25 - 4 DEPART OAXACA FOR AMSTERDAM

 These last couple days I've been avoiding going out in the afternoon heat with temperatures running into the High 80's and Low 90's.  Breakfast at Cafe de Elefonte for the first time. I enjoyed Suisse Enchiladas with Green Tea.  Today I visited Okosa, a popular Mexican Breakfast and lunch Cafe in my neighborhood for the "Okosa" Breakfast of Beef and Eggs.  Very tasty and filling.

                     

                  Transformed Tree

                                             New Hair Salon

The day of reckoning I awoke and recieved  a call, while on the toilet, from Hugo, my taxi driver, that he was still waiting for me as I rushed out the door with my large check in Amazon suitcase. We arrived on time, checked the bag, and was at my gate 1 1/2 hours before departure. I arrived at the Mexico City airport and had a portor attend my bag and guide me 2 miles? to the Marriot Courtyard Hotel that was close to the International Terminal and checked in for the night. I managed to get to the breakfast buffet as they were closing it down.

After I settlled in I took a walk outside of the hotel on the streets and then into the airport to see an exhibit displaying sea animals covered in plastic and an Art exhibit. Later I ate at an Italian Restaurant but ate half the entree before I remembered to photo it...so I photoed the Photo of it on the menu so you could see why I ordered it.

The display of Cookies was for my friend Lee who owned and operated a "Cookie Store" with his wife and "cookie baby".

        I slept well and long then had another porter guide me to my gate to check my bag through to Amsterdam. I had a short connection in Houston to my United flight to Holland so only had to get to the gate when I arrived, which was a plus with a 15 minute delay already on my flight....then another delay and a long wait in line with 12 airplanes I counted. We arrived with less than one hour but immigration was packed  and after 3o minutes I was panicking so started apologizing to everyone that my flight was boarding now and I had to get there ASAP and just bullied my way to the front.  I exited Immigration and had to find my International Gate which was a problem because for some reason I no longer had an internet connection and no printed boarding pass! I found the gate on the board where they posted departures and noted I had 10 minute to departure and they were closing boarding. Now I was hysterically arguing with security that I had my printed ticket but couldn't access my pass because my phone was no on the internet. She took the phone and connected me to airport WiFi, checked the pass then ushered me on my way. The line was still long so I bullied my way through to the terminal and started running as fast as I could to my gate. I had not ran in 10 or more years but arrived begging for water and air with only one lung! Boarded and seated it took me some time to get back to clear thinking. Time I had as we waited and waited for takeoff. I didn't care now I was going to get off in Amsterdam! It was a COLD, long, 4pm Monday to 10 am Tuesday flight sitting in a seat trying to sleep sitting up.  I arrived with maybe 3 hours sleep to a beautiful day.

         I knew Shipol Airport well and picked up my bag with no problem then headed to the Train Ticket to up my 3 year old Chipkaart to access all tranportation from $24 to $124 but in my haste I first stopped at the multi currancy ATM to get some Euros but in my sleepless state got $500 dollars instead. The ticket agent told me we don't exchange dollars when I presented him with $100. Only then I realized my mistake so we added the $100 Euros with my credit card and he directed me to a bus that would take me faster than the train to Haarlem. I explain all my mistakes in hope you are not dumb enough to repeat them. I was in Haarlem in 20 minutes and got off the bus.  A lovely Haarlemite...gave me directions from her GPS to my apartment, while commenting on how I was fortunate to arrive just as the weather was sunny. Never mind the 48% and coming from Mexico I was freezing.  I couldn't find any street signs or numbers so ducked into a Cafe to get on the internet and warm up with a breakfast while checking on VBRO for my host contact. There is NO office, only a internet contact so when I told them I was here but couldn't find them...I sat and waited through breakfast and coffee before receiving a reply to just go to the address we sent you yesterday! I went to the tourist information office (thank you Holland) and the man directed me to the address. While standing outside pressing an intercom button expecting someone to unlock the door so I could enter, I heard "David" so I said yes I'm here! And Ramirez, my host from Cali Columbia, tapped me on the shoulder and said I'm here also. He took my bag and went in and upstairs to show me the apartment. It was nice, with lots of IKEA furnishings. He filled me in on Internet access, cleaning lady on Monday and where to buy groceries,etc. He accually lived in Haarlem for 30 years and I suspected arrived as an infant. 

I was told that if it has a sharply pointed roof, it was built in the last 1700's?

Welcome to Holland...He was a Black Dutch original annoucing his presence to everybody with a Kareoke Mike and unusual dress. I knew I was in Holland!  

