For Don and Ruth: The Netherlands in July

Now that they arrive home today, back in the U.S. of A., here's a celebration of the fact they really were here where we live, here in the Netherlands.  Sister, Ruth, and her hubby Don, really did come and visit us.  It's a big deal because after 6+ years, this is a FIRST for any of my 6 remaining sibs.

So, Don and Ruth, this is for you, to show you really were here with us:

Friday, 22 July:

We picked you up at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport after your all-nighter flight,

and did the obligatory photo-op at IAMSTERDAM.

From the airport, we parked at the AJAX soccer arena and took the Metro into the city center,

where we then went straight to the Rijksmuseum area.

We were all hungry by then and walked straight to the nearby Wagamama, 

our favorite Japanese ramen bar.

It was also a good plaza for picking up your Amsterdam/Dutch souvenirs.

And because this was Don's first visit to Amsterdam,

we chose the fastest way to see the city with a 75-minute canal cruise.

And then went home!  It was a full day.

Saturday, 23 July:

After a hearty breakfast in our apartment, we drove on the dijk to nearby Fort Vuren.

We knew Don in particular would eat it up.  Which he did.

We stopped at the Herwijnen stork village and found a few storks still breeding.

And then took the ferry across the Merwede river to the Loevestein Castle
(now with leaves on the trees).

That's where we spent most of our time that day, inside and out.

It's known for all its interactive fun...for kids of all ages.

As I recall, Don hit all 3 of his marks.

We have grown to love this castle because of all it's different floor levels,

plus nooks and crannies.

Don, of course, was intrigued by all the wood!

Next door to Loevestein is the delightful city of Woudrichem,

where you climbed up the windmill, while I stayed below with the "brethren." 

Once home that evening, we walked to our favorite Greek restaurant on our main canal,

sitting at our favorite table in the corner of the bay window.

Sunday, 24 July:

After a typical Dutch breakfast of uitsmijters (thanks to Astrid),

we took our Gorinchem citadel walk.

I always think of you when I see the huge sycamores and chestnut trees.

I think we all love how things work...like the sluices/locks everywhere in the Netherlands.

And where the walls can go up in case of high water...also intriguing,

as well as the new guardian deities from South Korea, gifted to the city.

I think Don had a South Korean student this past school year?

Nothing wrong with a good photo op, of course.

Then we went to our favorite pannenkoeken restaurant out in the polder...

before ending our day at Kinderdijk, one of our favorite places on earth.

Okay, so maybe these were OUR favorite places, but we wanted you to see them.

ALL of them.  And here's proof that you did.

THANK YOU for coming to see where we live.  Now you know why I'm in heaven here.

Fort Vuren on the Dutch Waterline

So, remember when we took grandson Nicholas to see Fort Vuren (and the Loevestein Castle and the Woudrichem windmill) in July?

Well, that reminded me that I had never found a "round tuit" to make a post on Fort Vuren when Astrid and I were there alone in April.  That visit, actually, was the main reason why we wanted to take Nicholas.

So, for the record, here's what we saw 5 months ago.  And it's only 1.5 km from home (Gorinchem)!

Every time we passed the sign while driving along the dijk of the Merwede river,

we said we needed to stop and visit this fort, part of the Dutch waterline.

Now we plan to take all our guests there, if possible.

The fort dates back to 1844 as a fortress on the river against any enemy.

Today, since 2013, you can use it as a B&B.  How ironic.

They even hold weekend concerts there.

And as we often do, we first stopped for a nice break in the cozy café...

...where we both had a delightful uitsmijter, accompanied by the café's own beer:

De Drie Mutsen = The Three Hats.

Fully satisfied, we then took our own self-tour of the underground fort.

I don't know how to adequately express our shock/surprise at what we saw.

I've decided it's one of the best-kept secrets of the Netherlands!

There are TWO levels that keep going and going, from room to room.

You'd need a map to figure it out, though I suppose the soldiers were quick learners.

Talk about a photo-op...and it's all free.

As we left over the moat, we saw the Loevestein castle across the river.

A fort and a castle opposite each other!

I bet they were always saying to each other, "We've got your back."

