Zaanse Schans

We finally took a little trip to the Dutch countryside to see the famous windmills. This village is called Zaanse Schans, in the city of Zaandam. There used to be 1,000 windmills, now there's only 12 that still work. This area also has museums for cheese, diamonds, Delft blue pottery, clocks and clogs. All those products that the Dutch do best.

This windmill makes dye. It was built in 1782.

The inner workings of the windmill. The outside "arms" or sail that are on the outside of the windmill turn these gears inside. These gears are huge- 6 feet tall and wide.

People live in this village!

There's a clock museum displaying old Dutch clocks. Also from the 1700's.

And of course there's a clog museum to learn about their traditional shoes.

Gotta have those clogs on your wedding day of course!

Our first friends to visit

My friend, Heather, and her husband, Edward, came to visit for three days. We did the complete sightseeing tour, and enjoyed the Heineken Experience very much.

Heineken is 140 years old.

The four ingredients: water, barley, hops, yeast.

I was helping stir the hot barley mash.

Step one: Steeping. (It's a little blurry, but it says: The mash is heated at various temperatures).

Step two

Step three


Step four

Prost! Cheers!

Antwerp, Belgium

We went back to Belgium for the weekend, to the city of Antwerp. Antwerp is famous for diamonds, as well as plenty of chocolate shops and locally brewed beer. There are three common languages that the people speak depending on the area: French, Flemish and Dutch. English is also taught in schools.

Inside Centraal Station

Outside Centraal Station

Cathedral of Our Lady

City Hall



Stevie was a thoughtful gentleman and took me on a Valentine's Day horse and carriage ride through the city. The driver pointed out the sights in a mixture of languages, and we tried to understand him. It was nice to see some sights with blankets over our laps since it was cold.


A little sqaure

The same little square.

Walking down the city streets

A view of the market from our hotel room. The stalls sold fruits and vegetables, nuts and olives, meats and cheese, and snacks.

A 13th century castle on the Shelde River.


Me