Zaanse Schans

Today we left to visit the Zaanse Schans area. Unfortunately I left my phone on the house boat so I have no pictures. The Zaanse Schans area has about 8 large windmills with other smaller ones. One cuts wood. One pulverizes materials for paint pigment. One is a mill. We walked around this large site for hours. Our first stop was the museum which explained what life was like there in the 1800's. This was very interesting. Part of this museum has a chocolate factory. We visited the chocolate factory and learned the process from grinding cocoa beans to making chocolate covered cookies. And we got a free cookie! After the museum I walked up the stairs of a tall observation deck. I saw a horned grebe swimming. I tried to get a picture with my cousin's phone but that bird was camera shy. We walked on to a weaver's house. The weavers in this house weaved sail cloth for ocean voyages out of hemp. After that we walked on to a windmill that ground pigment for paint. As we climbed up the ladder and out the door I was frightened as a large windmill blade swung through the air right in front of me. Most of the other windmills were not open yet but we walked down the length of them. At the other end the windmills looked better because they were facing us. Back near the museum we stopped at a famous restaurant that served pancakes as big as your plate. I had a pancake with apricot preserves and whipped cream. All those carbs but I have to say it was good. The pancake was more crepe than pancake. After that we stopped at a wooden shoe demonstration where a guy showed the audience how the shores are made with the help of machines. They had a great supply of wooden shoes to sell but I know better. I used to wear Dr. Scholl sandals so I know what walking on wood feels like. We took the bus back into town and got off at the Centraal Center. Outside the Centraal Center are ferry boats that will take you across the bay at no charge. We took the ferry boat that was crowded with pedestrians and bicyclists with their bikes. We walked to a tall building that we saw yesterday with swings at the top. This is the love tower. When we arrived in Amsterdam we bought the I Amsterdam city card which pays for many museums and buses and trams and subways (but not trains). We got to go up the tower in the A'Dam lookout. As the elevator rises 100 meters high a light show is at the top ceiling which we can see through a glass roof on the elevator car. We walked around the balcony on top of the building but chose not to pay extra to ride on the swings. Food and drinks are also available up there. As we left we saw an eye museum across the street. Our I Amsterdam city card paid for our admission here too. An exhibit showed the history of how movies are made. We got to watch a couple old movies as well. We had another great day in Amsterdam.