Cambridge’s first protected bike lane. This is on Vassar Street. It should be wider. Nonetheless, I like it a lot!
Yesterday and today, while riding on it, heading towards the river, a man, maybe the same one, was walking in the bike path. I indicated to him that the sidewalk was over there. He replied with some kind of retort and returned to the bike path after I went by. Maybe, I should start using my air horn when a person has this kind of attitude about walking in the bike path, ignoring the sidewalk beside it.
Protected bike lane on Vassar Street in Cambridge,Massachusetts.
Yesterday, while I was out playing Tag ‘n Brag with Paul and Brendan, I came across this bicycle detour sign. I returned today to take a photo of it but it was not there! The workmen there asked me, “Where’s the other dinosaur bike?” I told them I had returned to take a photo of the bike detour sign. They went to get the sign. I said cyclists really like this sort of thing. He told me that providing for cyclists is important for Cambridge. I bet they won’t forget to put up the sign again.
Bike detour on Vassar Street in Cambridge, Massachusetts. They are making real efforts at improving conditions for cyclists.
I love that the mail in Amsterdam is delivered by bicycle. We saw the postman in Amsterdam in 2013, when we were on our way to the bike shop where I bought my bike in 2008. I stopped him in the street to ask if I could take his photo. A short while later he delivered the mail to the bike shop Paul and I were in. Cheerfully, he told the shopkeeper that he had just met us on the street and I had taken his photo. At least that is what I think he said!
Our postman, Allan, also has a set of wheels. Allan always has a smile and a cheerful word. He has a great attitude about the weather. If it is July and it is hot, well, that is what the weather is like in July.
I saw a kindred spirit between these two postmen, an ocean apart. I salute the postmen and postwomen of the world!
Our postman Allan who delivers our mail in Brookline Massachusetts.
The Dutch postman delivering mail on the Singel in Amsterdam.
I love his cheerful demeanor!
What a cool bicycle for delivering mail.
This is the bike shop, Het Singel, at 268 Singel, Amsterdam, where I bought my Dutch bike in 2008. Paul and I were stopping by in 2013 to say hi to the shopkeeper, when the postman came in to deliver the mail. He told the shopkeeper, in Dutch of course, that we had taken his picture earlier. The shopkeeper/bike mechanic is the lady on the left. Paul is in the foreground.
SaturdayI went to the Noordermarkt at Westerstraat, an organic market. My cousin’s son had told me about it. At the entrance and inside the market musicians were playing. At one stand bread was being baked.
The market, abutting a church was a mix of food, clothing, old books and bric-a-brac.
Musicians at the entrance to the Market.
‘Do Northmarket’
Look at the varieties of cheeses!
Bread – Preparing samples to hand out
Rhubard, apples, kiwi, guavas
Free samples of goat cheese
Strawberries – Asparagus
Goat cheeses
Shucking oysters.
Fish
Cheese
Mushrooms
Produce and bananas
Huge selection of breads
Baking bread right at the market!
Basil pesto and artichoke spread
Tapanade and Tomato pesto
Pasta
Breads, savory and sweet pastries
I bought one of the hartige muffin
Beautiful pastories, pretzels
Hearty pastries
Organic juices
Dried Fruit
More dried fruit
Dried foods
Chocolates
Natural raised meat
If you know what this instument is called please let me know.
I loved his traditional Dutch look.
Eating pancakes at the market.
A beautiful display!
What an array of honey products!
I love the bee skep.
Herbal Teas
Every flower stall in Amsterdam had peonies.
Herbs
Tortes and bonbons
a variety of bread with oven in the back.
Beautiful animals made from carded wool.
Beets, leeks, spinach, bananas
Berries, avacados, carrots
Take a carton and choose your eggs.
Biologically raised burgers and sausages
Wild burgers!
Muffins
All kinds of Yogurt
The barrel organ arrives at the market.
Barrel Organ
Hear the barrel organ in my video.
Biking to the Market
At the entrance to the market
Lots of bikes coming and going.
The easiest way to get around Amsterdam is by bicycle!
I traveled to Amsterdam to spend nine glorious days in the land of bicycles. Here bicycles are king!! Even the Dutch king and queen and their three small daughters ride bikes on the streets regularly.
Having just finished thirty lessons of Dutch using the Pimsleur audio method, I wanted to show my Dutch aunt and uncle that I now can speak a little Dutch. Ik kan nu spreek een beetje nederlands. I timed my trip to be there for my uncle’s 86th birthday and to have the opportunity to see my five Dutch cousins, their spouses and children.
Every day I chronicled my adventures. Many people I met told me about President Obama’s recent visit to the Netherlands. President Obama said two things in Dutch. One was Hoe gaat het met u?, How are you/ How goes it with you? The other was Gezellig. Gezellig is a word that has no equivalent word in English. It means cozy, pleasant, friendly, convivial, quaint, fun, sociable, delightful, togetherness, belonging. It is a word that I heard all of the time when I was eavesdropping everywhere I went, listening for words that I recognized in people’s conversations.
Friday I arrived. Every tram I took was filled with people. I was lucky to get a seat. On many streets in central Amsterdam, cars are not allowed, just bicycles and feet. Some streets just allow walking. This may be why there are few automobiles in Amsterdam. It is difficult to get around by car. It gave me a good feeling to be in a city and to see so many people outside.
