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The Netherlands
Some pics of latest trip to Holland. Late spring is a great time to visit Holland. Weather was
great, only a couple rainy days, but it was also cool, with temps in the 50's most of the time. Made for some nice long walks through the countryside. My friends live in a village called Stolwijk, about 6km south of Gouda, which is famous for its cheese. In the old days, the surrounding farmers would bring there cheese to the Gouda town square and haggle over the price/kilo of the cheese. The longer it had aged, the more the cost. Once the price agreement was reached, the cheese would be officially weighed in the cheese weighing house.The photo below shows the cheese laid out for inspection with the weighing house in the background: http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...ands201482.jpg This shot shows the opposite angle, with the Gouda town hall in the background: http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...ands201481.jpg Stolwijk has its own little cheese market where the cheese is produced, aged, and sold - and where we buy ours. (We brought home only about 13 kg this trip.) This is the local market: http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...nds2014104.jpg And here is the back room where the cheese is aged, coated, and banded. The different color bands indicate the aging. 'Belegen' indicates old, and 'Extra Belegen' is older: http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...ackedGouda.jpg The older the pricier because much of the water has evaporated. Of course, Holland and tulips go hand in hand. Kerkenhof was high on my wife's list of 'do's' for this trip, so here's some damn tulips: http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...ands201462.jpg http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...ands201461.jpg http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...ands201467.jpg While in Kerkenhof, I came across this wooden carved statue. The demeanor depicted reminded me of someone here, so I took the pic... http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...arcissitic.jpg Walks through the Dutch countryside are great ways to spend a few hours in Holland. On the way out of town I noticed the driveways to the houses...all beginning with a bridge across the front canal. http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...ands201448.jpg Although not very visible in the photo, the mailboxes for each house are on the house side of the bridges. The postman must stop and walk across each bridge to deliver the mail. I asked my friend why the boxes weren't placed on the roadside of the bridge. His answer, "Unions." If the boxes were on the roadside, the mail could be delivered in much less time, therefore requiring fewer people. Almost every walk in this neck of the woods is along a canal, 'cause the canals are everywhere. Wildlife is plentiful: http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...ands201445.jpg ....as is livestock: http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...ands201443.jpg Why the blue spots on the ass of the sheep? Good question, and also my first upon seeing this. The farmers want to know which of the ewes have been mounted by the ram. A blue mark is placed on the stomach of the ram. As he mounts the ewes, the blue rubs off. Voila...now the farmer knows his answer. I throw these next two in here just because. They are a black and a white VW 'UP'. Notice the model names on the sides (a bit hard to see). The white one is called 'WHITE', and the black one 'BLACK'. Of course, they'd never get away with that in this country. http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...ands201414.jpg http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...ands201415.jpg Holland is famous for windmills. Most of them are no longer in use, but some have been restored and put back in use. One of the main jobs of windmills was to pump water from the polders up to the surrounding river or canal. This shot shows strings of windmills along canals in the polder. Each windmill in the string would raise the water about a meter, with the last dumping the water into the surrounding river or large canal. In this case the water from this polder is dumped into the 'Lek' river. Interestingly, 'Lek' means 'leak', and this river was formed when the Rhine broke through a dike and formed a new channel. http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...ands201417.jpg A bit closer view of a mill. This one was used for grinding grain to make flour or whatever. http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...lands20147.jpg There. That's your Holland tour for today. Great trip. A country well worth a visit. |