I unpacked and collected my thoughts then went exploring my neighborhood.  After some time I stopped at M Bistro where I had taken my friend Sanna for Happy Hour over 3 years ago. It was 4:30 so I decided to have dinner.

                  

                             Famous Dutch Pancakes

Church where Mozart gave a recital at 9 years old.

           My favorite, Oliver's is closed on Monday.

                                 My old neighborhood.

Brass Hotel Suites is where I booked 3 years ago and 3 months ago tried to book there but NONE of their Units were available...all booked.  I highly recommend them.

Try to figure out which is the inside of Sambe that I just took a photo of, and which is the reflection off their window?

Still dazed and trying to get a grip. Some call it Jetlag.

The famous Church in Haarlem...more later.

Entrance to my old neighborhood where I stayed for 3 weeks.

                                            Gelato Joint

         French Onion Soup...not my presentation...so so.

Not so Fresh Haddock...not bad...not good, flavorless.

Butter Lettuce Salad with just 10-12 Whole leaves..never saw a salad like that...good but dressing could use some zip

 I would like to take a minute to recommend Wikapeas site on Haarlem, a very old town with much history.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haarlem

..thanks

Haarlem is such a joy to step out and life hits you right in the face and you just keep following it wherever the draw takes you. Very much like Oaxaca but they are two different cultures with the same warmth, originality, creative , caring, proud, giving, and embracing people and the whole atmosphere of these different cultures is exhilerating.

Off for breakfast with 41% F I'm wearing a thermal tshirt, shirt, sweatshirt, and heavy jacket while Dutch are out walking the dog in shorts!  I have fleece lined pants and are shivering! Everone is sitting outside at the cafes. When the sun comes up every outdoor chair with sun, is occupied. Lined up sun worshipers with their head raised and facing the sun.  I had a small egg, sausage and cheese Bun for 3.95 and a Spinach/Avocado drink for 6.95..both were excellent but I was still hungry.  I took my phone to a Phone Repair shop and told them AT&T'world internet was not working.  He took the phone, fussed around and handed it back and said it was.  Who am I to argue.  I don't know what he did but it was working. No money just a thank you. Problem solved. 

VARIETYS OF LICORICE

I bought a used Hoodie at a Recyle Clothing Store and will donate mine that does not have a pull cord back to them. Then I saw Fig and Walnut Loaf and Fig and Almond Loaf so could not resist the Walnut one. Then I noted a Cannibus Shop and inquired about Gummies. Sure...so I bought what I dared not bring. Then a Bakery had this MultiGrained bread that weighed a ton but was small...looked like real health food?

      Ted's serves a breakfast menu all day long so I had a fill up of Poached Eggs on a slice of French Toast with Avocado and Smoked Salmon covered in Hollandaise Sauce that wasn't...IN HOLLAND. It was good, as was the Matcha Latte.

Flower's added to the presentation to sell Fig and Walnut Loaf....it's refreshing.

Hunred's of Hoodies....xxl  or small.

J returned to the apartment to drop off my goodies, shower and shave then go to Nicolitas Pizzabar for dinner.  It was so packed last night on Monday that I thought it had to be a private party but the same was true this evening. This was my day:

I returned to the grocery store for a few things I needed and when I came to the register it was closed,so you had to check yourself out.  After bagging and paying...keep your receipt or you can't get out.  You have to scan your reciept to unlock the gate to allow you to leave. Hotels are requiring you to scan your room key to get the elevator to work.  Before, anyone could walk into hotels and ride the elevators but now you have to be registered to be beyond public spaces like the restaurant or bar.

                  Walnut Fig Loaf and Queen Beatrice Mint.

MY NEW USED HOODIE

                                     HEALTHY BREAD

      Looks like it should read Amigas or a gender bender?

                                All the trim is a painting

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                                    CATCH THE CAT???

Brownies and Downies has another right across the street.

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                   This store sells only knobs and handles

 

View from my window....

Off for dinner....

          Tulips are coming up but haven't opened yet. It takes 7 years for a Tulip to Blossom from a SEED one season from a bulb. One stem one flower.

                           Red Wine COOLER not Cold but cooler

                                                  Pizzetta

                                        Gas burner Pizza Oven 

Crust is like Pita Bread, Toppings  Skimpy but Quality and satisfing. I will return.

                                                 Dessert

More dessert...

Today is colder due to lack of Sun. So far I've spent $42 Euros on groceries...includes 2 bottles of wine. $65 on miscellanious...gummies, hoodie, pen, chocolate, fig walnut loaf, coffee, hot choco... and $150 on restaurants but haven't checked the credit card statement yet! This apartment around $1800 euro for 13 days. 

