Our Amsterdam Adventure

This was our first look at the gorgeous sailboat harbor at Enkhuizen.

Erlinda is strolling past the Balkan Grill, on the left.

The Balkan Grill is one of the picturesque eating spots in Enkhuizen.

Well, now I've seen everything.

A cow wearing wooden shoes. Who would have thunk it?

The walkway behind the cow is a raised path between the harbor and the street.

It runs all around the harbor, and it's bordered by trees all the way.

Beautiful.

People in the Netherlands seem to take their pooches with them everywhere, even to the ocean.

No word on whether this dog was sailboat-tested.

This tower was a fortification that had stood in Enkhuizen since the early centuries.

In fact, an inscription above the door proclaimed that it was built in 1649.

I guess the lion above the arch was designed to scare all who dared to pass beneath him.

Or was it perhaps intended to inspire the defenders?

Through this arch you can see a drawbridge, which leads to the quaintest part of the town.

Here's an example of a street traversed by cars as well as people.

Stores, cafes, and homes, are directly on the street.

You step out of your doorway and into the street.

Here's another one, with the houses right on the street.

You can just walk past and look into people's living rooms!

Definitely different.

There was a special festival happening that day.

It included a rendition by a local choir, which offered their versions of a variety of well-known standards.

While the adults listened to music, the kids were having a ball on the jump attraction.

The little guy in the black shirt in the center repeatedly tried to do special tricks for my camera.

But I never seemed to catch his best antics.

Streets are so narrow in the heart of town that the cars and the people seem to be on top of each other.

Here the owner of this car was waiting patiently(?) for us and others to go by so he could proceed on his way.

As we walked back toward the edges of town, I was inspired by the quality of the late afternoon light filtering through the trees as I passed this boat.

Looking back after going by the boat in the previous photo, I caught this postcard view of the waterway and the boats.

The ocean is beyond the houses in the center of the shot, and the waterway leads there.

This guy was announcing the special festival that was in progress in Enkhuizen that day.

Some of the musicians wore special garb as part of the celebration.

The ones shown here were on their way to perform.

Here's another view of the waterway, looking in the opposite direction.

With the harbor at our backs, we were just drinking in the fresh sea air and loving every minute of it.

Here's the walkway we talked about earlier.

This was on our way back towards the train station.

A harbor-side intersection.

The front door of the Balkan Grill is just out of sight on the left.

Here's a full view of the grill, which has a hotel upstairs.

Great combination, huh? Sleep and eat at the same place.

Cool.

After all that walking, Erlinda's just tuckered out.

Either that or she just loves the feel of my shoulder.

Well, she can have it any time, as far as I'm concerned.

The train car wasn't quite as empty as it looks here, but with the high seat backs, some of the passengers were hidden from the camera.

Now, I bet this isn't your idea of a dutch windmill, is it?

But these are the modern day versions of that old faithful.

I took probably six shots before I lucked into this one, with the setting sun providing a unique backdrop.

When we got back to the transfer station at Amsterdam Sloterdijk, Erlinda couldn't hold back a smile, since we were on the way back to the hotel, and could rest.

At least that was what I thought (more on that later).

No, I'm not leaning out dangerously over the edge of the platform.

I just stretched the camera out on my left boom (er, arm) and took this shot.

I intended to take another one of the train as it was arriving, but it snuck up on me, so I don't have it. Sorry.

Here's Erlinda in the no-smoking "cage."

Quick--somebody let her out before the train comes, please.

My lovely wife.

I kinda liked this pensive shot as she drank in the countryside.

As you can see, the sign announces that at this station, you can park your car, park your bicycle and catch the tram.

Seems like you have to stall your bike first, before you park it, doesn't it?

Heh, heh, heh....

Feel like renting a car? How about 5 Euros (about $ 5.65) a day?

No problem, as long as you can fit into this little vehicle.

Looks like somebody forgot to finish it, doesn't it?

Either that or they took a full-size car a whacked it with a giant meat cleaver. It seats just two, as you might imagine, and I'm guessing the mileage is spectacular.

I guess I'm just a sucker for the sun going down.

As we were making our way back to the hotel, the setting sun over the highway seemed irresistible.

But the saga isn't over yet.

We had still more to come that evening, much to my surprise.

You see, Erlinda had plans (she always has plans).