The Netherlands
On 4/17/2014 8:08 AM, Poquito Loco wrote:
Some pics of latest trip to Holland. Late spring is a great time to visit Holland. Weather was great, only a couple rainy days, but it was also cool, with temps in the 50's most of the time. Made for some nice long walks through the countryside. My friends live in a village called Stolwijk, about 6km south of Gouda, which is famous for its cheese. In the old days, the surrounding farmers would bring there cheese to the Gouda town square and haggle over the price/kilo of the cheese. The longer it had aged, the more the cost. Once the price agreement was reached, the cheese would be officially weighed in the cheese weighing house.The photo below shows the cheese laid out for inspection with the weighing house in the background: http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...ands201482.jpg This shot shows the opposite angle, with the Gouda town hall in the background: http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...ands201481.jpg Stolwijk has its own little cheese market where the cheese is produced, aged, and sold - and where we buy ours. (We brought home only about 13 kg this trip.) This is the local market: http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...nds2014104.jpg And here is the back room where the cheese is aged, coated, and banded. The different color bands indicate the aging. 'Belegen' indicates old, and 'Extra Belegen' is older: http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...ackedGouda.jpg The older the pricier because much of the water has evaporated. Of course, Holland and tulips go hand in hand. Kerkenhof was high on my wife's list of 'do's' for this trip, so here's some damn tulips: http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...ands201462.jpg http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...ands201461.jpg http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...ands201467.jpg While in Kerkenhof, I came across this wooden carved statue. The demeanor depicted reminded me of someone here, so I took the pic... http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...arcissitic.jpg Walks through the Dutch countryside are great ways to spend a few hours in Holland. On the way out of town I noticed the driveways to the houses...all beginning with a bridge across the front canal. http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...ands201448.jpg Although not very visible in the photo, the mailboxes for each house are on the house side of the bridges. The postman must stop and walk across each bridge to deliver the mail. I asked my friend why the boxes weren't placed on the roadside of the bridge. His answer, "Unions." If the boxes were on the roadside, the mail could be delivered in much less time, therefore requiring fewer people. Almost every walk in this neck of the woods is along a canal, 'cause the canals are everywhere. Wildlife is plentiful: http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...ands201445.jpg ...as is livestock: http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...ands201443.jpg Why the blue spots on the ass of the sheep? Good question, and also my first upon seeing this. The farmers want to know which of the ewes have been mounted by the ram. A blue mark is placed on the stomach of the ram. As he mounts the ewes, the blue rubs off. Voila...now the farmer knows his answer. I throw these next two in here just because. They are a black and a white VW 'UP'. Notice the model names on the sides (a bit hard to see). The white one is called 'WHITE', and the black one 'BLACK'. Of course, they'd never get away with that in this country. http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...ands201414.jpg http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...ands201415.jpg Holland is famous for windmills. Most of them are no longer in use, but some have been restored and put back in use. One of the main jobs of windmills was