Oct. 25, 1997 - EUROPE


The trip over was good with no problems except for me forgetting my glasses. Luckily I discovered that before take off and had Zida come back to the airport with them. She wasn't back yet from dropping us off, but Vellen was up. We called him just as he was leaving for work. He told Zida to come back down with my glasses.

We took off about 1/2 hour late, but arrived in Atlanta pretty much on time. We had a 3-1/2 hour wait there before our flight to Amsterdam. From Atlanta to Holland it was only 8 more hours of sitting, I mean flying. Again the flight was good and we had plenty of time to get through Customs. The baggage, however, was slow.

Adeline, Margreet, and Jelle had to wait as the baggage finally got unloaded. Adeline and Margreet welcomed us with a Cow banner. It was very cute. Of course everyone else thought they were crazy, but we felt very special.

We left Amsterdam and Jelle drove us to Nieuwleusen where they live. It was good to talk to them and see that they were well. Jelle and I took a long walk and talked about many things. I know I put a hardship on him by not knowing Dutch. If I only knew a little Dutch, it would have been easier on them.

Jelle showed us his record players. They were old and worth a lot of money. It is not how much, but will you sell it. The cost is no problem. All the records or quite a few of them were old American songs that were a lot of my favorites.

We took a walk through the woods. It is small but good. Went to Staphorst. It is an old town where they still dress in the old way and do things the old way or as much the old way as they can. The kids like the new things and dress more modern and some of the old do too. The buildings are brick and reed roofs. Some are tile roofs. The roads are brick with a little asphalt. Iet took her dog in all the stores on its leash and the owners didn't care. You can take your dog anyplace and no one cares. It is the thing that everyone does and no one thinks about it.

We also visited the town of Zwolle. Adeline and Tjerk used to live there. It is a real interesting town. You just can't believe the bikes, many without locks. More bikes than cars. Also the cobblestone streets and canals going through the larger towns.

All of Holland's land is used or owned. It is very flat and green. The pastures run right up against the towns, so you are either in the country or in the town. There are 15 million people in Holland and you can drive from one end to the other in about 2 hours, and that includes slowing down for the towns.





PARIS

One day when Adeline and Tjerk were going home by way of the train, I thought it would be good to go check out the train schedule and go somewhere for a few days. They had already left. So, I ran out the door to catch them. In front of their house there is a road divider. You have to turn right then a U-turn and come back the other side. I ran over the divider, put out my thumb and they picked me up. We went to the train station and with the help of Margreet, we were able to get a train ticket to Paris for the next morning with reserved seats which was a good thing because the train was full.

The train to Paris was a good one, very fast (180 miles an hour). The first train was a commuter that was not as fast. The whole trip took about 6 hours. When we got to Paris, some friends told us to look for an "i" (for information) and we could get help. Well, after the third big "i" and one referring us to another, we made it to where we could get help and a place to stay. Oh yes, no Francs, so after standing in line for a half hour it was back to the money exchange. I asked for $500 in francs. This place is right out in the open so every one can see you and that is a lot of francs that don't fit into your wallet worth a darn. I put them in my pocket and off we went back to the lady. She reserved us a room for 450 francs plus 5 francs for the service. . I gave her some money and she asked if I had anything smaller, and I said, "No." She went back and got change for us.
(Oh yes, I don't know French either.)

How do we get there? Of course, take the subway I haven't ridden a subway since 1959 and Ilene never. We are safe in the train station. There is a man with a pistol and two men with machine guns walking all over. It seems like everywhere we go, they are walking. Anyway, we got 10 tickets for the subway, like the lady said Take M5 to this station. After walking forever, we finally found M5, but which way to go. We finally took a guess and jumped on the train. They only stop for a minute so you are on or off. It was the right one. Nine stops later we got off and then had to look for M10. We found it after 6 or 7 flights of stairs. Two stops later we were there. Ha, Ha. Walked up to the street and looked at the map. It didn't help, so we finally asked in the pastry store (boy, do they have good looking pastry -- Ilene wanted to stay, but we had to be in the hotel by 2:30 to save our reservation. It was 2:15). We found the place two blocks way. It was a small room with a double bed, TV, and bathroom and shower; everything you need. We took it and paid for it. They gave us the key to our room. Turn this way, that way, push, pull. I finally gave it to Ilene and the door opened right up for her. I went right in, sat down and I said several times, "I want out of here!" The pressure had got to me.

