University of North Carolina Athletics
Heels In Holland: Chapter 3
June 2, 2014 | Field Hockey
By Tyler Powell
This morning we enjoyed a much-needed opportunity to sleep in. After a full day of hockey yesterday and most of us still recovering from the jetlag, waking up was a bit of a struggle. Emma and Caroline, for example, managed to sleep through all five of their alarms. After a leisurely breakfast, we took a quick jog over to a local playground for some recovery stretching and yoga.
After stretching, we had a few hours free on our own. Several of us took the opportunity to explore the town and get a bite to eat. Julia, Nina, Shannon and I decided to try a local pancake house for lunch and were not disappointed! The topping choices were endless, and it was absolutely delicious. We will definitely have to make a return trip in the next few days.
The highlight of the day was an afternoon trip to Den Haag (The Hague), the city that is hosting the World Cup. Our host Miguel arranged for us to have a tour of the city center, and we had the chance to see many of the buildings that give Den Haag its immense historical significance. We soon learned that even though Amsterdam is Holland's capital, Den Haag is the political center for the entire country. The government buildings are located in a complex called Binnenhof, which is connected by a large central courtyard open to the public. We were able to walk right up to the Dutch Senate and House of Representatives, which are separated by only a few hundred feet.
We finished the evening with dinner at Le Connaisseur, a restaurant in the city center. The food was very good. We were able to choose our own appetizer and entrée, and enjoyed a rare treat at the end - ice cream! Stuffed and happy, we piled back onto the bus and returned to Leiden for the night. Overall, it was a beautiful and relaxing day in Holland. We feel so blessed to be here and are looking forward to another exciting day at the World Cup tomorrow! It will be our first opportunity to cheer on Team USA and our fellow Tar Heels! They will take on Argentina at 5:30 p.m. local time.
