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Something your grandfather liked with saltine crackers.

By
Judy
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July 2, 2017 – Monster, Holland – My kind neighbors, Jan and Dineke, at the campsite just outside Monster, Holland. 
A good introduction is to always ask for a bottle opener. Jan and Dineke were willing to oblige.
Our conversation ran the gamut from camping to health care to jobs and children and grandchildren.  
Fun!  The next morning Jan invited me over for coffee.  “When do you eat?” she said. She brought out a roll and some slices of cheese, a box of chocolate sprinkles and a hard-boiled egg. 
Jan was a foodie. I asked what food was unique to the culture in the Netherlands.  She mentioned herring. 
I already had a run in with that two days ago. I thought I was getting fried fish from a food truck. Instead I was given raw herring and onions in a sandwich. I gave it back. 
Raw herring. Something your grandfather liked with saltine crackers. 
I mentioned my tour in New Zealand when the couple from the church took me in and served me kiwi as cultural cuisine. 
I said we had those in the US, too, and then I ate it skin and all.
“You ate the hairy outside,” said Jan. 
I said, “Yes. That’s where the fiber is.”

She looked at me and then at my plate. “I’m going to hate to see what you do with that egg,” she said. 

VIDEO | De Plucktuin means ‘pick your own flowers.’

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Judy
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July 2, 2017 – Monster, Netherlands – Judy Steffes has arrived in Monster at a “pick your own” nursery. One of the owners, Marja, explains the history of the “Passion flower” in the video below. See more photos and read more travel adventure at imthebikewriter.blogspot.com

Kaas, Hines and Simon

By
Judy
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July 1, 2017 – Den Hague, Netherlands – A full day of museums under my belt and I was pushing to move along and get out of Den Hague. 

Beautiful city in Holland but busy with lots of shops, narrow cobblestone streets and lots of traffic. 
I have a physical map, the trusty Google map on my iPhone and the names of the streets on the side of buildings…. sometimes I still get twisted around. 
I’m sure the construction worker in a brilliant reflective yellow vest knew I was confused when I pedaled past him five times in a span of three minutes. 

But.. I’m getting better and yes, I know I said that yesterday, or was the day before. 
One of the benefits of being directionally challenged is the people I meet. 

I was south of Den Hague looking for a campsite in Monster. I found Kaas sitting on a bench and bothered him with my typical introduction. “Little English?” 

He took a look at the map and we chatted. We were soon joined by his son-in-law Simon and his sick dog Hines. 
On a good day Hines would have been barking at my heels and holding me to attention. Today, not so much. 

Kaas cradled him and stroked his ear. Simon later took him home and Kaas and I talked about the bike tour and Alzheimer’s. 
He relayed his battle with Parkinson’s and how the stress of a broken heart with his wife leaving made it that much worse. 

In the horizon, the thought of a grandson in November was giving him something to look forward to. 

My bike sitting in freedom outside the Prison Gate.

The alcove entering the Prison Gate.

The entrance to city hall. 
The Hague City Hall is a library and city or town hall 
that was built from 1990 until 1995.

Mauritshuis museum with the painting of “The Girl With the Pearl Earring.”

Child and father watching baby ducks in the park.

Riding in tribute to Bob Becker

By
Judy
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0

July 1, 2017 – Washington County, WI – Today I’ll be riding in tribute to:


If you would like me to ride in the name of someone you know, send their name, a jpeg photo, a brief note if you like, and your contribution of $100. The entire $100 donation will go toward Alzheimer’s programs at Cedar Community.

CLICK HERE to donate securely online OR

Checks should be made made payable to “Cedar Community Foundation” 113 Cedar Ridge Dr., West Bend, WI 53095

Cedar Community is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization and donations are tax-deductible.

Painting: The Girl With the Pearl Earring

By
Judy
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June 30, 2017 – Den Hague, Netherlands – Stopped at the Mauritshuis. It was built between 1633 and 1644 as a residence for County Johan Maurits of Nassau-Siegel, military commander and governor of the Dutch colony in Brazil for eight years. 

