Final Day: Amsterdam

Today was a lazy day. We slept in late after our day -two marathon walkabout. Our lovely hotel clerk highly recommended we go to Haarlem, an area she described as a smaller, less crowded version of Amsterdam city, filled with trendy shops and restaurants. We could catch the city bus from across the highway that fronts the hotel and be there in minutes. I could get used to this public transpo thing. Too bad we do it so poorly in America. When we left from our hotel stop I dutifully wrote down the name of our stop so we could easily return to it. “Lijn Bestemming” the sign said.

So we hopped the 300 bus to Haarlem, not sure where to get off. Were there 10 stops in Haarlem or two? We decided going to Haarlem Station would at least give us a landmark to be getting back to when we wanted to return. As I looked at the platforms where we had interim stops, I notice they all say "Lijn Bestemming" at the top of the sign. Well, I guess that phrase in not going to help us find our stop on the way back. The bus driver was kind enough to keep us from getting off too soon. A short walk from the train/bus station took us to a wide plaza surrounded by shops and cafes in the shade of a large cathedral.

It’s a Friday, just after noon and when we first arrived the sun was so strong we opted for a café-side table rather than the open-aired plaza tables. Here I am and as you can see I’ve spent so much time here that I am sprouting bicycle wheels:

The plaza seems crowded for a workday.

…but we soon see the reason. There’s about to be a ton of free entertainment at what we’ve mistakenly taken for a Church. This building really is the Haarlem City Hall and if I’m not mistaken, this old guy has just gotten married to a young hottie and may not survive the honeymoon:

Seriously, we’re about to see the parade of Brides and Grooms:

One after another, after another:

It turns out that in The Netherlands May is the month for brides and Friday is the preferred day for the ceremony because then everyone can party from the wedding day all through the weekend. I join in the festivities by taking a celebratory toke:

After a couple of hours of leisurely lunch, coffees and, of course, the free entertainment, the sky darkens and widely scattered sprinkles of rain fall. The plaza instantly clears. It doesn’t look that bad nor does it appear it will get worse so we continue our strolling until the wind just becomes unbearable. This is me freezing in an alley in Haarlem:

So we duck into a souvenir shop to avoid a sudden downpour and the nasty wind. It’s a nice shop and I find a gift or two for Bonnie to replace the one I lost yesterday. As the rain lessens, we decide to make a dash for the train station and return to the hotel. I am slowed down by my new shoes:

We make it across the windy plaza only to be drawn into a café by the smell of coffee. Again fortified and with the rain on hiatus for sure, we strike for the station to catch a bus back to the hotel and maybe a soak in the huge bathtub in the room. On the bus we make friends with the driver and tell her the hotel that is our destination and she says to listen for the announcement that we are at the stop for Overbosch, which is pronounced “over boosh” and, as the man in the seat behind us explains to the obvious Americans, really means OVER BUSH. We laugh because he is funny and we like Obama as much as the rest of the world. Seriously, the ‘Bama could have a good chance at world domination if he doesn’t screw it up. Here are some sights from the ride back.

Tell me a story about what these signs mean if you care to leave comments at the end:

Bicycles & motorbikes have their own roadway in many parts. This one runs next to a canal fronted by house boats:

Check out the eco roof on this housing complex. Honey, I’m going out to mow the roof:

This hotel looks nice but it might be just for the birds:

Look! A real windmill:

Is this bus stop futuristic or retro?

These stairs go nowhere. There is nothing at the top except two words that are very apropos if you happen to make the journey to the top of them (Yes Antonio. There are illiterates here too):

The bus ride has given us a second wind and the sun is shining so instead of going straight to the hotel, we detour down the path to the lake behind the hotel. It’s filled with very cool playground equipment for kids of all ages. The first we came upon were what I’ve dubbed the EuroSwings:

Someone’s dog played tug-of-war with one of the seats:

There was a really cool jungle gym and I’m sure we don’t have these in America because someone’s kid would get a rope burn or there would be a possible danger of getting caught in one of the ropes and the manufacturer and park where it was located would get sued.

There were ducks on the grass and in water (mostly in the water). The lone land duck got so annoyed by me and my camera that he quickly ran for the water.

This happy dog is also making for the water. Not interested in chasing ducks, but a nice swim will do.

The dog had clearly been in the water already but went no further now and was making steady eye contact with its owner as it waded its way up the beach.

At some point the owner started throwing things in the water and the dog was exuberant in chasing them down. I never saw so much as a candy wrapper on the ground so I guess whatever was being tossed was brought from home.

It’s a beautiful lake (Haarlemmermeerse Bos):

In addition to the lovely playing equipment and a roped off swimming area and diving platforms scattered about, it is surrounded by horse, bike and walking paths:

And of course my old nemesis lives here too. Moles. Big moles:

P.S. Lijn Bestemming means "final destination" and the words that appear on the LCD below that phrase is the name of the last stop that the next arriving bus will go to.