Friday morning it was breakfast at the hotel and then off on a long tram and bus trip to a working windmill and museum called the Molten Van Stolen Windmill. It was a real pumping windmill with a screw that augered water from a lower level to a higher level. They used these all over Holland to keep their feet dry. They were eventually replaced by steam powered and then electric pumps, but these windmills were the workhorses for a long long time.
Next stop was to find some herring. Ralph and I bought raw herring samdwiches (hot dog rolls with a fish in it and pickles and onions) which is a local delicacy. The less brave got deep fried codfish bites. Ralph and I had cat breath the rest of the day.
We next bumped into the flower market where you can buy flowers, but mostly you can buy bulbs. They advertise the ones you can ship to Canada and the US so I guess they keep a careful eye on what gets shipped where.
Next stop was the Nemo Science Center which is a 5 story glass and concrete playgound for aspiring scientists. The place was wall to wall with families and children learning about any kind of science you can think of. They are creating the next generation of young scientists for sure. Well done.
After Nemo, we were on to something called “The Holland Experience”. This is another modern iMax kind of building with a “5D” ride across Holland. Kind of a Disney World experience with you strapped in a seat and thrown around a room with 360 degrees movie screens rolling out in front of you. And they spray water in your lap when you dive into the water below and a light mist as you fly though the clouds. Very cool.
Teri had made us dinner reservations in the rotating restaurant called Moon, which steadily rotates to give you a view of Amsterdam while they serve you dinner.
Last stop was our daredevils, Terri and Ralph, who got on the swings on top of the restaurant and swung back and forth over the edge of the building. Yikes.
Then it was back to the hotel and sleep
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