We still had to go eat. It was 3:30 and we hadn't eaten since 6:00 a.m. We walked across the street that was 25 feet with cars parked on both sides and two policemen writing tickets for over parked cars. The food was good but they too complained about the change situation. Our bills were getting smaller, but no one was willing to make change for us without a performance. (I really wonder if the change makers belong to an acting guild.)

We went back to the hotel and talked over what had happened that day, back out to make reservations for a minibus trip the next day, a little TV, and to bed . The TV is in French. Same shows but the words and lips don't work. We laughed and went to sleep in a bed that was half the size of ours at home. Oh yes, you want air, open the window and look at the house numbers six feet away. The room was on the main floor. The man said it was a nice, quiet room. He forgot about the floors above us. Every time someone flushed Niagara Falls came tumbling down. Also, there was another noise -- we thought at first it might be the subway, but figured later, it must be the elevator right outside our room. Once you figured out what the noises were, it wasn't so bad.

Day two in Paris -- We took a tour of the city in a minibus. It was a good ride and we got to see how they drive in the streets. How they drive there and if the street is not wide enough, the side walk will work. The intersections are where they go slow. Everyone merges and kind of pushes their way to where they want to go. There are no lanes marked, but in some areas they are four and five cars wide. It's a pedestrian beware town.

The ride let us see what there was to see. We were able to tell what we could just walk to and where we would need transportation such as the subway. We walked to a market place and ate lunch. It was good and also reasonable. The next day we tried the subway to the Eiffel Tower and it worked very well. (By this time we were feeling pretty confident and pretty well had it figured out.)

Day three -- We arrived at the Eiffel Tower before it opened and got in line. We met a gal from Wisconsin and visited with her while waiting in line. Finally they opened (1/2 hour late) and told us we were in the wrong line. So we moved to another line that was twice as long. It went fairly fast now that it was finally open. The view from the top made the wait worth while.

Then we walked from museum to museum. Went in one and you could spend a day on just one floor and not see it all. Luckily we didn't speak French so we didn't have to spend all that time reading.

The buildings are so big. There is one that must be at least a mile long. It is something you have to see. There is no way to tell about it. It is just big with a lot of man hours to build.

The last day we went into one very large concern. I can't remember what it was called, but it is where they kept the 2700 prisoners during the French revolution, along with Marie Antoinette. They frisked us before we went into this one. Why, I don't know. I think it was the least interesting of all and not much in it. We didn't have time to go to the connecting buildings for this one as we had to leave to catch our train back.

After learning how to use the subway, it was easy and fast. The trains are always on time and leave after one minute, so you have to get on and off fast. There is just too much to write about. You just have to be there. The ride back to Nieuwleusen was good.

WEDDING

Adeline went to get her hair done at 5:30 a.m. and was back at 8:00. I was up at 7:00. Iet was packing in cups and plates. The delivery truck came with 80 buns. After we ate breakfast, everyone pitched in and buttered buns and added meat to some, cheese to others. They were put aside waiting for the crowd to come.

At around 9:30 Adeline's and Tjerk's friends and family started to arrive. At 10:00 o'clock the groom arrived in a chauffeur driven Bentley with flowers gracing the rear window. The groom looked very handsome in his tux. He walked up to the front door and rang the bell and Adeline came out in her wedding dress. She looked radiant. Tjerk presented her with her bouquet and of course many pictures were taken.

Everyone went in and had coffee and sandwiches and visited. More pictures were taken in the yard (it was a beautiful day). Tjerk and Adeline left and had more pictures taken somewhere else, while the rest of us visited. At 1:00 p.m. everyone left to meet up again at the courthouse for the Civil ceremony. We went upstairs into an official looking room. The bride and groom sat in the middle of the room in front of the judge. Behind them was a large table with chairs around the back half so everyone seated was also facing the judge. The judge talked to them awhile (and even to us briefly in English) and then they both signed a paper and most everyone seated at the table also signed as witnesses. (We were all sitting on the side reserved for visitors and viewing.)

From there we got into our cars and went to a church. The minister talked and Iet got up a couple times and read something. There were songs and a sermon. Tjerk's mother also got up and read. Adeline and Tjerk sang a song, and Tjerk's class of students did a presentation for them. They were fairly bubbling over with excitement.