Saturday – I asked my Airbnb host to show me the free bicycle I was promised in the ad for the room. There were two bikes to choose from. The bikes were both one-speed with coaster brakes. I was fine with it being one-speed. I wasn’t comfortable using a coaster brake. I don’t think coaster brakes are good enough for Amsterdam cycling. The tires were soft, though my host said that it is OK for Dutch bikes to have soft tires! One of the bikes had such a soft tire that it was not rideable. I was told that I could take it to a bike shop five blocks away to put air in the tire. The wheel locks on each of the available two bikes were not screwed to the frame of the bike, so it was a pain to use and to carry the loose wheel lock around. The wheel lock on one of the bikes had a cable attached to it for locking the frame up. It was very fiddly and mickey mouse. The biggest deal breaker for me was the way the bike handled. The handlebars were narrow which caused the bike to have twitchy steering. There is heavy bike traffic in Amsterdam, a complicated dance of crossing canal intersections with bikes going in all directions and biking alongside autos who pass, within a foot, on the narrow roads alongside the canals. I am an excellent cyclist (I was told that by an Amsterdamer!), though the Amsterdam cyclists are beyond compare. That bike would not have been safe for me to use in city traffic. I may not be able to fix the mechanicals on a bike but I am married to an excellent bike mechanic and after thirty-five years of marriage I have a critical eye and know how a properly functioning bike should perform. I did not take either of the bikes. I decided to rent a bike at Bike City where we have rented twice before. The bike was an Azor, a dutch bicycle, and it was lovely! The handlebar grips felt good. It was easy to steer. It had three-speeds. There was a front and rear rack. There was a handlebar bag for carrying the heavy lock. The wheel lock was attached to the frame. There were bungie cords attached to the rear rack. There were working lights. Finally I had a bicycle for riding around Amsterdam for the next eight days. I had freedom to roam!
On Friday I signed up for four Dutch lessons at a school called ‘Easy Dutch’. The first lesson was on Saturday. The teacher was not interested in speaking Dutch with me to assess my level. He was interested in promoting himself, and he only wanted to teach me verb constructions. I wanted to have conversation lessons which were not going to happen with him so I cancelled the next three lessons.
68-70 Bloemgracht in the Jordan
The Easy Dutch website indicates they will tailor the program to your needs. Ha!!! Not True. There is only one way, their way!
Heading down to the Spui from the Easy Dutch School
Yes, there are hills in Amsterdam, over every canal. Some can be very steep.
Bike parking on a canal boat next to the Singel.
The corner next to the canal boat parking.
Hooks in the wall for attaching a bike lock.
Look at all the tram tracks that are continually crossed by cyclists while staying clear of the trams!
I spent Saturday afternoon at the American Book Center, the Athenaum and the Kinderbookwinkel, a children’s book store in the Spui. Spui is pronounced somewhat like spow. We have no equivilent sounds in English for the Dutch dipthongs – ei, ij, eu and ui.
“The Spui is a square in the center of Amsterdam. The Spui was originally a body of water that formed the southern limit of the city until the 1420s, when the Singel canal was dug as an outer moat around the city. In 1882 the Spui was filled in and became the square that we know today. In 1996 the square was renovated and is now largely car-free.” – Wikipedia
A steady stream of motor traffic.
Here can clearly be seen the car lane separated by a low curb from the bike lane.
I was amazed to see tour buses come through the Spui.
The Spui was bustling with people, trams, bikes, cars and tour buses. It was difficult finding something to lock my bike to.
The plaque sitting on the bricks is the work of Lawrence Weiner, “A translation from one language to another”, three pairs of two stones placed against each other, located at different places of the square. Each pair presents the sentence in Dutch on one side, and on the other side in English, Arabic and Surinaams respectively. I only discovered an explanation for these plaques when I got home. I wondered what they were when I was there.
The blue and yellow bikes are bikes that can be rented at train stations to people who have a Dutch issued bank card.
I took this photo to illustrate the bike lane on the left of the photo and the car lane on the right.
“Het Lieverdje (“The Little Darling”). The statue represents the youth of Amsterdam, always playing pranks yet with a heart of gold. He was a gift to the city from a cigarette company in 1960. In the 1960s, the Provo counterculture movement held weekly gatherings around the statue. This is where the White Bike Movement began. No Paul was not with me. I took this photo in 2013.
A photo of the Spui taken from the internet.
With bags heavy with books it was time to return to the apartment where I was staying. Road construction going on at one rotary prevented me from taking the desired route. I had the hardest time finding the right direction to travel in. For an hour I wandered the circuitous streets of Amsterdam, circling round and round using a map, my reading glasses and the navigational app on my phone, trying to make my way back to Granaatstraat 38 in de Pijp area of Amsterdam. Pijp pronounce like pipe.
My cell phone charger was dangerously low, daylight was dimming and I was afraid that I was going to need to find a toilet soon. And then I got a flat tire! As two young women cycled past, I yelled out, Can you help me? They cycled on, stopped and came back and put me in the right direction. Phew!
The windows of a bike shop that I walked past were dark and there were a bunch of men standing in the open doorway. The bike shop was closed but I was told to bring the bike in. Initially, I was told the bike could be repaired in the morning and it would be ready at 1 o’clock. Oh dear, that is when I was supposed to be at my Uncle’s house. But then, one of the shop workers, who told me that he was from Columbia and that we were both American, took a look and noticed my valve had disappeared! They gave me a new one and filled the tire with air. I was good to go!
My cousin told me the air would come out right away when the valve is opened or removed. I had ridden the bike for quite awhile from the time it was last parked. How could the valve have come off while riding my bike I wonder? All I can think is my small duffel bag (with all the books that I had bought) on the rear rack slipped (which it had done several times on that ride), and knocked it off.
My daughter, Susannah commented on Facebook, “Whoops! That was probably a Woods/Dunlop valve. They have replaceable valve mechanisms so probably what came off was the valve (or part of it), not the valve cap.”
My cousin, Reinout gave me this app for a mobile bike repair service in Amsterdam. We could use this in Boston! Good business for an entrepreneur to start! I sure could have used this when I got a flat tire last night!
I went out early on Sunday morning to check if the tire had held air. And what did I discover? The bike that I had rejected as being dangerous for me to ride in Amsterdam traffic; the bike with the very soft tire with the mickey mouse lock was not where I had left it the morning before! It was there Saturday night because I locked my rental bike behind it. I offered to pay for the stolen bike because I was the last one to lock it and I assumed I was responsible. I reimbursed my landlord 135 euros! 90 for the junky, unrideable bike, 25 for one mickey mouse wheel lock and 20 euros for the cable that attached to the wheel lock. I wonder if the bike had been here there when my landlord had returned late that night? I found out later from an Amsterdamer that it is illegal to lock bikes to railings and bikes were being removed. However, that is not what could have happened in this case. There were still bikes locked to the railing. Interestingly, there was plenty of room in the bike racks for bikes. Some of those bikes had no air in their tires.
