Netherlands and Belgium A

Netherlands and Belgium, Page 1

April 9-19, 2006

page 1, April 10-12

www.chuckbryant.com

Originally I planned this trip on my own to join a Backroads group hike in France's Provence region. While I procrastinated in registering, the group filled up. I revised my plans: my longtime friend Karen and I agreed to spend the entire time touring somewhat ad lib throughout the Netherlands and Belgium, starting and ending in Amsterdam.

I told Karen I had to particular tasks on the first full day before we proceeded with the museums, coffeehouses, and whatever we might find: first, to find the "Jan Roelofs" name in Amsterdam. Easy enough, with a little web research. We didn't meet the person, though.

My next order of business, more seriously: to shop for an engagement ring for Jan. I found it in the very first store where I looked. I did look at several other rings in three or four other shops, but this one got my attention at the outset and ultimately I came back for it (on the day before we left).

more on the ring

Rijksmuseum. Unfortunately, most
of it was closed for renovation. After standing in line for about an hour to enter, we saw almost everything open to
the public in about as much time—not rushing at all.

Plenty of souvenirs available. Not all of them would easily make it through Customs.

Agricultural research techs
of the Hash, Marihuana,
and Hemp Museum
prepare to test
advanced harvesting
equipment on a new
super-strain of cannabis,
at far right.

Speaking of which,
Amsterdam's dozens of "coffeeshops" (as in the next four pics below)
run the gamut, just as
bars do here.

They just sell
different products.