The forecast for today looked miserable, and in fact it was raining when we got up. Closer examination of the forecast looked like the day was expected to dry out to the north and west as the day went on, so we made a trip to North Holland, with a slight excursion into Friesland.
Hoorn was our first stop. Linda had found a knitting shop here that she wanted to visit because they have some yarns that you can't find almost anywhere else. As always, the staff was wonderful, but this one was particularly fun because one of them has a partner who is from Iowa.
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| Schouten Handwerk in Hoorn |
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| The shopping street in Hoorn where Schouten Handwerk is located. The sunshine and blue skies were so glorious, that I just had to take a picture! |
Next we headed to Medemblik, where we happened upon the Bakerij Museum. What fun to see lots of stuff associated with baking, and to watch a baker and chocolate-maker in action. After koffie and a koekje, we left with some chocolates and a loaf of paasbrood (Easter Bread).
Next stop was in Friesland, just across the Afsluitdijk which separates the North Sea from the Ijsselmeer. This is the family home of our friend Pat, whose parents emigrated to the U.S. from here. The family name is still spelled out in the roof tiles.
Back in North Holland, we travelled some back roads North of Alkmaar in seach of tulips and other flowers.
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| A field that has already been harvested and prepped for the next planting. |
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| A field of Muscari |
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| In just a few days, this field is going to be in full bloom - for now there is just one tulip in the whole field. |
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| Tulips! |
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| Hyacinths |
A short stop in Alkmaar didn't result in coffee at Albert Heijn as hoped, but we did see this cute little molen right in the middle of town.
There was also this Archimedes screw in the middle of the roundabout - not as strange a thing as you might think. These screws are what are used inside water windmills to lift water from one level to another, so in many ways the Netherlands might not exist without them.
Here's a couple more examples of how new technology exists right along side of old. Modern windmills just seem right at home here.
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