My room on the third floor has a door to the balcony.
My room on the third floor has the red curtain. Too bad it was nearly imposible to get out to the balcony!
“The room has it’s own private balcony where you can enjoy even more sun”
Now just how was I suppose to get out to the balcony to enjoy the sun as advertised?
A bit of a tight squeeze, wouldn’t you say?
I did manage to climb over the foot of the bed to hang up some wet laundry.
The view from my balcony.
It is illegal to lock bicycles to the fence. That is where my bicycle was kept before it disappeared.
I asked my host how I was suppose to get out to the balcony. He said that he had bought a differnt bed. Oops! Unfortunately the room is now being falsely advertised!
On Sunday, biking to my uncle’s house I passed a gas station. The price of gasoline – 1.73 EU per liter = $8.89 per gallon. 1.79 EU per liter = $9.18 per gallon. The price for diesel – 1.42 EU per liter = $ 7.30 per gallon. 1.50 EU per liter = $ 7.71 per gallon.
Sunday– Gefeliciteerd! – Congratulations, was said to everyone, My uncle, aunt, five cousins, spouses, seven grandchildren, and mother-in-law at the birthday party this afternoon. The Dutch congratulate everyone not just the birthday person. All of the children came across Amsterdam by bicycle to their grandfather’s birthday celebration. His thirteen year old granddaughter and her eight year old sister and eleven year old cousin took my go-pro camera for a bike ride around the neighborhood. Watch the video and see bicycling through the eyes of a Dutch child!
I have now celebrated a Dutch birthday! By the way, my uncle still rides his bicycle in Amsterdam.
Monday – Who says The Dutch will not speak to you in Dutch when you attempt to speak Dutch!I asked for directions many times today. I asked two workmen outside their respective shops, one was sweeping the sidewalk. Hoe kom ik naar het Spui? How do I get to the Spui? – a square where the American bookstore is. They each gave me directions in Dutch which I understood. I used a tiny bit of English. The older man, older than me, tried correcting my pronunciation of Spui. I hear Spouw, but apparently that is not quite correct. He kept giving me other words like huis, (house) repeating them multiple times, and showing me how I should round my mouth but I just couldn’t get it. He was hilarious and I thought quite nice. I feel so welcomed by the Amsterdamers encouragement at my humble attempts to speak Dutch!
Had lunch with my friend from Boston, Mike, (a former student of Peter Furth, who is a bicycling infrastructure professor at Northeastern, and an acquaintance of mine) and Mike’s brother who teaches English at a French University. Mike and I share a interest in bike infrastructure. We ate at a great, inexpensive restaurant, that used locally sourced food, at Herengracht 598 called Buffet van Odette. My cousin Rojier recommended it. We sat outside, facing the canal, boat traffic and bike traffic. It was gezellig! Mike’s brother and I had a delicious salad plate with asparagus, small amount of lentils with a dressing, other humus and a few other things. Mike and I had tomato soup and Mike had a very tasty looking steak sandwich. I’ll go back again this week. It was easy to find bike parking!
On Tuesday, Myriam, a film maker and the Director of the Fietsmuseum, (bike museum) gave me a personal architecture and history tour of Amsterdam. She felt bad that she neglected to tell me the dates of the Fietsparade had been moved to July. Because I had registered a long time ago she made it up to me by giving me a bike tour. And it was a spectacular tour! We circled Amsterdam on our bikes, stopping at the Oost Church where The Fietmuseum exhibits and where I tried out her two speed (automatic shifting) wooden bike. Myriam was a student activist in Amsterdam during the 80’s & 90’s. She told me interesting history about the buildings we passed and about the occupation of empty buildings that were occupied by squatters
We had lunch in Westerpark. She took me to Chopperdome a bike shop Paul likes. They remembered me from our visit in 2013. I gave them my SCUL stickers that include the link for the website. I bought some skull dust caps and other bling and I was given some small things. We went to Myriam’s house and had tea. Myriam’s apartment building had been a firehouse. I don’t remember what it had been before that, but in her garden were bodies of people buried hundreds of years ago. Flat headstones from long, long ago were in a pile, and there was one small monument. Myriam rode with me through the rainy streets back to my room. I appreciated that because I so easily go in the wrong direction. It began to rain a bit more heavily so we stopped at a cafe next to a theater for a glass of wine and a popular Dutch snack bar food called bitterballen, small, round deep fried balls similar to croquettes. There we ran into some friends of hers. The rain let up and we continued on our way stopping at a popular large restaurant for dinner in de Pijp. Spending the day with Myriam was gezellig!
My tour guide!
This is her wooden bicycle.
The bike automatically shifts into second gear when it reaches a certain speed.
Bough Bikes
Spinoza, the patron philosopher of the Netherlands.The philosophy of Spinoza has been a guiding priciple in the egalitarian direction the Netherlands has taken.
Benedictus de Spinoza (1632 – 1677) Amsterdammmer, philosopher. Spinoza was born at this site as the son of Jewish refugees. His most important work is Ethics, in which he rejected all traditional conceptions of God and stated that nature’s apparent chaos is governed by immutable laws, which also apply to man and society. With the help of mathematics, we can know these laws and achieve happiness by living in harmony with them. Spinoza’s ideas about freedom of speech, and tolerance and democracy are still current. “The purpose of the state is freedom” sums up his political philosophy.
Interior of the Oosterkerk
Podium for the preacher
The interior had been divided into workspaces
The Oosterkerk (East Church)
The Oosterkerk where the seasonal fietsmuseum is located.
Oosterker – Judging by early photos the lower part that juts out looks like a later addition.
I rode the wooden bike in the plazza next to the church. The front wheel can not make sharp turns.
Many apartment buildings provide indoor parking.
From the early twentieth century – Taking the bike all apart- How do you put it back together again?
