Zaanse Schans Windmills...

Also in mid-May, I went with a small group from the AWC to Zaanse Schans, one of the Netherland’s most popular tourist attractions. I had only visited once before during our first winter in the country.

Built in 1961, this open air museum recreates a colorful living and working neighborhood reminiscent of the 18th and 19th centuries. Many of the buildings were relocated from around the region on flatbed trucks.

There were once 600 active windmills in the region. We visited one of the smaller windmills, which was used to grind spices, but opted not to pay the extra fees to visit the other windmills.

To All Those Who Think I Am a Witch...

After lunch in Oudewater, several of us decided to visit the city’s most renowned museum: Museum de Heksenweg (The Witch’s Weigh House). What might seem amusing today, has a very dark history. 

Starting in the 16th century, this building was really used to weigh those accused of witchcraft. Those that were lucky enough to make it to Oudewater were the lucky ones as nobody here was ever convicted of being a witch.  

So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that I also was not convicted of being a witch, much to some folk’s disbelief.

Terri might make a cute witch, but she was also found not-guilty of witchcraft. We even have certificates confirming our innocence.

Walking with the AWC...

In mid-May, I joined the AWC Walking Group on their first walk further afield. We took a train to Woerden to do an 8-mile (13-kilometer) segment of the Floris V Long Distance Walking Route, which connects Amsterdam to Bergen op Zoom covering over 150 miles (245 km). 

We started with a quick pop into St. Bonaventura Church, which was built in 1892.

The inside was simple, but colorful.

With just a quick glimpse of Woerden, I hope to go back again to see more. Here we are leaving the city in front of a windmill that I recognized from previous cycle rides in the vicinity.

These tree trunks under a highway first looked like random debris, but then we realized that they were strategically placed to allow wildlife to cross through this busy area.  

Eventually we headed into the countryside along the Linschoten River to our final destination of Oudewater, a town of 10,000 dating back to 1265.

Dressed Up with the AWC...

There were two opportunities in May to put on a nice dress for AWC functions. The first was the AWC Board Installation. After stepping down as the magazine editor after eight years and a three-year break from being on the AWC Board, I agreed to be the Treasurer.

The ceremony was once again held at the residence of the Charge d’ Affaires, the acting US Ambassador of the Netherlands. The weather was perfect for some photos in the huge garden. Here is the new AWC Board...

...and everyone who attended the ceremony.

Two days later, I was in a dress again to volunteer at the payment table at the AWC Gala. It was nice to see Hannah and Austin all dressed up. It wasn’t a glamorous job, but it was fun. The evening ended with me running across town in my dress and sandals to make the final bus just as the doors were closing.

A Perfect Farewell...

It was a wonderful cruise and we all had a great time. Afterwards, we had the captain take this picture of our group next to the boat...

...and this one of us inside the open back of the boat.

Of course, I had to capture one of the boat leaving as well.

Despite polishing off several bottles of bubbly, we weren’t quite ready to finish the party just yet. We headed to The Weeping Tower (the round building in the center). Built in 1487 as a defense tower, the rumor is that women used to say farewell to their men there as they headed to sea so also a fitting place for us to bid farewell to Seanette.

However, we weren’t entirely ready to say farewell as we had one more stop to make: Wyland Fokink, a 17th century genever bar.

Finally, it was time for hugs and to head home. No doubt a very memorable send off!

Farewell Cruise...

It came as a surprise when Seanette announced that she and Richard would be moving to West London with just one month’s notice from his company. I figured that it was unlikely that I’d have a chance to see her before she left since she’d be so busy with friends in Amsterdam, so I was pleasantly surprised when I got an invitation for a farewell gathering of AWC friends.

She invited just four of us to an intimate high tea aboard an incredible private luxury canal boat (we paid for our own lunch, but she very generously treated us to the two-hour boat tour).

Our captain was very nice. Here he is collecting our lunch from a local restaurant.

Saloon Boat Salute was built in the 1920s and painstakingly restored a few years ago to its former grandeur and converted to being 100% electric.

Due to our boat’s small size, we could go into the smaller canals that the typical tourist boats can’t reach...

...and could get quite close to some recognizable spots, such as the East Indiaman, a beautiful reproduction of a ship from 1749...

...and our favorite dive bar in Amsterdam: the Sluyswacht (no it’s not your imagination—it really is very crooked).

Dutch Nash Hash...

In what was most likely a Dutch Nash Hash first, Jimmy and his co-hares laid the hash trails live on Saturday. Here he is doing a pre-run brief before setting off on the earliest bus taking the Ball Breakers to their start. Everyone agreed that the trails were great, but he overlooked one major detail: the spot he chose for the beer break couldn’t be reached directly by the beer van. Luckily there was a pub nearby so folks could get a cold beverage while waiting the extra hour for the beer and snacks to arrive.

I loved the long trail and was still smiling at the end. On Sunday, we hashed from the castle and took a ferry across the Maas River to the small village of Steijl. Jimmy surprised everyone with a mimosa stop after many of us fell for a very long false trail along the river.

After lunch, it was my turn to lead the hash circle. Somehow I managed to be entertaining enough that most of the remaining hashers paid attention. Afterwards was the main event: not one, but two birthday cakes on Neptunus’ head for his 65th birthday. His granddaughter on the right was especially enthusiastic in helping. Not only was there flour...

...but also a lot of eggs, beer and ketchup.

For the second cake, there was also whipped cream and candles.

Neptunus was a good sport about it. Luckily he was spending another night at the castle as he clearly needed a shower.