Gouda

If you ask anyone in Holland what Gouda is known for the
answer would be Cheese, Syrup Waffles, Clay pipes and Candles. Ask someone about Holland they most likely
would answer “Cheese”. I have found "Gouda cheese" in most countries I have
visited including Vietnam, Russia, Croatia, The Baltic States and of course
Australia and New Zealand. I would not
use the words “world famous” in this context but rather “well known”or world
renowned. The fact is that only a certain percentage of Gouda cheese is
exported and that most countries produce their own “Gouda” tastes. Although
there are many specialised cheese shops. I have never seen this many “Cheese
only” shops per km2; on top of that when I visited Gouda, it was market day
where I counted a further 4 cheese vendors. The variety however is not all that
great, I noticed; you have to go to France for that. France is the country
where you find cheese in a very large variety, they are large consumers of the
product where it is custom to share a plate of many different types of cheese
after dinner.

The “Stadhuis” or Townhall is the centre piece of the
city and a work of art. Build in 1450AD it is still in daily use. Walking
around the rooms one can imagine oneself in the 16th century.

This bring me to the Gouda Clay Pipes. I walked into a
story supporting a sign above the door stating: “The Oldest tobacco store in
Holland”. Suprised that these stores
still exist i entered the shop. Behind the counter a found a man in his early
60’s wearing sloppy brown pants and a
red shirt. He was in conversation with another gent barking at this man with
his low harsh voice. No doubt his vocal cords had been damaged by years of smoking,
lucky one could not see the sate of his lungs.
Once outside the shop I pondered the question how this man would react
when you tell him that smoking as actually real bad for you and that you must
have rocks in your head to do this nowadays

with the knowledge that we have what this is doing to
your body in the long term. I bad this man would say something like this. It is
not an issue and my harsh voice is in our genes as my father and grandfather
had the same kind of voice and were also short of breath. Haha . A sign in shop
read that this business has been run by the same family for six generations.

The famous Goudse Stroop Wafels (Gouda Syrup Waffes) are
sold at a variety of shop and also at the market. There a few specialised
factories I was told later by someone who had worked there. Waffles are
exported all over the world- Both the larger Coles and Woolworths supermarkets
in Australia carry them as a stock item.

Gouda Candles. I
have no idea how old the shop was (running as a business) but on top of the
building at read “anno 1500” and that is rather old. I walked inside and took
my first picture when rat faced lady pounced on me “No Photos” she said with
a scary voice coming out of a mouth with
protruding teeth long enough to eat an apple through a picket fence. I pointed
my camera into another direction while she repeated here “no photos” request. I
asked what the problem was. Would my flash melt the wax perhaps? Or where there
hidden messages int he writing on the candles. I explained who i was and where
i was from and told her that many people had asked me if they could take a
picture of me and the motorcycle. Not a problem. “this is not a motorcycle but
are candles” .she continued: “everyone likes to take picture but they never
buy” I said it would be a bit difficult
to buy candles and transport them on my bike.” I don’t care she answered”.

I left the shop and though; just imagine I if I was a
foreign tourist and this would have been my first shop I visited in the town,
thus would have created a very negative impression. She had the full right to
stop me from taking pictures but, as I often say, it is not what you say it is
how you say it. The style of conversation shows the receiving person what level
of frustration or imbalance they have inside of them. Anyway not to worry.

The last week i have met many friend in and around
Holland.As mentioned before , many of them are people like me who cant help
themselves. The love travel and the continues stimulation of the mind in search
for new experiences and then go home tired and satisfied until sooner of later
thus itch reappears and off they go again. My long time friend Adriaan who lives
in Belgium,I met in Australia during his world trip. When i got in touch he
urged me to hurry up a bit as he would be off to Brasil a few days. I left
Tuscany and headed for Innsbruck where I stayed a few weeks before. My friend
had left and were now away on holidays but had left the house accessible for me
to stay. The next day i headed for central germany via Munich. The BMW always
pulls me in this direction so a two hour visit followed to view the display of
the latest technooligies and designs. While their I received a meesagefrom
Adriaan with “I am open 24 hours and yu can arrive any time yu want. I left
Munich at 2 pm and arrive at 9.45 pm in Lierneux in the beautiful Ardennes just
north of Lucxembourg. With one more week to go I had just enough time to vist
most of my friends, and ended the ride in Lelystad where a most beautifull
sunset complemented the sunset of my journey in Europe.

I am on my way to Australia once again but first a stop
in Vietnam for a few days