I felt right-at-home seeing bikes inside.
Detail from the recumbant bicycle.
A great hill for a child to play on. This garden can be used by all the people who have apartments with direct access to the garden.
Standing beside a stack of ancient headstones that came with the garden.
Ancient headstones
The monument that came with the garden.
The monument
Bitterballen
On Wednesdayin het Spui I bought enough books to fill my suitcase. I bought books for studying Dutch, fun books on Dutch culture, bicycling photo books and children’s books. I collect children’s books and I thought they would help me learn Dutch.
I was to meet my aunt at the convalescence hospital at 4pm. Taking several wrong turns I got there 30 minutes late. Uncle Wolfgang was also there and my cousin Saskia showed up with her son who had not been at the party. After my visit, Saskia guided me to Vondel Park and I rode my bike through to the other side and on to the house of my cousin Reinout who lives in an apartment overlooking a canal and park.
I ate dinner with Reinout, his wife and their eleven year old daughter, who is an excellent artist. She had given to Uncle Wolfgang, for his birthday a picture that she had drawn from a photo of him. It was very, very good! We ate a traditional Dutch supper – white asparagus, potatoes, rolled up cold ham and boiled eggs sliced in half. This is how it is eaten – the egg, ham and potatoes are cut up and melted butter is drizzled on top. A green salad with thin slices of fruit and cucumbers was served first and strawberries with home made “funny” yogurt finished the meal. “Funny” yogurt is yogurt that is placed in a sieve or bag and allowed to drain into the sink, removing the whey. The meal was completed with excellent wine. My cousin and his wife own a business importing fine wines directly from vineyards in France.
Good conversation and a good time was had and I biked home in the rain, consulting my map at least a dozen times!
Vondel Park
This girl was catching birds with a stick. Unbelievable!
I saw children standing on the rear rack many times. No one thinks twice about it. A cousin told me obstacles coming up are more easily seen and the child standing can easily jump off. We are very uptight in the US.
Thursday’s adventure in the Netherlands – Wyb and Bep
My friend Holly met Bep & Wyb, at the Juke Joint (Blues) Festival in Clarksdale, Mississippi. Holly told Wyb & Bep that she had friends who were moving to the Netherlands. They told her that I should contact them when I was in the Netherlands.
They are the best people ever!
They met me at the train station in Leiden which is next to their town of Oegstgeest, a very difficult word for foreigners to say. Click on the link to hear how it is pronounced by a native! We went to see the beach in nearby Noordwijkk. Wyb and Bep treated me to lunch at an elegant restaurant on the sand dunes. I had a Niçoise salad.
Next we drove to Leiden, where Wyb had done his graduate studies. Leiden University the oldest university in the Netherlands, was established in 1575. The motto of Leiden University is Bastion of Freedom. From the street, Wyb pointed out to me, the room where he and all graduates write their signatures on the wall after they have completed all their exams. He told me that the names of historically important people have a frame put around their signatures to prevent their names from being covered over with ever more signatures.
St. Peter’s Church was open. We were very lucky to see the rehearsal of a choir for an evening performance.
The Pilgrims set off for Massachusetts from St. Peter’s Church. We had tea at a cafe at the church. We continued our walk through beautiful Leiden. We walked up to the top of the fortifications where we had a view of the streets and rooftops. We walked past a statue of Spinoza. Spinoza is an important philosopher in the Netherlands. “Spinoza preached a philosophy of tolerance and benevolence….. His way of living was exceedingly modest and retired”…..Spinoza is an important historical figure in the Netherlands where his portrait was featured prominently on the Dutch 1000 guilder note until the euro was introduced in 2002. The highest and most prestigious scientific award of the Netherlands is named the Spinozaprize. Spinoza was included in a 50 theme canon that attempts to summarize the history of the Netherlands.– Wikipedia
After visiting Leiden we drove back to Oegstgeest, had a glass of wine, chatted some more and then walked to a near by restaurant where I had another spectacular meal.
Wyb and Bep drove me to the Leiden train station, walked me to my train and waved good bye as my train pulled out of the station.
As hosts, Bep and Wyb were nonpareil!!
I had to change trains and all went well until I got to my station Amstelstation I was the only person exiting my car. I did not know at first that I had to push a button to open the door, so I stood and waited for a tiny bit. I saw several buttons to push but none would open the door. Oh horrors, the train was pulling out of the station and I was still on the train! The next station was ten minutes away. I got out there at a different door along with some other people. I called Bep and Wyb, who helped me, though it was nearly midnight, to find a new train. I located the correct train, returned to Amstelstation, successfully disembarked and walked out to the bicycle parking area. But it didn’t look familiar! I found two more bike parking areas none of which were correct one! Finally I headed out a door that I thought would only lead to platforms. To my great relief it led me to the area where my bike was parked! Fortunately, I had taken a photograph of where I had parked my bike. That helped immensely. I left the train station bike parking area, by a different street from where I had entered in the morning ; adding to my confusion about the direction I should take. I had to ask some people to point the way to the Amstel River which I had to cross to get back to my room. I consulted my map at least twice. But I finally got back to my room after a very enjoyable day!
My hosts who showed me Leiden
This footprint was made by an astronaut commemerating one small step made by man forty years earlier
Noordwijk the small town next to the dunes resembles Cape Cod
Noordwijk
The green roof of the restaurant where we ate.
Outside the restaurant where we ate
The restaurant where we ate
My meal, a nicoise salad.
Noordwijk resembles Cape Cod
Leaving the beach area we saw this cute little child
A scooter that Wyb slowed the car down for so that I could take a photo.
Wyb did an exemplary job of parking. Actually there is no room for error!
Botanical garden in Leiden. We did not go in.
A statue honoring Spinoza, the patron philosopher of the Netherlands
Outside Hortus Botanicus
This window is to the room where all graduates go and sign their names on the wall.