       The Netherlands prides itself with lots of pedistrian walkways, bike paths, parks and museums.  Also clean windows which is difficult to take photos through...they mirror everything. It is a joy to have be in such a photographic area. It is special for me having spent my life in the restaurant business and seeing so many Mom and Pop, places with so much originality as well as quality product served with excellence. I want to enter every place I photo.  When you do enter, you are overwhelmed with the thought and care that the owners have put into their place of business.  Restaurants, galleries, stationary stores, and even the PreNatal Store below me!

      When I take a photo, I try to capture what I see in the photo...so usually I just snap it and then move on with so much to photo.  I then spend a lot of time editing the photo when I can really take time a view it and appreciate it.  I sometimes see a different photo than the one I took...another part of it with more interest than the part I was focusing on.  You will also see things from your viewpoint that I  missed.  My Dad loved taking photos and bought me a cheap Argus camera and a lab kit to develop my own B & W film with a Light box to print negative size photos in my closet/darkroom.  I was 12 years old. 

        I never considered myself a photographer and most of all I learned was from "playing" with my camera.  He gave me his Kodak Pony 35 mm camera to take to VNam when I got drafted.  I bought a Ricoh 35 mm 1.4 lens when I was there. Then I gave my Pony to my VNam driver who took better photos with it than I did! That's when I started to take lessons and some classes. 

      Sun is coming out and I am off to the Tourist Information to find out about the Tulip Garden and see if they can tell me when this building was built.

     That was quick...late 1700's and the gardens are busy for the weekend parade on Saturday which I hope to intercept on it's way here to get some photos.  It arrives here at night and starts at 8-9 am.  I will try to book the gardens around 3 on Monday. Mama's Soup for Lunch, a walk about and then Oliver's for dinner!

This Teddy was dipping into the soap and blowing bubbles!

Carnival going up to welcome the Flower Parade Floats on Saturday Night.

                                         Love the Name!

             Everyone in eating Ice Cream and it's 50%??

                    Painting of the outdoors that is indoors.

What a day...what a view.

This is the best homemade Raison Bread I've ever had!

Today I am going to "te bisou" Little Kiss for breakfast,

 the Frans Hall Museum this afternoon and have lunch at another former restaurant from my last visit.  A little Dutch sandwich and coffee shop.

         Occupied/Unoccupied in my APARTMENT Bathroom!

          The menu was so special, I had two Breakfasts!

I took some back home 

One Muslim and one shaved head but leaving her long hair!

DELPHI is also on the sidewalk entrance.

This tree grows Eggs!

         My sandwich was twice the size I expected. I took half home, freshened up and managed 4:30 entry into Gulpernars bar that was packed yesterday.   I have not seen one Happy Hour with reduced food or drink prices in Netherlands or in Mexico. I refer to it as "My" Happy Hour.       It was packed shortly after I arrived with 

Gulpers! That is what Gulpernar means...fitting for beer loving Dutch gulpers.  It was the Dutch bar I longed for...singing, drinking, laughing, and serious conversation...depending on your level of tolerance. Everyone was welcoming and friendly. I had a few red wines and asked for the bill.  My assuming friendly bartender tossed me a pen and I countered with a 50 Euro Bank Note and asked if he took me for a Credit Card tourist?  I never let on that he was right and paid in cash. 

This morning I headed for "Toast" and a delicious Avocado Croissant with Bacon and a P//oached Egg. I drank a Passion Fruit Squash.  Squash is fresh squeezed Orange and Lemon juice that is an English drink I used to get while visiting New England in the summers.  When I opened my Phoenix Fish and Chips take out, I put the drink on the menu.  It was popular but a lot of squeezing and higher costs than Ice Tea so changed. This one was flavored with Passion Fruit and was excellent. I felt a cold coming so bought some meds in hopes of stopping it.

               

                    Fourth generation Herring Stand

        Fresh raw herring...good anytime and good for ya!

Rides open and running today...maybe a Ferris Wheel ride. Ferris's first was at the 1893 Fair in Chicago celebrating the 500th year since Columbus discovered the New World. Ferris died young and broke while his creation is still going.

Piano for singing along for Hope...that's all we have now.

                                                 

                                              TOAST

 

...and imagination!

         A Korean Gentleman with 4 Korean women.

Candles are lit no matter what time of day in most restaurants and flowers are always in show. Lots of Seagulls in Haarlem.  We are a short distance to the North Sea.  

