Day 111 7 Aug 2013 Haarlem “Hello” I said when I walked into a bar in the centre of Haarlem. Beside the girl bartender there was no one there. I ordered a beer and looked around. Nothing had changed by the looks of it. The last time I had been there was around 10 years ago. I took a photograph of the picture hanging on the back wall above the entrance to the toilet, showing three man side by side. Do you any family in Holland?, is a question I get...

Day 110 7 Aug 2013 Rotterdam As mentioned before a I sometimes visit a place not only for myself but for a person I know or is dear to me. Today's visit was for my brother Frans who was a Royal Marine earlier in life, and by the stories he has told me over the years it was the best time of his life. He was based in Rotterdam, Doorn, the Island of Texel and in the West Indies on the Dutch Island of Curacao. Along the quay of the "Wine Harbour", about two hund...

Day 109 6 Aug 2013 The (Delft) Blues. I had just parked my motorcycle next to an outdoor eating area in the city of Delft. I usually park in the busiest area as that is safer for the bike and I don't have to lock everything away. An older lady walked past and then stopped to admire the bike. "What a big and beautiful motorcycle" she said. “ And have you been to all those countries?” pointing to the few stickers on the side cases. “ eh…y...

Day 107 August 4 2013 Hoorn Do you get many tips? I asked the waiter who had served up a meal and a beer. "well" he said it works out about 2 Euro's per hour. All the tips go into a jar and at the end of the day we divide it up. He had already received a tip but I could not help myself (again) to say- I give you another (Australian)tip. Wees lief voor je moeder—be nice to your mum. The waiter smiled and said , Yes that is a good one! I will remember that...

I am running behind with the blogs as most of the time \i have been visting friend and some relatives. This page is dated August 3. On the bottom of the page you can go forward all the way up till August 9 Day 106 Aug 2 2013 Where's the cheese? The city of Alkmaar is famous for two things; Cheese and the battle against the Spanish invaders which was fought in the 1670’s. The battle was won which lead to a revolution which ultimately drove out the...