After the church service, we went to a restaurant that was rented for them. We had a dessert with coffee. It was good. There were a lot of jokes and fun with singing and skits put on by family and friends. There was no receiving line, but if you wanted to greet them or give them a gift, you went up to where they were seated and presented your gift in person. Later in the evening a typical Dutch meal was served with sausage, mashed potatoes and sauerkraut, or mashed potatoes with kale and gravy. Later on another dessert and more beverages. (I don't know how these people stay so thin) I found myself finding someone who could speak English and boring them to death. (Our not knowing Dutch and them having to constantly translate made it hard on them and not fair to them. Everyone was more than friendly and really made us feel welcome.) At 11:00 p.m. they started to dance with the help of a cello player and a guitar player. At 1:30 a.m. it was all over and everyone went home happy. Jeroen, Margreet's boyfriend, drove Adeline and Tjerk and all their gifts home to Woerden. Also helped them get everything inside which, of course, means two or more flights of fairly steep stairs.

On November 1 we went to see the Batavia West, a replica of an old-style sailing ship built in the old way. It was a wood ship and the timbers were very big. They use to build one every 9 months with about 500 people. Now there are 30 to 50 men and it takes years to do. The men can only work on it for two years; then they are replaced by a new crew. This is an apprenticeship work program teaching the old ship-building craft. It is working very well.

They built the ships, then they put statues on the bow to impress the Indonesian people or whoever they were trading with. It was a sign of wealth. There are two ways to build them. One way is to build the ribs, then put the sides on; the other way is to build the skin and then put the inside. The wood is so dense that it does not float. That is why a wood ship sinks. The main sale weighs a half a ton and if it is wet another 300 lb.. They have winches to lift it with 24 men to turn them. The ship was not big but there were 110 soldiers, 130 crew and up to 50 passengers. There were a lot of people and not much room. The living conditions were really bad.

Sunday afternoon, November 2, Jelle and Iet took us on a sail boat ride. The have a 34 foot sail boat. It was cold, but a good ride with lots to see. They drove us through a town where not many people come out on a Sunday. In Holland there are no stores open in the smaller towns; I don't know about the larger ones.

After our boat ride they took us to a Greek restaurant. It was really good. They bought us Oozo before dinner and I had a beer with the dinner

We left the bride and groom alone for the weekend. On Monday everning, November 3, after a lovely day exploring Amsterdam with Jelle and Iet, we stopped in Woerden where the newly weds treated us to dinner in their home. Iet and Jelle left us there and they returned to Nieuwleusen. They had a funeral to go to the next day.

On Tuesday, the 4th of November, Adeline's class gave them a party. They dressed back in their wedding finery for the children. I guess they had a lovely party complete with a real wedding cake. We stayed at their place and wondered around town, enjoying the shops and buying our postcards -- also resting up for another great adventure to BERLIN!
BERLIN

November 5 1997

The trip to Germany was fun. Tjerk and Adeline went with us to do the talking for us and a good job they did do. We walked to the train depot from their apartment and off we went. It was a long ride, about six hours. When we got there, the first thing was to find a place to stay . It was a good place -- a door between two stores. It was locked so Adeline called and they opened it for us. We walked up the steps. The elevator looked a little rickety. and it only held one or two people. The room was a good one with high ceilings and lots of room; so we took it. They did not take plastic and you paid at the end of your stay. That was a little strange to me but in Germany do as the Germans do.

The next day we walked to the subway and got a ticket for the day. We went to the Jews' Concentration Camp (Sachsenhausen Memorial and Museum). Our leaders got lost a few times so we took a few trains -- about six or seven I think. . Then we took a taxi. You talk the price before you get in. It was a short ride and we were there. It was something to see. If you were a Jew or German prisoner, once you were in the camp you and everybody else was there until your destiny was determined. There was no way to get out except by death, so they did what they wanted to the people in there. It was something to see and a lot of words cannot tell the whole story. It was a camp of death and pain. We spent a lot of time there in the rain.

Lunch time (2:30) There was a small cafe there, but it was very good. We had a sausage, French fries, and a cucumber, carrot, and kalroby salad. It was very tasty. I bought an ice cream and Ilene and I devoured it too quickly. We then called the taxi back and went to the train. Two trains and we were back. That night we had pizza at, yes, that's right, Pizza Hut. It was a lot like here. The beer was smaller and things like that and no pitchers.

