Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Netherland Day Trips -- Days 5-7
Over the last three days we have taken day trips out of Amsterdam. Our first one was to a tiny town called Edam, which is known for its cheese. Here we enjoyed a cheese sampler plate at a cafe, visited the local church and walked around and relaxed in the little village. We were there the day after the crowded cheese market, so there weren't as many people about. Edam, although much smaller, rivals Bruges for cuteness.
Cheese displayed on the wall of a shop
Erika is passionate about cheese, so this town was made for her - the town of the little red wax cheeses!
Interesting yard art with old clogs
Little Edam kids playing soccer in the park
This little cutie was very friendly and even jumped up to get pet
Of course, like most towns in the Netherlands, Edam had canals and bridges. This little bike path had a draw-bridge in case boats needed to come by.
On on our second day trip we visited an island in northern Netherlands called Texel. It took some doing to get up there (tram, train, bus, ferry, bus), but it was well worth the effort! It's a national park / nature reserve so there is very little development, and it was a place full of peace and tranquility with only some Dutch tourists and school children. We decided to walk along the beach 10 km. to get to this lighthouse. We were doing great until km. 5 when suddenly we came to a body of water, like a bay, cutting us off from going farther along the beach. Determined to get to our destination, we began trying to navigate the now soupy bog around the large body of water to hopefully continue along the beach. Well, pretty soon our muddy bog (with sandals sticking in like suction cups with each step) became too much, and we opted to head to the grassy dunes and get to the lighthouse along land.
Beach and seagull on our beach walk
Stopping for a picture at the North Sea on Texel Island
Erika along the beach...we really enjoyed the peaceful isolation!
These were the only buildings to be found on the waterfront
As we walked through grassy fields, we came across a noisy herd of sheep. Finally we reached a path up on top of the dunes and walked that path the rest of the way to the lighthouse. Along the way we stopped at a stand selling fresh strawberries and jars of jam. There was just a tin box for you to deposit your money in, honor style. So we bought some strawberries and enjoyed them along the way. All in all, this was one of our favorite days being out in such nice nature, removed from it all.
Me along a sandy path heading for the dunes
Our little neighbors for awhile as we searched for a way around the bog
Me with sheep
The cute little farm strawberry and jam stand that gave us our snack that day
We finally made it to the lighthouse!
Our last full day trip took us first to Aalsmeer for the enormous daily flower auction. The Netherlands provides a lot of the world's flowers, tulips famously, and they all come through here every morning. It was massive, active and colorful. From a walkway perched above it all, we saw them bidding on the flowers in an auction room and witnessed the busy people below moving the buds to and fro.
A little sampling of what flowers were up for auction that day
These guys were buzzing around the enormous warehouse the whole time.
Erika and our bird's eye view of the action
Lastly, we spent a little time in Haarlem, namesake of the New York City neighborhood. It, again, was full of canals, cobblestone streets, squares and general quaintness. The thing that set it apart for me was its really fabulous church. It had a cool wooden ceiling dating back to the 1500's and an ornately decorated organ that 10-year-old Mozart and Handel had played. We actually were able to sit in on an organ concert that evening. Although the music played was a little modern (think experimental carnival) for the setting and our tastes, it was cool to hear it being played nonetheless.
Windmill in Haarlem
Haarlem's church in the center of the main square
Here's the bohemoth of an organ from which we listened at the concert
Goodbye, Holland and Belgium! It's been nice. Next up...Egypt!
-Brent
