Time Travelers

Guten Tag

WE TRAVELED THROUGH TIME!!!!! To the Middle Ages somewhere in the 1300's to Rothenburg ob der tauber Germany. (Yeah the cars came with us, they were all impressed)





We were greeted by this guy who wasn't very happy...




and because of Sally's bad behavior, she was forced to wear this hat.



Just kidding about the hat but not the bad behavior.

At the 'Medieval Crime and Punishment Museum' we saw some of these things, not sure what they are or how they worked, but they had to have hurt.




Took the Night Watchman's Tour tonight with this guy,




who was a medieval Jerry Seinfelt. He does it every night, nine months out of the year and charges just six euros. We had over 50 people in our group alone. What a sweet job, your only overhead is the outfit. Did you all know that the popular children's song 'Ring around the Rosie' was from the plague of the middle ages. Evidently the rash had a ring around it so posies were put in the victims pocket but they died anyway, thus "ashes ashes all fall down"

Your souvenir today is called a "schneeball", in english is means snowball. It is a dough ball made of many egg yolks and flavoured with a very generous amount of Prune Schnapps, seriously. Enjoy.




Auf Wiedersehen
Nancy

We've traveled approximately 4,540 miles
Visited two countries.

Impression of Amsterdam

Hallo again,

Last day in Amsterdam. Visited the local flower market selling the bulbs that made Holland famous. Next found our way to the neighborhood flea market and bought bread
to sustain us all for our six hour and forty five minute train ride tomorrow. Our next stop....well lets make it a surprise but I'm sure you will all be pleased.

I come away from Amsterdam with this prospective. The trams, buses, cars, motorcycles, scooters and bicycles, along with the crowds of people walking around, all travel in unison with seemingly disregard for each other but yet in perfect synchrony. I saw no joggers or gyms but it seemed everyone who could walk was slim and riding a bike, see the picture of the bike ramp below. I didn't see one car ramp.



The only issue I have here is this....





Yes, it's what you think it is. These giant quadruple urinals are on public street corners and if you have the right equipment you just belly up to it and relieve yourself.

Tot ziens
Nancy

Dutch Tourists

Hallo!!!
Here we are doing the tourist thing. These shoes were too big but were real. Found them at this open air museum that deplicts 17th century Dutch life. It included windmills, cheesemaking, and wooden shoe carving along with cows, goats, sheep and chickens.





We even got souvenirs for all of you. Miniature windmill frig magnets,
Dutch cheese and some wooden shoes. Hope you all like them. You can pick them up below.




Next we visited an area called the "red light" district. It had all kinds of restaurants, adult video and toy stores along with a ton of coffee and smoke shops. You should see Sally for your souvenirs from there.

Tot ziens
Nancy

Amsterdam, Netherlands

We all made it to Amsterdam. The tail winds were in our favor so made it in just about 7 1/2 hours, Yeah!! No sleep though, and it's noon. Sleep is over rated anyway. 15 minute train to City Central Station then just four Tram stops to our lovely Hotel de Leydsche Hof (aka Amsterdam B & B). Our host, Fritz, showed us how to use the keys and took us up two very steep flights of stairs in this over 400 year old home he shares with his wife Loes and black schnauzer named "monkey".

Walked around the canals, lots of bikes and you'd think one of those cars would just
fall right into the canal.



Visited a cool cheese shop with it's own cat (that would never be allowed in the states),


Went to the Anne Frank House which was awesome, it included her actual diary, taking pictures was not allowed.

Had a "bier" aka beer,(yes I had a beer and it was sweet). Heiniken is made here.


Then we waited a very long time for a wonderful dinner. The bistro had a group of girls celebrating an upcoming wedding and she allowed us to take her picture with her new gift.


Total Miles Traveled - approx 4,155
Countries visited - 1

Are you packed yet???

We're leaving in a little more than 48 hours and my bags are not packed yet, but I'm working on it, how about yours?? Looks like the planes are still running on time, I've "picked my seat", passport ready.

See you all in Amsterdam!!!!

Railpass

Purchased a Eurail Global Flexipass Saver yesterday. Here's how it works...

"Pass includes:
Available for 2 to 5 people traveling together at all times.
Unlimited travel on the entire network of the following 21 countries: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Holland, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
Choice of 10 or 15 days of unlimited train travel within a 2-month period.
Travel days may be used consecutively or non-consecutively.
Special travel bonuses"

Although we won't be traveling in all of these countries, the point to point tickets would be way more expensive. The cost of the ticket was about $750.00 each. Again, we'll see how it all works out in the end. Only 17 days left until we leave.

Getting Ready

Getting ready to travel to Europe on August 26. My friend Sally and I saved our air miles to fly there and back for just a service charge. Unfortunately we are on different planes but we will land in Amsterdam just two hours apart. They are both direct flights from Minneapolis. The challenge over the next 22 days will be to pack light. I'm only taking one small suitcase and a carryon along with my new 'bagallini' bag. The suitcases both have spinner wheels, at the end of the trip we'll see how it all works.