We arrived 'out of Africa' this morning, taking a red eye from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania to Amsterdam. We loved seeing Africa, but it is great being back in a 'first world' country. It's the little things, like being able to use tap water to brush your teeth, and actually drink the water too!
After a couple hour nap - since we hardly slept on the plane- we went by bus to a town called Haarlem- about 30 minutes from Amsterdam. It's where the colonists came from, who settled in Harlem, New York. We were impressed with the ease of taking trains and buses here. There are designated bus lanes, so traffic is very orderly. Cars have their roads, buses have their roads, trains run on their tracks and bikes and scooters have their pathways; and for that matter, so do the people.
Haarlem has a rich history dating back to medieval times, and the curving streets with buildings dating back to that period, were fun to explore. We toured St. Bavo Church which was begun in 1370. The entire floor consisted of 1,500 gravestones, ranging from the 1400s to the 1700s. The gigantic organ was actually played by Mozart and Handel!
Like Amsterdam, the city is build around a series of canal. It's a beautiful place!
No comments:
Post a Comment