Holland

Well it's hard to believe it, but we've already been on the ground in Europe for a week.

The time has flown by and we have tonight and tommorow left here in The Netherlands before we pack up and head to Germany on Saturday.

We left Bruges, Belgium last Saturday morning and had a 4 hour drive to our present stop in Zandvoort, Holland.

Our drive from the coast took us down a lot of neat little roads that are typical of this neck of the woods.

Small road in Belgium

We tried to stop at the windmills by Kinderdijk recreate the picture that we took of Gracie & Lucy in the wooden shoe but

1) the shoe was not there, and 

2) parking was a real problem as it was saturday in Tulip season and Kinderdijk is a very scenic spot.

So I pulled off the side of the road to put some new waypoints into our GPS and as we were doing that there was a knock on Kates window...   I looked over and this young boy in a Boy Scout uniform was motioning for me to roll down the window...  which I did.

In almost perfect english he asked: "Are you in need of assistance?"  I told him what I was doing and he offered to show me some free parking places nearby.    We chatted for a bit, and I told him how I used to be a Boy Scout in America.   He found that particularly interesting.    Soon we thanked him for his help and we were on our way.   We departed with an appreciation of some unknown parents who did a fine job in raising their son.

As we neared our next destination, the seaside town of Zandvoort in North Holland, we began to see the tulip fields.    It was our first taste of the colorful fields that would be our scenic backdrop for the week.

Our AirBnb is a very nice place.   An Annex of the main house, it used to be an indoor pool area.   The owner used her imagination to turn it into a light and airy space that is quite comfortable and homey.   We've really felt at home here and will be sad to leave.

The lower level, formally the pool, is now a sitting / TV room.

Our house is one row of houses back from the beach.   The beach is fronted by a paved walk that runs for miles and miles.    We have been up and down that walkway numerous times while here.

The walkway is on top of the large dunes (Dike?) that protects the interior from the sea.

On Monday, it was time for the highlight of our stop here.   

Our visit to the World Famous Keukenhof Gardens.     This stop has been on my list for many years so it was quite special to finally be able to make it here.

Flower field along the way to KG.   The red tulips are electric!

Entrance to Keukenhof Gardens

79 Acres planted with over 7 million bulbs, which bloom at different times thru the spring.  It was a feast for the eyes as well as the nose!

We did not get to duplicate the dog in the shoe photo at Kinderdijk, but Keukenhof will do just fine.

In all we spent about 5 hours waking thru the gardens.   

On Tuesday we made the short 20 minute drive to the nearby city of Haarlem.

Like most of Holland, the city is criss crossed by a seemingly endless series of canals, which gives it that special flavor found only in The Netherlands.

Haarlem, Netherlands.

If the shoe fits....

Now that I've found a prop - I see a trend developing.   Let's see how far I can take it this summer.

The Big Market Square in Haarlem.

Kate and I stopped at one of the outdoor cafes for a nice salad for lunch.

The cities here are very walkable and we just strolled about for a few hours after lunch before calling it a day.

On weds we stayed closer to home and explored Zandvoort.   We walked to the town center and was pleasantly surprised to find it was market day.

The street gets closed off and vendors set up stands selling all sorts of stuff but the best are the food items.

They love their cheese in Holland, and the line for the cheese vendor was consistently about 10 deep all morning.

We picked up a spit roasted chicken for tonights dinner.

Like most cities, there is a large pedestrian only area.

We've been walking about 4 miles or so each day so when we get home the dogs are ready for a good nap.

Today (Thursday) we made the hour drive to Gouda.   The city from which the cheese gets its name.

Thursday is the cheese auction that runs till about 1230 so we planned to make it here to see all the action.

The Cheese auction has been going on for hundreds of years.   Its been moved and modernized now, but they still hold a small one in Gouda to keep the tradition alive.   Farmers would bring their cheese wheels to town in horse drawn wagons, and the cheese would be weighed on the ancient scale 

Cheese Weighing Scale

Then on the main square in the shadow of City Hall (in background) the buyers and sellers would discuss the products and agree on quantities and price.

You would need to keep a sharp eye out watching the cheese wheels because you never could tell when a Cheese Wench might try to run off with one.

The Cheese Wench strikes again

Caught in the act, the wheel is repatriated to its rightful owner.

We did leave town with a bit of cheese - but thru legal means.

Edam & Gouda

The cheese delivery wagon.

Gouda, like so many other towns here has the beautiful canals.

Bikes, bikes, everywhere

An interesting feature in these cities are the crooked or leaning buildings.   We first saw them in Amsterdam a few years back and it seems to be a mainstay in all the towns with the canals.   It certainly must be due to the soft wet base upon which the cities are built.

I wonder how much it has to lean before it's condemned?

Leaning building

Another leaning building (center)

Even more bikes

Back at the market square, the action has calmed down and the crowds have thinned out.

Yep...  a definite trend is developing.

