Vaarwel!

That's Flemish for goodbye. Our three weeks are coming to an end. I'm flying home tomorrow!

It has been wonderful spending this time with Michelle! She's been a wonderful friend, a great person, a fabulous chauffeur, a phenomenal tour guide, and one of the funniest people I have had the pleasure to know.

Thank you Michelle for your friendship! You're the best!

In Bruges

We left the Netherlands this morning. Drove home to say hello then goodbye to the Kittle and Dolittle (the cats). Then drove to Bruges!

It's supposed to be Europes most intact medieval city.

Don't think this is medieval but I thought it had a medieval quality. 

Everywhere in the city there are statues of Mary. Most of the statues are in alcoves in the buildings. If you've seen the movie "In Bruges ", my "alcove " reference would be funny.

There was a street fair in Bruges today and Michelle and I had our fortunes read!

It was interesting. I've kind of always wanted to have my fortune read. I think they're just really good at profiling people. Michelle was impressed at how insightful she was. First thing she told Michelle is that there's a baby on the way. Michelle's daughter is 5 months pregnant.

The fortune teller didn't say anything about me that I would disagree with. When she was all done, she asked me if I had any questions. The only immediate concern I had was whether or not I was going to survive my airplane trip home. Didn't need to ask her as the first thing she told me was that I was going to have a long life. So I've got that going for me!

Tulips!!!!

Today we went to Keukenhof Holland.

         Get ready for more flowers!

Of course there's a windmill picture! We're in Holland!

Even got a picture with Naya. Ahmed took the picture. He was taking a picture of Naya and Michelle asked if they wanted a picture taken together. They said no but she asked if we would take a picture with her! What a cutie!

There are many different pavilions at Keukenhof and in this one there were different Vincent van Gogh stations.

These stations were inspired by Van Gogh's self portraits. It was all about the selfie!

Amsterdam

Yesterday morning Michelle says, "Let's drive to Amsterdam and stay the night.".

That's why I'm in Amsterdam this Saturday morning!

Amsterdam, named for it being the damn city along The Amstel river...or because it's a city with a damn along the Amstel river...is very interesting to say the least.

Very crowded, so many bicycles ( I cannot impress upon you how many bikes and bicycle riders there are in this city...stay out of the bike lane or they'll run you down but the only reason you're  in the bike lane is because of all the parked bikes on the sidewalks), and the ever present aroma of cannabis.

And yes, the red light district is not something that you'll ever see in the  States!

This is a small bike rack. There are bike racks that the bikes are on top of each other!

Shop display in the red light district. At night the working girls stand in their windows displaying what's for sale (they wear string bikinis) and every once in a while, you'll see a curtain close. Sold! Also, you cannot take pictures of the girls in the windows, they will hide and their bouncers will intimidate you! Michelle warned me about this but I wouldn't have tried to get a picture anyway. 

Lots of cannabis museums and you can purchase it at coffee shops too!

Cows on a ceiling at a Holland souvenir shop.

Yep, that's Johnny Depp in the window of Madame Toussades ( I know I butchered that spelling) wax museum.

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This is the view from Anne Franks hiding place. A view she had to forgo in order to survive.

I thought this bridge troll was interesting. The rest of the pictures are just what happened to catch my eye in Amsterdam.