Netherlands 2012
Amsterdam is well known for its elaborate network of canals.
If you visit Amsterdam you'll want to take a tour boat of the canals similar to the one shown here.
Amsterdam is a vibrant city with a great transportation system, with bicycling as the dominant mode of transportation.
Cheese and Holland go together like birds and feathers.
Tulips being sold in a local market.
Large apartment buildings line the canals.
You can bike or you can be biked.
Mother and child biking, not an uncommon scene.
The hub of Amsterdam transportation, the train station which is serviced by a network of street cars and canals.
Biking in style.
This shop caught our attention.
Dam Square in Amsterdam
The canal next to our hotel.
Amsterdam has a world-class zoo, called Artis, which we visited for a day. This is a beautiful northern gannet.
Didn't get the name of these birds and can't find it in the book.
Looks like a kingfisher of some type but can't find it in the book either.
Great blue heron, a common bird here in Florida.
Don't know this one either.
Pink pelicans
Intense concentration or total boredom.
The eyes of Lemur
We made a quick visit to the butterfly garden.
Extracting pollen
Enjoying the penguins.
Exuberant northern gannet
Houseboat on canal
Beautiful hotel
Charging station for electric cars
In earlier times Holland had a severe shortage of houses on land so houseboats became very popular and continue to be so today.
Houses have narrow frontage, but are deep and tall. Why? Property tax is based on the frontage distance.
As night comes the canals light up.
Peeking into a houseboat at dusk.
Amsterdam is a charming city -- day or night.
We leave Amsterdam and begin our bike trip in Haarlem headed for Leiden. Our route takes us through the heart of the tulip fields.
Haarlem to LeidenNetherlands 2012Tulip fieldsNetherlands2012
At a bridge entering a small village stood this sculpture of speed skaters on ice. The Dutch are excellent skaters with a history of skaking on frozen canals.
Spectacular setting
Haarlem to LeidenNetherlands 2012Tulip fieldsNetherlands2012
