Last Saturday after the market I went to "Koan Float" for a massage and a "float". I wasn't sure what to expect but had read about it on Trip Advisor and it's the only item I've ever read about that had nothing but excellents acoss the board. They recommended the massage before the float. It was a very nice massage which left me feeling very relaxed. Next came the float. You are brought into a room with a shower and a large capsule which is filed with salt water and minerals. You literally just float in the water. You close the lid and there are lights and music which you leave on or turn off. They recommend to get the ultimate experience you should be in complete silence and darkness. I'm a little clastrophic so I put a towel between the lid and the base to let some light in and I did have the music play softly. The feeling one is supposed to get is similar to being in the womb. I can only say if it was, I don't remember. See, again I forgot. The jury is out whether I will go do this again although they say the 2nd time is much better because you know what to expect. Anyway I don't have to float in the Dead Sea now because this is supposed to emulate that.
After two hours of relaxation I returned to the flat and recieved an email from Sue Seminario, a friend from Davidson. She and her husband Carlos had arrived iin Amsterdam and were on their way for a visit. It was so great to see them. They were on their way to a conference in Denmark and had one day in Amsterdam. They originally had two days planned but because of the weather on the Eat coast they were unable to get out on their orignal departure date. I was so excited to see them I completely forgot to take pictures for my blog. We talked about the blog, Carlos was taking pictures and I just sat here. Another instance of forgetfulness. Sue has said she'd have Carlos send the picture of Sue, Sharon and me when they get back. I'll post the picture then!
Last Sunday, Sharon and I went to Veert to meet Doug and Nancy Young's "Dutch son". He was an American Field Service student and spent one year with Nancy and Doug while attending high school. Now Erwin is married and has two children- Tonja, Jennifer and Melvin. We were up early and caught the train to Weert.
Erwin and Melvin met us at the station. Took just a minute for us to connect as we passed each other on the steps but it wasn't long before we connected and began what I would call "a great day", Melvin and Erwin showed us around Weert. Erwin grew up in the town, the city boy and Tonja grew up in Thorn, the country girl. We would go see the beautiful village she grew up in at the end of our day.
We started by walking down the Main Street of Weert. It was Sunday so the streets were quiet and we walked down the center of town with Erwin telling us about the city and Melvin age 3 running ahead
It was nice to be on a street free of traffic of any kind. Different from the business of Amsterdam.
This is a replica of what the old city gate looked like.
Here is the old City Hall. At Christmas time they transform it into St Nicholas's house and it is all decorated for the children. He arrives in town and then lives in this decorated house during the holiday season.
It is also the building where young couples are married. Here Erwin and I are demonstating how a young married couple might look - OK! so we don't have the appropriate attire and I'm not young. Use your imagination!
This was the gate to a castle which is no longer in existence and than the carriage house which is still present and is someone's home today.
You can also see the moat.
After touring the town and seeing where Erwin had lived before he wa married amd where his mom resides we headed out to meet the females of the family- Tonja and Jennifer. We had lunch at their home and than headed out to Grevenbieht to attend the Oud Limburgs Schuttersfeest (OLS) which is an annual event where a 148 militia units from Holland and Belgium compete against each other. The winner organizes the event for the following year and takes home "De Um ", the highest prize. It was a fabulous display of pagentry. Each unit in their traditional attire. These militia were formed in the 1500's to protect the town or city from atttak and act in case of revolt or fire. Each unit was generally lead by a young boy or girl who held a plague with the name of the unit,followed by the Emperor and his lady if that unit had won three consecutive years, than came the king and queen, the ax men if they had them, the drum major, the musicians, the militia (men and women) and the women who provided nurishment for the militia ( bread women). The uniforms were similar to band unifoms to lavish period uniforms. It was fabulous to watch. The queens wore exquisite gowns and the king or emperor wore silver medals that represented the awards that the unit had achieved. I have to admit, I was contantly looking at the feet of the queens to see what they were wearig on their feet. The parade was four miles long and I saw quite a few heels being worn. I can't imagine what their feet felt like at the end of the walk. We arrived for the beginning of the parade around 1:00 and left after viewing around 50 of the units. That was arund 3:00. I was informed that some units would not be beginning their march until 6:00. Each unit is judged on appearance, how well they stay in step. the grooming of the beard for the ax men, the freshnss of the food in the basket that the bread women are carrying. That's just a few of the things the units are judge on. Besides the parade the units have to shoot at a target which consist of little balls in side a frame. The gun they shoot with is a large rifle that they place on a stand. After each round the size of the ball in the targets is decreased.
The emperor and Empress and King and Queen.
An Ax man. Their job was to clear the forest.
The bread women.
Watching a parade can make a person thirsty so we headed over to the refeshment area and met up with Tonja's Dad who has been participating in this event for many years.
We left Grevenbicht and drove to the White Village of Thorn where Tonja grew up. Thorn was once a miniature principality led by an abbes and a convent of 20 noble ladies. Today it is a historical site that attracts many visitors. Thorn dates back to the late 10th century. In 1794, the aristocrats fled with the arrival of the French. The French claimed a tax based on the size of the windows,which the poor population, often living in large homes formerly belonging to the wealthy people, could not afford. To avoid paying taxes they bricked up many windows and tried to hide their proverty by whitewashing their homes.
Here we are with the kids. It was hard to catch them for a picture. Full of energy!
Here you can see the window and how it has been bricked up. Oh that it were so easy to avoid paying taxes.
Melvin and Jennifer having so much fun playing on this beautiful sculptor.
Notice the wonderful stone street.
We ended our day by stopping at the local pancake house. This is not Perkins. They have every kind of pancake imagineable - sweet or savory. I think there were two page of different kinds of pancakes .I had a ham, leek, mushroom, and cheese pancake. It was delicious. Sharon had this decadent, apple, raisin and cinnamon pancake.
We made a quick stop by Tonja's parent's home and had an opportunity to meet her mother and then we headed to the train station. By this time our phone batteries were dead so no pictures. We had had a fabulous day. Erwin and Tonja were the perfect hosts. Melvin and Jennifer got over their shyness with us and although we didn't speak the same language, I think we became friends. We are definitely hoping that we wil be able to get together again before we leave this wonderful area. Erwin has been nice enough to give us a schedule of event that are taking place in Holland. As with the Oud Limburgs Schuttersfeest they are not your typical tourist events. As Erwin pointed out we were probably the only tourists to be at the event.
I have to point out that three times this past week we've run into people we've met here in Amsterdam.
One person called out our name at the train station, one just passed us on the street, and another walked by the house as we were leaving. Feels good to get to know some people.
We went to see "The Fault in our Stars" tonight and little did we know that some of it was filmed in Amsterdam. It was fun to see the places that are now so familiar to us. The only thing I really missed about going to a movie here is that the decibel level of the previews is not turned up. What are they thinking?
It's time to say " Goedenacht!"
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