Vacation in The Netherlands and England - 2003

The Netherlands ( England pictures not shown)

Typical architecture in Amsterdam. Notice the hooks
at the top of each gable. This is for hoisting furniture
in through the windows - the halls are too narrow.

This is the B&B we stayed in called
Heren B&B. The owners were so nice.

These steep stairs led from our room up to
our private bathroom upstairs.

This man was making traditional
wooden shoes by hand. Some farmers
still wear these shoes, but most are
made for tourists.

This windmill village was called Zaanse Schans and
it was beautiful. Sort of like a Dutch Williamsburg
with restored houses and operating businesses.

You could tour the windmills which were actually
producting things like paints and mustard. Nearby
in the town you could smell chocolate as they
were manufacturing cocoa.

Here is Michele trying on a giant shoe at the
windmill village.

This cottage is one of many restored buildings
assembled in Enkhuizen in an outdoor museum
the shows how people lived all over holland
in olden days.

Everywhere you go in the Netherlands you see
woodenshoes of every color imaginable for
sale.

Here is Michele enjoying our rooftop garden at the
B&B. It was located over our bathroom and off the kitchen which upstairs from our room.

Posing for the camera on a ferry ride
across the river to start our bike ride.

Michele and her bike on the ferry.

An idyllic scene along our bike route.
In Holland you can bike absolutely
everywhere on special bike paths. We biked
26 miles on our ride.

I found this cat very amusing. He was near our B&B
sleeping on the windowsill of a butcher shop under
a sign that says "No Dogs Allowed."

This is a replica ship of the Amsterdam. It is
part of the Maritime Museum in Amsterdam
and you can tour it.

These big yellow things are wheels of cheese waiting
to be auctioned in the Friday Cheese Auction held
every week by Sotheby's in Alkmaar.

Despite the look on his face, Graham and I
both enjoyed tasting the smoked herring
at the Outdoor museum in Enkhuizen.
It was really tasty.

There are more bikes in Amsterdam than people
and they find some very creative places to park
them when they are not being used.

Michele posing on one of the hundreds of bridges
over the many canals in Amsterdam. It is a very
nice city when you are around the canals. Near
the train station it is less pretty and more city-like.

A typical Amsterdam scene. A peaceful canal and
boats and bicycles lining the banks.

This character beckoned Graham to come over
and shake hands. He was one of two street
entertainers in Dam Square looking for
donations.

All the bridges in Amsterdam have an iron sign telling you the name of the bridge.