and Gina run the best public opinion firm in the Pacific Northwest (along w/2 other equally cool partners). I was lucky enough to work with them from the start of my Chalkboard days. We bonded quickly while traveling all over Oregon for focus groups and spending weekends going back and forth over email ... ah the good 'ol days. They kept it fun:)

Why the Visit: They are masters of cool cruises...this one stopped in random magical places throughout Europe. The ending point was Amsterdam, and since they did an extensive trip over a few years ago, they were able to feel right at home. And they were our first official visitors in our new place - good times!

Sue, we'll be seeing you soon

What's the connection: Where to begin with Sue? We bonded immediately my first few months in Portland after discovering we both lived in Sevilla. At the same time, she bonded with Geno in a whole separate world. (It took us a few months to figure out we kept talking about the same Sue.) And now, look out Croatia - we're all coming in June!

Why the visit: Well, thanks Nike setting up their European headquarters here, we end up with many cool visitors that we pretend are just her to see us. Sue is one of those. While Geno was gone for work, it worked in my favor cause I got more bonding time.

Switzerland in Town

What's the connection: Annette was a brave 16 year-old who ventured over from Switzerland to study abroad ... in Reedley! Boy did they trick her when she marked "United States" on the application. But lucky for our family, she spent a fabulous year with us.

Why the visit: Annette is now living back in Berne, Switzerland (and is laywer, wow!) and always takes any opportunity to travel with her fiance Marc. It was her first visit to Amsterdam and they covered more ground in 3 days than we have ... even checked out the Tulip Gardens outside the city. Great for us to meet Marc since we're off to their wedding in May - we approve!

Finally, a friend tall enough to be Dutch

What's the connection: Met in Portland, but as a fellow suthana' (Jaime's from Kentucky) there was an immediate connection. Her husband Matt is a great dude, and if they decide to have kids together, they will eat every other kid on the playground for lunch.

Why the visit: Jaime too works for the Swoosh and was in Amsterdam for the week we were in Portugal, but we had one night together where we grabbed some messy ribs to eat, and then tried to go to a bar that was supposedly had a bluegrass band, which is is just slightly less rare than a baseball game in Amsterdam. Unfortunately, we got the address wrong, way wrong - but that's another story.

Sister in Town!

What's the Connection: Pretty clear here, same mom, same dad, same small town memories of growing up in good 'ol Reedley.

Why the Visit: We love each other ... and she proved it by purchasing a ticket ... to Europe while the dollar hits the all time low. That's love. It was Chelsea's first trip to Amsterdam, and she tore across town on a bike like a local. She also cooked up a storm of fabulous food we couldn't resist. In addition to exploring Amsterdam, we also we zipped over to Paris for an amazing weekend walking (and eating) the entire city, click here for pics.

Mike Welsh confirms even German food is better than Dutch food.

Why the Visit: Because Mike needed a break from German dubbed television, EasyJet flies to Amsterdam, and the Band of Horses were playing a concert at the Paradiso ( that we went to see.

What's the Connection: Mike was a classmate in grad school, and now he works for Adidas at their global headquarters in Germany.

World Traveler Arrives

What's the Connection: Shantel goes back to our Portland days ... part of our early crew of friends. She's since left PDX to give Minnesota a shot....but keeps her ties to PDX.

What the Visit: Thanks to her new gig at RedWing, Shantel gets to travel the globe as the head of their casual line. We were lucky enough to be included in her whirlwind trip that started in China and ended in Paris. Not bad huh? She didn't bat an eye with the bummer rain that hit the weekend she was here ... I think the apple pie made up for it.

Why we Love Microsoft

Why the Visit: In between his London and Cannes business trips, Case squeezed in Amsterdam for the weekend. (Thanks Uncle Bill for setting up Microsoft offices all over the globe.) His Seattle living prepared him to jump on bike in the rain....with zero complaints.

What's the Connection: Casey and I went to Westmont together and he happens to be married to one of my best friends Kelly. Father of 2 beyond adorable kids Finley and Brady, he's promised me Kel and Fin will be making a visit next Spring. (Well, I figured if I write it, it'll happen.)

European First Timers

Why the visit: Because everyone has "see Europe" on their Top 10 list. After checking Amsterdam off the list, they were off to Germany and Czech Republic.

What's the connection: Rob and Sarah Fry are friends from grad school who now live in Colorado. Their visit also got us reconnected with Angela, another friend from grad school who now lives in Amsterdam.

California girl comes to town

Why the visit? Summer break! Amy is a brave and fabulous teacher of 1st graders in good 'ol Reedley and clearly deserved a little European adventure. You'd never know it was her first time in Amsterdam with the expertise in which she tore through the city on a Dutch bike. More adventures included a cozy boat tour on the canals, Haarlem and the famous Dutch beaches.

What's the connection? Amy and I go way back ... to nearly the womb. She was my first friend from back in the Reedley days, we have the baby pics to prove it.

Seattle brings sun

Why the visit? Being the adventurous new parents of 10 month old Grant, Liz "Foster" and Steve extended their big Italy vacation for a weekend in Amsterdam. And much fun was had ... including a 6 hour meal at a swanky new restaurant called "Super Club". Meanwhile, Grandma and Grandpa got plenty of quality time hanging out with Grant back in Seattle.

What's the connection? Liz "Foster" and I roomed together at Westmont College for 4 years ... and she is personally responsible for getting me to move to San Francisco, thus changing my life forever. Her and her husband Steve took their high tech skills to Microsoft, where they are now working for Uncle Bill.

Georgia Peanuts in the 'Dam

Why the Visit? A break for the Sibley's from baby diapers and daily life in London. For Claude, it was the last segment of a European trip, and a chance to explore dutch delicacies like the Scrumpy Jack canned brew.

What's the Connection? Clark "Claude" Tate, and Holden & Katie Sibley .... both are longtime buddies from growing up in Atlanta, which means plenty of communal counseling regarding the Dirty Birds. Holden and Katie made an earlier blog appearance after hosting us in London. Clark, a former roommate in San Francisco, a fine banjer and guitar picker, a talented artist, and one of my only friends who actually measures up in height to the Dutch.