Hoogendam in Holland: Monster Bal!

Wednesday I went on a bike ride to Monnikendam, stopping along the way at other places I saw on the map. By the way, I never really have reasons for going to the villages that I do. I just choose a place I see on the map. Once I got to Monnikendam I thought I would keep going and go to Volendam...but halfway there I was so tired that I turned back around. A nice trip though, once more. I think it was around 50km this time, maybe a bit more.

By the way - one day the weather will be bright and sunny, the next (or sometimes the same evening!) it will be like this:

Thursday was another music festival, this time in Schipluiden. I took my bike with me so that I could 1) not be completely dependant on people to pick me up and 2) because I thought it nice to bike a bit around Schipluiden. It is where Ed and Leon (where I stayed) grew up so I had been there a few times before. Beautiful little place there, very green and water here and there - I count it as one of my favorite places here in Holland. Actually there's a little place here near Ijburg that I call Little Schipluiden because it is also farmland and water and it reminds me of a path that I walked before. And guess what I found on my adventure? COWS. I seem to always find myself around them....

Leon (friend of Ed and guitarist of the band) and his wife Marlene generously let me stay at their house so that I could go to the festival and also had me over for dinner. Later that evening the whole group came, several of whom I had already met. The music at the festival was fun - Billy Idol, Rage Against the Machine, Blink 182, WhiteSnake, Deep Purple, and many other covers. Hehehe when they started playing White Snake - me and the girls ran up to the stage and sung as loud at we could. And while singing Rebel Yell, you could see us girls on the screen! (ok so it was the back of our heads, but I knew it was us hehe) No one but us girls recognized us, but it was our moment of fame hehe. After the official party ended the group came back to the house and had more laughs and beers.

Part of the group

The next day Marlene (who also enjoys biking) and I went on a bike ride. I hadn't had much opportunity to get to know her before, but I'm so glad I did now. She is so sweet and also enjoys the simple beauty of the landscape. We had some good conversations and laughs.

View from a lookout point

Me on the Ferry

The ferry we took to get across the water

Marlene and me, stopped at a cafe for a drink

The lookout thing

Once more on the Hoge Stoelen!

Marlene - excited to climb up!

Their daughters were so sweet and adorable. I ended up staying another night - it was such a nice time with them all.

Leon and the girls - Mia got a sewing machine at the RummelMarkt - a sort of streewalk sale. As you can see, everyone found it interesting

Once I decided to stay another night, Me - the girls - and Marlene walked to her mothers house to get a blowup mattress. Anna wanted to carry it on top of our heads - "like the Americans do it!" Now I've noticed - for some reason, children often confuse Africa and America hehehe (now I know its not just Michiel!). We had a great time carrying it.