Today we finally fulfilled our dream of seeing a real-live--up-close-and-in-person Windmill. Did we ever...

We took a half day tour of Volendam - saw Dutch cheesemaking at its finest. Then we took a boat across to the island of Marken, the prettiest little seaside fishing community ever (fact.) and saw clogs being made by hand. So yes. we bought a pair.

Then, we boarded the bus and were taken itno the Dutch countrside and farming communities of the Zaanse Shanz... where 400 year old windmills still exist and are preserved in a sort of 'living museum', spotting the edge of the Zaanse river. There used to be over 900 along the river, used for milling spices, chalk, grain, and for drainage.

What a sight! Hard to explain, or even snap in a photograph. Speaking of which, dont ask how many pictures we have of windmills - it's borderline insane. but we just fell in LOVE with them, as we suspected we would.

Tomorrow, we take a full day tour of sites around Holland - Rotterdam, The Hague etc. We cant wait to explore more of this country that has very quickly captured our iagination and stolen our hearts.

Love from Amsterdam!

C+J