In Memory Of John Robinson Pastor Of The English Church In Leyden 1609-1625 His Broadly Tolerant Mind Guided And Developed The Religious Life Of The Pilgrims of The Mayflower. Of Him These Walls Enshrines All That Was Moral. His Undying Spirit Still Dominates The Conscience Of A Mighty Nation In The Land Beyond The Seas. This Tablet Erected By The General Society Of Mayflower Descendants In The United States Of America.1928
For a small minority like the Pilgrims, it was difficult to maintain their own language, religion and habits, There were several marriages with Walloons who had similar religious viewpoints. After many of the Pilgrims left for America it proved impossible to remain a clearly defined community. After their own preacher died, the people left behind in Leiden joined Dutch Churches and after 1630 the English Reformed Church. Finally the group merged into the Leiden population. My ancestor Jesse de Forest was the leader of a group of Walloon Huguenots who fled Europe due to religious persecutions. Around 1609 he settled In Leiden. In Leiden he obtained the right to emigrate with his own and other Walloon families to the New World to practice their Reformed Protestant Christianity. During his stay, he also met the Pilgrim Fathers. He assembled approximately 60 families for the settlement in New Amsterdam, New Netherlands. The first permanent settlers arrived in New Amsterdam in May 1624 (without de Forest). There is a monument in Battery Park, Manhattan to honor the inspiration of Jesse deForest in founding New York City. Forest Park and Forest Hills, Queens were named after his family who settled on Long Island.
Thanksgiving Inherited from Leiden? – After the siege of 1574 it became custom to have an annual service of Thanksgiving in Saint Peter’s Church for the liberation of the delivery of food to a hungry city. Herring and white bread are distributed to remind people of the ships with food that came into the city via the river Vliet. People also eat ‘hutspot’ a kind of vegetable stew that the Spaniards are reputed to have left behind. Some people believe that Thanksgiving Day consists of elements of this celebration added onto a harvest festival.
The Pilgrims Important To The US The Pilgrims were a small group, but they and their ideas had a big influence in what was going to be the United States Of America. They are seen as the embodiment of the values the US have been built on. Some descendants of the Pilgrims became part of the American elite. Eight presidents, father and son Adams, Zachary Taylor, Ulysses S Grant, James Garfield, Franklin D. Roosevelt and father and son Bush are direct descendants. I am also a descendant of the Mayflower Pilgrims on my father’s maternal side.
Rehersal at St. Peter’s Church for Pentaeost. See my video of the rehersal which follows this photo gallery.
Exploring the streets of Leiden
Exploring the streets of Leiden
Exploring the streets of Leiden
Exploring the streets of Leiden
Exploring the streets of Leiden
Exploring the streets of Leiden
Exploring the streets of Leiden
Exploring the streets of Leiden
Exploring the streets of Leiden
Exploring the streets of Leiden
The seal of Leiden are the keys of St. Peter
The keys of St. Peter
Exploring the streets of Leiden
The Citadel of Leiden errected in 1130 by citizens as a defense against waters of the Rhine. The city expanded around the fortress. Consequently it lost it’s defensive purpose.The city magistrates bought the land and in 1651 it was turned into a city park.
Views of Leiden from the Citadel
Views of Leiden from the Citadel
Views of Leiden from the Citadel
Views of Leiden from the Citadel
At the Citadel
Steps leading to the Citadel
This building being restored is the location of the offices that monitor the water levels for Holland; a very important task in the Netherlands.
Bike racks attached to the building.
I saw several quotations printed on buildings in this prestigious University town.
Shakespearean sonnet
Leaving Leiden
Entering Oegstgeest
Oegstgeest
This is where I parked my bike. Good thing I took a photo!
Friday afternoon I took the train to Den Haag to visit my cousin,Tatiana, her husband, their 18 year old daughter, daughter’s boyfriend, daughter-in-law, her son and daughter.
I rode Tatiana’s husband’s Dutch electric assist bike (nice!) on a tour of the city. The Hague is the seat of the Dutch parliament and government, and the residence of King Willem-Alexander. This is where the International Court of Justice, the principal judicial body of the United Nations, is located, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and, since 2004, the International Criminal Court. The old part of Den Haag is beautiful! I saw the Peace Palace. Tatiana pointed out the horse stables for the horses that are used on ceremonial occasions. We saw Noordeinde Palace, where the business end of running a kingdom is situated. The royal residence is on the outskirts of the city. We rode our bikes down narrow streets, that to me looked like alleys. The narrow sidewalks came right up to the sides of the buildings. Behind the walls, hidden from the public, were gardens. At a big map in a town square Tatiana showed me the canal which circles the city. The canal is still used today for bringing goods into the city by boat rather than by truck. Geologically, Den Haag is made up of marshy and sandy areas.
We returned to Tatiana’s house, had dinner with the family, a green salad and spaghetti with home-made sauce, fresh green beans, strawberries and chocolate mouse. After dinner we played a game. called Rummikub It is not surprising that I won, considering all the help I was given. I liked the game so much that it was given to me, everyone autographed the inside of the lid of the box. I wrote down in my journal a few Dutch words, such as ‘your turn’.
I carried on a very simple conversation in Dutch. I understood some of what was said when everyone spoke with one another at normal speed. The assembled guests tried to help me with pronouncing ‘UI’ as in Spui or thuis. The sound just does not exist in English. I got it right a few times. It’s hard when my ear just does not hear the difference. I seemed to be most successful when I pronounced ow!! as though I had just been hurt!
Tatiana drove me to the train station and walked me to the correct platform. I had to change trains once, I found my bike when I arrived back in Amsterdam.
Exploring, by bike, the narrow historic streets with my cousin.
On Juffrouw Idastraat, the entrance to The HH and James Augustine Church, the Oud-katholieke kerk, with an image of St. Augustine on the door. This Catholic church was a hidden church. The city council gave permission for it to be built in 1722 as long as it was not visible from the street.
There are large gardens behind these walls
Grote of Sint-Jacobskerk is a landmark Protestant church in The Hague, Netherlands. The building is located on the Torenstraat, named for its high tower. Together with the Binnenhof, it is one of the oldest buildings in The Hague.