to pump water from the polders up to the surrounding river or canal. This shot shows strings of windmills along canals in the polder. Each windmill in the string would raise the water about a meter, with the last dumping the water into the surrounding river or large canal. In this case the water from this polder is dumped into the 'Lek' river. Interestingly, 'Lek' means 'leak', and this river was formed when the Rhine broke through a dike and formed a new channel. http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...ands201417.jpg A bit closer view of a mill. This one was used for grinding grain to make flour or whatever. http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...lands20147.jpg There. That's your Holland tour for today. Great trip. A country well worth a visit. Thanks for the tour. Interesting place and great photos. |
The Netherlands
On 4/17/2014 8:36 AM, Mr. Luddite wrote:
While in Kerkenhof, I came across this wooden carved statue. The demeanor depicted reminded me of someone here, so I took the pic... http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...arcissitic.jpg The statue has hair and a sourpuss. Who did it remind you of. |
The Netherlands
On Thu, 17 Apr 2014 09:01:21 -0400, H*a*r*r*o*l*d wrote:
On 4/17/2014 8:36 AM, Mr. Luddite wrote: While in Kerkenhof, I came across this wooden carved statue. The demeanor depicted reminded me of someone here, so I took the pic... http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...arcissitic.jpg The statue has hair and a sourpuss. Who did it remind you of. Classified. |
The Netherlands
On Thu, 17 Apr 2014 08:08:12 -0400, Poquito Loco
wrote: There. That's your Holland tour for today. Great trip. A country well worth a visit. === Good pictures John, thanks for sharing. |
The Netherlands
On 4/17/2014 9:52 AM, Poquito Loco wrote:
On Thu, 17 Apr 2014 09:01:21 -0400, H*a*r*r*o*l*d wrote: On 4/17/2014 8:36 AM, Mr. Luddite wrote: While in Kerkenhof, I came across this wooden carved statue. The demeanor depicted reminded me of someone here, so I took the pic... http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...arcissitic.jpg The statue has hair and a sourpuss. Who did it remind you of. Classified. Wouldn't Friar Tuck or Elmer Fudd bear a better resemblence? |
The Netherlands
On Thu, 17 Apr 2014 15:28:47 -0400, H*a*r*r*o*l*d wrote:
On 4/17/2014 9:52 AM, Poquito Loco wrote: On Thu, 17 Apr 2014 09:01:21 -0400, H*a*r*r*o*l*d wrote: On 4/17/2014 8:36 AM, Mr. Luddite wrote: While in Kerkenhof, I came across this wooden carved statue. The demeanor depicted reminded me of someone here, so I took the pic... http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...arcissitic.jpg The statue has hair and a sourpuss. Who did it remind you of. Classified. Wouldn't Friar Tuck or Elmer Fudd bear a better resemblence? Possibly. I paid little attention to the hair, assuming it was a wig. |
The Netherlands
On Thu, 17 Apr 2014 15:28:47 -0400, H*a*r*r*o*l*d
wrote: On 4/17/2014 9:52 AM, Poquito Loco wrote: On Thu, 17 Apr 2014 09:01:21 -0400, H*a*r*r*o*l*d wrote: On 4/17/2014 8:36 AM, Mr. Luddite wrote: While in Kerkenhof, I came across this wooden carved statue. The demeanor depicted reminded me of someone here, so I took the pic... http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l2...arcissitic.jpg The statue has hair and a sourpuss. Who did it remind you of. Classified. Wouldn't Friar Tuck or Elmer Fudd bear a better resemblence? === Friar Tuck was an honorable guy. Me thinks Fudd a better fit. |
The Netherlands
i can't tell that well, but the guy walking between the isles of the cheese on the right Is he =wearing wooden shoes?
http://s98.photobucket.com/user/jher...01482.jpg.html |
The Netherlands
On Fri, 18 Apr 2014 04:50:30 -0700 (PDT), Tim wrote:
i can't tell that well, but the guy walking between the isles of the cheese on the right Is he =wearing wooden shoes? http://s98.photobucket.com/user/jher...01482.jpg.html Yes, he and the other guy further down with the red scarf are both in wooden shoes. They're still made, to size, over there, although not many folks wear them. On 'Queen's Day' and like holidays you'll see a lot of them, especially on the kids. |
The Netherlands
Wow, that's interesting. I'd think that would be a bit awkward getting used to them. I know that at one time they were fairly popular in Germany as we'll.
