Finding Old Photos: Netherlands Edition

Given that life is rather dull these days, let me take you on another "Finding Old Photos" journey, this time to the Netherlands. Alas, no dazzling fall colors, as in the last post. We visited in the spring. But color? Oh yes -- there was color!

Our trip to the Netherlands in 2018 was a first for both me and Rick and it was a memorable time in a lovely country. We were only there for about four days but crammed a good deal into that time -- a concert at Concertgebouw; a stop at the wonderful Rijksmuseum where we were lucky enough to see "The Night Watch" before it went out for restoration; Anne Frank's house; a visit to the UNESCO heritage sight Kinderdijk (on a gloomy day, alas); Delft; several small towns, and we were lucky to be there in Amsterdam during "Queen's Day."

Edam. More than Cheese.

After our double-visit to Volendam, I wasn't sure another town could reveal so many surprises or be as charming.

I was, of course, wrong. As we drove through the beautiful Dutch countryside, reveling in a warm, sunny day, our eyes and hearts were captivated by everything we saw.

But when we hit Edam, I felt as though I was in some sort of a movie set in a town I could never begin to imagine. A town of cheese! The Willy Wonka of Dairy!

You may well have heard of Edam cheese.

We were enchanted by its slightly soft consistency and slightly strong flavor.

The woman at the shop assured us -- this was really Edam cheese, and not that stuff they import. (Or export, as the case may be!)

But we were delighted to discover that Edam is much more than just cheese! 

 

It was a charming small town with picturesque streets.

 Again, the windows simply captivated me with their simple lace curtains like this one...

...and this.

...enchanting street-side homes...

...and shops. This one was clearly ready for Queen's Day!

I really wish I'd bought one of these wigs. 

 

Note the flag -- the Dutch flag is the three colors -- red, white and blue -- but on Queen's Day, an orange strip hangs alongside it.

 

As we entered the town we crossed this rather impressive bridge.

From that bridge I shot what might be my favorite photo from the trip -- a man with his dog and two cats, enjoying a warm day as he sat by the canal reading the paper. (Part of this may be cut off. as Blogger so often does with this template, so please click on the photo for full effect.)

And this was the view. Just look ahead and imagine what that town would be!

 

There were, of course, many canals. How I loved the canals.

 

The thought of living on a houseboat is a romantic one. And I'm sure I'd go crazy after the first week. But really, wouldn't you like to spend a night here?

And bicycles. Everywhere, bicycles.

Shopkeepers.

Carefully tended flower pots.

Everywhere I looked, I found something charming, something different.

I simply couldn't stop shooting!

In the end, I had to say Edam was more than just the cheese...

...but the cheese was pretty spectacular!

And it's not an overstatement to say I loved Edam.

A perfect day with perfect companions in Tara and David. Who could ask for more? Not me!