I don’t remember what this is. If you know I will update with a caption.
De Grote kerk, a historical landmark is rented for festive occasions. is now used for elegant parties
I do not remember what this is. If you know I will update with a caption.
Spinoza – every town seems to have a statue of him.
Spinoza, the patron philosopher of the Netherlands.
Don’t remember
There is a Chinatown in the Hague. There is about one street. I took this picture because of the Chinese characters. There were some Chinese byildings but I didn’t get pictures of any of those buildings.
In the early days of the city, a canal was built around the city. It was used for transporting goods into the city. It is still used for that purpose.
Don’t remember.
The Knights Hall( Ridderzaal in Dutch) on the Binnenhof was built in the 13th and 14th centuries. Since 1904 the Knights’ Hall has been the setting for the reading of the King’s speech at the annual opening of Parliament.
Binnenhof
The Binnenhof is a complex of buildings in The Hague that has been the meeting place of the States-General, the parliament of the Netherlands, since 1446, and has been the centre of Dutch politics for many centuries.- Wikipedia
The Escher Museum. Escher is a favorite artist of Paul & I.
The Hotel Des Indes was built in 1858 as a city palace and has been a hotel since 1881.
The entrance to Playground Cantloup. There is a soccerfield, paddling field and a club house in this “hidden ” court yard.
There is a soccerfield, paddling field and a club house in this “hidden ” courtyard playground.
The Hague has more than 100 hidden courtyards. In former times, they served as a form of elderly care and social housing. Poor people and old people lived here for free.
An electrical assist bicycle that I had the pleasure of riding.
SaturdayI went to the Noordermarkt at Westerstraat, an organic market. My cousin’s son Gideon had told me about it. At the entrance and inside the market musicians were playing. At one stand bread was being baked.
The market, abutting a church was a mix of food, clothing, old books and bric-a-brac.
Musicians at the entrance to the Market.
This family makes an appearance later in my photos of the Noordemarkt.
The bicycle with the child seat that the mother in the previous photo arrived on with her two children.
‘Do Northmarket’
Look at the varieties of cheeses!
Bread – Preparing samples to hand out
Rhubard, apples, kiwi, guavas
Free samples of goat cheese
Strawberries – Asparagus
Goat cheeses
Shucking oysters.
Fish
Dried foods
Cheese
Mushrooms
Produce and bananas
Huge selection of breads
Baking bread right at the market!
Basil pesto and artichoke spread
Tapanade and Tomato pesto
Pasta
Breads, savory and sweet pastries
I bought one of the hartige muffin
Beautiful pastories, pretzels
Hearty pastries
Organic juices
Dried Fruit
More dried fruit
Chocolates
Natural raised meat
If you know what this instument is called please let me know.
I loved his traditional Dutch look.
Eating pancakes at the market.
A beautiful display!
What an array of honey products!
I love the bee skep.
Herbal Teas
Every flower stall in Amsterdam had peonies.
Herbs
Tortes and bonbons
a variety of bread with oven in the back.
Beautiful animals made from carded wool.
Beets, leeks, spinach, bananas
Berries, avacados, carrots
Take a carton and choose your eggs.
This family caught my American eye. They arrived by bicycle. The girl in a seat on the bike and the baby in the carrier on the mother. The little girl walked around in her wooden shoes.
Biologically raised burgers and sausages
Wild burgers!
Muffins
All kinds of Yogurt
Barrel Organ
Hear the barrel organ in my video.
The barrel organ arrives at the market.
Biking to the Market
At the entrance to the market
Lots of bikes coming and going.
And away he goes!
After visiting the Noordermarkt, I rode my bicycle to the American Book Center, theAthenaum and the Children’s Book Shop in het Spui for one last visit. These photos were shot en-route to the Spui.
A mobilty car that is allowed on bike paths.
Only motor bikes with a limiter that prevent the motor bike from going over 25kmh are allowed on the bike paths. This rule is broken all of the time.
Wheelchairs are allowed on bike paths. People with mobility difficulties are seen all of the time out and about on the bikeways.
One way street? No problem. No one ever yells at cyclists going the wrong way. After all they may do so at times as well.
People in bike paths are not tolerated. Sidewalks can be very narrow and totally blocked by clueless tourists.
I love how elegant she looks in her high heels and short skirt. Bicycles all the time are seen carrying a passenger on the rear rack. This is forbidden in the USA.
Sunday in Amsterdam – The Last Day. I packed my suitcase with books, a flat box, and duct tape. I took a tram and train to go to the airport. I made my way to the storage lockers where I filled the empty box with books. The night before, I had determined how many books could fit in the box, so I knew how many to take to the airport on the first trip. I sealed up the box and stowed it in the locker. I returned to my room with the empty suitcase. I packed the suitcase with clothes and the remaining books. I returned to the airport. I put my suitcase in the locker with the box. I returned to my room. I retrieved my carry on bag and bicycle.
actual speed :123 km/h outside temp: 20degrees inside temp: 23 degrees
The sign alternated between Dutch and English.
Luggage storage area at the airport. A god-send.
My suitcase marking my spot. I planned to use this photo in case I had trouble finding where my locker was.
The location of the room where I stayed is in the upper right quadrant of the map.
The apartment is off of Van Woustraat, just north of Vrijheidslaan near the canal.
Paul said this is a late 1950’s top of the line car. An OpelI Kapitain, a German General Motors car. I saw it while I sat in the tram.
I liked the idea that this child’s bike came to the train station. Everyone is welcome to ride on the bikeways. Even children with trainning wheels!
Older children arriving by themselves at the train station.
A cargo bike locked near where I stayed.
I had a few hours to enjoy Amsterdam before I needed to be at the airport! I rode my bicycle to the same restaurant on the Prinsengracht where I ate on Monday with Mike from Boston, and his brother. I ate an elegant three course meal with a glass of white wine, sitting at a table facing the canal and bike traffic.
Instead of bread, crackers and spread are served.
Asparagus Soup
Colonel- lemon basil ice cream. I ended up pouring out the vodka.