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The Netherlands
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The Netherlands
On Fri, 18 Apr 2014 08:23:30 -0700 (PDT), Tim wrote:
Wow, that's interesting. I'd think that would be a bit awkward getting used to them. I know that at one time they were fairly popular in Germany as we'll. I've never seen them in Germany, but maybe that's 'cause I spent most of my time in the southern part of the country. I'd always thought they'd be uncomfortable as hell, but the folks over there say they're not bad. Our 'souvenier' pair is the pair our friend's grandson wore as a kid. There's a hole in the bottom of one, and almost in the other. So it's obvious they got a lot of wear. |
The Netherlands
I've seen pics of Germans wearing them in the turn of the last century ie mid and late 1800's and early 1900's
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The Netherlands
On Fri, 18 Apr 2014 09:09:55 -0700 (PDT), Tim wrote:
I've seen pics of Germans wearing them in the turn of the last century ie mid and late 1800's and early 1900's Probably those damn Yankee Germans up by Holland! |
The Netherlands
On Thursday, April 17, 2014 5:08:12 AM UTC-7, John H. wrote:
Some pics of latest trip to Holland. Late spring is a There. That's your Holland tour for today. Great trip. A country well worth a visit. Great little tour, John. Good to see you can get out of the house and spread some domestic money into the foreign economies. It's gotta be better than sitting around brewing, stewing, and thinking of ways to hack people off. LOL! |
The Netherlands
On 4/18/14, 9:16 PM, Tim wrote:
On Thursday, April 17, 2014 5:08:12 AM UTC-7, John H. wrote: Some pics of latest trip to Holland. Late spring is a There. That's your Holland tour for today. Great trip. A country well worth a visit. Great little tour, John. Good to see you can get out of the house and spread some domestic money into the foreign economies. It's gotta be better than sitting around brewing, stewing, and thinking of ways to hack people off. LOL! Oh, he tried to do that from abroad. He failed. |
The Netherlands
On Fri, 18 Apr 2014 18:16:06 -0700 (PDT), Tim wrote:
On Thursday, April 17, 2014 5:08:12 AM UTC-7, John H. wrote: Some pics of latest trip to Holland. Late spring is a There. That's your Holland tour for today. Great trip. A country well worth a visit. Great little tour, John. Good to see you can get out of the house and spread some domestic money into the foreign economies. It's gotta be better than sitting around brewing, stewing, and thinking of ways to hack people off. LOL! Ain't that the truth! We had a super time. I'd do it every year if I didn't have to fly. Every flight seems like the leg room has decreased by another inch or so. |
The Netherlands
On Saturday, April 19, 2014 3:39:00 AM UTC-7, John H. wrote:
On Fri, 18 Apr 2014 18:16:06 -0700 (PDT), Tim wrote: On Thursday, April 17, 2014 5:08:12 AM UTC-7, John H. wrote: Some pics of latest trip to Holland. Late spring is a There. That's your Holland tour for today. Great trip. A country well worth a visit. Great little tour, John. Good to see you can get out of the house and spread some domestic money into the foreign economies. It's gotta be better than sitting around brewing, stewing, and thinking of ways to hack people off. LOL! Ain't that the truth! LOL! Yeah, it is. We had a super time. I'd do it every year if I didn't have to fly. Every flight seems like the leg room has decreased by another inch or so. Been there. every time we fly to Hawaii it seems the cabin space gets more cramped all the time. But it's always worth it to get there, and more worth it to get home... |
The Netherlands
On Sat, 19 Apr 2014 04:03:53 -0700 (PDT), Tim wrote:
On Saturday, April 19, 2014 3:39:00 AM UTC-7, John H. wrote: On Fri, 18 Apr 2014 18:16:06 -0700 (PDT), Tim wrote: On Thursday, April 17, 2014 5:08:12 AM UTC-7, John H. wrote: Some pics of latest trip to Holland. Late spring is a There. That's your Holland tour for today. Great trip. A country well worth a visit. Great little tour, John. Good to see you can get out of the house and spread some domestic money into the foreign economies. It's gotta be better than sitting around brewing, stewing, and thinking of ways to hack people off. LOL! Ain't that the truth! LOL! Yeah, it is. We had a super time. I'd do it every year if I didn't have to fly. Every flight seems like the leg room has decreased by another inch or so. Been there. every time we fly to Hawaii it seems the cabin space gets more cramped all the time. But it's always worth it to get there, and more worth it to get home... I checked to see how much it would cost to upgrade a class. The lady at the counter said I had to do it 24 hours in advance. For the ride back, I called about 48 hours in advance. She said that since I'd made my reservations through Travelocity, I'd have to upgrade through them. So we got on the Travelocity site, but could find no way to do it. When I got home, I looked up the price difference - almost double the cost to get from economy to whatever they call the next class. Not worth it. Leaving for NC to see brother. See ya in a few days. He's still on chemo and radiation, so no golf this trip! |
The Netherlands
On Saturday, April 19, 2014 4:22:51 AM UTC-7, John H. wrote:
Leaving for NC to see brother. See ya in a few days. He's still on chemo and radiation, so no golf this trip! The best to him, John.... |
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