I am amazed at how memories can come back. It starts first as a small trickle and then suddenly it is like a large wave engulfing you. My first trip to the Netherlands was in fall 1990. For three months I worked in Den Haag and lived in an apartment on Wassenarweg. We arrived just as fall was starting. I would bus and walk to work.

It has been a while since I thought of that time but traveling to the Netherlands in October has brought back the memories. Walking along the sidewalks covered with leaves, riding the bus after dark in the rain, the smell of a wet city are slowly coming back.

I have been reading the Rough Guide to the Netherlands. It is an excellent guide especially compared to Frommers or Fodors. Reading it feels like having a gourmet meal compared with fast food. Reading about the different towns have helped to surface the memories.

I have about 4 days to explore on my own. I will be dealing with jet lag a couple of the days but I think I can still do some sightseeing. Of course, the purpose of the trip is for work but I hope to get out and experience a bit of Dutch culture after work.