I returned my bike to the rental shop in the Jordan and continued by foot to the train station.
Multatuli – Eduard Douwes Dekker (2 March 1820 – 19 February 1887), better known by his pen name Multatuli (from Latin multa tuli, “I have carried much”), was a Dutch writer famous for his satirical novel, Max Havelaar (1860), which denounced the abuses of colonialism in the Dutch East Indies (today’s Indonesia).
4.50 EU = $6.12 31 EU =$42.13
Amsterdam train station in the distance. I have been reading recently that two-way bike paths are a poor design. I susspect this two-way path works because it is wide. American bike paths are always too narrow.
Amsterdam train station. The building looks like a palace.
Amsterdam train station
Amsterdam train station
Amsterdam train station
Amsterdam train station
Amsterdam train station
Amsterdam train station
Bicycle parking at the train station. When this was first built the owners of the hotel alongside the bike parking complained that the parking garage was ugly. They quicly learned that their hotel is seen in photos of the bike parking garage around the world.They now like the parking garage!
More bike parking at the train station.
On the other side of the train station is a free ferry that transports cyclists across the water to destinations north. Paul and I did this last year. Right now it is a bit difficult to get to. The bicycle and foot tunnel will be opened next year and will make getting to the ferry a breeze.
I saw this sink at the ladies room at the train station. I had never seen a sink like this before.
I arrived at the airport, retrieved my belongings and checked into my flight back to Boston.
Flying into Boston
The End of my Amsterdam adventure. I can’t wait to return!
Being doored is among the most common type of crash for a cyclist in a city. Many people think that it is inevitable. I disagree.
Boston bike lanes are generally five-feet wide. In some cities they are as narrow as four feet. Where to ride in the bike lane? Some people recommend riding a bike at least three feet from parked cars. Another recommendation is to ride in the outer third of the bike lane or about four feet from a parked car.
I have observed over many years that ninety-five per cent of bicyclists seem to ride in the middle of the bike lane or even over to the right of the bike lane. Riding in this position is deadly when the bike lane is next to a parking lane.
I wanted to know where in the bike lane I was safe from being doored. Was it three feet from a parked car? Was I safe in the outer third of the bike lane? Could I ride anywhere safely in the bike lane? So I did an experiment. I parked my car just inside the white line of a seven foot wide parking lane, left my car door open and rode my bike past the open door. The closest I could ride along side the open door was on the outer white line of the five foot wide bike line. I was curious if other cyclists would ride as far from an open car door as I did.
The second day I parked my car on Commonwealth Avenue during morning rush hour for thirty minutes, and left the door open to see how far away from a parked car with an open door car, other cyclists biked. To avoid the open door of my car, the thirteen cyclists I observed and photographed, rode on or outside the white line marking the bike lane. There was not enough room for them to ride in the five foot bike lane when the car door was open.
The third day I returned to the same spot and recorded the distance a cyclist normally rode from a parked car with the door closed. The distances ranged from very close to the parked car, the middle of the bike lane and at the outer edge of the bike lane.
I would say that my study, clearly shows that biking the recommended three or four feet from a parked car, guarantees that a cyclist will be doored if the door were to open. To avoid a sudden opening door, a cyclist will instinctively swerve into the traffic lane. That has deadly consequences when the cyclist is hit by a car or truck in the traffic lane.
I encourage people to repeat my experiment with their car or a friend’s car and invite friends to bike past the open car door. Take photos and share them in the comment section.
Lest anyone think I dislike bike lanes and that cyclists should “take the traffic lane”, I would like to emphasize that I like bike lanes. In Amsterdam and other major Dutch cities there are safe bike lanes that children and elderly people bike on. Their bike lanes generally are at least six and a half feet wide for older bike lanes. The newer bike lanes are at least eight feet for a single direction bike lane. I have biked in Amsterdam and Groningen alongside a steady stream of cyclists on wide bike lanes that allow people to ride side-by-side
I want there to be wide bicycle lanes here in Boston that a child or an elderly person would feel safe bicycling on. The main thorough-fares in Boston have plenty of room for safe bike lanes. What is missing is political will to take space away from cars, be it a parking lane or a traffic lane on a road with two or more traffic lanes in each direction such as Commonwealth Ave, between the BU bridge and Packard’s Corner. In the East-bound section between Packard’s Corner and the BU Bridge, there are wide 24 foot sidewalks remaining from the days when this section was “auto row” or “the auto mile” Those 24 foot wide sidewalks could be narrowed by a few feet to give three additional feet to the bike lane. I say, let’s share the public space in a more equitable fashion!
Bicycling home on upper Naples Road on October 23rd, I saw an older Asian woman accompanied by her adult son collecting ginkgo fruit.
The man explained to me in halting English that they gathered the fruit, extracted the nut from the pulp, split open the nut to reach the kernel which then is boiled with sugar and water. He said it was very good for your health and was used in Chinese medicine. Will I gather some ginkgo fruit? I briefly considered doing so until I read thesearticles that I found on-line. What a stinky job!! I think I will give it a pass.
Now outside the door of the bakery there is a gingko tree and when the fruit falls to the ground, people waiting in line to go into the bakery, check the bottoms of their shoes to see if they are the source of the smell. Nope, it is the rotting fruit that litters the ground.
And here is a photo I took of the Ginkgo tree across the street from our house. Every year the leaves fall in mid November. This year on November 13th, 2013, Paul called me at 4:15 AM, as he was biking to work down Commonwealth Avenue. “Look out the window,” he said, “All the leaves are dropping off the Ginkgo Tree!” I pulled myself out of bed ten minutes later. By then, all of the leaves had fallen and now lay like a carpet of yellow beneath the tree! They always fall all at once and so quickly!
Post Script: I finally figured out how to do a hyperlink for this blog! I am so happy!
