A Day in Volendam

We headed to Volendam in the morning - a place I hadn't been before. It's very small, but that was good as Nikki wanted to check in for her flight home in plenty of time. Anne drove us to Volendam as we still had the rental car, So Mum, Reid, Nikki and I got a map from the tourist centre, and a walking tour information booklet and set off. 

We were told that the town developed in the 1400s, and to look at the facades of the buildings, as well as the curtains of the houses, as people of Volendam like nice things.  The curtains certainly were lovely!

The canal was a lovely green colour from the oxygen weed which the ducks waded through!

Some of the houses had lovely gardens in front...

And then we found the main street, full of cafes and outside seating...

I found my boat...

Birding with my cellphone camear again - had left the big lens at the apartment as I'm sturggling with a sore back! The Dutch Seagull...

The harbour was lovely.  I thought it was the north sea, but no, it's a fresh water lake that goes for iles and miles.

We got some Poffertjes - 8 of them, 4 with whipped cream, 4 with chocolate. Enough for two each!

 

This is what some of them looked like...

I found a dutch man and gave him a kiss.  I was met with stony silence...

I gave up any romantic notion and headed down the main street for some retail therapy intsead...

And I found a beach! My first in the Netherlands! I put my big toe in the water and it was..... FREEZING! Give me southern Italy's waters any day!

Houses line the coast - very pretty!

I caught Reid getting up close and personal with a lovely dutch lady...

Looks like the friendship is over! My mother won't share!

Whew - they made up!

We then stopped for lunch. Generous sized portions and lovely food. We all had a wine with lunch as well seeing we're on holiday!

Then we walked back to the main square and caught the bus and tram back to Anne's apartment. Another example of the beautiful gardens in Volendam...

On the way back to Anne's apartment by the canal, was a Blue Heron. Birding with my cellphone again!

 Then Nikki packed up and Anne and I saw her off at the aiport. Here is us saying goodbye in the kiss and goodbye zone under the sign!

 Mum and Reid leave tomorrow - and I've now started my second part of the trip :)

Kasteel de Haar and Kinderdijk

We hired a car for the day and headed out into the dutch countryside. First stop was this lovely little village not far from Kasteel de Haar. We were going to stop for a coffee, but unfortunately a crowd of classic car enthusiasts arrived at the same time of us, so we decided to wait until our next stop. We got out and stretched our legs and walked around in the sunshine though.

  

I love all the trees lining the roads...

If it wasn't for the endless flat landscape, this could be a scene in New Zealand..

More beautiful treelined roads..

And then the Kasteel de Haar. Beautiful castle and gorgeous gardens surrounding them. It was built from around 1892 and the restoration project was funded by the Rothschild family.

Might have to put a garden like this on my front lawn...

Beautiful. Maybe I should have a moat around my place too - will keep my grass green in summer!

After walking around the castle and gardens we all sat down for coffee in the castle grounds.

Michel was looking very happy.

We then drove (well I drove one car and Michel the other), to Kinderdijk to see the windmills. I took lots of photos!  By this time the blue skies had disappeared but it made for more drama!

Nikki posing for her photo!

Then my mother decided to she wanted to climb up and have hers taken as well. I thought at one stage she'd end up in the canal.

We then drove back to Amsterdam, then took an Uber taxi to North Holland and went out for dinner, meeting up with the Carter Clan. On the way had a gorgeous sunset...

And here we all are waiting for our last supper in the Netherlands together. It's been so much fun.

Dee had been in Paris overnight, and very kindly bought back some wonderful French Pastries, so some of us ended up on their houseboat on the Amsterdam Canal afterwards for a cuppa and some of those french goodness! The French can really do their pastries! I think we got home at 1.00am. Zzzz!

Three Days in Amsterdam

I've been a bit busy to do the blog as it's Graduation time, and the reason for my trip to Europe. My daughter is now Dr Anne Wyllie PhD. All our family have gathered here for this auspicious occasion and I've been pretty busy with functions and get together. However, we did have time on Wednesday for a visit to the Botanical Gardens which happened to be over the road from our hotel...

I'm pretty pleased with my phone camera for doing lovely shots of butterflies. Although I did take my macro lens over as well...

After the Botanical gardens, we went back to the hotel and got changed into some good clothes. Then Nikki and Vivie spent the afternoon wandering the shops in Amsterdam, while I read my book in a cafe. I wasn't in the mood for shopping! From the shops we caught the tram down to Anne and Michel's apartment where everyone got together for a big BBQ. Everyone who had come in from all over was there, including a surprise from my friend Erin who now lives in Germany. I hadn't realised she was coning to the graduation! Even my Mum cried when she saw Erin!

The following day we caught the train down to Utrecht where Anne's graduation was held. We wandered around having a look at the cathedral, then went down to the Stahl Cafe where we had lunch and a flat white. Utrecht is as always, a beautiful town...

The Cathedral is big, but was twice as big in the 1600s before it was attacked by a tornado and split in half!  It was never rebuilt, so the tower stands alone then a big square, and then the cathedral! Still very impressive though.

Next to the Cathedral is the Cloisters with the entrance to this next door. The building next to it is where Anne graduated, and afterwards we had drinks in the Cloisters which was lovley.

We weren't allowed to take photos during Anne's defence, so I took a few of the room before everyone arrived...

Anne's defence was challenging and some challenging discussion ensued, but she was very nervous (understandably). In New Zealand the defence happens behind closed doors, so for us, it was very special to see.

After the defence, the professors filed out to deliberate, and as you can see, the relief on Anne's face was obvious! It was all over!

 Then they came back in and pronounced her a Doctor!  I was immensely proud of her as we are all.

After the dirnks at the Cloisters we all climbed into a boat for an hours boat ride around Utrecht where we drank copious champagne/beer/wine and talked to everyone. I managed a few photos but not many as I was too busy socialising!

And then it was a fabulous dinner in Utrecht and a party. Anne's lab had made up a hilarious video of her life in Amsterdam. I'm hoping to get a copy for home to show friends. It was the funniest thing I have ever watched!

The next day - Vivie headed back to Greece first thing in the morning, and after Breakfast, Nikki and I packed our bags and then caught a Uber to Anne's apartment. We sat around talking, then Michel organised a boat for two hours around the Amsterdam Canals. It was beautiful...

Here's all of us on the boat...

And some of the sights...

 Michel pointing out this building and telling us what it was (I can't remember!)

A three storied bike park. However do you find your bike?

More modern buildings - the white one is a movie museum.

Pretty bridges over canals...

After the boat ride we had some drinks in a lovely park... I got a photo of everyone before they sat down..

Dinner at an Indian restaurant then back to the apartment. I was asleep as soon as my head touched the pillow!

Today Nikki and I headed down to Gouda to try some cheese...

I tried the Marijuana one. It tasted like.... Cheese. and I didn't feel any different!

After the Gouda we trained to Rotterdam to look at the archtecture...

And had a beautiful lunch at Markethal (Market Hall).

Walked around afterwards enjoying the sunshine...

Loved the malll that goes both above and below the street, but is still open..

Nikki showing how perfect we both are!

And then back to Central Station in Rotterdam to catch the train back to Amsterdam. Quick trip to supermarket on way home to pick up dinner. Another sightseeing day tomorrow!