Back to our rooms to watch Star Trek in German. They talk in German in the shows so lip-reading is the only way you are going to keep up with the show.

Day two we took a two story tour bus ride. We rode on top. I think I bumped my head about three or four times getting up and down. You can't remember when you are beating your head against the top of the bus. Things get fuzzy.

The bus trip was another trip that you have to be there. The buildings are big and in Berlin they are renovating. It's the largest construction project in the world today. There are so many sights started that it is like a new city starting over. That is kind of what they are doing. [It is early so I am writing this and eating a little breakfast before every one gets up. Kiwi's are good with a piece of chocolate cake. There are eggs in the cake for nutrition, and I am drinking a cup of hot water while listening to Johnny Horton on a CD. Some people think I am strange.]

It is hard to tell when you go between East and West Berlin. To think less than ten years ago they were shooting people for going from one side to the other. The new buildings block out the old ones. They are bigger and higher so you look at the old ones between the cracks. A lot of the buildings over there are being taken down and new ones put up. The property is worth a lot per foot. The bus took us to a lot of sights. We were looking at thing that affected the second world war. The wall is hard to find. You have to look for it and there is not much of it left. The new things have taken over. There was the arch (Brandenburger Tor) and many other good thing to see.

We got out at the souvenir store. There were only three more things on the bus tour. We walked to Check Point Charlie. It was worth it. We spent the rest of the day there.
The ways they got over, through, and under the wall were works of ingenuity. There were some that didn't make it but when you are playing a game with those rules and stakes the other side wins too and there is no second place.

After that we found some more of the wall behind a fence and not maintained. It was like they were in storage. We still took pictures. I think tourists with cameras take pictures of everything and everybody many times. They need something to do on their travels.

Back to the train. It was fun getting enough change to get a ticket to go back to where we were staying. The way back went well. If you don't like stairs, don't go to France or Berlin; stay in Holland.

That night we went out to Schnitzel and beer. It was another door in the wall and down some stairs. There were lots of people . To get a liter of beer you get it on a long board with about ten glasses on it. We didn't get one. The food was good. I can say I never got a bad meal or beer.

Then we walked down a street with a lot of bars and our hotel. It was safer than it sounds. That night we watched Hogan's Heroes in German or as much as I could stand. They dub in the words so the lips don't match. Adeline and Tjerk were over and we drank something like beer only 25% and ate peanuts (on the bed of course.) The foot ball game came on {soccer} and Tjerk and I watched it. The girls complained. I went into my listenless mode and things got better. As usual I fell asleep and don't know who won the game.

Adeline and Tjerk told us that they had a surprise for us. It was to eat dinner in the Alexander plattz mit Fernsehturm bei Nacht. It rotates and you get to see all of Berlin and eat at the same time. It rotates two times an hour. The tallest tower in Berlin. It is a receiving station for radio signals. We were happy with the surprise.

The next day, Saturday, November 8, we went back to Holland and the Bos household. Sunday, Ilene went to Church with Iet, and I went for a long walk. After church we went to Jelle's mother's for coffee and dessert and homemade soup. (Mrs. Bos, who is 87 years old, had us over every Sunday for coffee while we were there.) After coffee, we went for a long walk in the country; then Adeline and Tjerk went home to Woerden.

Monday morning we were up early and off to Amsterdam. It was a 2 hour drive and there was a lot of traffic. We left early enough so that was not a problem. It was nice of Jelle and Iet to take us to the airport. The train would have been another thing to do but this was much easier and we got to see and talk a lot more.

The plane took 9-1/2 hours to get to Atlanta. In Atlanta we had 1-3/4 hour to get through customs and get our connecting flight. It was not a problem. From there it was 4-1/2 hours to Salt Lake with a 45 minute layover and then an hour and 20 minutes more to Portland. The kids didn't listen to us and got lost picking us up, finally found us. Another short 30 minute drive and we were home. This made about a 25 hour day. I was so psyched that I woke up at 4:00 a.m. and could not sleep any more; so I went to work. I got mixed up and had taken that day off. So, I worked my day off. After a week I finally got back to normal or as normal as I get.