Sunday, October 13th, Paul and I rode bikes to the http://honkfest.org/ Honk Festival and start of the parade in Davis Square. I rode my Dutch bike, newly decorated for Autumn and Halloween and Paul rode the quadricycle, now with his old hand-pumped air horn which has been down in the basement for years. It sounds like a truck air horn. Paul rode oh-so-slow because his left knee barely bends and he has to keep sliding his left foot in order to keep his leg straight. On the other side of Harvard Square we rode along the Cambridge Common. A person walking asked if he could have a ride and Paul said yes. His name was Jim and he was a sousaphone player with the Dirty Water Brass Band. It would have been a long walk for Jim! Harvard Square is about 1 1/2 miles from Davis Square. Ah…, Paul now had a rider to do the pedaling and they flew down Massachusetts Avenue. He was a real powerhouse! We got to the two parking lots in Davis Square where the parade participants were gathering.
Jim, the sousaphone player performing with with the Dirty Water Brass Band
We paraded with SCUL pilots, a SCUL friend and our two friends, David and Elissa.
SCUL pilots Danimal, Bad Cat (in hat), & Steve from Artisan’s Asylum, where SCUL”s fort (Fort Tyler) is located. Our friends and neighbors, David and Elissa, Scul pilots Joyride and Bucky.
SCUL pilots Danimal, Bad Cat (in hat), & Steve from Artisan’s Asylum
SCUL pilot Bucky
The Honk parade included street activist bands, groups broadcasting their political message to the world, stilt walkers, flame twirlers (without the fire), hula hoopers, SCUL and the family cargo bikes & bakfiets bicycling club. We slowly processed down the South-side of Massachusetts Avenue, while large enthusiastic crowds beamed. Cars stuck in traffic on the North-bound side of Massachusetts Avenue cheered and sounded their horns enthusiastically as the parade meandered along and people performed tricks and played their instuments. Along the parade route we circled around the quadricycle which Paul was riding with Steve who had three colorful spikes on the crown of his head. They were perfect parade companions. I was getting a bit dizzy circling round and round for a mile and a half. In Harvard Square October Fest was happening. Many restaurants had beer gardens, Food vendors and craft vendors plied their wares, while Street Activist bands performed throughout the Square. We had a great day! Boy my body was a bit stiff after I got home and had sat for awhile!
The meat eating hipsters is a barbeque club. They grilled hot dogs while they paraded and handed hot dogs, rolls, catsup and mustard out to the crowd! And stick-on mustaches.
There were two people dispensing catsup and mustard to the crowds while they paraded.
The linkage holding the two hubway bikes together.
This quadricycle was used to pull the hot dog cart. It was made from two hubway bikes.
The painting house
Mixing paint for painting the street as they paraded.
A home-made bakfiets
Our friends, SCUL pilots Three Speed and YT. YT is an ace hula hooper and performs with a hula hoop troupe. Three Speed was a Honk volunteer. Three Speed and YT bicycled to all 75 public pianos that were installed through out Boston/Cambridge/Somerville and YT played on each one. Three Speed said, she plays very well. Would be nice to see a video of their tour.
This family comes from Austerlitz, New York which is near the Massachusetts border about 175 miles from Boston.
SCUL pilot Bucky
SCUL pilots Danimal, Bad Cat (in hat), & Steve from Artisan’s Asylum
SCUL pilots Danimal, Bad Cat (in hat), & Steve from Artisan’s Asylum, where SCUL”s fort (Fort Tyler) is located. Our friends and neighbors, David and Elissa, Scul pilots Joyride and Bucky.
Tibetan girls walked with their families, letting the world know about the plight of the peoples of Tibet.
Harvard Square
Harvard Square. By this point I was walking my bike. We were moving very slowly as we approached the finish. I, the SCUL Pilots and SCUL friends had been circling round the quadricycle the length of the parade for 1 1/2 miles.
Steve (who oversees the machine shop at http://artisansasylum.com/ and SCUL pilot navigate the quadricycle, Double Barrel to the finish line in Harvard Square
Post-script – Three of my photos managed to align themselves right next to one another. It just happened. I kept trying to recreate a collage effect but I finally gave up. I know it can be done and will seek help from someone who knows their way around computers. Thus what you see is not exactly the formatting I wanted but eventually I will get it down and these blogs should be much faster for me to put together.
This evening I rode my bicycle to Boston Symphony Hall to see the Shen Yun Symphony I found out about the Shen Yun Orchestra at the Farmers market three weeks ago. A video of the orchestra Orchestra.http://symphony.shenyun.com/boston/#video
was being shown at a table at the Farmer’s Market. It looked good so I bought one of the cheapest tickets. The chair with the blue jacket is where I was sitting. It was a great seat! I enjoyed the performance immensely and being in Boston Symphony Hall is an incredible experience.
I found out that there are free tours of Symphony Hall which will be something to take an out of town guest to see. There were some interesting concerts coming up. I really have to take advantage of all the culture here in Boston.
Here is the lit-up vest that I wore riding my bicycle to Symphony Hall. The motorists see flashing lights on my back. I really stand out when I wear this! It was so invigorating riding my bike the three miles in the fresh air there and back. I saw my friend Ram on his strider bicycle coming home from work while I was on my way to Symphony Hall. I thought about taking the T but I”m glad I chose the bicycle and got to be part of the outdoors riding freely instead of waiting for the trolley and looking down at peoples feet. And I get a seat from the moment I stepped out of Symphony Hall until I pulled up at my door.
I still have some tweaking to do to figure out how to put pictures exactly where I want them. Only a short while ago and I couldn’t even do this.
Ethel Weiss, the proprietor of Irving’s Toy and card Shop, just turned 99 years old! The shop is just doors away from the Edward A. Devotion Elementary School (Kindergarten through eighth grade), an easy walk from our house and close to the J.F.Kennedy birthplace.
She has run the store since 1939. Prior to that, it had been a grocery store.
yoyos & marbles
Thankyou letter for party
celebrated in front of store, Saturday, August, 24th. Wise shop hours for a 99 year old woman!
There are greeting cards in the back of the shop that look just like the cards that I remember from my childhood. The kind that slide into cellophane envelopes.There are things for sale that have been there since I was a child. Honest to God!
Cycling Since 1959 