As we drove away on the dijk, we looked back on the fort, surrounded by its moat,

with the Merwede river on the other side.

I wonder if the cows are old enough to tell the stories hanging in the air?

In this day and age...

which is why I needed to add this for the record!

Grandson Nicholas in the Netherlands: Week One

A week is now under our belt, so to speak, and we're thrilled by what g'son Nicholas has already seen!  Remember that he just turned 15 and I just turned 70...so we're really celebrating big-time!

And for the record, here's a quick synopsis thus far, based on the collages I've been posting every day at Facebook.  Later, after he leaves, I plan to make a photo book with many more images in detail.

Day 1, Friday, 17 July:  Arrival at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam

Right outside the airport terminal is this art sculpture "I AMSTERDAM."

Talk about a tourist attraction we couldn't avoid/miss.

Later at home we walked into town to pick up museum cards...and an ice cream!

Day 2, Saturday, 18 July:  Fort Vuren, Loevestein Castle, and Woudrichem

We stayed pretty close to home but covered a lot of territory, starting with Fort Vuren.

It's an underground fortress from 1844.

We drove on the dijk along the Merwede river, crossed the bridge at Zaltbommel,

and drove back on the other side of the river to the Loevestein Castle, from 1357,

directly across the river from where we just were at Fort Vuren.

 With our museum cards we were able to go inside...my first time!

It didn't take Nicholas long to get the hang of walking on stilts.

Next door to the castle is a delightful town called Woudrichem,
our sister city across the river from us here in Gorinchem.
The "Nooit Gedagt" windmill sells the flour we use for Astrid's bread machine.
It also allows visitors to climb to the top, which we did.

While in Woudrichem we ate at the De Stroming restaurant.
It was Nicholas' first time to experience a Dutch uitsmijter!

Day 3, Sunday, 19 July:  Gorinchem Citadel Walk and Dinner with Jeroen and Eva

We had a stay-at-home day to walk around our Gorinchem citadel.

We stretched the normal one-hour walk into 2, stopping all along the way.

And as a huge surprise that evening, Jeroen and Eva invited us for Indonesian.

Jeroen is Astrid's son, so it was cool to see him, Eva and Nicholas interact.

Day 4, Monday, 20 July:  Kinderdijk and the Pannenkoeken restaurant

It happened to be a misty-rainy day but we enjoyed it nonetheless.

Nicholas said it felt "sacred."  His word.

And at our favorite pannenkoeken restaurant out in the polder,

Nicholas ate his first Dutch pancakes.  

Day 5, Tuesday, 21 July:  Paper Exhibition at the Gorinchem Museum

Again, because we had museum cards and were staying close to home,

we decided to see the Paper exhibition in our own city center.

Later that evening, Nicholas and Astrid did the dishes.

He's quite the sport, earning his keep.

Day 6, Wednesday, 22 July:  Amsterdam

 Have you noticed that we're pacing ourselves with days of rest between the big days?

Amsterdam was a long day but we did it, driving back-n-forth to the AJAX soccer arena,

and then taking the METRO into the city.

We started at the Rijksmuseum to see Rembrandt's "Night Watch" 

and then hoped to get into the Van Gogh and Anne Frank museums until we saw the long lines.

We walked by the apartment where Donica and I used to live, ate at Wagamama,

took the tram to the floating flower market, saw Central Station and the St. Nicholas Church,

and even walked the Red Light District, just to say we did it.

Nicholas giggled all day at the drug and sexual innuendos.

Day 7, Thursday, 23 July:  Malle Molen Restaurant and Mixed Fighting

  Besides going grocery shopping together and starting a 1,000 dot-to-dot drawing of Amsterdam...

 ...we went to the Malle Molen (Silly Mill) for supper (what the pot cooks),

and then immediately drove to Eva's father's house for  an adventure.

Nicholas had the chance of a lifetime to be mentored in Mixed Fighting

by Alex Hesseling (Eva's father), a real pro and instructor.

What a special and unexpected treat for all of us,

especially for me to watch and capture.

"Fighting isn't about winning or losing," the instructor said, 

"but about learning yourself and what you can or cannot do."

How's that for the first week!