2019-04 - Full day in Brugges (Belgium)....almost

Belgian waffles with strawberries and cream and a proper pot of tea

We arrived in Brugges (Belgium) last night via car. Parking is slim inside the city walls. Even our hotel only had a few spots. However, there was a parking garage only ten minutes walk away. One of the benefits of Brugges is that it is so small and mostly contained within old city walls (at least the touristy parts).

View from the belltower

We started off this morning with Belgian waffles with strawberries and cream. Thus fortified, we climbed the 366 steps up to the top of the bell tower. While the wait can be long, as only 50 people are allowed in the tower at any given time, it's very nice to enjoy the view from the tower with fewer people. It also made the narrow flights of stairs easier on both the way up and back down.

The giant drum programmed to play the belltower bells

On our way back down, we stopped in the section with the giant drum that triggers the clappers that ring the bells on the quarter hour in different tunes. Currently, the bells play a section from Bach's Prelude in C Major. In addition, the bells can also be played by a person called a "carillon" at a type of baton "keyboard". We arrived just in time to watch the drum turn for about 30 seconds to play the quarter hour.

Bike path on the dike along the canal

 Stair stepping was just a warm-up for our main activity today: renting bikes and cycling back into the Netherlands to Sluis. The main path is on top of the dike. We rode along the canal on one side and verdant farmland on the other side. All of the dikes have a row of tall trees planted alongside. It must have been a massive project to build the dikes, divert the water into the canals and plant all of the trees (not to mention pave roads and bike lanes).

Windmill at Damme

We saw horses, cows, and sheep. There were even a few tractors out in the fields and windmills along the road. It was pretty amazing to cycle endless flat, paved track in such beautiful countryside with the blue skies above us. A good thing, too, as the rental bikes were super heavy with slightly flat tires to mitigate the bumps of cobblestones within Brugges.

Old Westpoort gate at Sluis

Part of the way along the bike path, there was hand crank "ferry" to cross the river from one side to the other. There was a crank on both sides of the shore as well as on the boat. The ferry was attached to the wires being cranked; and, a person could crank the ferry from one side to the other (with a bit of effort).

Sheep along the bike path. Shepherd and three dogs kept them from getting on the path itself.

We stopped in Sluis (the Netherlands) for some lunch before cycling back. Sluis even had an Aldi, which we stopped at for some snacks. Nothing like cycling in two countries in a few short hours. After returning the bikes, walking felt so slow!

Minnewaterpark

 However, I did keep walking, as who knows when I'll return to Brugges? There were chocolates to sample at the various chocolate shops and a park to see at Minnewaterpark. I continued on past a park of geese and ducks and then around another beautiful church before finding my way to a gyro window for a quick dinner.

Another beautiful church

More photos here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/JuD3c17qFtYnMPvV9

2019-04 - First Day in Amsterdam!

2019-04-09 - our first view of Amsterdam canals and bicycles

After a red-eye flight from Houston, arriving in Amsterdam at 7 am local time, we were exhausted but determined to push through a day full of activities in order to avoid sleeping until the evening. We took the train from Schiphol Airport to Central Station (5.50 Euros) and then walked the 15 minutes to the Radisson Blu. Dropping off luggage, we headed in search of breakfast, which we succeeded in finding (without a reservation) at Cafe Metropolitain. Norwegian Eggs Benedict hit the spot for my first meal in Amsterdam.

How to use a hook and pulley to get furniture into Amsterdam's narrow homes

Then, we wandered around a bit on our own, taking in the Dam Square (site of the original dam built to dam the Amstel River), the basilica, and sampling cheese. At 1:10 pm, we were back at the Dam Square, in front of the National Monument, searching for our tour guide for the tips-based Alternative Walking Tour of Amsterdam. Jannes is a native to Amsterdam and sought to explain to us the Dutch way of living through the historic examples of drugs, prostitution and weed. Basically, he said that the Dutch government has a lot of rules. However, mainly, as long as something isn't bothering population in general and it's profitable, it's acceptable. There were many, many questions about the legality of weed (It technically is not legal in Holland; however, it is not hidden how to purchase weed, either). It was strange to stand outside a shop selling "Magic Mushrooms" (also technically illegal) and XTCY.

Street art by The London Police

Other stops on the walking tour included various street art, which is also technically illegal, since almost all the Old Center cities in Amsterdam are part of UNESCO heritage sites. There are stiff fines for graffiti, including jail sentences. However, some artists, including Mr. P, London Police, Lust Black and the Invaders have all successfully created wall art, which is still posted to this day.

River boat along the canal

After our walking tour, we had just enough time to quick a catch bite to eat before joining The Dam Boat Guys for a canal tour via boat. It was such a beautiful day (high of 70!), that it was just nice to be out on the canals. We saw many different house boats that lined the canal, several which are on rented out as AirBnB accommodations.

Now, I am soooo tired; and, might have made it late enough to sleep through the night. :)