Another pedestrian-only zone in Gouda.

Walking one of the larger canals, there was an assortment of pleasure and house boats docked along the shores.

With all of the bikes here there needs to be a way of incorporating them into the traffic flow.

The road below is typical.  The colored sides are the bike lanes.   The main (black) road is not wide enough for 2 cars, so you must use some of the bike lane when passing other traffic.   If a bike is in the bike lane then you must slow down and wait to pass the bike until there is room and it is safe to do so.

Not all bike lanes are colored - the dashed lines however indicate the lanes.

Typical road with bike lanes in the Netherlands

It gets pretty confusing at times...  especially in congested areas.   The bikes seem to come from every direction.... whether or not they have right of way.    They sure seem to act like they have ROW at all times.

It really can get pretty wild at the roundabouts.   We saw a lady in an electric stroller clip a bike today in Gouda.   They both yelled something at each other and kept going.   No doubt they were not exchanging pleasantries.

Tomorrow we are going to stay local and enjoy Zandvoort and the sea for our last day here.

On Saturday we'll head to Bacharach, Germany for 2 nights and then Monday we are in Switzerland to visit our second family...  our Swiss buddies for a week.

Here is a stock photo of Bacharach to give you a teaser of our next destination.

Bacharach Germany

See you down the road.

In spite of the odds.....

 I said in our last post that this one might come from Belgium, and I was right.   

Greetings from Bruges, Belgium.

It was truly touch and go if we would make it.    We had a bear of a time getting the export paperwork for Phoebe.    Both dogs have EU Pet Passports and normally that is all we would need, but when we got Phoebe in Barcelona in 2023, we were not in the EU long enough to get her a second rabies booster that would be valid for 3 years.   As such, her EU Rabies shot recorded in her passport was only valid for 1 year and we needed to get the USDA to issue an International Health Certificate.

First there was an issue with the US rabies certificate that we sent in to USDA.   We got that corrected at the last minute, resubmitted everything and waited to see if the paperwork would come back in time to make the flight.   On Tuesday we were supposed to head to Newark, spend the night and fly out at 7p on Weds.    We received notice that the paperwork would arrive at the vets office on Tuesday between 3p-5p so we headed out to Pittsfield Mass and waited.... and waited... and waited.

At 4p we were informed by FedEx that there was a "delivery exception" and the paperwork was being rescheduled to be delivered on another day.     Our trip was starting to look doubtful.   If it was sent to the Vets office on Weds, it would likely arrive there too late for us to retrieve it and then make the plane in Newark as it is a 3 hour drive to get there.

I had a plan B to leave either Sat or Sunday should we not be able to leave Weds.   That would require a lot of schedule changes in Europe but flexibility is key when traveling.     Additionally - the export paperwork is only valid for travel for 10 days after USDA endorses it - so we had that to be concerned with as well.

Before we left the Vets office I was on the phone with FedEx Customer Service pleading my case.   I needed to get my hands on that overnight envelope and I needed it now!    I asked them to hold the package for pickup at the terminal and was assured it would be held and I could pick it up Weds morning at 8am.

All night I monitored the FedEx tracking info and saw it had been rescanned.  It looked like it was being held and things were going to work out.   But when I checked again at about 0400, I saw it was now listed as loaded onto the delivery truck!   My plan was falling apart again.

So at 5am I am back on the phone with FedEx and insisteing that they contact the terminal manager to hold that package.     At about 0800 I received a call from the terminal manager in Pittsfield.   I explained the situation and he told me that he would call the Albany terminal (where the package was) and get ahold of the manager of that facility and see what he could do.     He was like a PitBull with a bone.   He called me back several times in the next 90 minutes to update me, and then finally the call came that the package had been pulled off the truck and was waiting for me at the terminal!

I was becoming cautiously optimistic again, but until I had that envelope, opened it and saw that they had not sent paperwork for someone else....  I was not counting any chickens.     At 10am I had my export paperwork and we were back on track.

All that was needed now was for us to make it to Newark in one piece, no breakdowns, no accidents, and no plane cancellations, and we'd be on our way.

Well we are here - so you know how it ended.

NOW FOR THE REST OF THE STORY

We arrived at EWR around 3pm.   I dropped Kate, the dogs, and the baggage off at the terminal, and the returned the rental car.    We had to wait around for about 2 hrs for check in to start.

We're here - so far so good

We cleared TSA without problems.   I had made up leashes with all plastic parts so it was easier to pass thru the metal detectors.   Last time with Lucy we had to take everything off her and with these two high energy monsters, I did not want to chance them running loose.    It worked out great!

We went up to the gate and I hung with the girls while Kate checked out the lounge.    The check-in lady was adamant about no dogs being allowed in the lounge.     We had Lucy in the lounge last time but this time I was in no mood to push the envelope.

The dog carriers are set up and ready

At 630 we boarded for a 7p departure.   La Compagnie boards quickly as there are only 74 seats on the plane.