     I will try Green Papaya tonight! I thought.  The GP turned out to be a Thai Restaurant not Vietnemese and there was another Thai Restaurant with a different name and menu next door. Both had unique and attractive decor  but separate styles. They could possibly share the same kitchen.  

       I choose to return to  Coster52 where I ate a Lamb Steak and drank Pinot Noir 3  years before.    I remembered, not only the order but the sense of pleasure and satisfaction.

      I ordered the wine but choose the Fresh Salmon with Asparagus Bearinase and fresh vegtables. All were cooked to perfection.  Small portion but left an appetite to return to Napolitas where I reconnected with MY chair at the bar and was welcomed back by the bartender asking if I wanted the same wine as before. I did.

      I just wanted an appetizer  and wine. I ordered the Sardines with a Picante mild sauce. While waiting I notice this Man with his 7 year old daughter sitting at the bar next to me.

He with his Pizza and Wine and she with her own little mini pizza of her choosing. I liked the man's pizza and ordered it thinking the appetizer was just a sardine on toast.  It wasn't so I told the bartender to make the pizza togo. 

The gentelman next to me started a conversation with where are you from and I whispered the US because I truely was ashamed of my country. He understood and had traveled from his country of Turkey to Holland, and all over on business. He married a dutch lady and now lives in Haarlem.   We had a nice conversation, then my Pizza arrived so I excused myself to say goodbye and he grabbed my bill and said...please, I would like to take care of this for you.  He paid my bill! People are great...

The streets were almost empty on Friday...guess they are getting ready to go to the Carnival in the Square?

           

        Cold this morning. The Saturday Flower Parade is underway.  I was going to get photos but feeling sicker that yesterday when I bought cold meds. Now congested. Sun is out...I'll go walking a bit and have some coffee.

The entire floor of this Gret church of St Bavo's consists of 1500 of these gravestones.

Mozart gave a concert on the Church Organ when he was 10 years old.  Handel gave one also in 1740.

             A tooth collection!? Small Large...all human?

                         Not cockroaches but Mussels.

                                   He changed his outfit.

Time to catch the bus to the train to the  village of Hillegom  to catch the parade before it arrives in Haarlem after dark.

This man reaching out for what?  I met him on the train. He is from Lithuania and has lived in the Netherlands for 7 years now with his wife. We walked the 1 1/2 miles to the parade from the train station.  He had a 12 pack of beer in his backpack and has one in his back pocket now. I think he is a bit inhebreated but enjoying himself.  I left to walk back, just before the parade ended. He had pierced ears and nose.

My feet were sore from standing so long.  I did 5 miles today.

Bike parking lot at the station. Ride bike to train....Park bike when arrive.

I stopped at Lady Bent's for Small Portion dinner, starting with Sea Bass sushi, Short Rib , Salad, and Rubarb dessert.

It was very good but I left hungry.

Small Place that serves only French Fries...very popular with different toppings. Potatoes on the left.

I went right to bed and slept through late.  I went to get better Meds as my cold was starting to progress. Sanna responded to my invite for dinner but prefers I come to 

Amsterdam to meet her as she now has a dog. I went to breakfast at 'te bisou" Little Kisses for repeat.

Hanicapped battery bike with all the bells and whistles.

Gotta git.  Not sure how to meet her at the station she requested. The main street along the way was blocked to traffic and a lot of the parade floats were parked for people to view and photograph! 

 

 

I did, then made the train to the Amsterdam stop where I met Sanna.  It had been 3 years and she looked great.  My cold was getting worse and I couldn't talk without coughing! We walked to the tram that took us to her neighborhood restaurant.  We had a drink outdoors then moved in for dinner.  They gave her dinner without her looking at the menu.  Chef's choice. Sanna is a Vegetarian.  I had a Pork Pate then Fresh Perch that was delicious. We had Assorted Cheeses with Special Port Wine that was delicous. The best part was visiting with Sanna and listening to her recent sad and happy stories of her life. She has such a positive outlook and lots of energy to back it up. I've known her for 35 years now.

 

  Hopefully we will get together again before I leave Sunday. I wasn't feeling very good this morning but the day turned sunny and I went to the station and caught the bus to the Tulip Gardens right after a quick  breakfast.

 

 

                Osso Bucco with a nice Salad...very good.

Was going to visit a Doctor today but after taking my Meds, I felt better and finished the last of my shopping and had another breakfast at "te besou". I will go out to eat and call it a day.  Sanna has KickBoxing tomorrow so she said maybe Thursday for the Street Museum.

       

    This is my first blog  done only with my phone while sick with a cold. It is long.  So much to share.  8 more days and I will be out of the Netherlands and in Paris.