Day 14: The Last Vacation Day!

Today we had breakfast at a local restaurant - our first time for breakfast away from the apartment. A nice corner restaurant with a view.

A delicious selection:

Since the Netherlands is a biking country, one of our goals was to do some biking. Today was a perfect weather day, so we decided to rent bikes and explore the countryside:

You see a lot of interesting sites along the way:

We chose to go to the beach at Katwijk aan Zee, a popular spot on this very warm day (84 F):

These little cottages had a bathroom, small kitchen area, and a sleeping loft:

We had brought some sandwiches and apples with us, so we stopped by a bar on the beach for a beer and enjoyed lunch:

Then a stroll on the beach:

Next it was time to ride back to Leiden (about 9 km) and turn our bikes in.  The trip back was on a different route and we saw some farmland and greenhouses:

Yes, the land is pretty flat, but this journey really wore us out. The bike rental place is just behind Leiden Centraal and was very busy when we got back:

We were so ready to take a bus back to our apartment. 

As part of our travel package here on Leiden, we received swipe cards for travel on the buses and trams anywhere in the Netherlands. We have been making good use of them. The bus stop is around the corner from our place and since all buses end up at the central station, we could get to other cities really easily. Walking to or from the station takes 20-25 minutes yet it often was the last thing we wanted to do after a busy day of sightseeing. 

We strolled along a canal and made a meal of Dutch appetizers:

Next it was time for ice cream:

A wonderful way to spend our last day in Leiden!  Off to home tomorrow. 

Day 13: The Hague, Haarlem, and Leiden

Today was the next to the last day here in Europe. We decided to take in a site that I have wanted to see since I was a kid: Madurodam (http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madurodam). Built in 1952, Madurodam shows Holland in miniatures, with moving trains, boats, drawbridges, and cars. It has many interactive exhibits that were a big hit with the kids visiting the park. Who wouldn't like to try to extinguish the flames in a burning boat by shooting water from a fire boat?  Technologies such as how shipping locks and water wheels work were shown and then the kids could try them out themselves. Many of the sights we've seen in the Netherlands were there in miniature. Daiv was a great sport to go along with this trip. 

Cub Scout campfire

Madurodam is in The Hague, so we saw a bit of it, with lots of embassies.  This is also the center of the Dutch government and where the king lives.

Then we made another trip to Haarlem, just for lunch. (Hey, we had two more days on the train pass!). We took a train labeled "Sprinter" thinking it was the express. Well, it wasn't and stopped at every town and wide spot along the way. Needless to say by the time we got to Haarlem, we were so hungry we thought everything looked great (well, maybe not the raw herring). Here are pictures of the station at Haarlem.

It looks so continental. The stations in Amsterdam and Leiden are much more modern.

We found an Italian place that served a great bowl of minestrone. 

And the coffee was hot and strong, served with a flair. 

We had a window seat at a busy intersection. We are amazed that there were no accidents as families, old folks, kids on their way home from school all shared the city streets with buses, trams, garbage trucks, cars, and delivery vans as well as tourists who are wandering all over the place. 

Dad with one on the bike and two others

One on the back with a mom plus another

And mom plus three

Back in Leiden we did some shopping and walking while killing time for our dinner reservations at an Indonesean restaurant called fhe Surakarta. We decided to have a "rice table":

Then back to the apartment for more research on the beers of Holland and Belgium - another great day; even the weather is warming up!  The peonies are really blooming:

Day 12: Leiden/Amsterdam - Part 2

We got up too early (on Sunday) for the bus to the train station, so we walked there. A very relaxed, surprisingly uncrowded stroll when compared to weekday traffic. While waiting for our train we met up with the other Untours couple  (from Ohio) who were also headed for Amsterdam. They wanted to see the Rijksmuseum, and we were headed for the Van Gogh museum. On the train we sat next to a man from the Philippines who has been living in Holland for 10 years; he helped us find the right tram for the museum area.

Self Portrait in Straw Hat

Potato Eaters

We learned that Van Gogh made many copies of the same subject: self portraits, flowers, people. Often it seems you are looking at paintings you've seen in another museum. 

The museum was crowded:

A very informative and highly worthwhile experience.

Then we went on a walking tour, ending in the Red Light District:

Also a crowded tourist location.  No photos allowed of the women offering their wares. 

You can tell these buildings are not built on a rock base; look how they have tilted and shifted. 

Our overall impression of Amsterdam is that it's very, very crowded and everyone is rushing; however, there are a lot of great museums and interesting places to visit - so it is what it is.  We prefer the pace of Leiden and enjoyed Haarlem as well.

After returning to Leiden we took a break then out to dine at the nicest restaurant we've found, 'T Fust (the barrel) te Leiden.  Great atmosphere and an elegant meal:

Before a memorable (i.e., HIGH calorie) dessert.

 Tiramisu:

and Cream Brulee:

A delightful and relaxing end to a busy day.

Day 11: Leiden/Amsterdam - Day 4

Got up in time to be at the open-air market in Leiden when it opened around 8:00 this morning.  On our way there, the rain found us again, so we had to head back to the apartment for rain gear before we made it to the market.  Despite the rain, the market was busy.

On our way to the market, we saw a man riding a bicycle while holding an umbrella. Muti-talented. 

Fish of all kinds. This booth had fish to take home to cook but others had cooked fish.

Lots of beautiful flowers.

And the candy wagon. 

We had a local delicacy: stroopwafel. 

Then back to the apartment to dry out and warm up. We replaced the roses that were here when we arrived with some flowers from the market, then had some hot tea and sweets:

The weather improved and we decided to take a train to Amsterdam.  As part of our travel documents, we have a Eurail Pass which entitled us to ten days of travel during our two weeks in Europe. We can use it to travel among the cooperating countries. We have used it a lot, traveling in 2nd class. There doesn't seem to be much difference between first and second class. 

Double-decker trains

Bicycle built for three.

Amsterdam Central Station

We used a Rick Steves audio and started our tour. This photo doesn't show it, but the streets were packed. A sunny Saturday in June is probably always like that. 

Looking down the street with fancy houses. 

WWII memorial

We walked to an open area with several entertaining characters. Some of these are ones you would see on the strip; others not so much. 

Then we discovered (with help from Rick Steves) a "hidden church" on a busy street:

We investgated some undocumented areas:

Then it was time for lunch; we ate at a very nice "food court" in a local department store. Fresh food prepared as you ordered. 

See the vegetables!

Although it was sunny, it was still chilly and the wind picked up. We headed back to Leiden, hit the grocery store on the way home, and had sandwiches for dinner. 

I had to get a grocery store photo on here, you know. 

We will have to revisit Amsterdam again; there is much to see.