Dogs in a bag

The policy is dogs in the bag for the duration of the flight but its pretty much unspoken that once you take off they can get in your lap.    Lucy was in our lap the whole flight last time and went back in the bag for landing.      

We put the bags at our feet - you can see them below - and took our seats.

We then had a well earned glass of French Champagne to celebrate!

Most airline food is not fit for pigs but this is one area where LaCompagnie shines.    It is actually quite good.   On the eastbound red-eye flights they serve a lighter dinner meal which allows for more sleeping time and then a nice breakfast about an hour prior to landing.

My salad was crisp and very fresh.    

The cheeses were delicious and the tart was a nice finish to the meal.

Tuscan Shrimp & Fennel Salad, Assorted Cheeses and Lemon Raspberry Tart. 

We decided to keep the dogs in the carriers if they behaved.   It was too much trouble to disassemble each one and then have to reassemble them in before landing.   

It turned out that the dogs behaved perfectly.   From prior to take off until we were able to let them out in Paris it was over 9hrs that they were in there and the never made as much as a sound.      They were perfect little girls and we were so proud of them.    All the passengers who saw them remarked how well behaved (and cute) they were. 

I unzipped the top opening so that they could poke their little heads out and feel like they were part of the action,

Is it time yet?

With the carriers at our feet,  we were unable to lay flat, but we could recline a bunch and I managed to get a good 4 or 5 hours of sleep on the way over.  Not too shabby.

Tonights menu

About 90 minutes prior to landing they slowly began to brighten the lights, a bit at a time, and just as the sun was coming up outside, breakfast was being served inside.

French toast - yum!

Sunrise is almost here - a new day dawns.

Fresh off the plane in Terminal 4,  it's now a long walk thru immigrations to baggage claim and then onward to terminal 2 where I will pick up the rental car.   In all - we walked 2.5 miles in the terminal with me carrying the dogs.    The luggage carts are free and that made a huge difference getting from Terminal 4 to to the rental car area.

After all the struggles getting the dogs paperwork plus 7 hrs on the plane, Kate is still beautiful.

All those creams and emolients must be paying off.

After getting the car, we left Paris and headed north to Belgium.   First stop was MaxiZoo in Seclin France to get stocked up on some needed dog supplies.    Food plus incidentals like bowls, beds, bones etc.    All the stuff that would either not be allowed, or just too much to travel on the plane with.

Shopping at Maxi Zoo

Spring is springing in France

Next stop was a 5:30p appointment with a Vet in Bruges Belgium.     The dogs both received fresh rabies vaccines, had their EU Pet Passports updated, and they are now good till March 2028.   No more stressful USDA paperwork to worry about.   With all the firings going on, the already overstressed program will likely become a nightmare and make it impossible for people without Pet Passports to travel with their dogs.

At 630p we were arriving at the Hotel Orangerie in Bruges.     Bruges is a lovely Medieval City.   We were here several years ago and just loved the place.    Our hotel is right in the old city and just lovely.   What a great place to finally unwind and take a couple of deep breaths.

Our canal view room with super comfy bed

The white building on the right is our hotel.  Our room is  the two windows just above the name on the building.

They set us up a nice table in the lounge where we could have breakfast and bring the dogs along.

Then we were off for a nice stroll around the city.    The weather is a perfect cloudless sky with temps around 70 and a light breeze.

Everybody rides bikes everywhere

Belgium means chocolate, and who doesn't love chocolate?

Last time we were here we stocked up on some blocks that traveled with us for evening nibbles,  and this time was no exception.     We are well stocked up for our future travels.

Kate in the main square

All day as we walked about, people would come over and ask if they could pet the dogs.    It's easy to spot a dog owner  on vacation who is missing their dogs.    We must have at least a dozen people come over to pet them, and 3 or 4 who asked if they could pick them up.

Doggie Fix provided by Annie & Phoebe

Annie and Phoebe are already living up to the Cobberdog breeding purpose and doing their therapy work. 

After coming back to the room for a bit where I pounded out the first part of this post, we headed back out for dinner.   Fish and Chips for me and Steak and frites for Kate.    The dogs came along and slept at our feet.

We walked around for a bit again and said goodbye to Bruges.   We are only here for 2 nights.   Tomorrow we head up into Holland and Tulip Country where we've rented an AirBnb next to the beach.

Being in Holland during tulip season has been on my list for many years.   We have a lot of great places to visit.   The sights (and smells) of all the flowers are greatly anticipated.

On the way to our next place tomorrow,  we will stop and visit Kinderdijk - a neat place with a good concentration of windmills.   We visited here with Gracie and Lucy a few years back and took the pictures below.   We hope to recreate the dogs in the shoe with Annie & Phoebe if the shoe still fits.

The Kinderdijk Doodles

Kinderdijk Windmills in 2018

See you in Holland.