Flower market

The Flower Market in Amsterdam

We had to visit the flower market. It was a rainy morning, but that didn't stop us from checking out the flower stalls and taking a dozen pictures. Amaryllis blooming in March, so big and beautiful. I was so tempted to buy bulbs and have them shipped home, but I couldn't buy everything. Leslie bought her Dutch wooden shoes here. She was told an interesting tidbit about the shoes. The plain ones are for working in the fields, the yellow ones are for church, the red ones for the bride on her wedding day, and the blue ones for the groom on his wedding day. Our Dutch friends said they never heard that about the red and the blue. Sounded good anyways.

Breakfast in Hoorn

Continental breakfast courtesy of the hotel we were staying at in Hoorn. We always took a window seat, which turned out to be a good thing, since Marleen stopped by three times when she noticed us there. I took a picture of the breakfast that was served between 7 and 10 am for the guests of the hotel. Our tablecloth is actually a woven Turkish rug. Our choice of coffee or tea is served with a plate of cold cuts and cheese, a basket of bread and rolls, a soft-boiled egg, and a glass of orange juice, fresh squeezed it seemed. On our last day we find out that in the basket of bread is a delicious gingerbread tasting bread wrapped like a cracker, and we never had tried it before. I'd like to have that recipe.

Amsterdam

One of our last nights in Amsterdam, at last the rain stops and we are able to take some shots with the sun hitting the building along the canal in the city.

The coast along the Atlantic is very rough this day due to the storm. We have had rain every day at some point. We also have experienced hail and snow, so it is a typical spring. Being so close to the coast water is everywhere.

We have come to walk along the beach, here we are being silly imitating the statue. This is along the dike. Many people were out to walk along the beach even though it was windy and cold. We drank hot chocolate after the walk. Leslie and I are joined by Marleen and her father, Nico and her mother, Marjo.

Nico, Marjo, Carolyn and Leslie

Leslie, Marleen, Warner and Carolyn

The wedding day

Well, we prayed for a nice sunny day because the bride, Marleen wanted to be driven by horse carriage to the church on her wedding day. Marleen's hobby is horseback riding, and teaching at the riding school. She loves horses and thought it would be special to have four black horses pulling the carriage. It rained all day, but it was still beautiful. Tradition in the Netherlands is for all the guests to stand outside the church and wait for the bride and groom to approach the church. Bride and groom enter the church first, then all the guests enter the church. The bride and groom sit at the front of the church between the aisle. They had a female celebrant, a lovely woman who performs weddings in the Catholic church. After the service all guests leave the church ahead of the bride and groom so they will not head out into the streets alone. The carriage was waiting to take them to the reception. Behind the guests were about twelve horses from the riding school, with the riders in English riding costume, white pants, navy or black jackets and black riding hats. Before the bride and groom left they released two doves. They then got into the carriage and left, and all the horses and riders followed them to the reception. The first thing they did once everyone was inside and gathered around the tables was to toast the bride and groom with champagne. We all passed the glasses to the back until everyone had a glass of champaign. Marleen has ordered glasses with Warner and Marleen and the date of the wedding printed on the glass, a gift for everyone to take with them. After the toast, they cut the cake, and Leslie and I helped her mother serve the cake to everyone. People then got drinks at the bar, we sat along the wall near the grandmother, everyone went to congratulate the bride and the groom and the family members. It is tradition to kiss cheek, right left right, 3 kisses. And shake hands with everyone. The young people presented a song for Marleen. All the guests also sang to them. I loved it. Slowly most guests left, by seven o'çlock there was a formal meal for the closest family. All very beautiful. I have so much more to tell.

Saturday in Holland

Today we took a bus to Spanbroek, with all our luggage. Was a little bit difficult, but I have to learn to pack lightly. Everyday I am learning more things. Don't believe everything you hear. The desk clerk at the hotel said it would be no problem to change traveler's checks into EU at the bank. No bank in Hoorn would do this. No place in Hoorn would take American Express Traverlers checks in American Dollars, and when we checked out of the hotel, he did not want to take American Express Travelers checks even though he said he would earlier in the week. Visa it is, but if you want to get EU from your Visa, it cannot be done in a bank, only at an ATM, with a pin. I didn't bring my pin, it is not my practice in America to take out a cash advance with my credit card from a machine. And of course I did not bring my debit card with me. So I didn't learn enough before I came. Will I come again with all this extra knowledge?
Also I didn't check all my drawers in the hotel before checking out, and as soon as I got off the bus, I remembered that I left my major purchase in the hotel room It was a purchase of yarn for a sweater. Luckily I was able to call and then go back and pick it up. The father of the bride, Nico, drove us back to Hoorn, but through the back country with a guided tour of some older homes which was very nice. Then we went to the restaurant to pick up the glasses to take to the place where they will have the reception. Warner and Marleen are running all around today to do errands. Leslie, Nico and Warner's father just went off to take a bike ride. We will stay at the aunt's house tonight, Warner also. Tomorrow a horse drawn carriage will pick up Warner, then he will ride over to pick up the bride, and then they will ride in the carriage to the church. I need to get pictures of that.
Another thing I learned, should have bought an I Amsterdam ticket for a Discount, but we were unable to predict how many days we would want to go to Amsterdam. I want to add more pictures but I am having trouble reading things on her computer in Dutch. I am learning a few words in Dutch. Most people can understand what we say, but we can't always find English on the TV. I feel like Madison in Splash trying to learn Dutch from the TV. Thank you sounds like ""Donkeyville" :)

Amsterdam

We spent a couple of days in Amsterdam. My first impression is there are so many canals. Quite beautiful. Had to see the Van Gogh Museum. Tuesday it was the Rijksmuseum Museum where Rembrant's art is located. We read about the Golden Age in Holland. Today we took a bus to Spanbroek. Easy peasy. Tickets 2 EUs. Tonight we go out to dinner with Marleen's family and Warner.

A Day in Hoogwoud

Here is my first pictures of Holland. My sister, Leslie poses here by the canal, then she take a picture of me. We spent the day at the Horseback Riding Stables watching Marleen teach many young people. It was quite windy, but at least the sun came out and we took a walk along the canals. Marleen poses with Ismal the horse after teaching all her lessons. At the grocery on the way home I had to take a picture of the beautiful flower bouquets.