Gouda in Gouda and Other Places, Too


Advertisement
Netherlands' flag
Europe » Netherlands » South Holland
July 20th 2014
Published: July 23rd 2014
Edit Blog Post

July 17 and we drive to Den Hague - better known in the west as The Hague. After a nightmare of trying to park and finding out - too late, that the chip card we have is not the same as the one everyone else in the Netherlands has - it doesn't seem to work in simple machines like a parking meter. So, off to a parking house to pay vast amounts of money to park in the city. We walked around a very nice district where we ran into various embassy houses and finally the Queens palace. All the flags are flying half mast to honor the many many Dutch who were killed in the Malaysia flight that was shot down. People here are sad, angry, and demanding something be done - a shrine has popped up at the airport, the public feels somewhat helpless and want to do something. The Queen's palace is large and lovely - although Elizabeth has larger, more elaborate digs. No guard at the gate either. Across the road is an enormous statue of William of Orange and some gorgeous parks. So far, Den Hague is lovely. We head down a crowded shopping street and
Synogogue in DelftSynogogue in DelftSynogogue in Delft

Right next door to the hotel -a good sign.
find ourselves a little hungry and in need of nourishment, so a café pop in was in order. Did I mention sparkling ice tea yet? It bears repeating because it is so delicious and refreshing. Unfortunately, it is served in the tiniest of bottles, as is all soda, with a menial 2 ice cubes that melt pretty quickly in 85 degree heat. Fortunately, we discovered a life altering creation known as a bossche bol - a giant cream puff covered in chocolate and filled with whipped cream. OMG is all I can say. We finished that off in a big hurry and set off to do a little shopping and people watching. A quick bike ride to the store later to pick up supplies and a glass of wine to finish off the day.

The next day, we heat off to Gouda - home of Gouda cheese. I am set on buying and eating Gouda in Gouda...I'm sure no has ever thought of that one before. We heard there was a huge open air market in the big plaza, so we parked the car - fairly easily this time, and head off to find some cheese. The cheese guild
Don't park too close!Don't park too close!Don't park too close!

Or you may fall in trying to get out of your car!
can be found in the plaza and we learned Gouda has their excellent cheese market on Thursdays - a trip back! cheese purchased and it's time for a refreshment this can only mean more sparking ice tea and perhaps another pastry. We rested at Ze Zalm (the salmon) and then headed to find the source of bells we had heard tolling all morning. The city hall in gouda doesn't disappoint. No fewer than 10 spires jut into the sky and the entire building looks like Disney inspiration. Off to the side of the building we find a clock, some bells, and a little puppet show thing - the kind where the door opens and whatever is inside goes round and round to act out a scene. At 2 minutes past the hour and half, the show goes on, so we waited and were not unhappy to have done so. And now we know the source of the music! We made a loop of the market and decided to drive home in a very aimless fashion - no GPS, no freeways, just point in the general direction and see what happens. Canals, tiny towns with houses topped with thatched roofs, cows, sheep, windmills - and bikes everywhere! Bikes have the right of way - even over pedestrians, although I'd be loathe to argue with a truck coming my way if I were on a bike. A bike ride is just what I need - off through some woods, across a bridge, over the freeway and to a beautiful meadow. Quiet and serene. The country side reminds a little of Kansas - flat wheat fields, etc. But that is where the similarity ends. This country is lush, green and clean and simply beautiful, flat - but beautiful.

The evening finished with dinner in Leidschendam - a suburb of Den Hague with more canals and picturesque bridges and cobblestones. Greek food is what we needed - and a Mythos lager cooled me off while waiting. Ice cream is also what we needed after, so a stroll across the canal to watch the drawbridge work was a good way to pass the time. Boats can't pass under some of the canal bridges so they wait for the drawbridge man to drive up on his scooter and raise the road. On the way home, Lee was stopped by the police to go through the sobriety checkpoint - no cause, he was just the lucky car next in line. Fairly amusing, considering he doesn't drink at all...

Next stop- Kathi and Amsterdam!


Additional photos below
Photos: 25, Displayed: 25


Advertisement

Maybe not...Maybe not...
Maybe not...

It's really old
Bossche BolBossche Bol
Bossche Bol

Outside chocolate, inside whipped cream. What's not to like? Served with sparkling/carbonated Lipton iced tea. Delicious!
Town Hall, GoudaTown Hall, Gouda
Town Hall, Gouda

Complete with bells and a little puppet show every hour and half hour.
Puppet ShowPuppet Show
Puppet Show

Is that what this is called?
Disney InspirationDisney Inspiration
Disney Inspiration

All the buildings have differently angled fronts
Buying Gouda in GoudaBuying Gouda in Gouda
Buying Gouda in Gouda

In front of the Cheese guild
King LeeKing Lee
King Lee

He's decreeing something.


Tot: 0.1s; Tpl: 0.012s; cc: 9; qc: 52; dbt: 0.0573s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1; ; mem: 1.2mb