The architect was Jacob van Campen he created the first and very finest examples of Dutch classism symmetry grand plasters and Tampania give the building it’s monumental quality since 1822.
The famed painting the girl with a pearl earring was on display. “This is an exotic girl,” said the docent. 
Description:

Found this candle holder unique. 

Some of the paintings from the museum next door which was open to the public:

Description:


Perhaps a little torture hardware?

By
Judy
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0

June 30, 2017 – Den Hague, Netherlands – The best thing about the Prison Gate was meeting Emily Clark, Brooklyn, NY and Maggie Mansfield, Santa Barbara, CA. The girls were actually from the Midwest. Emily went to school in Madison and Maggie was from Indiana. “South Bend,” she said. “The other Bend.”


The girls were studying in the Netherlands and came to explore the Prison Gate. 
BELOW: Some of the hardware you might expect to find in a prison known for its torture. 


VIDEO | Cello Player; The Most Famous Graphic Artist in the World

By
Judy
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0

June 30, 2017 – Den Hague, Netherlands – Visited the museum of Dutchman Maurits Escher. He’s the most famous graphic artist in the world and a master of optical illusion.  


The Escher museum was also combined with the history of Queen Emma and Princess Juliana.

The Queen Mother often went for a drive with a lady-in-waiting to “take the air.” 1932. 

Onto the Prison museum or Gevangenpoort. There was a woman outside the entrance of the prison playing a cello.

I shot a video so you catch a bit of what she was playing….


VIDEO: Cello Busker in Den Hague

By
Judy
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0

June 30, 2017 – Den Hague, Netherlands – Cycling the Netherlands to fund raise for Alzheimer’s programs at Cedar Campus in West Bend, Judy Steffes stopped at the Prison museum, or Gevangenpoort. There was a woman outside the entrance of the prison playing a cello. 

Read more HERE.

 

Riding in tribute to Gene Wendelborn

By
Judy
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0

June 30, 2017 – Washington County, WI – Today I’ll be riding in tribute to:

If you would like me to ride in the name of someone you know, send their name, a jpeg photo, a brief note if you like, and your contribution of $100. The entire $100 donation will go toward Alzheimer’s programs at Cedar Community.

CLICK HERE to donate securely online OR

Checks should be made made payable to “Cedar Community Foundation” 113 Cedar Ridge Dr., West Bend, WI 53095

Cedar Community is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization and donations are tax-deductible.

Golden earring = burial insurance

By
Judy
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0

June 30, 2017 – Katwijk, Netherlands – Tried to get to several communities today just to get some miles under my belt. 

While the maps are great and very detailed, my cartography skills leave a bit to be desired. 

I’m getting better, but I said that yesterday, too.

Left Leiden around 7 a.m. and pedaled east to Wassenaar. Stopped for some coffee and fuel and at the grocery you had to get your own personal scanner. You scan everything you buy at the checkout, then you hand it to the checkout clerk and she tells you your total (photo below). 

It was odd, but genius. Just wait America!  

That handy scanner that will soon be coming to a grocery near you. 

Wound my way around the countryside and made it to the seaside community of Katwijk.

The boardwalk along the sea in Katwijk 

Pedaling through the dunes as I head south from Katwijk to De Hague. 
Stopped at the Katwijk Museum which features displays of a coastal town. There were paintings and photos featuring fishermen with their ships and the families left behind. 


A couple of interesting tidbits:
·        Families of up to a dozen lived in small quarters equivalent to about the size of an entryway in the US. In the corner of the room was a baby’s high chair with a rag on it. The docent said the rag was soaked in brandy to keep the baby quiet.  
· 
·        Fishermen wore a golden earring. This was a sort of burial insurance. If their body washed up on shore then the ring would pay for a decent burial. 
·      
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·         Katwijk was a two-community village made up of fishermen and farmers. 

·         There was an authentic shop of manufactured textile goods. There were different types of undergarments, including a knitted corset, which would be put on in September and then put back in the closet in early May. 
That’s an “old-timey” bra in the forefront.
Unique beers in Holland. This one reminded me of Snow White.
My cabin tonight in De Hague. Full day of museums tomorrow including a torture museum and a clinic where they studied people who recently died to see if they weren’t really dead.  The clinic has since closed. Shocker. 


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