Amsterdam

We were lucky enough to take a trip to Europe a week ago. It was both lovely and a hair too long for me. As I get older... I think I'm a bit more grumpy about travel! Anyhow, here are some photos if you'd like to see.
The windmills in the city of Zaanse Schans- an hour ish bike ride from where we stayed in Amsterdam. I think Brent may have gotten annoyed with me because I biked so slow... but he was a good sport. The little town is known for its windmills- some work, but some are just for show. A lot of the little buildings in the town were green- it felt like the munchkin land from The Wizard of Oz. I asked a local about it and she said years ago, each community had their own paint color- green, yellow, whatever, to create a sense of unity. That sounds fake... but I have no better info, so I'll go with it. I rather liked this outing because we toured a little cheese factory and got to taste an awesome bunch of cheeses. A lot of gouda. Gouda from sheeps, goats, and cows milk (I liked cow gouda the best-the aged, sharp one was delightful). Even a lavendar gouda- which tasted a bit like soap.

 We took a Sound of Music bike tour in Salzburg, Austria to see the sights from the movie. It was such a lovely day and the bikes were awesome- breezy in your face and the seats were very cushy! This was on the path around the lake where the kids and Maria fall in from their canoe ride when they come home to see the Captain.

 These rapeseed flower crops were everywhere. In fact, Germany had a lot of dandelions too- like a weird amount. A lot of yellow flowers. I google why there would be a lot of dandelions there.. but nothing.

Tulip fields in Amsterdam. In thinking of Amsterdam, i thought there would be tulips everywhere. That wasn't quite the case. We did have to bike a while to find them, but they were worth it. We should have brought a picnic to eat by them.

 In one of the rental houses we stayed in (using airbnb.com website to book them) there was a little pond outside in the back. It does look a bit raggedy in the photo, but it was lovely and, like, "wild moss and flower garden" ish in real life.

The Neuschwanstein castle built by King Ludwig of Bavaria. It was a beautiful view, but we didn't go inside. It was very touristy- like kitschy almost. Like how Las Vegas is beautiful, but so fake. So, I wouldn't recommend it I don't think.

 In Salzburg on our Sound of Music Bike tour again- a sure highlight of the trip. I love the movie and I love biking. Win win. However, this courtyard was in the movie somewhere, but only really briefly. It was quite pretty of course. It you turn left and go through an archway, there is another fountain where Maria in the movie splashes her hand in when she sings "I have Confidence in Me"

PS did you know the movie was based on a real nun named Maria? I had no idea, and now I love it even more

Van Gogh's sketch book. We went to the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam, which I loved, and Brent kinda liked. There was this one seaside painting on display:

And Van Gogh must have really painted in on the beach because there are still grains of sand, blown by the wind, and stuck in the paint!

However, the museum was really too crowded, which really bummed me out. Art is hardly worth looking at if you have so many heads to look through. But, what can you do, I guess.