The Averbook family of 4 of Highland Heights, OH (2 adults and 2 children ages 20 and 17) explored The Netherlands, Bruges and Paris in August.  The trip began in Amsterdam to visit friends living in and around the capital of The Netherlands.  The Averbook boyshad a great time in this unique city hanging with their local friends and enjoying the local evening entertainment.   They also rode bikes through the countryside near Harlem and they all rendezvoused at a yummy and authentic pancake house.  Dad really like the Van Gogh museum and visiting Anne Frank’s house (although not a joyful visit, the impact was intense).   Bruges was charming too and the family was impressed with the Chapel of the Precious Blood amongst other sites.  They loved their hotel, the Heritage Hotel.  It is the only Relais & Châteaux property in the city of Bruges. The decor was great and so was the service. The Church of our Lady was interesting too with the Michelangelo sculpture as well as the tombs of Mary and Charles the Bold of Burgundy. While in Bruges, there was a music festival; so every night there was live music in the city’s plazas.  The kids experienced a “headphone” dance where everyone got headphones to listen to music of their choice; so everyone was dancing to their own music. If you took off the headphones, you would be watching hundreds of people dancing silently.  In Paris, highlights included the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, The Louvre (where they had a privately guided tour) and the Rodin Museum. Dad’s interest in magic led him to an enjoyable visit to George Proust’s Magic Museum and the family had a privately guided tour of Versailles as well. The show How to Become Parisian in One Hour was really good and funny.  Overall the trip provided a variety of unique cultural experiences, easy travel by train from city to city and wonderful family time together.